Organizational Computing as a Facilitator of Operational and Managerial Decision Making: An Exploratory Study of Managers' Perceptions*

Much of the current knowledge pertaining to information technology (IT) and decision making is based on decades old technologies that revolved around a central computing function and application-specific systems. The purpose of this research is to examine the IT decision-making relationship within the emerging organizational computing (OC) environment permeated by spontaneous utilization of both application-and nonapplication-specific computing and communication technologies. Specifically, this study seeks to explore managers' perceptions of the emerging OC environment as a facilitator of their decision-making activities. To achieve a higher level of clarity than previous works, a two-dimensional research framework is developed with the IT dimension consisting of computing and communication, and the decision-making dimension differentiated between operational and managerial decisions. A survey instrument was constructed that measured the computing and communication dimensions of information technology use and their perceived effects upon operational and managerial decisions. The major findings of the study confirmed that managers recognize the value of general, nonapplication-specific information technologies in decision making, and that this recognition is highly associated with how intensively these information technologies are used. Additionally, it was found that the two dimensions of IT differ in their relationships to decision making, and that IT usage relates to managerial decisions differently than operational decisions. These study findings have significant implication for practice and research, especially in the context of information resource management in which the primary purpose of the IS function is the delivery of general information service to users rather than the development of specific IS applications.     

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.     

论辩理论及其应用

在认知科学的背景下,论辩研究已经成为了逻辑学、语言学、计算机和人工智能等共同关注的问题.然而不同学科在这一课题上却未能实现有效的交叉研究.本文立足于人工智能领域的论辩理论,对依据新论辩术理论所选择的最接近理想模型的辩论赛实例进行分析,以期为逻辑学与人工智能在论辩领域的交叉研究打下基础.     

生态翻译学视角下的软新闻汉英翻译

生态翻译学作为一种全新的翻译研究理论,可以理解为一种生态学视角下的翻译研究。尝试在生态翻译学理论框架指导下,探讨软新闻的汉英翻译,研究结果表明,新闻译者在软新闻汉英翻译过程中居中心地位,需从翻译生态环境层面做出语言维、 文化维、 交际维等多维度的适应性转换选择。     

论经济地理学与区域经济学的整合与分异

长期以来,我国理论界对经济地理学与区域经济学两门学科的关系存在着含混不清的认识。本文通过对这两门学科的学科渊源、学科产生的历史背景、学科属性等方面的整合与分异的分析,说明了经济地理学与区域经济学两者作为综合性的新兴边缘学科既不能相互替代,又存在一定的交叉。     

关于翻译中“讹”的阐释学阐释

根据伽达默尔阐释学理论中关于文本、意义、理解等问题的论证,“讹”是翻译活动中普遍存在的必然现象,“化”与“讹”实质上是一个硬币的两个方面。完全的“对等”只能是翻译中不可实现的理想,而或多或少、不同程度的“讹”译则不可避免,甚至有时译者还会有意为之。不过,在肯定翻译是文学创作活动的基础上,译者发挥创作性也必须有一定限度,优秀的译者应该能够在尊重原作和自主创作两者之间取得平衡。     

立式染色机典型缺陷及产生机理

针对承压印染设备在使用中缺陷较多、设备寿命普遍较短的问题,运用无损检测、理化分析配合有限元数值模拟 的方法,对一批较有代表性的立式染色机进行了全面检验,并将检验过程中发现的典型缺陷进行了总结和分析。根据对 快开门结构运行过程中的力学分析结果,从设备应力分布特性角度提出应力腐蚀失效易发部位,并综合设备的检验结果 进行比较,进而提出结构优化的建议。缺陷机理分析结果表明,在应力集中、疲劳载荷、腐蚀等因素的综合作用下,承压 印染设备极易产生裂纹等使用缺陷,应根据设备的使用情况和腐蚀现状调整检验周期,并针对缺陷易发部位进行定期全 面检验。     

煤炭开发与欠发达地区经济增长——对"资源诅咒"的再考察

我国煤炭大都集中分布在欠发达地区,因此煤炭资源开发与区域经济增长的关系研究成为资源经济和区域经济研究中的重要问题,而对"资源诅咒"及其传导机制的研究是这个问题的热点.本文利用贵州省地区层面面板数据控制了导致经济欠发达的非资源因素来单纯考察煤炭资源开发与当地经济发展的关系.实证结果发现在1997年之前,煤炭开发对经济增长存在负效应,且这种负效应主要源于不利的煤炭价格体系;1997年之后煤炭开发对经济增长率有着正相关的影响,且这种促进作用主要源于宏观的煤炭开发政策.本文的研究对理解"资源诅咒"现象在我国的发生特征,以及煤炭资源富集的欠发达地区经济发展问题具有一定的启示意义.     

西方政制设计的若干基本预设及其启示

西方政制设计是以若干基本预设为前提的,主要包括人性趋恶、权力膨胀、理性短缺、国家邪恶等.正是基于这些并非乐观的思想理念,西方政制设计构建了权力制衡、代议民主、宪政、政治竞争的制度框架,从而最大限度地避免理想化的政制设计陷阱.这对研究我国政治体制改革,推动我国政治学发展无疑提供了重要启示.     

党建科学化:一个新阐释

伟大的复兴需要伟大的党。历史地看,只有中国共产党才能真正凝聚起亿万中国人民的智慧和力量,实现国家独立、民族解放,完成伟大复兴的基础环节;现实地看,中国共产党用政绩向中国和世界证明了自己的合法性,推进了国家富强、民族振兴和人民幸福,越来越接近"中国梦";发展地看,中国共产党不断丰富和发展复兴的科学内涵,更好地引领国家和人民事业的发展。伟大的党是不断加强和改进自身建设的党,是永葆先进性、始终成为中国特色社会主义事业领导核心的党,是具有学习型、服务型和创新型特质的马克思主义执政党。建设学习型服务型创新型马克思主义执政党,实现党建科学化就要做到"四个坚持",即坚持科学理论武装、坚持整体推进、坚持对症下药、坚持制度建设。