Selecting IT applications in manufacturing: a KBS approach

The use of the right type of Information Technology (IT) applications or manufacturing systems is expected to usher in a competitive advantage. Selection of the right type of IT application is, however, a challenging task. When a company, with a given dominant process structure, emphasizes two or more competitive priorities, such as quality, product flexibility, etc., an unaided manager faces a complex decision problem in choosing from alternative IT applications available in the areas of product design through distribution. In this paper, we present a Knowledge Based System (KBS) that would assist managers with the identification of IT applications that are consistent with both the competitive priorities and the process structure. Validation of the system illustrates that its performance is consistent with the human experts, and it has the potential to facilitate effective and swift decision-making in the selection of appropriate IT applications that best match an organization's manufacturing strategy.     

Presenting Geographic Information: Effects of Data Aggregation,Dispersion, and Users' Spatial Orientation

Geographic information systems (GIS) have taken on an increasingly important role supporting decision making in many organizations. GIS have been used to support a breadth of tasks including oil and mineral exploration, facility location, logistics support, and facilities management decisions. The effectiveness of GIS as a decision support tool comes primarily from the visual display of data in the form of maps. When presenting information as a geographic map, the level of data aggregation potentially affects aspects of task complexity such as information load and the potential for pattern recognition by the user. Other task attributes expected to be related to data aggregation effects include problem size, the degree of data dispersion, and users' spatial orientation skills. We conducted an experiment to study these effects and their interactions. Subjects used a GIS including map-based information characterized by different levels of problem size, data dispersion, and data aggregation. Spatial orientation skill was examined as a covariate in the experimental treatments. The results indicate that all of these geographic information characteristics have significant impacts on decision performance. Moreover, many interactions are present among the factors. We evaluate these interactions in order to derive implications for practice and for future research.     

Empirically Testing the Relationship Between End-User Computing Problems and Information Center Success Factors

End-user computing (EUC) has been a significant organizational phenomenon for more than two decades and remains critically important with the rapid introduction of new technologies (e.g., client-server architectures, internet and intranet applications). Although EUC is a mature concept, it is apparent that end users do not become independent over time, but instead require additional resources and support. One widely employed support mechanism is the Information Center (IC). This study surveyed the internal auditor and the information systems (IS) director in each of 185 organizations. The internal auditors provided responses on the severity of EUC problems in their organizations, and the IS directors supplied information on their firms' performance on the IC critical success factors (CSFs) proposed by Magal, Carr, and Watson (1988). Results show that stronger IC performance is indeed inversely related to the severity of EUC problems encountered by the organization. Specifically, the study's findings show that to have the greatest impact on EUC problems, IC managers should concentrate on clearly defining the IC's mission; establish standards and controls; monitor, coordinate, and help users prioritize applications development; and be responsive to user requests.     

Project‐Level Reuse Factors: Drivers for Variation within Software Development Environments*

Systematic reuse can dramatically improve software development productivity and quality even though a software reuse methodology may require substantial investments. Some projects may fail to achieve the targeted amounts of reuse within organizations that are overall successful in employing reuse. To explain such variation, this research explores the effects of project‐level factors in the success of software reuse. A model that relates project factors to project reuse success is developed using an information‐rich case study approach. The results are based on the insights obtained in a nominal group technique session, triangulated with structured interviews and comparative case studies. Success factors identified by the study relate to client influence, project culture, project attributes, and developer reuse experience. An organization that can successfully identify the factors affecting potential software reuse will be able to better target investments for the improvement of its reuse methodology and thus positively affect its software development productivity and quality.     

An Empirical Study of the Effect of Knowledge Management Processes at Individual,Group, and Organizational Levels*

To enhance our understanding of knowledge management, this paper focuses on a specific question: How do knowledge management processes influence perceived knowledge management effectiveness? Prior literature is used to develop the research model, including hypotheses about the effects of four knowledge management processes (internalization, externalization, socialization, and combination) on perceived individual‐level, group‐level, and organizational‐level knowledge management effectiveness. The study was conducted at the John F. Kennedy Space Center of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration using a survey of 159 individuals and two rounds of personal interviews. Structural equation modeling was performed to test measurement and structural models using the survey data. The emergent model suggests that internalization and externalization impact perceived effectiveness of individual‐level knowledge management. Socialization and combination influence perceived effectiveness of knowledge management at group and organizational levels, respectively. The results also support the expected upward impact in perceived effectiveness of knowledge management, from individual to group level, as well as from group level to organizational level. The study's limitations and implications for practice and future research are described.     

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the End‐User Computing Satisfaction Instrument: Replication within an ERP Domain*

Over the past decade, organizations have made significant investments in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The realization of benefits from these investments depends on supporting effective use of information technology (IT) and satisfying IT users. User satisfaction with information systems is one of the most important determinants of the success of those systems. Drawing upon a sample of 407 end users of ERP systems and working within the framework of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), this study examines the structure and dimensionality, and reliability and validity of the end‐user computing satisfaction (EUCS) instrument posited by Doll and Torkzadeh (1988) . In response to Klenke's (1992) motion to cross‐validate management information system (MIS) instruments and to retest the end user computing satisfaction instrument using new data, this study's results, consistent with previous findings, confirm that the EUCS instrument maintains its psychometric stability when applied to users of enterprise resource planning application software. Implications of these results for practice and research are provided.     

Strategic Decisions of New Technology Adoption under Asymmetric Information: A Game‐Theoretic Model*

In this paper we explore strategic decision making in new technology adoption by using economic analysis. We show how asymmetric information affects firms' decisions to adopt the technology. We do so in a two‐stage game‐theoretic model where the first‐stage investment results in the acquisition of a new technology that, in the second stage, may give the firm a competitive advantage in the product market. We compare two information structures under which two competing firms have asymmetric information about the future performance (i.e., postadoption costs) of the new technology. We find that equilibrium strategies under asymmetric information are quite different from those under symmetric information. Information asymmetry leads to different incentives and strategic behaviors in the technology adoption game. In contrast to conventional wisdom, our model shows that market uncertainty may actually induce firms to act more aggressively under certain conditions. We also show that having better information is not always a good thing. These results illustrate a key departure from established decision theory.     

战略本质与企业战略内在层次结构

本文在回顾企业战略概念与内容的相关研究基础上,给出了企业经营管理及其它各领域战略的共同本质。由此并结合以往对企业战略内容及其结构的不同研究,试图探讨企业战略分层次的内在结构,以此加深对战略分析、战略生成等企业战略管理过程的认识。     

企业战略信息管理的理论模型

企业战略信息管理是随着信息技术在企业应用的深入与发展、信息资源战略地位的凸显、电子商务的出现以及知识经济的兴起而出现的一个新的信息实践和研究领域,占据这个制高点有利于整合信息资源和信息力量,有利于制定和落实“以信息化带动工业化”的战略,有利于企业的转型和跨越式发展,从而也有利于放大信息技术、信息资源和信息人员的作用并提高其在企业中的地位。企业战略信息管理是企业信息资源管理发展的高级阶段,是制定、实施和评估企业信息战略的过程,是由相互关联的信息技术管理、信息资源管理和电子商务管理三部分组成的,关注的重点在于确立企业信息战略构架、整合企业内外部的信息资源、促进企业的转型和可持续发展、塑造学习型组织。企业战略信息管理理论也是培养高级信息管理人才特别是信息主管(CIO)不可或缺的理论支撑。     

所有权结构、资本结构、董事会治理与公司价值

本文以中国上市公司为样本,实证检验了公司所有权结构、以董事会监督为核心的治理结构及资本结构对公司价值的影响。结果显示:法人股权与国家股权相比占相对多数时,公司价值上升。公司债务比率上升时,公司价值下降。董事会监督并未对公司价值产生显著影响。然而,如果考虑到公司所有权结构对资本结构、治理结构与公司价值之间关系的影响,我们发现,随着法人股权的增加,公司债务比率的上升以及有效的董事会监督将会促进公司价值上升。