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Just as a reminder, you should note the Volume and Issue Number of the articles you are interested in before entering the database, as there is no search facility for the Journals of the Week - only browse facilities issue by issue are provided for the free download. A soft system approach in introducing information technology: A case study of an international broadcasting programme in Japan Agapol Na Songkhla Information Technology & People; 10: 4 1997; pp. 275-286 , Examines the use of the soft systems approach in introducing information technology for an international broadcasting programme. International broadcasting is an important system for transferring knowledge to people in diverse regions. Presents the soft systems methodology in a case example on how the news programme production of an international broadcasting organization in Japan deploys IT. Suggests that any IT deployment should consider the perspectives of IT beneficiaries, IT users, as well as the IT owners. Therefore, all relevant people must be included in the audience of the broadcasts in diverse regions.
Keywords: Action research, Information technology, Soft systems methodology, Knowledge
industry
DSS and EIS applications in Taiwan In the past several decades, Taiwanese companies have been successful in the world market. However, knowledge about how these firms use information technology is very limited. Investigates the application of decision support systems (DSS) and executive information systems (EIS) in Taiwan. Two mail surveys were conducted to explore who used the system, where the systems were applied, what decision models were used and reasons for not using these systems. The results indicate that: more than 20 per cent of the firms already used DSS or EIS and an additional 37 per cent had plans to adopt them shortly; 87 per cent of the firms considered DSS and EIS to be important to their competitiveness; middle- and lower-level managers were major DSS and EIS users; half of them used the system every day; the most troublesome problem in developing DSS/EIS was the difficulty in determining information requirements; and information aggregation and what-if analysis were major functions for decision support. Furthermore, quantitative models were employed only in large and old companies. The most popular models included linear programming, PERT/CPM, and regression analysis, whereas the most popular domains for application were finance and production management.
Keywords: Decision support systems, Executive information systems, Management, Surveys,
Taiwan
The impact of gender on career success of information systems professionals: A human-capital perspective Recent projections by social scientists indicate that by the year 2000 almost half the work force will be comprised of women. Information systems (IS) literature reports that women are underrepresented: only about one-third of IS employees are female. This may suggest that IS women professionals may be engaging in practices that restrict their entry, promotion and retention. Attempts to examine the career success outcomes of men and women in IS using the human-capital paradigm. Presents results, based on the survey responses of about 348 employees in the IS field, which suggest that significant gender differences exist. For instance, women were found, on average, to be somewhat younger and less experienced then were men in lower-level positions and to receive lower salaries than do men even when age, work experience and job level were controlled. Moreover, women have fewer opportunities to interact with people outside their departmental boundaries. Discusses the relevance of these results and presents viable options for fostering the careers and improving the retention of women in the IS field.
Keywords: Discrimination, Human-capital theory, Information systems, Job promotion, Women
Global business and cross-cultural information systemsTechnical and institutional dimensions of diffusion Draws on a range of research into the problems of accommodating technical change in complex organizations to highlight the issue of cultural inter-operability. Global economic integration is growing rapidly, facilitated in part by information and communication technologies. As an increasing proportion of organizations spans national and regional cultures significant cultural differences become intra-organizational differences. Greater economic interaction implies a need for appropriate standards for technology and procedures, however; a number of significant new players in the world system are operating in a technical context and to sets of standards, official and de facto, which have been shaped by a predominantly Western model of business information technology. To gain the potential benefits of emerging technologies, the conflict between the needs of developers and users must be dealt with and the technical focus of information technology must be broadened to encompass cultural concerns at both organizational and social levels. Presents some case study material to indicate the key role of the balance between cultural and institutional constraints and technical capability within organizations.
Keywords: Cross-cultural management, Diffusion, Globalization, Information systems,
Technological innovation
An analysis of the cultural motivations for trans-border data flow legislation Trans-border data flow legislation (TDFL) has recently emerged as an important issue for IS professionals. Transborder data flow (TDF) is the movement of computer readable data across national boundaries. Many countries have enacted legislation barring this free flow of information, citing a concern for the privacy of citizens as the primary motivation. The need for privacy is the reflection of a society's cultural attributes. A framework is developed for exploratory analysis of the cultural motivations for data protection legislation. Based on Hofstede's research, establishes a relationship between certain attributes of culture and nations that have adopted/proposed TDFL. Using this relationship, discusses the reasons for which other nations have not adopted/ proposed TDFL.
Keywords: Culture, Data communications, Data protection, Privacy
Integrating groupware technology into a business process improvement framework Much of the evaluative research on groupware in organizations so far has been preoccupied with the role of groupware as a new interaction medium to replace or extend face-to-face communication in groups. It has focused on gains and losses from a group interaction point of view, typically disregarding the impact of other functions such as group access, and contribution to information concerning the organization. Attempts to bridge this gap with an action research into the effects of the introduction of an asynchronous groupware system to support business process improvement groups in a service company based in Brazil. The research suggests that improvements in business redesign efficiency and effectiveness can be attained not only from asynchronous groupware support to group communication, but also from public sharing of historical information about previous business process improvement efforts, and by providing a repository of information about business processes which could be candidates for improvement. Concludes with the proposal of an explanatory model, describing the relationship between the introduction of technology, its integration with a business process improvement meta-process, and its effects on the efficiency and effectiveness of that meta-process.
Keywords: Action research, BPR, Brazil, Business development, Service industries
Human Identification in Information Systems: Management Challenges and Public Policy Issues Many information systems involve data about people. In order reliably to associate data with particular individuals, it is necessary that an effective and efficient identification scheme be established and maintained. There is remarkably little in the information technology literature concerning human identification. Seeks to overcome that deficiency by undertaking a survey of human identity and human identification. Discusses techniques including names, codes, knowledge-based and token-based identification, and biometrics. Identifies the key challenge to management as being to devise a scheme which is practicable and economic, and of sufficiently high integrity to address the risks the organization confronts in its dealings with people. Proposes that much greater use be made of schemes which are designed to afford people anonymity, or which enable them to use multiple identities or pseudonyms, while at the same time protecting the organization's own interest. Describes multi-purpose and inhabitant registration schemes, and notes the recurrence of proposals to implement and extend them. Identifies public policy issues. Of especial concern is the threat to personal privacy that the general-purpose use of an inhabitant registrant scheme represents. Speculates that, where such schemes are pursued energetically, the reaction may be strong enough to threaten the social fabric.
Keywords: Australia, Biometrics, Identification, Information systems, Management, Organizations, Public relations
Touching Big Brother: How Biometric Technology Will Fuse Flesh and Machine The evolution of information technology is likely to result in intimate interdependence between humans and technology. This fusion has been characterized in popular science fiction as chip implantation. It is, however, more likely to take the form of biometric identification using such technologies as fingerprints, hand geometry and retina scanning. Some applications of biometric identification technology are now cost-effective, reliable and highly accurate. As a result, biometric systems are being developed in many countries for such purposes as social security entitlement, payments, immigration control and election management. Whether or not biometry delivers on its promise of high-quality identification, it will imperil individual autonomy. Widespread application of the technologies would conflict with contemporary values, and result in a class of outcasts.
Keywords: Autonomy, Biometrics, Human-computer interface, Identification, Information
technology, Privacy, United Kingdom
Promoting Health and Welfare: The Challenge for Information Technology? A Strategic Agenda for Enabling Disabled People The question of how to enable disabled and disadvantaged people via information technology (IT) represents one of the challenges facing most developing countries in the coming decade. Examines the feasibility of, and argues for, an approach to health and welfare promotion centred on the enabling potential of IT. Describes the contextual specificity of the Asian (which is a highly differentiated) experience in state welfare and health provision. Based on some comparative findings and projected scenarios in East Asian countries, explores the challenge and opportunity for IT in this enabling process. The IT-based promotional strategies are outlined and discussed; it is argued that the effectiveness of IT applications in this process is contingent on the variables embedded in the technology--the risks associated with technological development as well as the underlying socio-political structure. Ends with remarks on the role of IT in global welfare and health promotion in the 1990s.
Keywords: Developing countries, Disabled people, East Asia, Education, Health care, Homeworking,
Information technology, Pacific Rim, Welfare
Information technology transfer to a developing country: Executive information systems in Turkey Notes that, like the technology itself, almost all research in information systems originates in Western countries, particularly the USA, where conditions are very different from developing countries. In order to examine the implications of transferring information technology to the developing countries, identifies four Turkish organizations which had pioneered executive information systems (EIS). Conducts extensive interviews with both the executive users and the support staff explaining that the scarcity of EIS applications in the country required such a qualitative case-study approach. Observes that conditions in developing countries are greatly different from those of developed countries, and the reasons for research into such differences in conditions are manifold, the maturity level of IT and the sociocultural environment being the most important aspects. Concludes that the cultural environment has very important implications for organizational and managerial practices as well as for the implementation of information technologies which attempt to provide increasingly close support to managerial decision making.
Keywords: Developing countries, Executive information systems, National cultures, Turkey As always we have only skimmed the surface of relevant articles this week and only those that are particularly relevant for Asia-Pacific managers. Many other articles are available as well including those focusing on other countries and international perspectives.
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