The Interdependence of Coordination and Cooperation in Information Technology Outsourcing

2023 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Im, Ghiyoung P.; Ahuja, Manju

Abstract: The success of information technology outsourcing projects largely depends on th ... Expand

Abstract: The success of information technology outsourcing projects largely depends on the extent to which partners are willing to learn through interactions with each other. This study investigates the antecedents and consequences of relational learning between clients and vendors in outsourcing projects. Drawing on the collaboration framework in interfirm relationships research, this study examines the interdependence of coordination and cooperation. The two antecedents of relational learning (i.e., shared domain knowledge and motivational elements) represent coordination and cooperation mechanisms. We investigate the independent (main) and interdependent (moderation) effects of these mechanisms on relational learning from both the client and vendor perspectives. The findings show that the interdependent model is better in explaining the impact of coordination and cooperation mechanisms in outsourcing projects. This finding enables partners to understand relationship dynamics more comprehensively and develop collaboration mechanisms that can bring synergy between coordination and cooperation. Our study also shows that the perceptions of motivational elements are not symmetric between clients and vendors. History: Yulin Fang, Senior Editor; Ning Su, Associate Editor. Funding: This research was supported by the College of Business at the University of Louisville. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2023.1216. Collapse

Topics: outsourcing business process management project productivity computer supported cooperative work resource allocation

Methods: descriptive statistic statistical hypothesis test survey theory development ordinary least square

Theories: goal framing theory

The Pace of Decarbonization: Can the Power System Transition Meet Climate Policy Goals?

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Metz, L.; Cardell, J.

Abstract: To reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the United States will need ... Expand

Abstract: To reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the United States will need to simultaneously expand and decarbonize its electricity supply. Aggressive clean energy policies supported by sociallyaware modeling frameworks are necessary for the pace of the transition to meet this goal. Policymakers rely on computer modeling to inform decarbonization policies, even though most power sector models were not developed for this purpose. This paper investigates elements of modeling that are, and are not, constructive for climate policy design through a case study of Massachusetts. The analysis discusses typical uses for modeling results in the context of recent energy projects, in order to highlight strengths and weaknesses of power sector modeling as a tool to inform policy making.The discussion acknowledges what all modelers know -that modeling is useful for identifying technically feasible options and for comparing them based on quantifiable indicators. Frameworks such as general equilibrium modeling notwithstanding, this paper asserts that power sector models are incapable of identifying socially optimal solutions and estimating achievable pace of decarbonization, because they necessarily omit underlying social dynamics that affect policy implementation and decarbonization goals. Collapse

Topics: IT productivity offshoring

Methods: case study simulation

Improving scale adaptation practices in information systems research: Development and validation of a cognitive validity assessment method

2023 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 1

Authors: Pillet, Jean-Charles; Carillo, Kevin D.; Vitari, Claudio; Pigni, Federico

Abstract: Scale adaptation, where authors alter the wording of an already published scale, ... Expand

Abstract: Scale adaptation, where authors alter the wording of an already published scale, is a deeply rooted social practice in IS research. This paper argues that the time is ripe to question this activity as well as the beliefs that have progressively formed around it. We identify and challenge five fallacious scale adaptation beliefs that hinder the development of more robust measure development norms. Contributing to this area of research, this paper offers a conceptual definition of the cognitive validity concept, defined as the extent to which a scale is free of problematic item characteristics (PICs) that bias the survey response process and subsequent empirical results. Building on this conceptualization effort, a new methodological process for assessing the cognitive validity of adapted IS measures is introduced. Through a series of three programmatic studies, we find converging evidence that the method can benefit the IS field by making the scale adaptation process more robust, transparent, and consistent. Along with the method, we introduce a new index that IS scholars can use to benchmark the cognitive quality of their scales against venerable IS measures. We discuss the implications of our work for IS research (including detailed implementation guidelines) and provide directions for future research on measurement in IS. Collapse

Topics: crowdsourcing privacy website evaluation criteria decision making

Methods: survey F-test parametric test literature study statistical hypothesis test

Unlocking the Potential of Smart Technologies: Addressing Adoption Challenges

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Sharma, Sujeet K.; Janssen, Marijn; Bunker, Deborah; Dominguez-Péry, Carine; Singh, Jang Bahadur; Dwivedi, Yogesh K.; Misra, Santosh K.

Abstract: ... Expand

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Topics: artificial intelligence customer relationship management system virtual teamwork offshoring behavioral intention

Methods: field study ethnography literature sample structural equation modeling

Theories: work systems theory unified theory of acceptance and use of technology

Work Systems in the Indian Information Technology (IT) Industry Delivering Artificial Intelligence (AI) Solutions and the Challenges of Work from Home

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Venumuddala, Vinay Reddy; Kamath, Rajalaxmi

Abstract: Our study is based on a workplace ethnography conducted between Jan-May 2020 in ... Expand

Abstract: Our study is based on a workplace ethnography conducted between Jan-May 2020 in an AI research lab of an Indian service-based IT organization, whose operations shifted from co-located work to work from home (WFH) owing to the recent pandemic. The field notes of the ethnographer, working as a full-time intern in a running AI project within this lab, is the basis for the qualitative data for this study. We discuss the socio-technical aspects and the specific challenges of distributed team-working due to the WFH norms facing such emerging research units, which are rapidly diffusing across the IT industry in the offshoring context, particularly in India. We rely on work system theory as a map to bring out key findings from our ethnographic observations. The findings point to the importance of having workflows compatible with the specific work roles in such emerging work systems – particularly for the beginner roles in the AI space. Our study contributes to the IS literature by depicting the challenges of distributed teams in a relatively novel setting emerging in offshoring contexts like the Indian IT sector, and suggests implications for managers handling AI projects and tackling employee-focused Human Resource practices in such settings. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence virtual teamwork offshoring pandemic IT project

Methods: ethnography field study qualitative interview synthesis machine learning

Theories: work systems theory socio technical theory

Guidelines for the Development of Three-Level Models: Bridging Levels of Analysis and Integrating Contextual Influences in IS Research

2023 | Journal of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Venkatesh, Viswanath; Weng, Qin; Rai, Arun; Maruping, Likoebe

Abstract: The use of multilevel analysis has steadily increased in information systems (IS ... Expand

Abstract: The use of multilevel analysis has steadily increased in information systems (IS) research. Many studies are doing an admirable job of integrating two-level models into their examination of IS phenomena. However, two-level models are limited in how well they enable researchers to (1) more explicitly incorporate context into theory development and testing and (2) bridge the existing gap between micro- and macrolevel research by focusing on intervening mechanisms that link hierarchically distal levels of analysis. Three-level models have emerged as a potential way to address these limitations. While the literature has clearly outlined the mechanics of how to estimate three-level models, there is very little, if any, guidance on when and how to integrate the use of such models with theory development. Consequently, IS researchers have little guidance to inform their decisions about integrating the use of three-level models with their theory development and testing. In this article, we identify the circumstances under which IS researchers should consider the use of three-level models, develop guidelines about how to map the use of three-level model estimation to the theoretical objectives, and provide an illustration of how to implement the guidelines. Collapse

Topics: offshoring accounting IT project personality internet technology

Methods: theory development hierarchical linear modeling literature study likelihood-ratio test descriptive statistic

Theories: technology acceptance model big five model

Anchored Inferential Learning: Platform-Specific Uncertainty, Venture Capital Investments by the Platform Owner, and the Impact on Complementors

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: van Angeren, Joey; Karunakaran, Arvind

Abstract: Platform owners increasingly make corporate venture capital investments in compl ... Expand

Abstract: Platform owners increasingly make corporate venture capital investments in complementors (e.g., app developers) to stimulate value creation, a practice we refer to as platform venture capital (PVC). Interested in the implications of PVC for other complementors, we investigate how PVC investments affect their product introduction and withdrawal decisions. Given that complementors confront platform-specific uncertainty concerning the strategic directions of the platform, which is asymmetrically set by the platform owner, we theorize that complementors leverage PVC investments as devices for anchored inferential learning. That is, because PVC investments are costly, visible, and consequential, complementors will infer them as credible indicators of the platform’s future focus. Consequently, we predict that complementors will seek out, and stick around, product categories of PVC investees. We further anticipate that these inclinations are weaker for complementors with greater platform ecosystem experience that place more emphasis on knowledge acquired via experiential learning, and stronger for complementors that center their business exclusively on the platform and therefore rely strongly on PVC to navigate platform-specific uncertainty. We provide quantitative evidence from the context of the Salesforce platform. Moreover, we draw on qualitative data from this context to unpack why complementors interpret PVC investments as a credible signal concerning the strategic direction of the platform. We highlight that complementors consider PVC as a form of middle-ground platform governance, where the platform owner is perceived as being committed to stimulating value creation in the platform ecosystem, while also inducing complementors to commit their efforts to the platform ecosystem. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1607. Collapse

Topics: mobile application digital ecosystem platform governance organization learning value creation

Methods: theory development qualitative interview longitudinal research descriptive statistic statistical hypothesis test

Theories: organizational theory

The Impact of National Culture on Strategic IT Alignment: A Multiple-case Study of Subsidiaries of Multinational Corporations

2022 | Information Systems Management | Citations: 0

Authors: Adaba, Godfried B.; Wilson, David W.; Sims, Julian

Abstract: Through a multiple-case study of three subsidiaries of multinational corporation ... Expand

Abstract: Through a multiple-case study of three subsidiaries of multinational corporations (MNCs), we examined the impact of national culture on strategic information technology (IT) alignment. We found that the headquarters and subsidiary host national cultures affect alignment indirectly, through variables in the organizational context, including intercultural communications, IT governance, management style, differences in work values and practices, and cultural conflict and mistrust. Based on the findings, we propose a model of national culture and alignment. Collapse

Topics: national culture IT governance organizational context offshoring IT workforce

Methods: qualitative interview case study multiple case study personal interview qualitative coding

Theories: cultural dimensions theory theory of economic development

When Standard Is Not Enough: a Conceptualization of AI Systems’ Customization and its Antecedents

2022 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Diaferia, Lorenzo; Blohm, Ivo; Rossi, Leonardo Maria De; Salviotti, Gianluca

Abstract: The centrality of information systems (IS) customization to match companies' ne ... Expand

Abstract: The centrality of information systems (IS) customization to match companies' needs with software systems available in the market has been researched extensively. The distinctive characteristics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems compared to other types of IS suggest that customization needs a new conceptualization in this context. We draw on evidence from expert interviews to conceptualize customization of AI systems as composed of four layers: data, models, algorithms, infrastructures. We identify a continuum of levels of customization, from no to complete customization. Since companies customize AI systems in response to business needs, we develop a theoretical model with six antecedents of AI systems' customization choices. In so doing, we contribute to both AI management research, by introducing the IS customization perspective in the field, and IS customization literature, by introducing AI systems as a novel class of systems and enlarging the understanding of customization for a specific class of software systems. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence open source decision making website data management

Methods: qualitative interview computational algorithm theory development qualitative coding experiment

Examining Client-Vendor Relationship in the Outsourcing of a Work Environment Virtualisation: An Activity Theory Perspective

2022 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Effah, John; Adam, Ibrahim Osman

Abstract: This study provides an insight into the duality of client and vendor relationshi ... Expand

Abstract: This study provides an insight into the duality of client and vendor relationship (CVR) in information technology (IT) outsourcing by adopting a composite view of a subject in activity theory analysis. Evidence in the literature shows a trend that outsourcing relationships have become strategic assets with clients scouting for not only technical outcomes but for business ideas and innovation from their suppliers. Whilst extant literature demonstrates the critical role of outsourcing relationships in outsourcing success and value, the research on IT outsourcing has largely examined outsourcing relationships in general, focusing on the factors, challenges and a one-sided view of the CVR and providing no insights on the relationship between the client and vendor from a composite perspective. To explore this, our study employed an interpretive qualitative case study method and activity theory as the lens. Drawing on hermeneutics to analyse the data, the findings show the need for activity theory to cater for the duality of subjects in a collaborative way. Implications of the study for practice and policy are then provided. Collapse

Topics: outsourcing electronic mail virtual workplace user acceptance internet technology

Methods: qualitative interview case study participant observation interpretative method usability testing

Theories: activity theory