Engagement of External Expertise in Information Systems Implementation

Investigating the Adoption of Mobile Health Services by Elderly Users: Trust Transfer Model and Survey Study

Background

Although elderly users comprise a major user group in the field of mobile health (mHealth) services, their adoption rate of such services is relatively low compared with their use of traditional health services. Increasing the adoption rate of mHealth services among elderly users is beneficial to the aging process.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the determinants of mHealth service use intentions using a trust transfer model among elderly users facing declining physiological conditions and lacking support from hospitals.

Methods

A survey comprising 395 users aged 60 years and above was conducted in China to validate our research model and hypotheses.

Results

The results reveal that (1) trust in mHealth services positively influences use intentions, (2) trust in offline health services positively influences trust in mHealth services, (3) declining physiological conditions strengthen the effects of trust in offline health services regarding trust in mHealth services, (4) support from hospitals weakens the effects of trust in mHealth services on use intentions, and (5) the relationship between trust in offline health services and intention to use mHealth services is partially mediated by trust in mHealth services. The independent variables and moderators collectively explain a 48.3% variance in the use intention of mHealth services.

Conclusions

We conclude that the trust transfer theory is useful in explaining the development of initial trust in mHealth services. In addition, declining physiological conditions and support from hospitals are important factors for investigating the adoption of mHealth services among elderly users.

The determinants of social commerce system success for SMEs in Thailand

Social commerce is growing as a new critical hub of product sourcing for both businesses and individuals. It has become an important strategy that helps companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to connect with customers and to gain competitive advantages. Still, there is a scarcity of frameworks for evaluating social commerce system success and identifying what significantly contributes to success. This study aims to investigate the determinants of social commerce system success in the context of Thai SMEs. A questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the proposed model. The empirical results provide support for the relationship among six dimensions of the proposed model. System use and user satisfaction relate significantly to the success of a social commerce system, which is measured in terms of organizational benefits. Three factors associate positively to system use, namely system quality, service quality, and trust, all of which lead to user satisfaction. Further research can investigate other social factors or empirically test the model at different levels of success.

Factors affecting e-commerce adoption among SMEs in Ghana

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is widening the concept of business from a simple transactional approach to a broader and more complex concept of inter-firm co-operation. Amidst market globalization, growing interpenetration of national economies and the increased interdependence of national economies, e-commerce adoption remains a vital yet complex and elusive phenomenon, with very little known about its determinants. This study identifies the major determining factors in Ghanaian small and medium sized enterprises’ (SMEs) e-commerce adoption, offers practical implications, and indicates the actions required. This research integrates technological, organizational, and environmental determinisms with social constructivism to build a practical framework for understanding e-commerce adoption among SMEs in Ghana. Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis. The results indicate that government support has the greatest direct impact on intentions to use e-commerce. Managerial support and the influence of enabling and regulatory conditions also play a vital role in stimulating SME e-commerce adoption in Ghana. The results also show that Ghanaian SMEs tend to imitate successful first-movers to avoid the risks that attend e-commerce technology.

A Critical Study and Consolidated Framework for Enterprise Information Systems Implementation

Enterprise Information systems implementation is one of the most challenging parts of IT strategy for an organization, since implementation brings in efficiency in the system and justifies the investments made. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important to study the perspectives of implementation to understand the current dynamics. The purpose of this paper is twofold, first is to explore the type of literature that exists in information system implementation and secondly to determine the research methodologies incorporated therein for the information system field's implementation in specific. The basic content analysis is done to review the articles on information system implementation. A total of 47 articles were selected from peer reviewed journals and conferences. The study was conducted to assess the methodology used, the strategies followed along with the issues and challenges faced in the implementation. It presents an arena of the studies done in information system implementation in the past 20 years (typically 1993 to 2013). The IMPLEMENT framework has been proposed to synthesize the literature finding for smooth functioning of IS implementation process. This study would encourage the practitioners in the information systems domain to improve upon their organizational capability and incorporate other best practices.

The Role of the Owner-Manager in SMEs’ Adoption of Information and Communication Technology in the United Arab Emirates

This study evaluates the factors that lead small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt information and communication technology (ICT). Our research proposes an ICT adoption model using structural equation modelling that examines the role of SMEs’ owner-managers as mediators in the adoption of ICT. The model is focused on the investigation of the direct and indirect influences of technological, cultural, environmental and organisational factors on the SME’s adoption process. The results indicate the validity of these adoption factors and their applicability to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) environment. The main focus of the research was to develop a new framework that develops further the research of Rashid and Al-Qirim (2001). The present paper identifies the critical mediating role of the owner-manager’s decision to adopt ICT in SMEs in the UAE, and confirm the importance of technological, organisational and environmental factors in the adoption process. Although there is cultural diversity in the UAE, culture is not found to be a significant factor, either directly or indirectly, in SMEs’ ICT adoption in the country.

A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Communication Tools and Communication Outcomes

Computer mediated communication (CMC) technologies have benefited business organizations in many ways. Although there have been numerous studies on email use, studies have only begun to emerge regarding use patterns of instant messaging (IM). This study investigated the use of email and IM within two different cultural settings: United States and Taiwan. Students enrolled in MIS courses from each country were split randomly into the IM and email groups for a problem-solving assignment. The variations of communication outcomes (as measured in volume, quality, and use satisfaction), are checked against two categorical variables (i.e., culture and communication tools), and at the same time controlled for perception on tool ease of use. Results show that culture and communication tools jointly affect all three outcome variables individually. The main effects were also statistically significant for volume and quality, but not for satisfaction. Respondents from different cultures prefer different communication methods, which are also collectively constrained by other factors like preference over contextual information and social norms. Such a difference in media preference, combined with media traits jointly affects the outcomes of communication. Managerial implications are provided.

Technology Assimilation Across the Value Chain

In this paper, the authors study technology assimilation, aggregating technologies and assimilation stages for SMEs. The authors employ the twin lenses of organizational innovation and elements of institutional theory. The research validates some institutional actors and most firm characteristics as important determinants. The relative weaknesses of the institutional actors provide evidence of structural isolation in the SME environment that is inhibiting information flow from intermediaries like government support agencies and vendors. The authors recommend a proactive role on the part of technology and enterprise intermediaries to design SME-appropriate solutions.

Role misconceptions and negotiations in small business owner/web developer relationships

Small business owners who turn to professional web development consultants for assistance with building a web site may need support not only in terms of the technical aspects of web site implementation, but also in terms of understanding their options for e-business. However, client/consultant relationships within the small business sector can be problematic and the limited research available into small business engagement of web developers suggests that bad experiences and disappointing outcomes are not uncommon.

Interpretive case study methodology was used to explore four sets of small business owner/web developer relationships: how each pair worked together and what they expected of each other. The negotiation and clarification of roles and responsibilities proved to be an essential aspect of the relationships. Also, achieving an adequate level of client involvement in the web site design and development process was a challenge in all cases.

Role misconceptions and negotiations in small business owner/web developer relationships

Small business owners who turn to professional web development consultants for assistance with building a web site may need support not only in terms of the technical aspects of web site implementation, but also in terms of understanding their options for e-business. However, client/consultant relationships within the small business sector can be problematic and the limited research available into small business engagement of web developers suggests that bad experiences and disappointing outcomes are not uncommon.

Interpretive case study methodology was used to explore four sets of small business owner/web developer relationships: how each pair worked together and what they expected of each other. The negotiation and clarification of roles and responsibilities proved to be an essential aspect of the relationships. Also, achieving an adequate level of client involvement in the web site design and development process was a challenge in all cases.

A Review of the Predictors, Linkages, and Biases in IT Innovation Adoption Research

We present a review and analysis of the rich body of research on the adoption and diffusion of IT-based innovations by individuals and organizations. Our review analyzes 48 empirical studies on individual and 51 studies on organizational IT adoption published between 1992 and 2003. In total, the sample contains 135 independent variables, eight dependent variables, and 505 relationships between independent and dependent variables. Furthermore, our sample includes both quantitative and qualitative studies. We were able to include qualitative studies because of a unique coding scheme, which can easily be replicated in other reviews. We use this sample to assess predictors, linkages, and biases in individual and organizational IT adoption research. The best predictors of individual IT adoption include Perceived Usefulness, Top Management Support, Computer Experience, Behavioral Intention, and User Support. The best predictors of IT adoption by organizations were Top Management Support, External Pressure, Professionalism of the IS Unit, and External Information Sources. At the level of independent variables, Top Management Support stands as the main linkage between individual and organizational IT adoption. But at an aggregate level, two collections of independent variables were good predictors of both individual and organizational IT adoption. These were innovation characteristics and organizational characteristics. Thus, we can consistently say that generic characteristics of the innovation and characteristics of the organization are strong predictors of IT adoption by both individuals and organizations. Based on an assessment of the predictors, linkages, and known biases, we prescribe 10 areas for further exploration.

Developing Intraorganizational Electronic Commerce Strategy: An Ethnographic Study

This paper presents an argument for qualitative research and the use of ethnography in information systems (IS) research using a detailed investigation of the types of strategies used in implementing electronic commerce in a corporate finance institution. The paper describes how these strategies were developed and why and models those responses. This paper confirms other studies which argue that certain key elements must be in place to ensure the successful implementation of information technology (IT) or electronic commerce. However, this research has highlighted the fact that there are important influential issues operating at another level within the organization studied. Politics and the power of vested interest groups within an organization and managerial misunderstanding about what electronic commerce is created unrealistic expectations of the innovation by management.

Is Decision-Making: A Study in Information-Intensive Firms

This paper looks at IS decisions within small professional organizations. The study investigates three aspects of IS decision processes drawn from the literature. These focus upon organizational approaches to planning, risk management and product selection, and the factors that impact upon each process. The results of an exploratory survey undertaken in nine firms are presented and compared with the findings of existing research. One expectation is supported; two prove unsupported.