Simon Rogerson

Strategic Information Systems Planning: Its Adoption and Use

Advances in information provision have led organizations to attempt to develop IS/IT strategies which interrelate with their business strategies and which together support corporate missions. Strategic information systems planning (SISP) has become an accepted part of the overall corporate strategic planning process. The proliferation of methods and the variations in satisfaction indicate a need to provide a framework for classifying and comparing SISP approaches which will provide guidance on use and to explain why certain approaches are more commonly used than others. Develops a classification framework based on complexity and describes tools for using the framework. Provides indication as to the nature of a complete classification and comparison method for SISP based on complexity, scope and fit.

An ethical review of information systems development – The Australian Computer Society’s code of ethics and SSADM

The rapid advance of computer‐based technology has led to social policy vacuums. Most information systems development tools concentrate upon technical issues, and offer few if any guidelines that address the moral issues inherent in new application possibilities. It is argued that extension of such tools to include ethical and moral, human and environmental issues is possible. A good starting point is provided by mapping relevant clauses of professional codes of ethics upon each stage of the development methodology. We use as examples the Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics and the structured systems analysis and design method (SSADM).

Introduction and overview: Global information ethics

This is an introduction to a set of papers on Computer Ethics from the conference ETHICOMP95. Taken as a whole, the collection of papers provides arguments and concepts to launch a new development in computer ethics: ‘Global Information Ethics’. A rationale for globalization is provided, as well as some early efforts which move in that direction.

The Key Organisational Issues Affecting E-Government Adoption in Saudi Arabia

The e-government paradigm refers to utilizing the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the whole government body to meet citizens’ expectations via multiple channels. It is, therefore, a radical change within the public sector and in the relationship between a government and its stakeholders. In the light of that, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a keen interest in this issue and thus it has developed a national project to implement e-government systems. However, many technological, managerial, and organizational issues must be considered and treated carefully before and after going online. Based on an empirical study, this article highlights the key organizational issues that affect e-government adoption in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at both national and agency levels.

Developing ethical practices to minimize computer misuse

Various researchers have suggested the need to develop sound ethical information technology practices to combat the increased incidence of computer misuse. Relating to the ubiquity of information technology, this article presents a basis to understand the nature of computer misuse. Such an analysis will help in developing ethical practices to minimize computer misuse. Finally, this article argues that by addressing ethical issues at both formal and informal levels, the risks associated with information technology usage can be minimized.

Towards morally defensible e-government interactions with citizens

This paper looks at citizen‐facing e‐government. It considers how the non‐discretionary nature of the citizen’s relationship with government makes citizen‐facing e‐government different from business‐consumer e‐commerce. Combined with the moral basis of the state, the paper argues that there is an obligation for the state to set an example, which should affect the design of citizen‐facing e‐government, with design‐for‐all being an appropriate philosophy. Other consequences should include a preference for open standards and a wariness of unintentional endorsement of commercial products. E‐government should also offer a good level of data protection and security, and has a role in educating citizens in matters of computer security. Advantages and disadvantages that may come from e‐government adoption are considered, including a number of ways in which cost savings and increases in convenience may be achieved. There are brief discussions of questions of distribution of the benefits of e‐government adoption an...

The problems of global cultural homogenisation in a technologically dependant world

Global cultural homogenisation has significant consequences for our responsibility for others in distant parts of the globe. ICT gives a powerful impetus to this cultural homogenisation. There are a number of distinct elements that contribute to this.

Management communication: a technological revolution?

It may be reasonably argued that the advent of modern communications technologies should manifest itself to some extent in a change in the behavioural patterns of their users. Indeed, if no such changes occur it may prove difficult to justify the introduction of these technologies. Particularly, one might expect that the locations in which people perform their daily tasks should be impacted to some degree by improved communication facilities. A recent diary study of managerial work in UK organisations, conducted by the authors, suggests that the locational patterns of managers in the work‐place appear not to have changed significantly, if at all, over the past 30 years, despite the rapid technological changes that have taken place during that era. Additionally, the use of the conventional telephone has remained constant during that period despite technological improvements and the introduction of alternative technologies such as fax, electronic mail, cellular phones, messaging services and video‐conferencing. These findings suggest that the communication habits of managers are not significantly influenced by the introduction of new technologies, but rather that their work patterns are probably set by more complex factors that may be organisational, psychological or sociological in nature.

Organizational Knowledge: Ethics and the Importance of Trust

The aim of this paper is to grasp the ethical dilemmas that arise into organizational knowledge and the importance of trust for diminishing these dilemmas. Therefore, it focuses three key issues: knowledge management (concept; and, schools of thought); knowledge flowing models versus ethics (mental models; the Socialization, Externalization, Combination, Internalization (SECI) model; and, Fiske’s relational model); and finally, the importance of trust as a possible answer. Plus, this paper suggests that the previous models only focus knowledge as continuum process and the result of this process omits ethical and moral dilemmas (obligation to share, personal property, personal worth, autonomy, dignity, privacy, etc.). These ethical dilemmas clearly weaken a knowledge management project, and how trust is a reliable answer. The absence of empirical work should be considered a limitation of this paper; however, does not diminish the importance for this debate.

Developing ethical practices to minimise computer misuse

Various researchers have suggested the need to develop sound ethical information technology practices to combat the increased incidence of computer misuse. Relating to the ubiquity of information technology, the paper presents a basis to understand the nature of computer misuse. Such an analysis will help in developing ethical practices so as to minimise computer misuse. Finally, the paper argues that by addressing ethical issues at both formal and informal levels, the risks associated with information technology usage can be minimised.