Journal of Systems and Information Technology

Laurie McLeod; Stephen MacDonell; Bill Doolin

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710817665

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to obtain an updated assessment of the use of standard methods in IS development practice in New Zealand, and to compare these practices to those reported elsewhere. Design/methodology/approach – A web‐based survey of IS development practices in New Zealand organisations with 200 or more full‐time employees was conducted. The results of the survey were compared to prior studies from other national contexts. Findings – The results suggest that levels of standard method use continue to be high in New Zealand organisations, although methods are often used in a pragmatic or ad hoc way. Further, the type of method used maps to a shift from bespoke development to system acquisition or outsourcing. Organisations that reported using standard methods perceived them to be beneficial to IS development in their recent IS projects, and generally disagreed with most of the published limitations of standard methods. Research limitations/implications – As the intent was to consider only New Zealand organisations, the results of the survey cannot be generalised further afield. More comparative research is needed to establish whether the trends identified here occur at a wider regional or international level. Practical implications – A significant proportion of organisations anticipated extending their use of standard methods. Growth in packaged software acquisition and outsourced development suggests an increasing need for deployment management as well as development management, possibly reflecting the increased visibility of standard project management methods. Originality/value – The relevance of traditional standard methods of IS development has been questioned in a changing and more dynamic IS development environment. This study provides an updated assessment of standard method use in New Zealand organisations that will be of interest to researchers and practitioners monitoring IS development and acquisition elsewhere.

Ned Kock

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710817674

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to discuss a variety of empirical findings suggesting that surprise is positively related with enhanced memory recall. This opens the door for the assumption that surprising stimuli can be used in a controlled way to enhance learning. Design/methodology/approach – A predictive model based on a Darwinian interpretation of this phenomenon is proposed. The model is coined CLEBS, which stands for “computer‐based learning enhanced by surprise”. Findings – A discussion on how the model can be tested is provided in the context of a finance‐oriented Web‐based learning task, where subjects learn about investment instruments such as stocks and bonds. Originality/value – Important implications are discussed, including possible applications in a variety of areas of interest to organizations in general.

Paul Beynon‐Davies; Rebecca Hill

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710817683

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to show that the provision of an increasing range of remote, electronic access channels by private and public sector bodies is predicated on a critical mass of citizenry utilising such access channels. However, a major concern is that the increasing use of ICT for private and public sector transactions is seen as potentially creating a “digital divide” between those with access to technology and those who do not. This paper adapts an index of the digital divide documented in previous work and utilises this instrument to analyse the depth and breadth of this phenomenon in a UK region – Wales. Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses the construction of a “digital divide index” (DDIX) for Wales based upon the previous established work of Husing and Selhofer. The DDIX is applied to data collected as part of a major European‐wide project – UNDERSTAND. Findings – The DDIX situates four citizen segments in terms of internet access and usage – gender, age, education and income. There are no significant digital divides evident within the Welsh region in terms of gender and income. However, there are significant digital divides in terms of age and education. Research limitations/implications – The DDIX as formulated considers a limited range of possible dimensions, both in terms of citizen groups and internet access and usage. Other possible dimensions for consideration are discussed in the paper. Practical implications – Our application of a DDIX has been useful in highlighting the multi‐faceted nature of this phenomenon within a regional context. Further research is required both to refine such an important information society metric and to apply it in further domains of analysis. Originality/value – The paper will be of interest both to academic researchers and policy‐makers interested in understanding and measuring the digital divide.

Rosemary Stockdale; Sven Kühne

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710817692

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the growing body of research into virtual teams by using empirical data to validate existing theory. It analyses a project in the travel and tourism industry to determine the key elements that contributed to a successful outcome. Design/methodology/approach – An ethnographic approach is used in this case of a multi‐national, multi‐organisational virtual project tasked with market validation of an ontology management system. Participant observation is supported by a range of primary and secondary data. Findings – The importance of key factors changes over the time of the project. The early emphasis on constructs relating to technology and purpose moves towards those related to people as the project matured. The caretaker/gatekeeper role of the project leader made a significant contribution to overcoming problems of complexity. A lack of commitment to a range of information technologies heightened the reliance on periodic face‐to‐face meetings to support team interactions. Research limitations/implications – Cultural diversity is common in the travel sector and related issues may play a more significant role in other industries. Further research is needed to fully assess the impact of context on virtual team outcomes. Practical implications – Recommendations for practitioners include the need to establish a framework of rules and identify training needs. A socialising period, virtual or face‐to‐face, is an essential requirement for successful virtual teamwork. Originality/value – A conceptual framework, drawn from previous studies, adds clarity to the importance and relevance of the constructs of people, purpose and technology in virtual teamwork.

E. AbuShanab; J.M. Pearson

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710817700

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate the key determinants of the adoption of internet banking in Jordan. The paper also attempts to validate the appropriateness of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) within the context of internet banking. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was developed based on previous work in the areas of technology acceptance and internet banking. The questionnaire was distributed through three banks in Jordan to customers as they enter each bank's main office. Multiple regressions were utilized to evaluate the collected data. Findings – The results of this study indicate that UTAUT provides a good foundation for future technology acceptance research. The three main predictors relevant to this study (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence) were significant and explained a significant amount of the variance in predicting a customer's intention to adopt internet banking. The results also indicate that gender moderated the relationships between the three independent variables and the dependent variable (behavioral intention). Research limitations/implications – This study did not follow‐up with respondents to determine if they actually adopted internet banking. Therefore, the results do not measure actual adoption. Originality/value – This study is one of the first to utilize the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to the technology acceptance domain. It also provides a broader view of the technology acceptance decision in that the study took place in a non‐English speaking culture (Arabic – Jordan).