Adoption of open source software in organizations: A socio-cognitive perspective

Open source software (OSS) is an important trend in the information technology adoption landscape. It has received considerable attention in the scientific literature, but mostly in the professional press. In fact, there is much debate over its actual commercial and organizational value. Since the public discourse accompanying an IT may influence adoption decisions, it is important to consider IT specialists’ perceptions of the discourse on OSS. In this study, we investigated the relationship between IT specialists’ profiles, IT specialists’ reception of the public discourse on OSS, and their organizations’ receptivity to OSS. Drawing on the socio-cognitive perspective of IT innovation adoption and the organizing vision theory, a survey of 271 IT specialists was conducted to examine these issues. Our results indicate that a majority of IT specialists in our sample are rather neutral about the OSS concept conveyed in the public discourse. However, our sample also comprises respondents with more extreme perceptions who can be classified as either supporters or detractors. Our results indicate that detractors have more years of experience but have been less exposed to OSS than supporters, and that IT specialists’ perceptions of the OSS concept are positively associated with their organizations’ openness to OSS adoption and, to a lesser extent, with the existence of an organizational policy that favors OSS adoption. Altogether, our findings provide strong support for the organizing vision theory and the idea that the popularity of an IT innovation concept favors the adoption of the material IT innovation in organizations. By providing a preliminary test of a nomological network of IT specialists’ perceptions of the OSS concept, our study offers insights as to why organizations may or may not take OSS into account in their software procurement decisions.     

Bid evaluation behavior in online procurement auctions involving technical and business experts

Multi-attribute reverse auction-based procurement has been widely used by large organizations. The attributes of the auctioned objects are usually divided into two groups: technical and business attributes. They are reviewed and scored by technical and business experts who act as referees in the bid evaluation process. To analyze their bid evaluation behavior, we built a model for a multi-attribute reverse auction. With correlations between the bid evaluations of the different referee groups across the attributes, the bid evaluation problem is not the usual multi-attribute decision-making problem. We assess the cause–effect relationship that is present, and show that antagonism between referee groups tends to grow over time. We tested how this works with data from simulated auctions. To diminish the potential for antagonism between the two referee groups, we propose a modified bid evaluation mechanism. We also conducted role-playing experiments involving the referee behaviors as a means for assessing the proposed mechanism. Our results suggest that the modified bid evaluation mechanism is beneficial.     

Understanding factors affecting e-reverse auction use: An integrative approach

Using electronic-reverse auction (e-reverse auction) offers many advantages to companies such as price reduction, decrease in cycle time, standardization, and transparency in purchasing process. Despite its great advantages, some users do not want to use e-reverse auction technology for the procurement of products or services. This study aims to understand factors affecting e-reverse auction usage in companies by integrating three important theories. Key constructs of technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behavior (TPB), and innovation diffusion theory (IDT) are integrated to explain behavioral intention to use and actual use of e-reverse auction. Using LISREL 8.54, data collected from 156 employees working in the procurement department of companies in 40 different countries were used to test the proposed research model. Results indicated that, 76% of employees’ intention to use e-reverse auction is explained by subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived usefulness. Among them, subjective norms have the strongest effect. Besides, actual use of e-reverse auction is directly predicted by behavioral intention to use. We conclude with managerial implications and recommendations for possible future research.     

基于规则引擎的电子采购逆向竞拍的研究

近年来规则引擎技术已广泛应用于金融、电子商务及制造业等领域。当前大型企业的采购方式越来越多样化,传统采购系统所采用的逆向竞拍方案已不能满足现有需求。本文研究了规则引擎技术在企业电子采购系统中的应用,以将程序代码和业务规则分离开来。企业可以按照不同采购需求个性化配置采购规则,规则引擎控制整个拍卖过程,拍卖结束后系统再利用规则引擎自动对报价进行评分,帮助企业选择最优供应商,使其在采购过程中降低成本,提高采购效率。     

Assessing the benefits of group-buying-based combinatorial reverse auctions

Combinatorial reverse auctions represent a popular business model in procurement. For multiple buyers, different procurement models based on combinatorial reverse auctions may be applied. For example, each buyer may hold one combinatorial reverse auction independently. Alternatively, the buyers may delegate the auction to a group-buyer and let the group-buyer hold only one combinatorial reverse auction on behalf of all the buyers. A combination of a combinatorial reverse auctions with the group-buying model makes it possible to reduce the overall cost to acquire the required items significantly due to complementarities between items. However, combinatorial reverse auctions suffer from high computational complexity. To assess the advantage of combining group-buying with combinatorial reverse auctions, three issues must be addressed, including performance, computational efficiency and the scheme to reward the buyers. This motivates us to compare the performance and efficiency of the aforementioned two different combinatorial reverse auction models and to study the possible schemes to reward the buyers. To achieve these objectives, we first illustrate the advantage of group-buying-based combinatorial reverse auctions over multiple independent combinatorial reverse auctions. We then formulate the problems for these two combinatorial reverse auction models and propose solution algorithms for them. We compare performance and computational efficiency for these two combinatorial reverse auction models. Our analysis indicates that a group-buying-based combinatorial reverse auction not only outperforms multiple independent combinatorial reverse auctions but also is more efficient than multiple independent combinatorial reverse auctions. We also propose a non-uniform scheme to reward the buyers in group-buying based combinatorial reverse auctions.     

The Effects of Process Characteristics on the Value of B2B E-Procurement

Even as more organizations are moving towards implementing Web-based B2B procurement solutions, they are unsure of the real benefits of the Web. In other words, what is the value of B2B e-procurement to an organization and how to measure this value? What factors affect this value? In this paper, we discuss an evaluation framework to determine the value of B2B e-procurement and the effect of process characteristics on the value. We use an empirical study to highlight the different value created by different procurement types. We then develop a more comprehensive economic model to capture the additional effects of demand volume and process complexity. The integration of theoretical and empirical approaches provides a strong foundation to develop and evaluate useful adoption strategies for B2B e-procurement.     

Procurement decision making mechanism of divisible goods based on multi-attribute auction

Multi-attribute auction enables negotiation on several attributes in addition to the price such as quality, quantity, time of delivery and service levels. Most of the existing multi-attribute auction mechanisms are designed by considering a unique good or indivisible multiple goods. This paper focuses on designing a multi-attribute auction mechanism for addressing the decision making problem of multi-attribute and multi-source procurement of a kind of homogeneous continuous divisible goods (such as coal, oil, electricity and gas). The suppliers’ optimal bidding strategies are discussed, and a bidding method named the minimum bid increment method is proposed to simulate the overall process of suppliers’ multiple rounds of bidding. Theoretical analysis shows that our auction mechanism is an efficient mechanism, and satisfies the incentive compatibility conditions and the individual rationality conditions. Moreover, a multi-attribute auction example about the steam coal procurement is given to show how to implement our multi-attribute auction mechanism.     

应急物资采购及代储服务交易的逆向组合拍卖机制设计

建立市场化的政企联合储备模式已经成为应急物资储备体系建设的重要方式.基于此,着眼于应急物资采购及代储服务的交易问题,设计一个逆向组合拍卖机制.在此拍卖机制中,政府是拍卖的买方兼委托人,企业是拍卖的卖方兼竞拍者,应急物资采购及代储服务是拍卖商品.首先,通过一个报童模型建立政府决策行为与拍卖活动之间的关系,并提出企业的投标策略;其次,建立最小化供需偏差和最大化供给数量的竞胜标决定模型;最后,提出一个符合实际背景的数值算例对拍卖机制进行模拟和验证.研究表明,所提出的逆向组合拍卖机制不仅具有经济效率,还能够促进政府一次性达成与多家企业在多个周期的合作.由此可见,运用拍卖机制解决应急物资政企联合储备的交易问题具备理论的优越性和现实的适用性.     

The Adoption of Electronic Procurement in Singapore

The emergence of new Internet technologies has far-reaching ramifications on the way business is conducted. Notably, it has given rise to e-commerce, which is the transaction of business via the Internet. Recognizing the importance of the Internet as a powerful business tool, many Asian companies have moved quickly to take advantage of electronic commerce. This study explores the role of business-to-business e-commerce, with an emphasis on e-procurement among companies in Singapore. It examines the impact of Internet-based technology on the buyer side of the procurement function, how e-procurement is helping organizations to enhance their competitiveness and the challenges to its adoption. The study also presents the findings from a survey conducted to gain insight into the adoption of e-procurement among companies in Singapore. Specifically, it seeks to uncover the prevalence of and extent to which companies in Singapore are adopting e-procurement, the benefits reaped and the barriers encountered in the course of implementation.     

Reflections on issues of power in packaged software selection

Abstract.  The adoption of packaged software is becoming increasingly common in a variety of organizations and much of the packaged software literature presents this as a straightforward, linear process based on rationalistic evaluation. This paper applies the framework of power relations developed by Markus and Bjørn-Andersen to a longitudinal study concerning the adoption of a customer relationship management package in a small organization. This is used to highlight both overt and covert power issues within the selection and procurement of the product and illustrate the interplay of power between senior management, information technology (IT) managers, IT vendors and consultants and end-users. The paper contributes to the growing body of literature on packaged software and also to our understanding of how power is deeply embedded within the surrounding processes.     

Ideologies implicated in IT innovation in government: A critical discourse analysis of Mexico's international trade administration

We develop a perspective of IT innovation in the public sector as a process that involves three complementary areas of ideology and concomitant dispute: first, the widespread view of e‐government as a transformative force that leads to major improvements of public sector functions for the benefit of society at large; second, ideologies concerning the substantive policies enacted by public sector organizations; and third, ideology regarding public sector modernization. Our research examines how the objectives of IT projects and their actual effects in government are influenced by such ideologies and contestations that surround them. We develop our theoretical contribution with a critical discourse analysis that traces the ideological underpinnings of two consecutive IT projects for the administration of international trade in Mexico. This analysis associates the objectives of the IT projects with the emergence and ensuing contestation in Mexican politics of two ideologies: the first ideology concerns free international trade as imperative for economic development; the second ideology concerns public sector modernization that sought to overcome historically formed dysfunctionalities of public administration bureaucracies by adopting management practices from the private sector. The analysis then identifies the effects of the ideologically shaped IT projects on two key values of public administration: efficiency and legality. The insights of this research on the role of ideology in IT innovation complement organizational perspectives of e‐government; socio‐cognitive perspectives that focus on ideas and meaning, such as technology frames and organizing visions; and perspectives that focus on politics in IT innovation.     

Cloud computing in industrial SMEs: identification of the barriers to its adoption and effects of its application

Cloud computing is a new technological paradigm that may revolutionize how organizations use IT by facilitating delivery of all technology as a service. In the literature, the Cloud is treated mainly through a technological approach focused on the concept definition, service models, infrastructures for its development and security problems. However, there is an important lack of works which analyze this paradigm adoption in SMEs and its results, with a gap between the technological development and its adoption by organizations. This paper uses a qualitative technique methodology -group meetings with managers- and a quantitative one—survey- and identifies which factors act as barriers to Cloud adoption and which positive effects its application generates in 94 industrial SMEs. The conclusion is that the main barriers are of a cultural type and that the positive effects go well beyond reducing costs.     

Investigating ERP systems procurement practice: Hong Kong and Australian experiences

ContextIntegration of information systems is now commonly recognized to be a powerful strategic weapon that sharpens the competitive edge of a firm in today’s highly volatile business environment. Such integration can be achieved by replacing the disconnected and incompatible legacy applications by enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Along with the remarkable growth of the ERP market, we have seen a number of failure cases of ERP adoption. Such failure cases indicate that not all firms know how to adopt an ERP solution effectively.ObjectiveTo explore and identify crucial practices from real experiences in the Asia–Pacific region that may explain a firm’s success in ERP procurement, with an overt intention toward the formulation of useful lessons that inform practitioners and contribution to advances in software development practices in organizations.MethodA multiple-case design involving three Chinese firms based in Hong Kong and a local firm in Australia was employed. We collected, verified, and analyzed the information about the ERP procurement practice in each subject firm by means of semi-structured interviews, archive reviews, and member checks.ResultsWe summarized our results in the form of 10 lessons learned, together with observations of how culture seems to have played a part in shaping the practice.ConclusionOur results offer practical guidelines originated from real cases that are of use for practitioners to improve the ERP procurement process.     

SAP与物采系统融合衔接流程设计

本文主要介绍了物采系统,重点分析了SAP与物采系统融合衔接中的问题,针对这些问题提出了相应的融合衔接设计了,解决了SAP与物采系统数据传递,从而形成了物资采购从谈价议价、招标、反向拍卖到产生采购订单付款一个完整科学管理信息流程,满足了物资采购管理和采购交易为一体的业务管理需求,为以后其他系统与SAP系统融合提供了借鉴意义。     

A multidimensional procurement auction for trading composite services

Recently, static value chains have gradually been giving way to highly agile service value networks. This involves novel economic and organizational challenges. Added value for customers is created by feasible compositions of distributed service components. This work focuses on the design of a multidimensional procurement auction for trading service compositions and the analysis of strategies for service providers that participate in the procurement process. The mechanism implementation is incentive-compatible, so that it results in an equilibrium in which revealing the true multidimensional type (quality of service and valuation) is a weakly-dominant strategy for all service providers. Due to combinatorial restrictions imposed by the underlying graph topology, the winner determination problem can be solved in polynomial time, in contrast to computationally-intractable combinatorial auctions which cannot be solved this way. Furthermore, we provide a simulation-based analysis based on a reinforcement learning model of bundling and unbundling strategies of service providers that participate in the auction. Based on our results we discuss strategic recommendations for service providers depending on how they are situated within the network.     

用JMS技术实现网上拍卖系统实时信息发布功能

网络实时拍卖系统是一个模拟拍卖现场完成拍卖活动的网络交易系统,本文提出实现此系统的总体方案和系统架构,以及如何使用JMS技术实现实时信息发布功能,并且给出了实现此功能的部分程序。     

A hybrid mechanism for heterogeneous e-procurement involving a combinatorial auction and bargaining

We discuss the design of a hybrid mechanism for e-procurement, which implements a multi-attribute combinatorial auction, followed by a bargaining process to achieve desirable procurement transaction outcomes. For the auction phase of the mechanism, we discuss incentive-compatible bidding strategies for suppliers, and how the buyer should determine the winning suppliers. In the follow-on bargaining phase, the buyer can implement a pricing strategy that views the winning suppliers as though they are in different groups. We develop a model and derive decision conditions for the buyer to formulate procurement strategy in this context. Our most important finding is that, compared with the classical Vickrey–Clarke–Groves mechanism, the proposed mechanism improves the transactional social surplus, by including the possibility of post-auction bargaining. We also consider the likelihood that such a hybrid mechanism will be able to provide sustainable business value so long as there is reasonable symmetry in bargaining power between the buyer and the supplier. We offer some thoughts on how to extend this research with approaches from behavioral economics and experimental methods.     

Key lessons in achieving widespread inspection use

Hewlett-Packard has distilled its experience in promoting software inspections into a model of how technology adoption occurs and a metric of where it stands. Its managers know when and how to accelerate efforts to adopt inspections and other best practices. Experience has shown that the return on investment in technology adoption efforts can be huge. At HP, inspection technology was adopted across the entire company in four recognizable stages, which are defined as: experimental, initial guidelines, widespread belief and adoption, and standardization. HP's inspections program has progressed through three of these stages. We address several key questions: What characterizes the four stages? What were the most important lessons learned? What situations led to failure or success? And most important, how can we apply what we learned to speed the adoption of other proven practices? The lessons related will give many who are directly or indirectly responsible for software process improvement more confidence that inspections apply to all software-development organizations     

Testing the predictive ability of a requirements pattern language

This paper looks at a case study in the commercial procurement of an IT system to support learners on short educational courses. It compares the use case model created before the system was built with the use case model after the system was delivered. The original use case model was created through the application of a requirements pattern language designed to be employed during the procurement phase of an IT system. The final use case model was reverse engineered from the working application. The objective was to discover how accurately the original model represented the final application to provide a measure of the potential usefulness of the pattern language during procurement.     

Trying to adopt systems development methodologies — a case-based exploration of business users' interests

Information systems methodologies are an important component of the IS infrastructure and a primary device for organizing systems development work. Evidence suggests that methodology adoption and use are problematic. This research seeks to generate insight into business users' interest in adoption through detailed examination of a case. A framework is developed for organizing relevant research findings. The field research methods are described and details of the case reported. The case highlights the role of business managers in methodology adoption and the influence of business pressures originating in the strategic environment. Analysis shows the organizing framework to require extension to include a more direct role for business decision makers. it is argued that previous research has obscured the legitimate concern of business with systems development methodologies. As business increasingly asserts its interest in and control over IS, it will be necessary to give greater consideration to the needs of business in the selection and adoption of methodologies.