Innovation in Responding to the “Threat” of it Offshoring

AS the OFFSHORING OF IT activities continues unabated, a critical issue for U.S. IT executives is to identify IT activities that are best performed within the firm or to create new innovative ways to enable activities to continue to be performed in the firm, or at least in the United States.     

应用信息技术提高小学语文教学效率

随着小学实施新课程标准的速度越来越快,农村小学语文教学理念必须更新,教学方法与教学手段也必须与时俱进。充分使用现在学校的有利数字化条件,提高课堂效率,不断激发学生学习兴趣;努力创设精彩的教学情境,以提高学生学习积极性;同事还应充分挖掘信息教育技术内在优势,来提高学生的创新能力;我们广大教师对信息技术不仅要合理利用,还要创新运用,把信息技术优势与传统教学手段优点有机结合,进行优化组合,在教学实践中,不断探索新的教育教学手段,提高小学语文教学效率。     

BRITS AND TRICKS

Abstract

AS the OFFSHORING OF IT activities continues unabated, a critical issue for U.S. IT executives is to identify IT activities that are best performed within the firm or to create new innovative ways to enable activities to continue to be performed in the firm, or at least in the United States.     

Steady job market for IT professionals

Despite the instability in the world economy, are the ever-changing technology demands placed on businesses enough to maintain IT employment levels in the near term? What jobs are hot, and what technology specialties are waning in demand? Overall, the news is good for IT professionals. Businesses continue to need experienced employees well versed in various disciplines, especially networking and security. On the whole, analysts say, IT jobs remain stable even in flagging economic periods. IT professionals can protect themselves by learning how to think like the business side of the house     

Job burnout of the information technology worker: Work exhaustion,depersonalization, and personal accomplishment

The unique environment of the information technology (IT) worker is prone to create work exhaustion, a conceptual component of job burnout. Prior research on the IT worker focuses primarily on the antecedent conditions to work exhaustion, uniquely identifying the IT work environment including emotional dissonance, perceived workload, role ambiguity and conflict, autonomy, and fairness of rewards. However, though work exhaustion is a critical product of conditions in the IT work environment, two ignored dimensions of job burnout theory, depersonalization and lessened feelings of personal accomplishment, create a more complete picture and extend current models of IT worker burnout. The extended model with established antecedents is empirically tested through survey techniques and found to hold. Management needs to be aware of these additional symptoms of burnout to circumvent undesirable consequences.     

传感网与物联网的进展与趋势

文章概括地论述了当前IT前沿技术中的热点：传感网、物联网的由来、进展与趋势,阐述了从因特网到物联网,从数字化、网络化到智能化的进展与融合,以及它们的汇聚所引发的IT第三次浪潮对产业革命和社会发展的影响与作用;文中提出传感器核心芯片和传感网接入因特网技术,是当前IT前沿技术攻关的瓶颈,并由此引出了物联网与智慧地球的新理念和战略性新兴产业;文中分析了物联网向融合化、嵌入化、可信化、智能化发展的技术趋势和向标准化、服务化、开放化、工程化发展的管理应用趋势。     

When IT capabilities are not scale-free in merger and acquisition integrations: how do capital markets react to IT capability asymmetries between acquirer and target?

In mergers and acquisitions (M&A), a primary objective of acquirer is to integrate IT resources of the target with its own. IT M&A integration is assumed to create synergies, which in turn increase shareholder wealth by making the value of the merged firm greater than the sum of the standalone values of the two firms. In this study, we challenge this assumption and argue that IT M&A integration does not always lead to greater value creation. Prior research on IT M&A integrations indicates that IT resources are often not scale-free in M&A: that is, they do not transfer easily and costlessly from an acquirer to its target or vice versa. In fact, IT M&A integration can destroy value rather than create it when IT resources are not scale-free. We theorize about the contingencies under which IT M&A integration can create value for shareholders of acquirers. We test our hypotheses in a sample of 549 M&A transactions between 1998 and 2007. We find that, on average, capital markets react negatively with M&A announcements of acquirers whose IT capabilities are superior relative to those of the targets. The superiority of the acquirer’s IT capabilities signals that the acquirer is likely to rip and replace IT resources of the target. This IT M&A integration approach increases risks of disruption to target’s operations and revenue growth. Capital markets take such risks into account and reduce the stock price of the acquirer. One contingency that reduces the negative reactions of capital markets is industry relatedness of target. In a same-industry acquisition, an acquirer and its target have similar operating models, competitive dynamics, and regulatory context. Thus, ripping and replacing weaker IT resources of the target with superior IT resources of the acquirer creates expectations of more efficient operation, engenders positive stock price reactions, and increases shareholder wealth. Another contingency that reduces the negative reactions of capital markets is the acquirer’s track record in profitable growth. A profitably growing acquirer that has superior IT capabilities increases the confidence of capital markets that it can minimize potential disruption risks of IT integration, continue its profitable growth pattern with newly acquired target, engender positive stock price reactions, and create shareholder wealth. These findings indicate that IT M&A integration does not always lead to greater value creation in M&A. The study makes a contribution by identifying the contingencies under which IT M&A integration creates wealth for acquirer’s shareholders.     

Constructing information technology (IT) portfolios to achieve enterprise strategic goals in multi-business unit firms

This study aims to develop a new methodology in IT Portfolio Management (ITPM) to address the impact of portfolio priorities on IT strategies in a multi-business unit firm. The methodology includes a new ITPM model and uses simulated scenarios to overcome limitations due to insufficient real-world organizational IT portfolio data. The weight scores generated by the proposed ITPM model can enable the firm to create a rational viewpoint to improve its IT investment efficiency while establishing IT priorities to achieve enterprise strategic goals. Such an approach would enable firms to reduce their reliance on CIO intuition in guiding firms’ technology portfolios.     

Harnessing Green IT: Principles and Practices

In addition to moving itself in a greener direction and leveraging other environmental initiatives, IT could help create green awareness among IT professionals, businesses, and the general public by assisting in building communities, engaging groups in participatory decisions, and supporting education and green advocacy campaigns. Along these lines, tools such as environmental Web portals, blogs, wikis, and interactive simulations of the environmental impact of an activity could offer assistance. Green IT is an economic, as well as an environmental, imperative. Greening IT is and will continue to be a necessity, not an option. Green IT represents a dramatic change in priority in the IT industry. So far, the industry has been focusing on IT equipment processing power and associated equipment spending. It's not been concerned with other requirements such as power, cooling, and data center space. However, going forward, the IT industry will need to deal with all of the infrastructure requirements and the environmental impact of IT and its use. The challenges of green IT are immense; however, recent developments indicate that the IT industry has the will and conviction to tackle our environmental issues head-on. The IT sector and users must develop a positive attitude toward addressing environmental concerns and adopt forward-looking, green-friendly policies and practices.     

Information technology management: the case of the Port of Singapore Authority

The Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) used information technology (IT) extensively to create a high-tech port that has become the busiest port in the world. Now corporatised as a commercial port operator, PSA Corporation Ltd employs four key management success factors in managing IT to meet the demands and challenges facing port operators. They are: (1) having a business-driven IT investment; (2) aligning business and IT plans; (3) maintaining a flexible and extensible IT infrastructure; and (4) encouraging IT innovation and creativity. These management success factors are discussed and examples are given to illustrate how they help PSA more effectively leverage IT to streamline operations and sustain its competitive advantage.     

Information technology transfer: Indicators and issues

Abstract

Information technology (IT) stimulates social and economic change, which in turn spur technological development. The management of technological change is seen as pivotal in this era of new information technologies. The development and impact of IT in four countries—the USA, Japan, UK and India, are reflected via quantitative indicators: the IT (Development) Level Index and the IT Penetration Level Index, over the years of 1970–81. Gaps in their (nation's) relative information technology levels are exemplified via the potential technological distance parameter, D, which is also utilised in a model for information technology transfer so as to assess potential for transfer between countries. Some channels for technology transfer are given. A logistic curve for the rate of technological progress in IT shows the spectrum for introduction, growth and maturity of IT; a nation's IT Level Index value gives it a placing on the curve to show its stage of development. Some inferences of the trends for IT development and impact in the four countries are given. The uses of these Indices, and for whom, are also mentioned.     

Impact of mobile technology-enabled HR gamification on employee performance: An empirical investigation

This study draws from the information technology (IT)-enabled organizational capabilities perspective, technology affordance theory, and theoretical foundations of organizational gamification to examine how firms’ usage of mobile technology may be associated with the execution of human resource (HR) gamification initiatives and its effect on employee job performance and financial performance. Our central thesis was tested with a survey dataset from 134 firms. We found that: (1) Mobile technology-enabled HR gamification initiative improves job satisfaction and employee engagement and (2) employee engagement and job satisfaction are the pathways to improve job performance and create business value from IT.     

自动化技术与现代制造业

随着IT技术和自动化技术的飞速发展,作为其服务对象的机械制造业的控制技术和装备水平也得到了长足进展。该文论述自动化技术与现代制造业的关系,着重讨论了PLC与专用控制器在机器控制领域的应用发展历程、IT技术对自动化技术发展的促进、终端消费市场需求的变化、机器控制技术日趋复杂和节能技术等热点问题。     

Lessons learnt: 50 Jahre Informationstechnologie im Bankgeschäft am Beispiel der Deutschen Bank AG

Based on the lessons learnt from the last 50 years, statements are derived of which the authors claim that these will continue to be valid in future: Information technology in the banking industry supports business processes – selecting and designing processes will continue to decide about economic success in future. The necessity of handling a growing business volume will still be the major driver for using new information technology in the banking industry. It will be even more important than the aim of reducing costs by automation. Industrialization of IT will also change the use of technology in the banking industry. Hence, banks do not necessarily have to run their systems alone but may outsource services if required. The definition of the major business fields will significantly influence the banks’ IT strategy and, among other factors, will decide on the market success of a bank. Technological development will have an increasing effect on the banking business, will change it, and enable new business models. Successfully dealing with technology-induced changes predominantly depends on a company’s employees.     

Valuing information technology infrastructures: a growth options approach

Decisions to invest in information technology (IT) infrastructure are often made based on an assessment of its immediate value to the organization. However, an important source of value comes from the fact that such technologies have the potential to be leveraged in the development of future applications. From a real options perspective, IT infrastructure investments create growth options that can be exercised if and when an organization decides to develop systems to provide new or enhanced IT capabilities. We present an analytical model based on real options that shows the process by which this potential is converted into business value, and discuss middleware as an example technology in this context. We derive managerial implications for the evaluation of IT infrastructure investments, and the main findings are: (1) the flexibility provided by IT infrastructure investment is more valuable when uncertainty is higher; (2) the cost advantage that IT infrastructure investment brings about is amplified by demand volatility for IT-supported products and services; (3) in duopoly competition, the value of IT infrastructure flexibility increases with the level of product or service substitutability; and (4) when demand volatility is high, inter-firm competition has a lower impact on the value of IT infrastructure.     

From nationalism to pragmatism: IT policy in China

The challenges and obstacles faced are many, but through foreign investment, joint ventures and technology transfer, China is slowly achieving hard-won advances in IT development and use. Its IT strategy has shifted from developing indigenous technological capabilities and producing a full range of computers to promoting IT use and producing PCs and components. Tariffs have been lowered to encourage use. Massive investments are planned to expand and upgrade the telecommunications network. To promote production, the government has established software parks, encouraged joint ventures with foreign IT firms, and organized state computer enterprises on a more commercial basis. China's policies have shown signs of success, as computer use and production have grown dramatically in recent years. The key to the success of China's technology policy seems to be rooted in pragmatism. Policy makers appear willing to change and adapt when existing policies are not achieving their goals or when new opportunities appear. This flexibility is critical when responding to the rapid changes in technology and international markets. If the trend toward increased market orientation and pragmatism continues through the transition to the post-Deng Xiaoping era, IT use and production should continue to flourish. An improved information infrastructure and increased IT use can in turn benefit the economy as a whole by improving economic productivity and by making timely market information available to producers and consumers in the huge Chinese economy     

IT in teacher education in Scotland

Abstract This paper outlines the consensual approach to the formulation of curriculum policy in general, and in relation to information technology (IT) in particular, in Scotland. It outlines the approaches to IT that have emerged as a result. These are founded on the premises that all children should develop knowledge and understanding about IT and skills in using IT; that IT should influence both content and delivery of the curriculum; and that IT (computing studies in Scotland) should be an elective for secondary school pupils. Against this background, the paper describes the evolution of policy and practice relating to IT in teacher education. It appraises the strategies which institutes are using for developing the professional skills necessary to deliver IT in the Scottish curriculum. It notes significant progress but highlights the need to develop strategies which integrate IT more deeply with other professional studies so that student teachers develop deeper, more reflective approaches to IT.     

Do you see what I see? The search for consensus among executives’ perceptions of IT business value

Since firms rarely collect data on the precise economic or financial impacts of information technology (IT), perceptions play a key role in assessing IT impacts. To the extent that executives in the same firm evaluate IT impacts similarly, it can be easier to approve future IT investments or to initiate corrective action for failing IT investments. In this study, we use distributed sensemaking theory to investigate the conditions under which executives will reach a consensus as to the extent and locus of firm and process-level IT impacts in their firm. Using data from surveys of 133 top-level business executives in 13 firms, we show that consensus is a function of CIO-led sensegiving in the form of IT promotion, CIO leadership, information systems (IS) engagement with end users, and IS-business communications. The absence of consensus – discord – suggests IS disengagement, a lack of effective CIO leadership, weak IT-business communications, and ineffective promotion of the role of IT. Sensegiving does not mean telling executives what to think about IT but rather how to think about IT and its impacts at various points within the firm. Whether IT impacts are rated high or low, efforts to create increased consensus among executives can greatly enhance value from IT.     

Bolster your budget proposals with IT market basket statistics

Tracking and comparing the costs of IT staples such as equipment, connectivity, and training can underpin your budget proposals with hard numbers. IT spending projections for the year 2000 remain surprisingly low. A review of all companies surveyed reveals a maximum IT spending increase of 30 percent at one end of the scale and a maximum spending decrease of 25 percent at the other end, numbers that reveal a strange symmetry. Perhaps more significantly, the average change in expenditure is very small: only a 2 percent spending increase. Worse, now when the industry needs skilled workers more than ever, employee training days per year continue their steady decline worldwide, from 8.5 days in 1997 to 7.25 days in 1999. The paper considers how you can fight these trends and win with solid statistics and an approach to IT activities that positions your department as a value center for driving technology investments     

Effects of information technology on corporate social responsibility: Empirical evidence from an emerging economy

The recent history shows that computers have a significant effect in society. The benefits from Information Technology (IT) reach both enterprises and people. When small firms use IT resources to create unique capabilities, even indirectly they improve their conditions to meet Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). Considering this scenario, the aim of this paper is to analyze the effect of IT use on the CSR of small firms. We tested the relationships between the constructs using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, with a database comprised of 173 Brazilian small firms. Our results showed a positive and significant relationship between IT use and the four categories of CSR. In this way, we observed that IT contributes to companies, and also affects people that work in these enterprises. Corporate social obligations of firms and IT investments should be combined to generate unique capabilities, improving competitive advantage through the interaction of technology and people. The results of the paper extend the discussion about IT benefits to companies and to society.