ISSN:1350-1917    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2575.1994.tb00044.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract.Even during this recessionary era, information technology (IT) expenditure in most organizations continues to grow at a high rate. Because of this increased IT expenditure, more and more senior managers are demanding that IT play a greater role in determining their firm's success by helping them increase organizational efficiencies and perhaps even achieve competitive advantage. The existing information systems literature on IT investment and organizational strategic performance, however, provides very little help to senior managers in making before‐the‐fact IT investment decisions. The present research study puts forth some ‘hard’ evidence relating IT investment to organizational strategic and economic performance by using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Eight IT investment measures were used as inputs and 10 organizational strategic and economic performance ratios were used as outputs for the DEA model. The results indicate that two‐thirds of the organizations in this research study are deemed efficient by DEA. A clear distinction exists between the efficient group and the inefficient group in terms of IT investment and organizational strategic and economic performance. The firms in the efficient group had a much higher return on their information technology investment than the inefficient group. In addition, the DEA results pinpoint the inefficient inputs and deficient outputs for an inefficient firm allowing a senior manager to take corrective actions to compensate for the

ISSN:1350-1917    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2575.1994.tb00045.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract.Since the mid‐1980s there has been a growing interest in the application of soft systems methodology (SSM) to the information systems design process. This interest has resulted from attempts to overcome the recognized deficiencies of conventional computer systems analysis methods and techniques. A particular problem which has received attention over the past 5 years is the epistemological and operational differences between the investigative process of the pre‐design stage and the technological specification. We suggest that this argument is somewhat unproductive and advocate a necessary rethinking about the nature of information systems and the use of technology to support their activities. A re‐evaluation of the way that we set about designing computer‐based information systems suggests that many of the problems of conventional systems analysis methods may be alleviated by an approach that allows the ‘client’, or ‘user’, to have a greater control over the identification, specification and development of their information system(s). The authors' belief in this course of action has led to the development of client‐led design as an underpinning philosophy for user participation in the design of computer‐based information systems. Client‐led design draws upon and develops concepts and tools from ‘interpretive’, or ‘soft’, systems thinking and, in particular, can be seen as providing a framework for the type of subjective inquiry that Checkland&Scholes (1990) referred to as ‘ideal‐type’ mode 2 SSM. This paper is related to the papers published in the Journal of Information Systems (Vol. 3, No. 3), which was a special edition to illustrate the influence of ‘soft’ systems thinking upon inf

ISSN:1350-1917    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2575.1994.tb00046.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract.Knowledge systems development and use have been significantly encumbered by the difficulties of eliciting and formalizing the expertise upon which knowledge workers rely. This paper approaches the problem from an examination of the knowledge competencies of knowledge workers in order to define a universe of discourse for knowledge elicitation. It outlines two categories and several types of knowledge that could serve as the foundations for the development of a theory of expertise.

ISSN:1350-1917    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2575.1994.tb00047.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Abstract.This paper examines the capacity of the research designs of 37 empirical studies of information systems (IS) effectiveness to provide a basis for the development of theories about behaviour related to IS effectiveness. The power of each study to support causal inference was evaluated in terms of (a) its handling of the time dimension, (b) its ability to weigh differences and (c) its resistance to internal validity threats that pose alternative explanations for its reported findings. Of the reviewed studies, 29.7% could account for the time dimension, 32.4% employed a comparison group and 16.2% were not susceptible to any internal validity threats. Only 13.5% of the studies combined an accounting for the time dimension with the use of a comparison group. Of these, however, only 5.4% were also invulnerable to internal validity threats. The research designs of nearly 95% of these published studies were deficient in supporting causal inference. In those studies, suggestions that one variable was causally related to another variable could not be substantiated. Encouragement for the future capacity of IS effectiveness research to support causal inference was found in a trend towards the use of quasiexperimental designs. Recommendations are made regarding ways to increase the inferential capacity of research designs employed in the study of IS effectiveness.

ISSN:1350-1917    

DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2575.1994.tb00048.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1994

数据来源: WILEY