Journal of Systems and Information Technology

Teemu Kautonen; Heikki Karjaluoto; Chanaka Jayawardhena; Andreas Kuckertz

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710839201

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a three‐country comparison of personal and institutionally based trust as factors affecting consumers' willingness to participate in permission‐based mobile marketing. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model of different dimensions of personal and institutionally based trust and their effect on the consumer's willingness to provide personal information and the permission to use it is tested with data from surveys of young consumers in Finland, Germany and the UK. The data were analysed by structural equation modelling (LISREL8.7). Findings – The main factor affecting the consumers' decision to participate in mobile marketing is the company's media presence, which is a significant factor in all three countries. Research limitations/implications – While the results of this study establish the sources of trust that play a role in permission‐based mobile marketing, the study of trust in the context of mobile marketing would greatly benefit from research that addresses the process of how trust emerges and develops over time. As a company's presence in the media weighs more than the customer's own experiences or control, mobile marketers should focus on building a strong and positive media presence and image in order to gain consumers' permission for mobile marketing. Practical implications – As a company's reputation conveyed by the media weighs more than the customer's own experiences, mobile marketers should focus on building a strong and positive media presence and image, and thereby gain consumers' trust. Originality/value – The paper is the first international empirical investigation of the different antecedents of trust in the context of mobile marketing.

P. Jones; A. Jones; G. Packham; B. Thomas; C. Miller

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710839210

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development of a blended e‐learning pedagogical model for an undergraduate enterprise programme. The proliferation of e‐learning programmes offers new opportunities and challenges for universities to meet the learning needs of new student markets. However, the use of e‐learning as an enabling mechanism for enterprise education remains largely unexplored within academic literature. Design/methodology/approach – The case study methodology comprises a series of focus groups with key stakeholders in the project, namely online tutors, students and scheme leaders from a number of partner colleges involved in the delivery of the course. Findings – The study charts the evolution of the blended learning pedagogy which was found to best meet the learning requirements of non‐traditional learners on an undergraduate programme. The blended learning pedagogy strategy which was developed replicated the best informal practice that had emerged through each of the partner institutions and the learning needs of the students. Constituent elements of the pedagogy included the provision of structured face‐to‐face events, a range of student supports systems and the creation of a code of practice for online tutors. As a result, a model of best practice for blended learning is proposed. Originality/value – This study contributes to the literature in terms of proposing a working framework for online undergraduate enterprise education with identification of critical success factors including supportive induction, viable pedagogy and effective support systems. The framework can be utilised by practitioners and theoreticians as a guide to the effective management of pedagogical issues associated with blended online education.

Ray Webster; Fay Sudweeks

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710839229

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of individual and group factors that facilitate successful collaborative work in e‐learning environments. The aim of the paper is to develop a conceptual framework and a methodology for implementing the framework. Design/methodology/approach – A theoretical framework is developed. The framework is an integration of two innovative methodologies (CEDA and RAPAD) which have been implemented in previous research. Findings – The operationalisation of the integrated methodology enables the development of a learning environment by structured reflection and negotiation on preferred learning related characteristics. Originality/value – The proposed approach facilitates student learning at the individual and group level. Extending the framework to training procedures locates the research to a broader societal context.

Sami Kajalo; Risto Rajala; Mika Westerlund

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710839238

Purpose – Technology‐related issues have an increasing impact on business. The alignment between overall business objectives and technology‐related decisions, such as decisions on application service acquisitions, resurfaces occasionally in the intense academic discussion on information systems (IS). Prior research indicates that the alignment of business and IS decisions remains a major concern for business practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the factors that drive the consistency in technology‐related decisions and result in diverse modes of business‐IS alignment. Design/methodology/approach – This study investigates application service acquisitions among the top 200 firms in Finland. In this quantitative empirical study, principal component analysis with varimax rotation method is used to examine the companies' drivers for business‐IS alignment. Moreover, the firms are categorized using the cluster analysis method. Findings – This study identifies four factors that drive the achievement of business‐IS alignment. These factors are: awareness of the impact and risks of IS decisions, efficacy of IS management, systematic decision making process, and business development orientation of IS management. Moreover, the study identifies four clusters of firms that illustrate diverse modes of business‐IS alignment: ad‐hoc alignment, business‐driven alignment, consensual alignment, and technology‐driven alignment. Originality/value – The value of the study lies in revealing the key factors influencing the alignment of vital IS investments and the overall business strategy. The study identifies four clearly different approaches to business‐IS alignment. Moreover, the paper suggests that business‐IS alignment stems from several factors, including the collective development of strategies that reflect the combined knowledge of business and IS managers.

Craig Standing; Paul Jackson

2007 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/13287260710839247

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a set of guiding sustainability principles for the information systems function in organisations. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use principles taken from sustainability approaches to define a set of principles and a sustainability maturity model. Findings – The principles include awareness, alternatives to economic perspectives, systems approaches, minimise wastage, consider the future, avoid fads, link sustainability to IT governance frameworks. Research limitations/implications – The paper calls for a new line of research investigating the contribution that IS can make to the sustainability issue. Practical implications – The principles and maturity model can be used by practitioners to embed sustainability processes into their organisations. Originality/value – The issue of sustainability and IS is still in its infancy as a research topic. The authors define a basic set of sustainability principles and raise a number of governance issues related to sustainability.