Ruminations of an Editor-in-Chief

The Journal of Strategic Information Systems (JSIS) was first published December 1991 by Robert (Bob) D. Galliers, its Founding Editor-in-Chief (EiC). Early on Bob invited me to join the JSIS International Editorial Board¹ (the Board then being more operational, with members serving as quasi-AEs, an arrangement we’ve reinstituted more recently). I became Pacific Asia Region Editor in 2003, with JSIS shifting from region editors to Senior Editors in 2007, in which role I served the journal through the end of 2018. Mid-2018 Bob and Sirkka (Sirkka Jarvenpaa joined as co-EiC in 2000) jointly decided it was time; and announced they would both step down from their co-EiC roles at the end of that year. In September 2018, I was endorsed by Bob and Sirkka, the Senior Editors and Elsevier, to succeed Bob and Sirkka and assume the role of Editor-in-Chief of JSIS commencing 1 January 2019. I served as Editor-in-Chief through 1 July 2021 after which Yolande Chan and I served as co-Editors-in-Chief. Now the end of 2022, I am stepping down from operational involvement with the journal. In this my final editorial I focus on my time as EiC, also reflecting on my almost 3 decades with the journal. I much appreciate being invited to write these brief ruminations and am honoured to be included amongst the journal’s Emeritus, along with the esteemed Robert Galliers and Sirkka Jarvenpaa.     

Open Innovation and Team Leaders’ Innovation Traits

Open innovation has transformed internal novel resource allocation and facilitated diverse interorganizational cooperation models. Previous studies have investigated open innovation archetypes and their formation. However, most researchers have neglected the crucial role that team leaders play in integrating internal and external resources and connecting creative ideas in open innovation. This study investigated the influence of open innovation archetypes and team leaders’ innovation traits on team performance. On the basis of the literature review, the analytical hierarchy process was applied to construct a framework for assessing and selecting team leaders in open innovation. The analysis was completed based on samples from 45 valid respondents (88% return rate) in Taiwan’s high-tech industry. The study results suggested that innovation knowledge is the most crucial innovation criterion for a leader, particularly core knowledge and advanced knowledge. Among the various sub-criteria, extrinsic motivation was the second most important sub-criterion. Leaders with strong innovation motivations are suitable to lead inbound open innovation projects.     

Application of fuzzy calculations for improving portfolio matrices

In this paper, we draw upon portfolio analysis to develop and implement a strategic decision making model. We consider the limitations and problems of classic portfolio analysis approach and resolve these problems by using fuzzy set theory. In the proposed method, both internal and external factors are evaluated in linguistic terms and in terms of fuzzy triangular numbers. The fuzzy numbers are fed into an industry attractiveness-business analysis matrix. The novelty of the proposed approach comes from the fact that fuzzy numbers are processed without using conventional methods, allowing for strategies to be ranked.     

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.     

有线数字电视综合业务支撑系统的建设研究

依据有线电视行业信息系统建设现状的分析,理论结合实际,提出有线数字电视综合业务支撑系统的建设思路：参考SAM模型进行IT战略与企业战略的整合,根据MBOSS技术架构设计了适合有线数字电视业务的综合业务系统架构,通过业务流程再造进行组织结构和业务流程的重新梳理,统一规划,分步实施：通过这些思路,提出合理、可行的有线数字电视综合业务支撑系统的建设建议,从而增强企业的核心竞争力,推动有线数字电视业务的健康发展？     

Strategic dependence on the IT resource and outsourcing: A test of the strategic control model

Using resource dependency theory (RDT), this research analyzes how organizations control their information technology resources to improve organizational performance. According to RDT, organizations must manage their dependency on external organizations and limit external dependencies when resources are considered critical. The current study proposes and tests a portion of a Strategic Control Model positing that managers seek to control important, strategic resources in order to create value for the firm and to avoid dependency on external entities. Utilizing a research design that captured extensive quantitative data on the control of IT functions and services, the research team gathered 5 years of data on 54 business units (BUs) in 27 global companies located in seven countries. Study examined the linkages of these 54 BUs to firm performance. Locating the Extent of Control within the firm in cases where the firm depends on IT as a strategic resource proves to be a good explanation for effective decisions leading to higher performance. Viewing IT as a strategic resource alone does not lead to positive business unit outcomes, but the moderating influence of Extent of Control is found to establish the complex statistical relationship with business unit performance. For these reasons, it is critical that a theoretically grounded firm-wide process for decisions on locating IT control is in place to capture business value.

典型产业网络的组织结构分析

产业网络是一种新型的组织协调方式。是产业组织的创新。随着经济的不断发展,产业网络显现了不同的形态特征和发展趋势。本文在网络理论分析的基础上,从主体、行为、资源三个网络要素出发,构楚了产业网络的组织结构分析框架。在此基础上,本文在诸多产业网络的形态中选取了四种较为典型的产业网络进行组织结构分析,分别是虚拟企业、战略联盟、企业集团和产业集群。最后,本文对四种产业网络的组织结构进行了比较。     

Building outsourcing relationships across the global community: the UPS–Motorola experience

The United Parcel Service (UPS)–Motorola case study revolves around two major areas of information technology (IT) management: IT as a competitive tool and global outsourcing of IT projects. It provides an opportunity to become familiar with the decisions and actions taken by UPS to assure their competitive advantage in the turbulent courier services industry. In the IT outsourcing area, the case addresses managerial and technical issues associated with outsourcing IT projects across the global community. The case presents the specific factors that made this outsourcing project successful and discusses the development of the outsourcing relationships between UPS and Motorola (Israel), from initial negotiations to the creation of a strategic alliance between the two companies. A major point in this case is the gradual development of trust between the two sides, trust that led the two firms from being committed to a contract to becoming strategic partners.     

战略模拟中群决策方法管理平台的设计与实现

在综合集成的战略决策模拟环境中，多人研讨是主要的工作方式，利用多个领域的专家们的经验和智慧来对战略问题做出定性定量结合的判断。该文在分析典型群决策过程的基础上，分析和提出了战略决策研讨与模拟环境SDS2002中的群决策方法管理平台的服务机制，并给出了基于Bxchange 2000 Server的实现方案。     

Solving mixed integer programming production planning problems with setups by shadow price information

Algorithms developed to solve linear programming (LP) problems and advances in computer speed have made large-scale LP problems solvable in time for implementation. Solving an LP is relatively easier than solving an MIP for modern production planning problems. In this study, we propose a heuristic iterative algorithm between LP solution phases and setup decision computations for solving these difficult MIP production planning problems. By utilizing the shadow price information provided by the LP solution of the previous iteration, the setup decision computation converts an MIP problem into an LP problem, which can be efficiently solved in the current iteration. Extensive experiments show that the proposed heuristic algorithm performs well.