Using a GSS to Support Virtual Team-Building

This chapter deals with the use of a group support system (GSS) to support virtual team-building. Literature review on Group Support Systems (GSS) indicates that most prior GSS research focuses on supporting face-to-face teamwork, and few studies were conducted in supporting virtual teamwork and team-building. When virtual teamwork becomes more common in modern organizations, how GSS can be used to enhance virtual team-building is becoming an important research issue. This chapter proposes a conceptual team-building framework. By embedding this conceptual framework into a GSS, the GSS may have the potential to support virtual team-building. Based on the framework, a set of testable research propositions is formulated, and some suggestions for future GSS research are discussed.

Information Technology and the Internationalization of the Firm

A key concern for all multinationals is where to find a suitable location for their business activities, bearing in mind that they must find the right balance between global integration and local responsiveness. This article contributes to the internationalization debate by asking: in what sense will information technology enable globalization? We focus on the sourcing process, an area where globalization is often claimed to be the case. Re-examination of empirical evidence shows that global sourcing is not as generally predominant as is claimed. Consequently inhibitors to global integration exist and we classify these inhibitors into three categories: geographical, relational and environmental inhibitors. We then analyze the role information technology plays in reducing these inhibitors and formulate propositions that are then illustrated in two case studies. Information technology is proposed to reduce the geographical and relational inhibitors, but it will have no effect on environmental inhibitors. However, the latter category of inhibitors will become more prominent in the future. Information technology thus shifts the balance towards global integration, but simultaneously creates new problems in managing internationalization.

An Exploratory Study and Design of Cross-Cultural Impact of Information Systems Managers' Performance, Job Satisfaction and Managerial Value

This research is an exploratory study and design to find cross-cultural impact on information systems (IS) managers’ performance, job satisfaction and managerial value, particularly on American IS and Korean IS expatriate managers in the U.S. in the banking industry. Through the literature review, first, this study attempts to find frequently used variables to measure the magnitude of the cross-cultural impact on the two national IS managers. Second, a literature-derived research instrument was developed and pretested for content validity. Third, to examine the goals and objectives of the study, 14 hypotheses were developed through the literature research. And then the hypotheses were matched to the specific items in the research instrument in order to test them. Fourth, this chapter presents a research design, which used the cultural variables to separate the influences of the cross-cultural impact on the IS managers from the other variables, followed by the research methodology in which the questionnaire’s reliability and validity were tested using Pearson’s correlation analysis, Cronbach’s a test and factor analysis. Fifth, based on the data analysis, the test results of the hypotheses were examined, and compared with the existing literature. Finally, the research conclusion is presented.

The Role of Inter-Organizational Trust in B2B E-Commerce

This chapter seeks to understand inter-organizational-trust as an antecedent factor in the adoption of and participation in e-commerce. Exploratory research from different theoretical perspectives including the inter-organizational relationship theory, transaction cost economics theory, resource dependency theory, and a literature review on trust in business relationships, and trust and security based mechanisms paved the way to the development of a conceptual model. The model was tested via four case studies consisting of a large public sector organization and three Small-Medium Enterprises (SME) involved in customs clearance. SME included an Internet service provider, a customs broker (agent) and an importer. Data was collected via in-depth interviews, discussions with key personnel, and from existing documents. The findings suggest that there are two forms of trust; trust in the technology and trust in the trading partner. Further, the findings strongly indicate that inter-organizational-trust is important for e-commerce participation, as organizations need to cooperate, collaborate and communicate timely and relevant information in order to facilitate e-commerce. This entails not only technological proficiencies, but also trust between trading parties, so that business transactions are sent and received in an orderly fashion.

Culture, Information Technology Choice and Empowerment

Empowerment is an important and desirable state for employees within business enterprises around the world. Yet, the pursuit of empowerment across national boundaries may vary due to innate differences within cultures. This may be particularly true with respect to choice of technologies for achieving empowerment. Using an interpretive field study of Fellows within the Japanese MITI and US Dept. of Commerce Manufacturing Technology Fellowship (MTF) Program, this study suggests that the achievement of empowerment through choice of information technology is matched to cultural context. Specifically, employees of Japanese companies prefer, need, and use media-rich information technologies in their efforts to achieve empowerment. In contrast, employees of American companies prefer, need, and use collaborative information technologies in their pursuit of empowerment. These findings suggest that information technology is used synergistically with cultural attributes in the enhancement of employee empowerment.

Initial E-Commerce Efforts in Nine Least Developed Countries

While e-commerce would seem to be a unique opportunity for poor countries with limited local markets to sell goods to richer nations, limited research is available on the current status of e-commerce efforts in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This study reviewed the efforts of the nine countries identified by the UNDP as having the least technological capacity. Statistics provided by the UNDP demonstrate serious national infrastructure problems in each of the countries. Yet a survey of business web sites finds that all but one (Sudan) has some minimal e-commerce efforts underway. A survey sent to companies in three of these countries showed that many companies were being creative in where they were hosting their web sites and were able to keep their web costs low. Yet the vast majority also reported slow sales and a variety of local barriers to success. A review of the products they are offering on their sites found that the product mix might be particularly problematic. The author hopes the results of this study will suggest improved strategies for companies in LDCs seeking to use e-commerce to expand their markets.

A Comparative Analysis of Major ERP Life Cycle Implementation, Management and Support Issues in Queensland Government

This chapter reports on a study of issues across the ERP life cycle from the perspectives of individuals with substantial and diverse involvement with SAP Financials in Queensland Government. A survey was conducted of 117 ERP system project participants in five closely related state government agencies. Through a modified Delphi technique, the study inventoried, synthesized, then weighted perceived major-issues in ongoing ERP life cycle implementation, management, and support. The five agencies each implemented SAP Financials simultaneously using a common implementation partner. The three Delphi survey rounds, together with a series of interviews and domain experts’ workshops, resulted in a set of 10 major-issue categories with 38 sub-issues. Sub-issue weights are compared between strategic and operational personnel within the agencies in order to understand where the organizations should focus their resources in order to avoid, minimise, or eliminate these issues. Study findings confirm the importance of this finer partitioning of the data, and distinctions identified reflect the unique circumstances across the stakeholder groups. The study findings should be of interest to stakeholders who seek to better understand the issues surrounding ERP systems and to better realize the benefits of ERP.

STP Technology and Global Financial Market

Straight Through Processing (STP) is the end-to-end automation of security trading process from order to settlement. It is to be used for cross-border trades to speed up settlement, reduce risk, and build the foundation for a more effective and efficient settlement process. To remain competitive, financial firms need to take actions promptly to address the opportunities and challenges brought about by STP from a global perspective of electronic business. Global STP capability may not be achieved by simply initiating a series of projects to address the challenges. It needs to be approached by a well-orchestrated re-engineering activity and enterprise-wide technology solutions. This paper presents a general model of security trading processes under the umbrella of STP, and proposes a framework of STP readiness assessment from a global perspective of electronic business, which can be used to guide the STP implementation in organizations.

A Contigency Theory for Online Customer Retention

Customer retention, or repurchase, is one of the main factors that help to create and maintain the competitiveness and sustainability of an organization. With the proliferation of B2C electronic commerce, retention has become even more important to Internet merchants who sell online, where customers are provided with a wide variety of choices and competition is globally severe. As opposed to pageviews and click through ratios, repurchase provides a more revealing metric of the effectiveness of websites. It is therefore important to explain and identify the determinants of online customer retention. Previous IS research on online shopping mainly focused on adoption and usage issues. Very few studies, however, examined whether customers made repurchases after they were attracted to and satisfied with the buying experience and product. In this study, we develop, operationalize and empirically test a model that explains online consumer retention as measured by repurchase. Our findings demonstrated that the direct effect of satisfaction on repurchase is positively moderated by online shopping habit. This research also highlights and identifies specific factors affecting customer retention that should help practitioners in formulating the appropriate marketing strategies.

Perceptions and Attitudes About eCommerce Development in China

It is widely recognized that eCommerce represents a critical resource for most business organizations. With over 1.25 billion people and double-digit economic growth, China could potentially emerge as the largest Internet and telecommunications market in the world if certain economic, environmental, and organizational barriers are effectively addressed. This chapter develops a descriptive profile of Chinese business managers with respect to their awareness of the technological infrastructure as well as their perceptions and attitudes regarding eCommerce. Management’s viewpoint on a variety of environmental, organizational, and personal factors provides insight into the future of eCommerce in China within the framework of organizational commitment to eCommerce driven innovation. Findings indicate that firms interested in engaging in eCommerce in China will find a knowledgeable and supportive business climate; however, eCommerce initiatives may be hindered by constraints imposed by the current infrastructure.