An empirical investigation on organizational innovation and individual creativity

Innovation is one of the critical success factors for organizations. It is essential for business to understand the driving forces of innovation. This study investigates the impact of the following three factors on innovation: employee relationship, knowledge sharing, and IT application maturity. 167 samples of firm level data were collected to construct the measurements of innovation, intensity of employee relationship, employee diversity, quality of knowledge sharing, and IT application maturity. It is found that all of these factors have significant impacts on innovation. We further extend the investigation to individual creativity as a corresponding concept to organizational innovation. An employee social network was constructed at a size of 149 nodes. It is shown that the centrality of each employee in the social network has significant positive impact on individual creativity. With these results from investigating organizational innovation and individual creativity, this study empirically illustrates the importance of enhancing employee relationship, knowledge sharing, and IT application maturity.     

The role of IT application orchestration capability in improving agility and performance

This paper investigates how IT application orchestration – a dynamic capability encapsulating a firm’s ability to refresh its application portfolio through a process of building, buying, and retiring IT applications – impacts firm performance. We propose a conceptual model in which the effect of IT application orchestration on firm performance is mediated by process agility. We further propose that a firm’s strategic orientation moderates the effect of IT application orchestration capability on process agility. Analysis of data from an international survey of IT executives supports our proposed hypotheses. This research contributes to the emergent literature on dynamic capabilities by proposing and testing a theory of how IT application orchestration capability affects agility and firm performance.     

Development and evaluation of a software-mediated process assessment method for IT service management

IT service improvements can add immense value to organisations. To improve IT service management (ITSM) processes, a software-mediated process assessment method is proposed with four phases: process identification, process assessment, process capability measurement and process improvement. The international standard for process assessment was applied to measure process capability. This method was trialled at two Australian organisations and positively evaluated in a US foreign exchange trading business. Our empirical evidence challenges the underlying assumption that higher levels of process capability depend on the achievement of lower level process attributes. We conclude that this method can be applied to transparently self-assess processes.     

Resolving paradoxes in IT success through IT ambidexterity: The moderating role of uncertain environments

As information technology (IT) success is both essential and elusive, researchers and practitioners are faced with an ongoing challenge to determine what IT capabilities should be developed to ensure IT success. Drawing on the paradox and ambidexterity theory, we highlight paradoxes in IT success and propose that firms manage these paradoxes by developing an IT ambidexterity capability. We hypothesize that IT ambidexterity capability enhances IT success, and that uncertain environments strengthen this relationship. Our hypotheses find support in a sample of 292 British high-tech firms. This research contributes to conceptualize paradoxes in IT success and advances the theory for a more comprehensive understanding of the impacts of IT ambidexterity capability.     

基于ITIL运维服务管理体系的研究和设计

随着信息化应用的不断普及和深入,信息系统已成为支撑企业运作不可缺少的一部分,系统的运行维护也显得越来越重要。文章基于对ITIL最佳实践的研究,设计了一套IT运维服务管理体系,从而达到加强运维管理、提高运维效率、改善运维质量的目的,充分发挥信息化对企业的支撑和推动作用。     

Business analytics maturity of firms: an examination of the relationships between managerial perception of IT,business analytics maturity and success

This study develops a measure for business analytics (BA) maturity and empirically examines the relationships between managerial perception of IT, BA maturity and BA success. The findings suggest that (1) BA maturity can be measured via BA integration & management support, process-level benefits of BA and technology & data analytics capabilities, (2) BA maturity positively affects organizations’ overall BA success, and (3) managerial perception of IT positively influence organizations’ achievement of BA maturity.     

IT alignment strategies for customer relationship management

Customer relationship management (CRM) is the overall process of building and maintaining profitable customer relationships by delivering superior customer value and satisfaction. A CRM strategy involves the entire enterprise and is employed on an ongoing basis. Despite the fact that CRM projects incur huge expenditures, a large percentage fails to achieve the stated objectives. Failure in CRM initiatives could be avoided if a firm's CRM strategies are intelligently linked with its employees, customers, channels, and IT infrastructure. In this paper, we focus on those linkages, particularly on the linkages between an organization's CRM strategies and its IT infrastructure. Even though the relationships between IT and business strategies have been extensively explored in the IT alignment literature, prior research has not addressed how a firm's CRM strategies are aligned with its IT infrastructure. In this paper, we investigate the issues relating to CRM-IT alignment based on an in-depth case study of a large, well-known Internet travel agency.     

Business–IT alignment maturity of companies in China

Business–IT alignment has been consistently ranked as the number one concern of IT and business executives. Maintaining the alignment has been found to lead to stronger business performance, higher perceived value of IT and improved IS strategic planning; therefore addressing the issue is both important and timely. The economic growth in China in the last decade has led to greater availability of IT and its widespread use as a critical resource. Despite the increasing interest in Chinese IS issues by both researchers and practitioners, empirical research focusing on human- and organization-related IS issues in China is scarce. Using data collected from 130 business and IT executives from 22 companies in China, 11 of which were multinationals operating in China, we explored several questions in the area of business–IT alignment. An instrument designed to measure the six dimensions of business–IT alignment maturity was cross-validated using a sample of companies in China. Then, the instrument was refined to develop a measurement method that offered better reliability and validity in the context of Chinese companies. The relationship between the alignment maturity dimensions and IS strategic alignment was then examined. Finally, the alignment maturity of companies in China was assessed to provide a snapshot of business–IT alignment in China. A comparison between the 11 Chinese domestic companies and 11 multinational operating in China provided insight into the different IT practices of the two types of companies. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.     

Investigating the reliability of second-order formative measurement in information systems research

Recently, a few studies empirically explored the stability of first-order formative measurement, and raised concerns with its estimation reliability. Interpretational confounding, the disparity in the nominal and empirical meaning of a formatively measured construct, is at the center stage of the concern. Our study examines the issue in the context of the higher-order abstraction, focusing on the formatively defined relationship between the second-order construct and its indicators (i.e., first-order latent variables). Although the second-order formative abstraction is a widely accepted practice in structural equation modeling, the estimation results have been given a blind faith with no attempt to evaluate their integrity. Our empirical test, therefore, constitutes an attempt to fill the void. This study observed moderations of the theoretical relationship between reflectively designed first-order constructs and formatively defined second-order constructs when there is a change of endogenous variables. For this, two different formatively defined second-order constructs (i.e., IT management capabilities and IT personnel expertise) are utilized for the empirical testing. The estimation reveals that, while there was a considerable moderation of weights between IT management capabilities and its first-order constructs, those between IT personnel expertise and its first-order constructs remained relatively stable. These results demonstrate that the formatively defined relationship between the first- and second-order constructs can be precarious depending on the choice of the dependent variables. The analysis, therefore, revealed a significant presence of interpretational confounding and a higher chance of Type 1 error in model estimation. This implies that it becomes difficult to retain the construct validity and external validity of a formatively defined second-order construct. Thus, researchers are encouraged to exercise caution in mobilizing the formatively defined second-order measurement.     

The procurement alignment framework construction and application

Procurement has become increasingly important for organizations acting in dynamic supply chains and competitive markets. In practice however, companies struggle with adapting and improving their procurement business function. In line with the general trend in management and organization studies, both scholars and practitioners aim to define an integrated procurement policy that is truly aligned on all organizational and IT aspects. The central aim of this paper is to present a framework that supports the definition and application of such an integrative procurement approach. The framework is developed upon insights from IT business alignment (more specifically IT Procurement alignment), procurement maturity measurement and segmentation. It facilitates organizations in monitoring the maturity and alignment of their procurement on five different business/IT perspectives. In addition, the framework enables specific procurement improvements by taking the situational aspect of procurement segmentation into account. The framework was validated twice: through interview expert consulting and through a questionnaire using scale analysis. In a case study it was found suitable for assessing procurement maturity and identifying concrete procurement improvements.     

The Effect of IT Governance Maturity on IT Governance Performance

There are several best practice based frameworks that detail effective arrangements for the internal structure of an IT organization. Although it is reasonable that there is a correlation between the quality of the internal structure of an IT organization – labeled IT governance maturity, and the external impact of the same IT organization on the business – labeled IT governance performance, this has not been validated. The results, based on 35 case studies, confirm the hypotheses of a positive correlation between IT governance maturity and IT governance performance. Among IT processes described in 34 references, the internal structure of the IT organization, clearly defined organizational structures and relationships, mature quality management, and cost allocation show the strongest positive correlation to IT governance performance. The maturity of project management and service level management, as well as performance and capacity management, show almost no correlation to IT governance performance. The findings can be used to improve current frameworks for IT governance.     

Dynamic information technology capability: Concept definition and framework development

In a digital world, information technology (IT) units routinely update their capabilities to cope with changing business requirements and frequent technology releases. Extending the dynamic capabilities literature, this article presents the concept of dynamic IT capability, a multidimensional first-order dynamic capability that enables IT units to assist firms in appropriating business value from IT resources by influencing a set of IT-related ordinary capabilities. Scholars currently lack a dynamic capabilities framework that explains, from an IT unit’s perspective, how IT resources can be acquired, deployed, integrated, and reconfigured to fulfill business objectives. To bridge this research gap, we develop a high-level framework that highlights three constituent components of dynamic IT capability: dynamic digital platform capability, dynamic IT management capability, and dynamic IT knowledge management capability. Through an extensive literature review, we identify and summarize the set of ordinary capabilities that each dynamic IT capability component creates and reconfigures. We then offer guidance on future instrument development. To encourage further exploration of this critical construct, we close by highlighting future avenues for dynamic IT capability research.     

基于SaaS的IT资产管理系统研究

对SaaS服务模式及IT资产管理的现状进行了一定的研究,然后将SaaS应用模式结合IT资产管理得到基于SaaS的IT资产管理系统。对系统架构、功能、安全方案和商业模式进行探讨,提出了实现SaaS模式下的IT资产管理系统的系统方案,该方案的目标是实现SaaS第三级成熟度模型,考虑用基于Rabin密码体制的一次性口令身份认证方案,并且部署在软件服务平台上。     

关于信息项目后评价的思考与建议

随着信息技术项目的大规模建设和应用,如何客观、公正地评价其效果成为各方关注的焦点。信息项目后评价已成为项目闭环管理的最后1个环节,评价工作也逐步开展起来。当前评价的重点是项目目标实现程度、项目实施组织管理、应用效果、影响与持续性。虽然通用的项目后评价方法可以应用于信息项目,但操作难度较大。因此,应重视信息项目后评价方法的研究,在实践中探索信息项目后评价的关键要素和指标,形成完善的后评价方法。     

Personal information management effectiveness of knowledge workers: conceptual development and empirical validation

What critical factors contribute to knowledge workers’ effective information management and consequent job performance? This paper begins to address this important question by developing a conceptual definition of a new construct called personal information management effectiveness (PIME) and its constituent dimensions. Specifically, we theorize that PIME consists of two underlying dimensions: personal information management motivation (PIMM) and personal information management capability (PIMC). Synthesizing the extant literature on information management and information orientation, we further conceptualize PIMM as having four sub-dimensions of proactiveness, sharing, transparency, and formality, and PIMC as possessing five sub-dimensions of sensing, collecting, organizing, processing, and maintaining. Moreover, we develop a theoretical model that positions PIME as a mediator between two selected individual characteristics (IT self-efficacy and need-for-cognition) and job performance. New measures for PIME dimensions were developed and shown to have strong psychometric properties. The proposed model was empirically tested using data collected from 352 knowledge workers. As theorized, PIME was found to have significant effects on job performance (41%) and fully mediate the effects that the selected individual characteristics have on job performance. Responding to recent calls for advanced research on personal information management, the measures of PIMM and PIMC developed in this study have practical value as research and diagnostic tools and the findings provide useful insights to help organizations improve knowledge workers’ information management practices.     

Exploring the perceived business value of the flexibility enabled by information technology infrastructure

We developed a multidimensional definition of IT infrastructure (ITI) and applied it in exploring the perceived strategic payoffs of ITI-enabled flexibility. We began by developing a typology of theoretical approaches that can be used to organize the literature and then developed a multidimensional model by conceptualizing how flexibility can be enabled through technical, human, and process elements of ITI and how these are interrelated. We used a resource-based view of the firm and a dynamic capabilities perspective to account for competitive impacts of the flexibility. Finally, we hypothesized on the moderating effects of organizational size and reporting level of the top IT executive. Data collected from 293 IT managers showed that the range of managerial ITI capabilities, which were positively affected by all areas of IT personnel knowledge and skills, was responsible for the competitive impacts of the ITI-enabled flexibility. Multigroup analyses showed that large organizational size or reporting to the CEO reduced the positive effects of the range of managerial ITI capabilities on competitive impacts.     

Pro‐active neutrality: The key to understanding creative facilitation

Facilitation is a critical means of supporting creative processes in teams. Previous studies have shown that neutrality is central to effective facilitation but no clear conceptualization of neutrality has been provided to date. The aim of this paper is to explore how neutrality is enacted by facilitators, what its key elements and mechanisms are, and how it is perceived in the creative facilitation context. We adopt a theory building mode and conduct an in‐depth case study, following an innovation project in the IT sector with a series of facilitated creativity workshops. Our results show that neutrality is a multi‐dimensional construct that interacts with several outcome dimensions of facilitation, i.e. people, process, and product. We introduce a pro‐active neutrality framework, which explains the mechanisms of neutrality in facilitation and thereby extend theory on both neutrality and facilitation. We further outline a number of propositions that could be explored by future research as well as provide important creativity management implications that will enhance creativity and innovation in the workplace.     

An assimilation maturity model for IT governance and auditing

This study develops a conceptual model of organizational IT assimilation maturity based on constructs in the IS literature, qualitative data analysis of three exploratory case studies, and general morphological analysis (GMA). We inductively extract four dimensions of IT assimilation – business processes, information architecture, IT processes, and end-users – and characterize different maturity levels for each dimension. Applying Zwicky's GMA on the combinatorially large space of IT assimilation configurations, we prune the space to a more limited number of internally consistent and empirically feasible IT assimilation maturity profiles. We discuss how the model can support IT audit and governance activities.     

Entwicklung von Reifegradmodellen für das IT-Management

Maturity models are valuable instruments for IT managers because they allow the assessment of the current situation of a company as well as the identification of reasonable improvement measures. Over the last few years, more than a hundred maturity models have been developed to support IT management. They address a broad range of different application areas, comprising holistic assessments of IT management as well as appraisals of specific subareas (e. g. Business Process Management, Business Intelligence). The evergrowing number of maturity models indicates a certain degree of arbitrariness concerning their development processes. Especially, this is highlighted by incomplete documentation of methodologies applied for maturity model development. In this paper, we will try to work against this trend by proposing requirements concerning the development of maturity models. A selection of the few well-documented maturity models is compared to these requirements. The results lead us to a generic and consolidated procedure model for maturity models. It provides a manual for the theoretically founded development and the design of evaluation of maturity models. Finally, we will apply this procedure model to the development of the IT Performance Measurement Maturity Model (ITPM³).     

Matching information technology and organizational structure: an empirical study with implications for performance

In information systems and organization theory research, the alignment or fit between information technology (IT) and organizational structure has long been hypothesised to be a sine qua non for success. However, few solid results have been found linking this relationship to enterprise level performance, as problems abound in defining and measuring IT, performance and the fit between technology and structure. In view of this, an empirical study was conducted among 108 small and medium-sized manufacturing firms, using a comprehensive instrument to measure overall IT sophistication along two dimensions, namely IT usage and IT management. Taking organizational size and environmental uncertainty into account, it was found that IT sophistication is positively related to structural sophistication, IT usage is positively related to organizational performance, and the relationship between IT management and structural sophistication is stronger among the better-performing firms than among the worst-performing firms.