Troy J. Strader

Perceived network externalities and communication technology acceptance

Electronic mail (e-mail) and instant messaging (IM) systems represent two communication technologies that are potentially substitutable. A unique feature of e-mail and IM is that their value to an individual user increases as the number of other people adopting the system grows. This is referred to as a positive network externality. This externality makes it difficult for consumers to switch to other systems because of the potential loss of connectivity with network members. Further, as this externality grows, it has unintended negative consequences in the form of spim and spam. Including these three network externality effects – positive, cross-impact, and negative – the present study investigates the determinants of electronic communication system use based on an extended Technology Acceptance Model. The study findings suggest that user perceptions regarding network externalities have a positive impact on use of electronic communication systems while perceptions of problems associated with unsolicited messages and perceived usefulness of alternative systems do not significantly affect system use. This study contributes to our understanding of the factors that affect use of existing and newer alternative communication technologies.

The Impact of Context on Employee Perceptions of Acceptable Non-Work Related Computing

Employees have access to a wide range of computer-related resources at work, and often these resources are used for non-work related personal activities. In this study, the authors address the relationship between employees utilitarian ethical orientation, the factors that create the context that influences their ethical perceptions, and their overall perceptions regarding the level of acceptability for 14 different non-work related computing activities. The authors find that time and monetary cost associated with an activity has a negative relationship to perceived acceptability. Results indicate that contextual variables, such as an employees supervisory or non-supervisory role, opportunity, computer self-efficacy, and whether or not an organization has computer use policies, training, and monitoring, influence individual ethical perceptions. Implications and conclusions are discussed for organizations and future research.

Spam, Spim, and User Perceptions of E-Mail and Instant Messaging Usefulness

This article investigates the effect of unsolicited electronic messages, also known as spam and spim, on perceptions of e-mail and instant messaging usefulness. It is hypothesized that spam and spim should have a negative effect on electronic communication system usefulness, but the survey findings do not support this. Users seem to have coped with spam and spim through a combination of technical and non-technical solutions. The implications of these findings are discussed from the perspective of researchers, marketers, electronic communication service providers, and public policy.

Online and Offline Content Piracy Activities: Characteristics and Ethical Perceptions

This study identifies several factors that influence an individuals ethical perceptions of other users content piracy activities. It addresses the relationship between the characteristics of various online and offline content piracy activities and the extent to which individuals perceive these activities to be ethical. It also considers the knowledge and experience individuals have regarding digital technologies to see whether it impacts their ethical perceptions. This paper finds that the more time it takes to copy content, and the higher the value and quality of the copy, the less ethically acceptable these activities are viewed. It also finds that when users have higher levels of digital technology experience and understanding they view all of these activities as relatively more acceptable. Implications and conclusions are discussed for content companies and future research.

Preface to the focus theme section: Collaborative value creation in e-business management

The meaning of the term value can assume several connotations. Accountants can measure organizational value with net assets, such as in assets minus liabilities. Marketers help us better understand customer value through exceeding expectations, such as in actual performance of a service or delivery of a product minus customer expectations. Economists can measure consumer value in terms consumer utility and surplus. More formally, Merriam-Webster defines the term value to be ‘‘a fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged’’ (2010). MIS researchers have found useful measures in the valuation of information technology investments. Strassmann, for example, using three measures of return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), and total shareholder value examined there potential correlation with information technology (IT) spending per employee (1996). Strassman’s model was applied to hundreds of companies over a 20 year time span. Hitt and Brynjolfsson examined information technology investments in terms of productivity, consumer value and business profitability and applied the model to 370 large firms over a 7 year time span (1996). Nicholas Carr in his infamous article ‘‘IT Doesn’t Matter,’’ advocates for the distinction between proprietary IT and infrastructure IT and concluded that most of IT can be considered a commoditized type of service (2003). Hagel and Brown quickly followed with a response article arguing that to effectively use IT, organizations must fix the business process first, view IT value as a cumulative investment of sustained innovations over time, and acknowledged that IT innovations rarely result in ‘big bang’ solutions (2003). Collectively, these efforts, along with any others, have provided significant insights into IT valuation in a broader information technology context. Regardless if you’re debating the profitability myth, the productivity paradox or distinguishing between commoditized versus strategic IT investments, however, several recent events necessitate researchers and managers to take a closer examination of IT

The IPO window of opportunity for digital product and service firms

Recognizing the window of opportunity to go public for digital product and service (DPS) firms is especially critical because they have high fixed-to-variable cost (FCVC) ratios and winner-take-all industry competition. Too early and their very risky nature means a steep discount to their stock. Too late and they may not be able to sell stock or it may be too late to take advantage of a new product or service. We find that the size of the run-up in stock price at the IPO is higher (lower) for DPS firms the earlier (later) they go public and significantly more than for traditional firms. We also find that the DPS firms that go public earlier or later outside the window of opportunity are more likely to fail. This result is also stronger for DPS firms than for traditional firms.

Acceptability of Social Media Use in Out-of-Class Faculty-Student Engagement

In this exploratory study, higher education faculty perceptions regarding acceptability of social media use for out-of-class student engagement are identified. Hypotheses are developed and tested using a survey to address the impact of factors such as awareness, faculty/student relationship status, gender, academic discipline, and rank on faculty attitudes toward out-of-class social media use for student engagement. Findings indicate that faculty members are aware of social media, but use varies. Overall, they do not view social media as an important part of out-of-class engagement, but it is viewed as more acceptable for engagement with former students. In addition, faculty from Marketing and Communications disciplines and Associate/Full Professors perceive social media use to be more acceptable for student engagement when compared with their colleagues from other disciplines and lower ranks. Implications and conclusions are discussed for development of university social media usage policies and directions for future research.

Instructor Perceptions of Web Technology Feature and Instructional Task Fit

In this exploratory study, university faculty instructor perceptions of the extent to which eight unique features of Web technology are useful for various instructional tasks are identified. Task-technology fit propositions are developed and tested using data collected from a survey of instructors in business, pharmacy, and arts/humanities. It is proposed that the Web technology features can be classified into three groups. Ubiquity and universal standards are primary features that are useful for supporting all of the teaching tasks. Richness, interactivity, information density, and personalization are contextual features which are each useful for specific tasks. Global reach is of secondary importance for supporting traditional classroom instructional tasks. Support is found for each proposition except universal standards and social technology is not perceived to be as important as anticipated. Implications and conclusions are discussed for learning management system designers, instructors, and educational technology researchers.

Software Firm Cost Structure and Its Impact on IPOs in the E-Commerce Era

The first decade of the e-commerce era saw an increase in activity in the software development industries as new firms were created and existing firms made acquisitions. Many firms pursued a growth strategy and this growth required capital that was often obtained through an initial public offering IPO of equity. Software firm cost structures are very different from traditional physical goods firms because their marginal costs are much lower, but what is not known is whether this affects their financing strategies. In this study we compare software firm and traditional firm IPOs using data from 780 IPOs offered during the late dot-com era 1998-2002 to identify differences in firm and offer characteristics, investment risk, initial returns, and underwriting activity. We find that the characteristics and performance of software firm IPOs are significantly different from IPOs offered by raditional firms during this time period providing supporting for our conclusion that firm cost structure should be considered when analyzing IPOs and other strategic issues.

Traditional and Online IPO Processes: Are there Differences in after-Market Trading and Market Making?

In this study we compare the after-market trading and market making activities of a sample of Nasdaq online initial public offerings (IPOs) to a matched sample of traditional IPOs. We find that online IPOs have significantly higher turnover in after-market trading, and more market makers, dealers, and electronic communications networks servicing their trading activities than traditional IPOs. We find no difference between the samples in after-market volumes, block trades, or the number of dealers actually engaged in trading. We believe this provides some support for the notion that distribution of IPOs to online customers facilitates liquidity in the after-market, at least for the smaller investor. We also believe that the evidence implies that control of the after-market trading is still in the hands of the institutional investor and that the advantages the Internet offers as a global communication network are at this point not being fully utilized.