The impact of information and communication technology on skilled labor and organization types

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) affects the global economy and the business world enormously. In particular, the impact of ICT on work organization has been in the spotlight since the widespread introduction of computerized systems two decades ago. However, the relationship between ICT and organizational factors has not been indentified clearly. This study aims to investigate possible complementary relationships between ICT diffusion and organizational factors such as: labor, firm organization, product differentiation and the demand for skilled labor. Utilizing detailed firm-level data in Korea, this research scrutinizes whether the relationship among the organizational factors in Korean firms is different from that of other technologically advanced countries. The results show that ICT demand is complementary to investment in human capital and product differentiation, but not to autonomous organizations. ICT is also found to contribute to productivity and profitability in addition to its effects on these relationships. The results do not show any synergic effect with other factors, however. Investment in ICT should be considered with other organizational factors with attention paid to synergistic effects. The implications could help practitioners as well as academicians in investing in ICT and in studying ICT investment respectively.     

Identity in Flexible Organizations: Experiences in Dutch Organizations

In the information economy, flexible organizations have evolved. Work and labour relations have become more flexible than in industrial organizations. This has consequences for the identity of organizations. Organizations tend to become opportunity coalitions when the identity is too fragmented or neglected. The key questions this article adresses is what is identity in a flexible organization and to what extent is it possible to ‘manage’ the construction of identity in flexible organizations? This key question was split up into three sub‐questions. We were interested in how (1) organizations organize their talent management, (2) how organizations manage their labour relations and (3) how organizations manage identity. These three subjects come forward in recent publications in the field of organizational development and HRM as being critical of management of a flexible and innovative organization. In the article, the characteristics of flexible organizations are defined. These characteristics are translated into the relationship between these organization and individual: the way flexible organizations manage their work, labour relations and identity is studied in 20 Dutch organizations. Striving for an optimum in flexible work and flexible labour relations, combined with managing a specific organizational identity seems to be the HR‐strategy Dutch organizations implement to reach flexibility and innovation.     

‘Representing the User’ in software development—a cultural analysis of usability work in the product development context

It is widely accepted that users should be involved in the development of interactive systems. However, involving users in interactive systems development is challenging, especially in product development. The organizational culture is a key factor affecting the successes and failures of organizational change and development efforts. This paper shows how user involvement is intertwined with the organizational cultures in a case study of five software development organizations. User involvement is indirect in the case organizations, and labeled as usability work. Using cross case analysis, four ‘cultures of usability work’ are identified. The cultures have distinct cultural characteristics, employ different approaches to usability work, and have different preferences and strategies for the prospective facilitation of usability work. Sensitivity to the cultural context is identified as an important consideration in the facilitation of usability work, and culturally compatible strategies for usability work in different cultural settings are identified. The paper concludes that there might not be one ‘best, universally valid, context free way’ of introducing and carrying out usability work in software product development organizations.     

Can ICT enhance workplace inclusion? ICT-enabled workplace inclusion practices and a new agenda for inclusion research in Information Systems

Workplace inclusion is a strategic concern for organizations, yet challenging to achieve. We investigate how Information and Communications Technology (ICT) use can enhance workplace inclusion. Based on qualitative data collected from a leading UK organization, we conceptualize four ICT-enabled workplace inclusion practices – Expanding, Orienting, Enculturating, and Reflecting. Each practice entails the use of multiple ICT applications to enhance workplace inclusion through a distinct set of organizational activities. We also highlight the Reflecting practice as key in enhancing other practices. Drawing from our findings, we develop a framework for ICT-enabled workplace inclusion that constitutes inter-related ICT-enabled practices focused on multiple organizational activities. We contribute to the literature on the strategic role of ICT for organizational/social good, a current area of research priority for the information systems discipline.     

Multi-metaphor method: organizational metaphors in information systems development

Abstract.  Conventional methods have been criticized for their positivist philosophy and for either ignoring the organizational context of information systems development (ISD) or using only a simplistic, machine-based conceptual model of organizations. We have developed an approach to enable systems developers to use a richer view of organizations and a more interpretive approach. Multi-Metaphor Method (MMM) supports developers via a range of metaphors as cognitive structuring devices to understand an organization so that developers can learn to move between different ways of 'reading' the social context in which ISD occurs. We explain the rationale and theoretical underpinnings of MMM and then discuss our action research to investigate the viability and relevance of MMM during ISD practice. We show how the developers' use of organizational metaphors via MMM did not just enable rich conceptualizations of the client organizations but also influenced the ISD process and final product. We review the learning outcomes and discuss the implications for systems development practice of our research.     

ICT-supported knowledge representation for development of routines in industry

Organizational Learning (OL) is important for a firm’s productivity growth. According to some literatures, information and communication technology do not support organizational learning and therefore not enhanced productivity. This research however has demonstrated that in the case of manufacturing companies some computer-based systems representing organizational knowledge—knowledge management systems (KMS) do support organizational learning. For OL to take place through KMS, our findings suggest that a deliberate organizational learning structure must be in place within the organization. This article demonstrates how knowledge management systems deliberately developed and implemented by management, can support the development of operating routines for manufacturing industries. KMS, if deliberately implemented for the purpose of empowering employee participation, may be a supporting mechanism for process and product improvement and innovation in manufacturing organizations. Such a structure may results, as our case demonstrates, in a dynamic and iterative employee—management knowledge development process resulting in productivity enhancement.     

The critical success factors for ERP implementation: an organizational fit perspective

Since early 1990s, many firms around the world have shifted their information technology (IT) strategy from developing information systems in-house to purchasing application software such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. IT managers responsible for managing their organization’s ERP implementation view their ERP systems as their organizations’ most strategic computing platform. However, despite such strategic importance, ERP projects report an unusually high failure rate, sometimes jeopardizing the core operations of the implementing organization. This study explores the root of such high failure rate from an “organizational fit of ERP” perspective. Based on the relevant literature, we define the concept of organizational fit of ERP and examine its impact on ERP implementation, together with ERP implementation contingencies. The results from our field survey of 34 organizations show that ERP implementation success significantly depends on the organizational fit of ERP and certain implementation contingencies.     

How to get the most from a business intelligence application during the post implementation phase? Deep structure transformation at a U.K. retail bank

This paper focuses on the process of maximizing the benefits from a business intelligence (BI) application. A general theoretical framework of analysis is formulated based on previous research into organizational deep structure and inertia. Our framework is applied to a case study of a U.K. retail bank which used an existing customer profitability BI application to transform its marketing strategy. We find that an organization’s ability to extract strategic BI benefits is influenced by its deep structure (core beliefs, organizational structures, control systems and distribution of power) and also by its ability to overcome the effects of the multiple inertia sources that the deep structure generates. Organizations should therefore carefully consider the effects of multidimensional organizational inertia and aim to manage inertia sources in respect to information from BI applications when links that embed the BI into an organization as a whole are developed and maintained. We also present generally applicable insights into enhancing the delivery of informative long-term BI decision support for organizations.     

On the classification of telework

Information and communication technology (ICT) provides organizations with a whole range of new possibilities for performing work and structuring the organization. The technical, and to a certain extent the organizational development, has been rapid and there has not been the time for any consensus on concepts to evolve. This article is concentrated to a limited part of the area of organizations and ICT, telework and concepts related to telework. It is argued that many of these concepts—notably telework—have been used by so many authors in so many different ways that they have lost their specifity. They are defined in so many ways in different studies that they in each instance need to be further defined to clarify exactly what is being studied. The aim of the article is therefore not to propose new definitions but to show instead how it is possible to discriminate among telework situations by using dimensions, along which new ways of doing work can be further specified. We distinguish among forms of organizations such as telecommuting, multiflex, mobile work, satellite office, and virtual organization. We also discuss concepts regarding work places, such as neighbourhood work centres, resort offices, satellite work centres and mobile workplaces. We discriminate between the telework situations by discussing dimensions for forms of organization and workplaces, respectively.     

How Can Organizational Memory Theories Contribute to Organizational Memory Systems?

Organizational memory systems (OMS) support organizations to ensure organizational learning, flexibility and efficiency and the management of change. The paper describes the term organizational memory and reviews a set of theories contributing to this field. As organizational memory is considered interdisciplinary, theories are drawn from research fields as different as organization science, psychology, sociology and artificial intelligence. The consequence is that the design of information systems supporting organizational memory has to be seen in this very specific context which leads to different perspectives contrasting traditional software development. These different perspectives are integrated into our view on organizational memory systems. The paper is concluded by an outlook on the main research questions which we intend to address in our research.     

From information systems resources to effective use: Moderating effect of network embeddedness

This research examines how organizations can achieve effective information systems (IS) use by aligning internal IS resources with embeddedness in the IS outsourcing network. Leveraging the empirical opportunity of large-scale organization-wide meaningful use attestation of electronic health records, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of US hospitals from 2013 to 2017. We found that an organization’s network embeddedness amplifies the positive relationship between IS resources and effective IS use. We also identify different impacts depending on network embeddedness types and organization sizes. We found positive moderating effects of structural and positional embeddedness. However, junctional embeddedness has no direct or moderating effect on IS use. In addition, the moderating effects manifest differently for different-sized organizations – i.e., structural embeddedness has a stronger positive moderating effect for large organizations, while positional embeddedness’ positive moderating effect is stronger for small organizations. We also found heterogeneous direct effects of structural and positional embeddedness on organizational IS use. Solely depending on structural embeddedness will result in lower IS use, which is more prominent for small organizations. Positional embeddedness has a negative direct effect on small organizations’ IS use but positively relates to large organizations’ IS use. This research highlights the role of network embeddedness in facilitating IS use and offers a nuanced understanding of its impacts. Our findings also provide practical implications for organizational IS use through strategic IS outsourcing.     

Exploring knowledge management software implementation from a knowing-in-practice perspective

This paper draws attention to a major issue of Knowledge Management (KM) technology implementation: potential sources of incongruence between KM software and the adopting organization. Using the case of a global consultancy firm, the paper explains KM software-organization incongruences as the consequence of differences between organizational and KM software developer’s knowledge work context and practice. Such differences reflect the differing ‘situated’ knowledge work practices that KM software developers and adopting organizations deliberately acquire and evolve over time. Theoretically, this paper gives a more comprehensive account of how knowledge work practices emerged and were then embedded into the software or the organization. Practically, this study would help make organizations more aware of the factors influencing KM software adoption and implementation, particularly in the case of large firms that are characterized by high-value, text-based content for decision-making such as professional service, R&D, and healthcare organizations.     

Technostress aus einer neurobiologischen Perspektive

Despite the positive impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on an individual, organizational, and societal level (e.g., increased access to information, as well as enhanced performance and productivity), both scientific research and anecdotal evidence indicate that human-machine interaction, both in a private and organizational context, may lead to notable stress perceptions in users. This type of stress is referred to as technostress. A review of the literature shows that most studies used questionnaires to investigate the nature, antecedents, and consequences of technostress. Despite the value of the vast amount of questionnaire-based technostress research, we draw upon a different conceptual perspective, namely neurobiology. Specifically, we report on a laboratory experiment in which we investigated the effects of system breakdown on changes in users?? levels of cortisol, which is a major stress hormone in humans. The results of our study show that cortisol levels increase significantly as a consequence of system breakdown in a human-computer interaction task. In demonstrating this effect, our study has major implications for ICT research, development, management, and health policy. We confirm the value of a category of research heretofore largely neglected in ICT-related disciplines (particularly in business and information systems engineering, BISE, as well as information systems research, ISR), and argue that future research investigating human-machine interactions should consider the neurobiological perspective as a valuable complement to traditional concepts.     

Employee dispositions to job and organization as antecedents and consequences of information systems use

Organizations implement information systems to improve employee productivity and engender favourable organizational outcomes. Although there is evidence of positive outcomes of system use, research has suggested that system use may lead to negative consequences for employees and organizations. There has been limited research that focuses on how employees' use of information systems in the workplace is associated with their positive and negative dispositions to job and organization. We develop and test a model that posits that dispositions to job (ie, job satisfaction, job security, job anxiety, and emotional exhaustion), and organization (ie, organizational commitment and organizational trust) will play a dual role of antecedents and consequences of system use. We conducted 2 longitudinal studies in the context of 2 different systems—a functional system and an enterprise system—and found support for our hypotheses (N = 257 and 181, respectively). We found that preimplementation job and organizational dispositions significantly predicted both lean and rich measures of system use. Further, we found that rich measures of system use (ie, cognitive absorption use and deep structure use) had differential impacts on postimplementation employee dispositions—functional system use had a positive impact and enterprise system use had a negative impact. Overall, our findings offer a comprehensive understanding of system use, and its antecedents and consequences for employees in organizations.     

Perceived information security of internal users in Indian IT services industry

Information security governance dominates the senior management’s agenda in overall organizational informance technology (IT) governance. The globalization trends encompassing all businesses, and risks of information leakage forces organizations to institute mechanisms to protect it. In order to achieve adequate level of protection, organizations implement information security management systems (ISMS). The effectiveness of ISMS depends on the implementation strength of security controls. Several studies have detailed out the qualitative nature of information security measurements and quantitative studies have always remained a challenge. This empirical study focuses on the information security perceptions of internal users of the organization on the security controls, customer influence and the support provided by the top management. The perception of internal users referred as perceived information security is measured based on the degree of confidence expressed by the internal users towards the security objectives namely, confidentiality, integrity, availability, accountability and reliability. In an attempt to align the interest of researchers and practitioners, the study surveys major developments in the field of ISMS and proposes a construct for a holistic comprehension of ‘Perceived Information Security’. The survey based research methodology focuses on the perceptions of the internal users such as Security program Implementers, Business Users and Senior Management. The findings of the study in the context of Indian IT services industry have been presented. The contributions of the research paper include providing insights into perceived information security of internal users of the organization, an empirical approach for studying perceived information security and a holistic framework for information security in Indian IT organizations.     

Testing a recent model of ICT in development: Botswana and its university

A recent model analyzing the role of information and communications technology (ICT) in development shows promise. The model coheres with theory on contingency, the problem of reductionism, and distinctions between deeply and shallowly inscribed organizational change arising from ICT. Conditions of e-readiness at the University of Botswana provide an opportune case study for the model. On the whole the original model holds up well, although the case study reveals relevant factors missed by the model: underlying support infrastructure and postimplementation growth in demand. Accordingly, we define an explicit role for time in the model and add a major new dimension of financial sustainability. These additions equip the model to better account for realities affecting ICT's role in development. Further research needs include case and cross-case studies of the revised model. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cultivating security culture for information security success: A mixed-methods study based on anthropological perspective

The continuous information security failures in organizations have led focus toward organizational culture. It is argued that the development of culture of information security would subsequently lead to a secure organization. However, limited studies have been conducted to understand information security culture. This study aims to understand information security culture and its impact on success with information security efforts in an organization. The research model is based on the theory of primary message systems, which is an established theory from the anthropology discipline. We followed a mixed-methods research design involving two phases of the study. In the first phase, 25 semi-structured interviews with experienced cybersecurity practitioners were conducted to develop the research model. The second phase empirically validated the research model using survey data from 473 participants who completed a web-based survey in Southeast USA from multiple companies. For data analysis, we employed Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling using SmartPLS. Our findings indicate that group cohesiveness, professional code, information security awareness, and informal work practices have significant influence on information security culture. Further, the security culture has positive impact on information security success perception. The contribution of this research lies in establishing the role of security culture and information security awareness in contributing toward information security success.     

Gendered selves and identities of information technology professionals in global software organizations in India

Global software organization (GSOs) are a recent form of work settings where Information Technology (IT) professionals engage in information and communication technology (ICT) mediated software development work for businesses across the globe. Issues of self, identity, and gender are linked to particularities of GSOs as a work setting. Using an interpretative, ethnographic approach, empirical data from a case study in India was analyzed to understand how gender was expressed in GSOs and linked to the concepts of self and identity of IT workers. Data suggests that GSOs are a global work setting where local issues of gender reflect social arrangements in Indian society. These arrangements have implications for GSOs as a work setting, for software development work, as well as for the selves and identities of IT workers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.