Resource constraints and information systems implementation in Singaporean small businesses

While the information systems (IS) literature has identified potential factors of IS implementation success, none has investigated the relative importance of these factors in the context of small businesses. Small businesses have very different characteristics from large businesses; notably, small businesses suffer from resource poverty. Without knowing the relative importance of key factors, small businesses may be expending their limited resources and energy on less important factors which have limited contribution to IS implementation success. This paper develops a resource-based model of IS implementation for small businesses based on Welsh and White's (Harv Bus Rev 59(4) (1981) 18–32) framework of resource constraints in small businesses and Attewell's (Organ Sci 3(1) (1992) 1–19) knowledge barrier theory. The model is then tested on a sample of 114 small businesses. The results show that small businesses with successful IS tend to have highly effective external experts, adequate IS investment, high users’ IS knowledge, high user involvement, and high CEO support. External expertise is the predominant key factor of IS implementation success in small businesses.     

Multiple Conceptualizations of Small Business Web Use and Benefit*

Small businesses play an important role in the U.S. economy and there is anecdotal evidence that use of the Web is beneficial to such businesses. There is, however, little systematic analysis of the conditions that lead to successful use of and thereby benefits from the Web for small businesses. Based on the innovation adoption, organizations, and information systems (IS) implementation literature, we identify a set of variables that are related to adoption, use, and benefits of information technology (IT), with particular emphasis on small businesses. These variables are reflective of an organization's contextual characteristics, its IT infrastructure, Web use, and Web benefits. Since the extant research does not suggest a single theoretical model for Web use and benefits in the context of small businesses, we adopt a modeling approach and explore the relationships between “context‐IT‐use‐benefit” (CIUB) through three models—partial‐mediator, reduced partial‐mediator, and mediator. These models posit that the extent of Web use by small businesses and the associated benefits are driven by organizations’ contextual characteristics and their IT infrastructure. They differ in the endogeneity/exogeneity of the extent of IT sophistication, and in the direct/mediated effects of organizational context. We examine whether the relationships between variables identified in the literature hold within the context of these models using two samples of small businesses with national coverage, including various sizes, and representing several industry sectors. The results show that the evidence for patterns of relationships is similar across the two independent samples for two of these models. We highlight the relationships within the reduced partial‐mediator and mediator models for which conclusive evidence are given by both samples. Implications for small business managers and providers of Web‐based technologies are discussed.     

The role of strategic planning in small business

One of the important reasons for the tremendous interest in corporate strategy and strategic planning is that managers realize that a good strategy greatly increases the likelihood of a firm's success. Strategic planning is not the only reason for success, but there have been several studies which show that firms that plan their strategies are more effective. Taking the relationship of strategy and success as given, this paper considers the need to develop strategic planning for small businesses, and summarizes the findings of a recent survey on strategy of small businesses.Sixty-two minority and 58 non-minority small businesses were studied in this survey. A Likert-type questionnaire was used for the study. The survey indicates that the small businessmen fail, cope, and learn in the struggle for survival. Judgment, experience and intuition seem to play a more important role than any well structured technique of strategic planning. The businessmen were found to be ‘growth maniacs’, since growth may be the most tangible manifestation of achievement. The study leads to the conclusion that efforts should be made to improve the planning knowledge of this vital sector of economy.     

The Determinants of DSS Success: An Integrated Model*

The results of a field study investigating the determinants of decision support systems (DSS) success are presented. A multivariate model was developed and tested using multiple regression hierarchical analysis on responses from 118 DSS users. Several specific hypotheses are also proposed and tested. Data analyses indicate that DSS success, as measured by DSS satisfaction and perceived benefits, depends on several factors: previous user experience with DSS, user involvement, user training, top management support, information sources, the level of managerial activity, and task structure, difficulty and interdependence. Based on the research results, several suggestions are made to improve the likelihood of successful DSS implementation.     

Researching performance measurement system implementation: the dynamics of success and failure

There is a growing literature concerned with the design and implementation of performance measurement systems but few studies of success and failure. This paper describes three phases of research into design and implementation of performance measurement systems involving 16 different businesses. The conclusion from the research is that senior management commitment is a key driver of success, but the paper will also describe the main factors which influence and change this commitment over the life of a performance measurement implementation project.     

Critical success factors of TQM: A select study of Indian organizations

In the context of TQM, it is essential that the organizations identify a few key critical success factors, which should be given special attention for ensuring successful implementation of TQM program. The concept of critical success factors (CSFs) and their use in supporting planning efforts was originated from the approach associated with the development and implementation of management information systems. This paper represents a review of the literature on CSFs and supported by various philosophies of TQM. Such factors are considered as conducive to the success of TQM implementation. Based on an exploratory study of Indian organizations engaged in manufacturing and services, CSFs have been identified.     

The Effects of Knowledge Management on Team Members' Ratings of Project Success and Impact*

Many organizations are trying to improve the generation and utilization of knowledge. The activities associated with these efforts are identified as organizational knowledge management (KM). While much has been written about knowledge management from the organizational level, the success of such efforts over the long run will depend upon on how KM activities impact important outcomes as perceived by those at the employee level who actually implement the activities. This study used the input‐process‐output framework of team effectiveness to investigate the relationship between selected KM‐related activities on integrated product and process development team members' satisfaction with their project's success and the impact they expected it to have on the organization. The results indicate that team‐level leadership and support (i.e., inputs), along with knowledge generation and dissemination (i.e., processes), are key drivers of member performance‐related ratings (i.e., outputs). Finally, and possibly most importantly, a number of interactions were evident suggesting that the KM processes moderate the effects of the KM inputs. These findings and their implications are discussed.     

Performance Impacts of Strategy,Information Technology Applications,and Business Process Outsourcing in U.S. Manufacturing Plants

This paper develops a conceptual model to study the role of outsourcing strategies and plant‐level information technology (IT) application infrastructure in the outsourcing of production and support business processes, as well as their subsequent impact on overall plant performance. We validate this model empirically using cross‐sectional survey data from U.S. manufacturing plants. We find that some IT applications are more effective at enabling the outsourcing of business processes than others. For example, the implementation of enterprise management systems is associated with the outsourcing of both production and support processes, whereas operations management systems are not associated with the outsourcing of plant processes. Plants with a low‐cost outsourcing strategy are more likely to outsource support processes than plants with a competency‐focused outsourcing strategy. However, both cost‐ and competency‐based strategies have a positive and similar impact on the outsourcing of production processes. In terms of implications for plant performance, our findings indicate that the outsourcing of production and support processes is associated with higher gross margins. Although plant IT infrastructure is positively associated with favorable on‐time delivery rates, there is no positive association between the incidence of plant outsourcing and on‐time delivery rates. These results have implications for crafting plant‐level outsourcing strategies and for investments in IT systems to facilitate the outsourcing of business processes for enhanced plant performance.     

风险环境下企业信息系统项目控制对绩效的影响机制研究:基于项目经理和用户代表的双重视角

虽然当前项目管理水平不断提高,但是企业信息系统项目实施的成功率仍然不容乐观。项目干系人缺乏准确的相互认知和角色定位,以及风险与控制的关系无法有效处理是导致项目绩效偏低的重要原因。为了从不同视角探索风险和控制对企业信息系统项目绩效的共同作用,通过对65位项目经理和63位用户代表所经历的128个项目的调查,利用结构方程模型进行实证分析,并采用层次回归分析技术进行检验。实证结果表明,正式控制和非正式控制对信息系统项目绩效都具有积极的影响,但是项目经理认为正式控制具有更加重要的作用,而用户代表认为非正式控制的作用更为显著。此外,项目经理和用户代表均认为组织风险和技术风险会减弱正式和非正式控制对绩效的有效作用。因此在控制方式的选择和组合上不仅要基于项目自身的特点,而且要基于干系人的角色。同时,信息系统项目绩效并非单纯由成功或失败因素所决定,而是取决于两类因素的均衡程度。研究结论为信息系统项目的风险控制提供了全新的理论依据和决策支持。     

Enterprise systems and performance of future city logistics

Abstract

Future cities are driven by the developments in Information and Communication Technology to support the triple bottom line requirements of sustainability. Logistics will play a critical role in future cities due to the increasingly micro-dynamic nature of socio-economics of these cities and globalised production and consumption patterns. Enterprise systems (ES), the founding applications to automate and integrate different business processes, will be the key enablers for providing the necessary support required by the future city logistics. However, the implementation of ES and realisation of proposed benefits within the estimated time frame is challenging due to the huge resource requirements in terms of manpower, budget and time. This study takes the antecedent (critical success factors) approach for the implementation process to establish a success predictive model for the realisation of ES benefits. The partial least square regression has been used to test the model. Moreover, this study explores the impact of ES benefits on the logistics performance indicators to explore the synergies between them. This is fundamentally important because future city logistics will rely heavily on appropriately designed and implemented (enterprise) information systems.     

家族企业海归继承人创业学习过程研究——基于文化框架转换的多案例分析

继承人成长模式是目前中国家族企业理论和实践的热门议题,也是保障和提高家族企业跨代持续发展的首要问题。在家族企业传承和转型的关键时期,作为创业的主力军,家族企业海归继承人的多元文化经历和文化框架转换为其创业学习过程提供了独特资源和路径,本文基于文化心理学的动态建构主义视角,以6个家族企业的海归继承人为研究对象,采用探索性多案例研究方法,通过扎根理论的数据处理程序提炼基于文化框架转换的海归继承人创业学习关键过程要素,包括海外获取性创业学习、创业动机促发、实验性创业学习(直觉和编译创业学习)3个创业学习阶段中,文化构念网络可用性、通达性和情境适用性的构建策略及其与创业学习过程的互动协同机制,试图在家族企业传承背景下构建基于文化框架转换的家族企业海归继承人创业学习过程理论模型,从文化心理学视角解读文化框架转换对家族企业海归继承人创业学习方式、路径选择和创业能力形成的微观作用机制,为家族企业海归继承人这一独特创业群体的成长提供富有前景的答案,为家族企业传承和跨代创业提供启迪和借鉴。     

Supply Chains in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A Decision Support System for Small‐Scale Seed Entrepreneurs*

It is necessary to infuse a consistent supply of improved seed varieties into local sub‐Saharan African crop production to improve low crop yields. The best distribution channel for the improved seed varieties may be small‐scale commercial seed companies, but local entrepreneurs struggle to determine whether such businesses are viable. Using a multi‐echelon supply chain approach, a decision support system (DSS) was designed to help African seed entrepreneurs make informed decisions about small‐scale seed chain businesses. Specifically, entrepreneurs make decisions about where to locate seed enterprises, with which farmers to contract, and where to store seed. Optimization and simulation modeling are used to evaluate infrastructure variables such as distance, transportation cost, and storage loss and cost in three development level areas. Currently, the decision tool is used in Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, and Tanzania. The model has supported the start‐up of at least 17 small seed companies that are now introducing improved seed varieties into villages and farms. The DSS applies decision science research in a humanitarian application and offers important managerial implications about supply chain infrastructure to nongovernmental organizations and humanitarian groups. Such applications are vital as groups such as USAID, the Gates Foundation, and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) continue to move toward micro‐enterprise, value chain, and market‐oriented development programs.     

All You Need Is Trust? An Examination of Inter‐organizational Supply Chain Projects

This study examines the antecedents of supply chain project success. We first propose and test a model that describes the role of relationship‐level factors (trust and asymmetric dependence) and project‐level factors (between‐firm communication and within‐firm commitment) in determining supply chain project success. We find that project‐level factors completely mediate the effect of trust on project success. We conclude that trust, despite being a stronger predictor compared to asymmetric dependence, is necessary but not sufficient for supply chain project success. We then proceed to further explore the role of these factors by introducing a categorical scheme that differentiates supply chain projects based on the decision rights configuration of each project. This categorization enables us to explore how relationship‐level and project‐level factors can have different impact on performance based on the characteristics of a supply chain project. The findings offer insights into how to effectively manage supply chain projects and inter‐firm alliances.     

Exploring Policy-Maker Perceptions of Small City Downtowns in the USA

Using original survey data from a national sample of small cities in the USA, this paper explores the perceptions of policy-makers as to what matters for the viability of their downtowns. How do policy-makers of small cities perceive the viability of their downtowns? What policies and programs are associated with perceptions of viability? The results show policy-makers across the USA believe their downtown districts have strengths and weaknesses. Perceived strengths include safety from crime, access to government services, pedestrian safety, cultural opportunities, availability of restaurants and tolerance of diversity. Perceived weaknesses include a lack of available grocery stores, hotels, housing and economic competitiveness with areas outside of downtown. These perceptions indicate policy-makers are concerned about their downtown's ability to compete in the marketplace and that they feel more positively about issues perceived to be within their locus of control. A controlled multivariate model suggests the presence of mixed-use zoning, a Main Street program, the ability for downtown to compete with businesses outside of the downtown, higher levels of cooperation among key stakeholders and quality of life ratings are all significantly related to whether policy-makers perceive their downtowns to be viable. These findings are important because they examine competing and complementary explanations of downtown development and viability for small cities for the first time. They also point to the need to address the continual tensions between downtown and suburban development with innovative policy solutions especially for small cities.     

Advances on a Decision Analytic Approach to Exposure-Based Chemical Prioritization

The volume and variety of manufactured chemicals is increasing, although little is known about the risks associated with the frequency and extent of human exposure to most chemicals. The EPA and the recent signing of the Lautenberg Act have both signaled the need for high-throughput methods to characterize and screen chemicals based on exposure potential, such that more comprehensive toxicity research can be informed. Prior work of Mitchell et al. using multicriteria decision analysis tools to prioritize chemicals for further research is enhanced here, resulting in a high-level chemical prioritization tool for risk-based screening. Reliable exposure information is a key gap in currently available engineering analytics to support predictive environmental and health risk assessments. An elicitation with 32 experts informed relative prioritization of risks from chemical properties and human use factors, and the values for each chemical associated with each metric were approximated with data from EPA's CP_CAT database. Three different versions of the model were evaluated using distinct weight profiles, resulting in three different ranked chemical prioritizations with only a small degree of variation across weight profiles. Future work will aim to include greater input from human factors experts and better define qualitative metrics.     

市场开放、企业学习及适应能力和产业成长模式转型--中国汽车产业案例研究

在综合了新古典和结构主义学派关于产业成长与市场环境之间关系研究的基础上,本文结合落后国家产业成长的特点,运用“互动学习和产业成长”分析框架,研究了在加入WTO后(市场开放)我国汽车产业中跨国公司和当地企业的战略调整以及这两类企业之间相对竞争优势的变化,并结合当地企业的学习和适应能力分析了该产业的未来变化趋势。本项研究得出的基本结论是:(1)伴随加入WTO而进行的投资和贸易自由化进程使得跨国公司的竞争优势得到了充分发挥,在这种情况下,国内企业采取了竞相进行合资或引进新车型的战略,从而加深了它们对跨国公司的依附程度。(2)国内企业和跨国公司的战略调整,以及双方实力和能力对比的变化导致中国汽车产业的成长模式在向依附形式转变。(3)在跨国公司超强竞争优势下,落后国家新兴产业和弱小企业的发展必须得到当地政府强有力的支持。但是,这只是必要条件,而决非充分条件。在保护环境下,企业会追求最容易、最迅速的赢利方式,譬如,单纯利用市场保护享受高额利润,而不进行产品开发、技术学习和创新等能力建设。因而,政府的强有力鞭策和要求以及当地企业与跨国公司之间互动学习关系的建立等都是当地产业进一步发展的关键。     

Screening new products for potential winners

New product success is predictable. This paper highlights the findings of an extensive study into new product success and failure, and pinpoints what separates winners from losers. The key success factors are: product superiority—delivering unique benefits to customers, upfront homework—before development gets underway, sharp and early product definition, a strong market orientation with constant customer contact and input, and quality of execution of key activities in new product process. Sadly many firms and new product efforts are lacking on these success factors. This points to the need for a more disciplined approach to product development. One solution proposed is the implementation of a stage-gate or formal new product process—a blueprint for the process from idea to launch. A generic stage-gate is outlined in the article. The experiences of managers in firms which have implemented such processes are investigated, and the performance results are positive: improved teamwork, less recycle, higher success rates and shorter cycle times.     

Decisions to Outsource Information Systems Functions: Testing a Strategy-Theoretic Discrepancy Model

In recent years, the decision to outsource information systems (IS) functions has become a viable strategic alternative in managing the increasingly complex IS functions. In this study, the IS outsourcing phenomenon is conceptualized as a strategic decision in the organization. Drawing on resource-based theories, resource dependence theories, and other theories of strategic management, a discrepancy model of this decision is developed. Relationships between a number of strategy-theoretic factors and the IS outsourcing decision are hypothesized. These factors include IS resource performance discrepancies manifested in the form of gaps in information quality, IS support quality, IS cost effectiveness and financial performance, as well as the strategic orientation of the firm. Results of the study indicate that, while cost consideration and the firm's financial performance are not associated with the IS outsourcing decision, difficulties in providing good information outputs and IS support services are associated with the decision. Overall, the findings suggest that the current trend toward outsourcing represents a continuing evolution of the IS function as it attempts to fulfill its traditional mission of providing high quality information resource to the firm. When the performance of the delivered resource begins to slip in the current environment of rising expectation and technological complexity, outsourcing may become a strategic response of necessity. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the results for practicing managers and suggestions for future research.     

日本制造企业新产品开发过程中模糊前端创新的效果分析

本文对日本制造企业新产品开发(NPD)过程中模糊前端(FFE)创新成功的关键因素进行了大样本分析,开发并构建了FFE创新要素与NPD项目绩效之间的因果关系模型.根据513家日本制造企业NPD项目的调查数据,运用AMOS验证因果关系模型,我们得出两个重要结论:在FFE阶段,技术和市场的不确定性减少越多,NPD项目的效率越高;开发前项目初始规划强度越大,开发过程中市场和技术的不确定性就越少.而且相对服务企业而言,制造企业的管理层更容易做出对降低市场不确定性有重大影响的初始规划.     

基于网络搜索信息的农村水环境质量灰色预测模型

针对农村水环境直接监测数据相对缺乏、间接数据难以有效引入的问题，综合灰色关联分析和预测模型，提出一种基于网络搜索信息的农村水环境质量灰色预测模型。首先，综合考虑数据重要性和可获得性，确定农村水环境相关的搜索关键词清单；然后，采用主成分分析法提取搜索关键词的主要特征，构建初始网络搜索变量，并利用灰色绝对关联度衡量各初始网络搜索变量与水环境质量之间的关联程度。在此基础上，构建不同频率数据的多变量离散灰色模型，将强关联变量的降频数据作为多变量离散灰色模型的驱动因素，从而构建基于网络搜索信息的农村水环境质灰色预测模型。实例分析结果表明，相对于传统灰色模型，引入网络搜索信息可以提高农村水环境预测精度，为农村水环境治理提供决策支持。