Managing In-Company IT Standardization: A Design Theory

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Ahlemann, Frederik; Dittes, Sven; Fillbrunn, Tim; Rehring, Kevin; Reining, Stefan; Urbach, Nils

Abstract: Today’s companies rely heavily on in-company information technology standards (I ... Expand

Abstract: Today’s companies rely heavily on in-company information technology standards (ICITS) to reduce costs, ensure flexibility, and facilitate the planning, implementation, and operation of IT systems. Steering and managing ICITS has proven to be challenging, revealing the need for efficient governance mechanisms. But even though prior research demonstrates the challenges of ICITS, viable advice on how to implement ICITS is scarce. In this paper, we develop an organizational design theory for the management of ICITS based on the framework of organizational control theory. We conducted a critical case study to identify basic goals, constitutive elements, and fundamental mechanisms of a working ICITS management. The resulting design goals and principles were then evaluated and further refined in the light of additional expert interviews. With our work, we wish to extend the body of theoretical knowledge on the management of ICITS and help practitioners master the various challenges occurring in this domain. Collapse

Topics: information systems standardization enterprise architecture IS maturity organizational control decision making

Methods: design theory qualitative interview design principle descriptive statistic case study

Theories: organizational control theory

A Taxonomy of Algorithmic Control Systems

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Alizadeh, Armin; Hirsch, Felix; Jiang, Jennifer; Wiener, Martin; Benlian, Alexander

Abstract: Algorithmic control (AC) uses digital technologies and advanced algorithms to c ... Expand

Abstract: Algorithmic control (AC) uses digital technologies and advanced algorithms to control workers and is rapidly becoming a central component of modern work environments.While previous research has explored the implications of AC by examining its specific forms, mechanisms, or functions, this research argues for a broader understanding of AC as socio-technical systems, explicitly considering the technological and organizational characteristics of AC. The overarching goal of this study is to identify and conceptualize the core dimensions and respective characteristics of AC systems. To achieve this goal, we develop a taxonomy based on a review of prior literature and an analysis of 21 empirical examples. Furthermore, we demonstrate the application and usefulness of the derived taxonomy by applying it to three real-world AC systems. By adopting a holistic system perspective and developing a validated taxonomy, our study contributes to the theoretical understanding of AC systems and sets the stage for deeper exploration in future research. Collapse

Topics: organizational control organizational context computer hardware information technology capability Uber

Methods: literature study case study theory development computational algorithm

Theories: socio technical theory

Going Beyond Deterrence: A Middle-Range Theory of Motives and Controls for Insider Computer Abuse

2023 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Burns, A. J.; Roberts, Tom L.; Posey, Clay; Lowry, Paul Benjamin; Fuller, Bryan

Abstract: Despite widespread agreement among practitioners and academicians that organizat ... Expand

Abstract: Despite widespread agreement among practitioners and academicians that organizational insiders are a significant threat to organizational information systems security, insider computer abuse (ICA)—unauthorized and deliberate misuse of organizational information resources by organizational insiders—remains a serious issue. Recent studies have shown that most employees are willing to share confidential or regulated information under certain circumstances, and nearly one-third to half of major security breaches are tied to insiders. These trends indicate that organizational security efforts, which generally focus on deterrence and sanctions, have yet to effectively address ICA. Therefore, leading security researchers and practitioners have called for a more nuanced understanding of insiders in respect to deterrence efforts. We answer these calls by proposing a middle-range theory of ICA that focuses on understanding the inherent tensions between insider motivations and organizational controls. Our careful review distinguishes two categories of personal motives for ICA: (1) instrumental (i.e., financial benefits) and (2) expressive (i.e., psychological contract violations) motives. Our novel theory of ICA also includes the influence of two classes of controls for ICA: (1) intrinsic (i.e., self-control) and (2) extrinsic (i.e., organizational deterrence) controls. We developed and empirically examined a research model based on our middle-range theory that explains a substantial portion of the variance in ICA. Specifically, our results indicate that both instrumental and expressive motives are positively related to ICA. Moreover, intrinsic self-control exerted significant direct and moderating influences in our research model, whereas extrinsic organizational deterrence failed to exhibit a direct effect on ICA and significantly moderated instrumental motives’ relationship with ICA only. Not only do our results show that self-control exerted a stronger effect on the model than deterrence did but they also help us identify the limits of deterrence in ICA research.History: Ola Henfridsson served as the senior editor and Debabrata Dey served as associate editor for this article.Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2022.1133. Collapse

Topics: IT security data security anonymity organizational control password

Methods: theory development partial least squares path modeling factor analysis data transformation PLS tool

Theories: control theory deterrence theory

Algorithmic Management: Its Implications for Information Systems Research

2023 | Communications of the Association for Information Systems | Citations: 4

Authors: Cameron, Lindsey; Lamers, Laura; Leicht-Deobald, Ulrich; Lutz, Christoph; Meijerink, Jeroen; Möhlmann, Mareike

Abstract: In recent years, the topic of algorithmic management has received increasing at ... Expand

Abstract: In recent years, the topic of algorithmic management has received increasing attention in information systems (IS) research and beyond. As both emerging platform businesses and established companies rely on artificial intelligence and sophisticated software to automate tasks previously done by managers, important organizational, social, and ethical questions emerge. However, a cross-disciplinary approach to algorithmic management that brings together IS perspectives with other (sub-)disciplines such as macro-and micro-organizational behavior, business ethics, and digital sociology is missing, despite its usefulness for IS research. This article engages in cross-disciplinary agenda setting through an in-depth report of a professional development workshop (PDW) entitled "Algorithmic Management: Toward a Cross-Disciplinary Research Agenda" delivered at the 2021 Academy of Management Annual Meeting. Three leading experts (Mareike Möhlmann, Lindsey Cameron, and Laura Lamers) on the topic provide their insights on the current status of algorithmic management research, how their work contributes to this area, where the field is heading in the future, and what important questions should be answered going forward. These accounts are followed up by insights from the breakout group discussions at the PDW that provided further input. Overall, the experts and workshop participants emphasized that future research should examine both the desirable and undesirable outcomes of algorithmic management and should not shy away from posing ethical and normative questions. Collapse

Topics: algorithmic management sensemaking platform worker Uber pandemic

Methods: computational algorithm theory development group interview ethnography grounded theory

Theories: organizational behavior theory enactment theory

COVERT RESISTANCE AGAINST ALGORITHMIC CONTROL ON ONLINE LABOR PLATFORMS – A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Jiang, Jennifer

Abstract: Online labor platforms (OLPs) such as Uber or Upwork heavily rely on algorithms ... Expand

Abstract: Online labor platforms (OLPs) such as Uber or Upwork heavily rely on algorithms instead of human managers to control workers' behavior. While algorithmic control (AC) allows platform providers to control their workers efficiently, it is often perceived by workers as a tighter control (compared to human-based control) which increases their motivation to resist. Especially covert resistance (i.e., workers' hard-to-observe oppositional actions) provides essential insights into how workers deal with AC that affect platforms' longevity. In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review to develop a theoretical framework showing how and why workers perform covert resistance against AC. Further, our analysis reveals the enabling role of sensemaking for diverse forms of covert resistance. Overall, our study expands the literature on AC by shedding light on the formation of workers' covert resistance. Therefore, we offer platform providers and policymakers crucial insights to create fairer working environments for workers under AC. Collapse

Topics: resistance to change sensemaking organizational control organizational change privacy

Methods: literature sample theory development computational algorithm structured literature research literature study

Identifying the idiosyncrasies of behavioral information security discourse and proposing future research directions: A Foucauldian perspective

2023 | Journal of Information Technology | Citations: 0

Authors: Liang, Nan (Peter); Hirschheim, Rudy; Luo, Xin (Robert); Hollingsworth, Hayden

Abstract: Information security (InfoSec)–related behaviors have been defined in many diffe ... Expand

Abstract: Information security (InfoSec)–related behaviors have been defined in many different ways in the security literature. Indeed, the coexistence of varying terms describing IS security behaviors could be seen as a conceptual inconsistency. However, we believe that it could also be construed as the sign of a vivid and living field embracing dispersed objects of study without changing the disciplinary discourse itself. To test this belief, we conduct a two-part study. Study 1 analyzes the definitions of InfoSec-related behaviors in the existing security literature. The result of Study 1 uncovers the Foucauldian rules that make possible the discourse on behavioral information security, including the surface of emergence, authorities of delimitation, and the grids of specification. Study 1 also indicates that, although behavioral Information Systems Security (ISS) shares the three rules with other disciplines, it is the only field that studies the relations between them. We therefore propose a disciplinary question that reflects this idiosyncrasy. We then conduct Study 2, using Foucault’s view on preconceptual schemata as a theoretical lens, to identify understudied areas in the ISS literature. We found that the existing literature utilizes two variations of the actor and organization schemata to form or to adapt concepts, and utilize two different approaches to study these two variations, namely, an antecedents approach and a dialectics approach. It is noteworthy that the latter is important but understudied in the literature. We then draw an analogy from moral studies to develop three concepts for future ISS research, namely, Stages of Awareness Development, Security Agency, and Security Disengagement. Collapse

Topics: security policy organizational context decision making IT security bring your own device

Methods: theory development literature sample post-hoc analysis qualitative content analysis structured literature research

Theories: agency theory

Logics' shift and depletion of innovation: A multi-level study of agile use in a multinational telco company

2022 | Information and Organization | Citations: 0

Authors: Annosi, Maria Carmela; Mattarelli, Elisa; Micelotta, Evelyn; Martini, Antonella

Abstract: The use of Agile practices is typically associated to a wide array of benefits f ... Expand

Abstract: The use of Agile practices is typically associated to a wide array of benefits for organizations. This paper extends growing research on the ‘dark’ side of Agile by investigating the depletion of innovation in a large telco company following the large-scale implementation of Agile in R&D units. Our qualitative study reveals a shift in the organizational logics underpinning new product development, from a “navigating through unchartered waters” to a “putting out fires” logic. We tracked the change in key components of logics (goals of teams, source of legitimacy of team members and support and control systems) and explained the multi-level mechanisms through which the shift occurred, i.e., changes in processes of workflow management, work allocation, and performance management. We found that the new organizational logic negatively impacted individual attitudes towards the generation of new ideas by promoting the internalization of short-termism, a perceived drain in competences and confidence, and the lack of accountability for innovation. By focusing on changes in organizational logics, our insights expand current knowledge about the relationship between Agile implementation and individual attitudes. We also explain why unexpected effects of Agile implementation may go undetected in organizations, because they derive from multi-level, diffused, changes in the organization. Collapse

Topics: innovation management new product development agile software development research and development user attitude

Methods: qualitative interview theory development survey qualitative coding field study

Expanding the Locus of Resistance: Understanding the Co-constitution of Control and Resistance in the Gig Economy

2022 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Cameron, Lindsey D.; Rahman, Hatim

Abstract: Existing literature examines control and resistance in the context of service or ... Expand

Abstract: Existing literature examines control and resistance in the context of service organizations that rely on both managers and customers to control workers during the execution of work. Digital platform companies, however, eschew managers in favor of algorithmically mediated customer control—that is, customers rate workers, and algorithms tally and track these ratings to control workers’ future platform-based opportunities. How has this shift in the distribution of control among platforms, customers, and workers affected the relationship between control and resistance? Drawing on workers’ experiences from a comparative ethnography of two of the largest platform companies, we find that platform use of algorithmically mediated customer control has expanded the service encounter such that organizational control and workers’ resistance extend well beyond the execution of work. We find that workers have the most latitude to deploy resistance early in the labor process but must adjust their resistance tactics because their ability to resist decreases in each subsequent stage of the labor process. Our paper, thus, develops understanding of resistance by examining the relationship between control and resistance before, during, and after a task, providing insight into how control and resistance function in the gig economy. We also demonstrate the limitations of platforms’ reliance on algorithmically mediated customer control by illuminating how workers’ everyday interactions with customers can influence and manipulate algorithms in ways that platforms cannot always observe. Collapse

Topics: resistance to change platform worker organizational control digital platform business model

Methods: computational algorithm qualitative interview theory development participant observation focus group

Theories: lemon market theory

Investigating the determinants of inter-organizational information sharing within criminal justice: A context-mechanism-outcome approach

2022 | Journal of Information Technology | Citations: 0

Authors: Iannacci, Federico; Simeonova, Boyka; Kawalek, Peter

Abstract: Focusing on inter-organizational information sharing in criminal justice, it is ... Expand

Abstract: Focusing on inter-organizational information sharing in criminal justice, it is found that, while poor project management leads to unsuccessful inter-organizational information sharing, a recipe for success is more demanding as it requires both compatible technologies and good project management implemented either by means of a top-down approach of strategic alignment or an emergent approach of bottom-up alignment. Though unplanned, the latter approach may lead to mistakes that are more correctable than the large mistakes stemming from top-down, deliberate planning. The study is an analysis of context-mechanism-outcome configurations of inter-organizational information sharing activities within criminal justice systems and demonstrates the causal asymmetry between positive and negative cases. Theoretical, methodological, and practical implications are discussed by highlighting the causal role of different types of governance structure in a crisp set configurational fashion. Collapse

Topics: information exchange project management government system IT governance IS success

Methods: case study focus group longitudinal research qualitative interview theory development

Theories: fuzzy set theory

Advances in Distrust and Trust Research: Digital Technologies in Organizations and Beyond

2022 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Jarvenpaa, Sirkka L; Alarcon, Gene; Blomqvist, Kirsimarja; Mohlmann, Mareike

Abstract: Within the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), we organi ... Expand

Abstract: Within the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), we organize for the sixth time a mini-track on trust and information technologies. This year, the mini-track highlights distrust along with trust. Through the presentation of six papers and an open discussion, the mini-track participants will have another round of lively debate that involves a variety of modern day information technologies in contexts such as autonomous vehicles and blockchain environments, addressing topics such as (dis)trust and technology adaption, technostress, datafication, and trust transfer. Collapse

Topics: technostress blockchain datafication organizational control Oracle database

Methods: survey