Shaobo Ji

Mobile commerce user acceptance study in China: A revised UTAUT model

User acceptance is one of the key fundamentals for development and success of mobile commerce (m-commerce). Based on the revised unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model, we described a theoretical framework that incorporates the unique characteristics of m-commerce to enhance our understanding of m-commerce acceptance and usage in China. The revised UTAUT includes the characteristics of m-commerce, inclusion and consideration of information system user satisfaction theory, and Chinese culture and context.

An Empirical Study on Mobile Banking Adoption: The Role of Trust

Mobile banking is an emerging service that not only facilitates our life, but also creates great opportunities for mobile operators, device manufactures, and especially for banks. To better understand individual’s intention to adopt mobile banking, this paper integrates trust into Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and examined the role of trust based on a multi-dimensional perspective. Results from a survey of 438 respondents indicated that: 1) trust primarily works as an indirect antecedent of user’s intention to adopt mobile banking through its impact on perceived usefulness (PU), which is the primary direct indicator of intention; 2) the shape of individual’s general trust is mainly affected by three dimensions (trust in technologies, trust in vendors and structural assurance); 3) structural assurance is the most important facets of individual’s general trust. Finally, implications for improving the adoption of mobile banking are discussed.

A study of Mobile Instant Messaging adoption: within-culture variation

This paper examines how national culture values influence technology adoption at individual level, within-culture, in case of Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) adoption. Four cultural dimensions were examined: uncertainty avoidance, collectivism, high/low context and time perception. On the basis of 837 samples, data analysis shows that uncertainty avoidance and collectivism moderate the relationship between individuals subjective norm and behavioural intention; uncertainty avoidance positively affects individuals innovativeness; context and time perception affect Perceived Usefulness (PU) and have no effect on the relationship between Perceived Enjoyment (PE) and intention. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Information Systems Research in China: An Empirical Study

The study aims to develop an overview of information systems (IS) research in China in recent years and to identify the similarities and the differences between North American and Chinese IS research from four perspectives: reference discipline, research topics, research methods, and unit/level of analysis. A total of 604 research papers published in 18 leading Chinese academic journals from 1999 to 2003 were identified and reviewed. A categorization approach developed in previous studies was adopted to classify the IS research. The results show: 1) IS itself represented the major reference discipline used as the theoretical basis for the studies, and IS research in China does not demonstrate reliance on a single theory; 2) IS researchers in China have been clearly focused on organizational and system/software issues; 3) Non-Empirical Study was dominant in the field of IS research in China; 4) the majority of studies were conducted at the organization and system level. Group/team and individual level issues were not studied extensively.

Communication Effectiveness in Global Virtual Teams: A Case Study of Software Outsourcing Industry in China

As global virtual team (GVT) is staffed by members from different countries working at different sites, its success relies heavily on effective communication. The purpose of this study is to explore factors affecting GVT communication effectiveness and how they work. After a review of prior studies, two aspects were identified, namely critical success factors (CSFs) and team characteristics, each represented by a series of technological, managerial, or structural elements of the team. A case study observing 6 GVTs in 3 international IT organizations in Dalian Software Park (Dalian, China) was conducted to examine the research model. Findings indicated that: 1) although GVT communication effectiveness is primarily affected by task-oriented communication, social communication cannot be ignored; 2) task-oriented communication and social communication are affected not only by the identified CSFs and team characteristics but also by task characteristics. Measures to improve GVT communication are proposed.

A meta-analysis of Mobile Commerce Research in China (2002 2006)

China has the largest number of mobile phone users in the world, a fascinating phenomenon that has in recent years generated an increasing interest in Mobile Commerce Research (MCR) among Chinese scholars, who providentially have a variety of avenues available to them in conducting MCR due to its beginning stage. The present study, which was undertaken in early 2007, by reviewing and analysing a total of 162 MCR papers published in Mainland China during the period of 2002 and 2006, investigated the current status of Chinas MCR and identified its future directions. By the use of meta-analysis method, we categorised the 162 MCR papers in terms of their research focuses, topics, methods and contributions. Based on our analysis and comparisons of the data with those collected in similar mobile commerce studies carried out in the West, we have formulated our projections and recommendations for future MCR directions in Mainland China.

E-Government Web Portal Adoption: A Service Level and Service Quality Perspective

E-government web portal service level and service quality are critical factors that determine users adoption and continuance use. The paper reports results of a study that examines users adoption and continuance intention (CI) of e-government web portal from the perspective of service level and service quality. Three types of user groups are identified based on the purposes of use and the primary activities: information acquisition, information exchange, and transaction processing. Service quality is measured by web portals information quality, design/function, reliability, security and privacy, and system responsiveness. A research model is proposed and tested using data based on a sample of 630 individual e-government web portal users in China. Results show that web portals service quality affects users adoption and continuance intention and the effect differs among different types of user groups. Implications based on the findings of the study are discussed in term of e-government web portal implementation.

Inter-organizational coordination, IT support, and environment

Manufacturing organizations must know how to deal with uncertainty, manage environmental impact, effectively coordinate with suppliers, and use information technology (IT) to support coordination. Applying cybernetics and information processing theories, this study explores the relationship between organizational environment, inter-organizational coordination, IT support, and the effectiveness of interorganizational coordination. Using the case study method, data was collected from six manufacturing firms in China. The results show that inter-organizational system adoption is affected by organizational environment and is related to the management of inter-organizational coordination. Coordination and IT application affect the performance of inter-organizational coordination.

Green IT practice disclosure: An examination of corporate sustainability reporting in IT sector

Purpose As an enabler of environmental sustainability, Green information technology (IT) has become an emerging topic of interest in both academic and business communities. Despite its importance, confusions exist in the content and scope of Green IT practice. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of Green IT practice. Design/methodology/approach First 14 widely accepted Green IT practice topics were identified from prior research and a taxonomy was developed to categorize them. Using the content analysis method, these topics were examined in the sustainability reports of 30 IT companies in 2014 Fortune 500. A quantity–quality portfolio framework was developed and applied to measure and assess the Green IT practices of the selected samples. Findings Currently, the Green IT practice is still in its infancy. Both research and practice attention are now focusing on IT’s direct impacts and enabling impacts, while overlooking the systemic impacts, on natural environment. The possible reasons for the current state and the recommendations for future research and practice are provided. Originality/value Theoretically, this paper identified 14 widely accepted Green IT practice topics and developed a taxonomy for categorizing them. The taxonomy and topics provide a theoretical basis for future examination on Green IT practice-related issues. Practically, the findings of this paper provide guidelines for Green IT practice and directions for both Green IT developers and adopters in their decision-making.

Research in Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) (2000 — 2010): An Overview

In information systems (IS) research, Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) has become a popular research area among IS and management researchers as a result of industry push and the development and advancement of research in service sciences. From academic perspective, a growing number of papers have been published addressing many aspects of ITSM issues. This paper presents the results based on a study of comprehensive review of publications in ITSM from 2000 to 2010. A total of 152 research papers from leading information systems (IS) journals and conference proceedings were identified, categorized and analyzed from the perspectives of reference discipline, theoretical foundation, research method, level of analysis, and research topic. The findings suggest five primary conclusions: 1) there is generally a lack of theoretically driven researches; 2) the field is still improving, with a growing number of published papers dealing with the development of concepts, constructs, models, methods and implementations for theory formalization; 3) ITSM performance issues, justifications, and IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) topics are among the most popular topics of research; 4) ITSM researchers do not seem to consider research at an individual level; 5) the most popular research method was the conceptual orientation. Recommendations for future research in ITSM are presented and articulated.