Journal of Systems and Information Technology

Lo, Janice; Lam, Monica; Wei, Sijing

2022 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/jsit-06-2021-0123

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how information technology (IT) firms are different from non-IT firms in terms of corporate social responsibility and financial variables for attracting and retaining employees.Design/methodology/approachThrough logit regression models, the authors used corporate social responsibility and financial variables to examine the differences between 512 Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For and a random sample of 512 Non-Best Companies peer firms.FindingsThe analysis results show that IT firms are stronger in terms of research and development spending, return on assets, Tobin’s q and leverage conditions, as well as employee relations and environmental performance in corporate social responsibility. Moreover, for IT firms, innovativeness (characterized by high research and development expenditures) is by far the strongest predictor of whether a company is selected to be on the Best Companies to Work For list.Research limitations/implicationsThis research demonstrated a hybrid, multifaceted research design using different analysis tools to explore new factors of a research topic. The results confirm the associations among variables, which may not represent causal relationships.Practical implicationsThe results shed light on the relationship between corporate social responsibility/finance and IT employee turnover, which provides another dimension for management’s consideration beyond the classic psychometric/fringe benefit analysis for examining employee turnover.Social implicationsIT firms’ superior ability to attract and retain employees using their innovativeness may impact the general public’s career planning and training decisions.Originality/valueThis research project integrated data from four different sources and investigated the IT employee turnover issue from the organizational level rather than the individual employee level.

Alsmadi, Duha; Halawani, Marwah; Prybutok, Victor; Al-Smadi, Radwan

2022 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/jsit-09-2020-0180

This study aims to investigate the determinants of cloud computing usage behavior by exploring trust, several trust antecedents, risk perceptions and the direct and mediating relationships of trust and perceived risk on the intention toward the behavior.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was administered to 1,228 cloud technology users. Using structural equation modeling, a proposed framework of 13 factors that have a direct and indirect influence on the usage behavior was introduced and tested.FindingsIt was observed that the intention toward the usage was influenced by trust and performance expectancy. Additionally, trust was affected by perceived accessibility and perceived technical support. The findings provided evidence on the diminished effect of perceived privacy and the insignificance of the mediating relationship of trust and perceived risk on the intention.Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides multiple implications for researchers by highlighting the concept of trust in this context and enriching their understanding of the relationship between risk and trust.Practical implicationsThe research provides valuable guidelines for service providers toward introducing major concerns and the importance of dependable technical support.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the cloud computing literature by exploring the effect of perceived technical support on the usage and examining the relationship between trust and risk.

Sekgweleo, Tefo; Iyamu, Tiko

2022 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/jsit-07-2021-0125

Organisations make use of different tools and methods in testing software to ensure quality and appropriateness for business needs. Despite the efforts, many organisations continue to have challenges with the quality of their software. This has impacted the service that the organisation provides to their customers and business partners. Software quality challenges persist because of two main reasons: some organisations do not conduct testing and evaluation of their software, and many organisations pay less attention to the non-technical activities in the testing and evaluation of software in their organisations. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to understand the factors that influence software testing through empirical study.Design/methodology/approachThis study used actor–network theory (ANT) to assess the factors that influence the testing and evaluation of software, using a South African organisation as case in the study. Qualitative data was collected from 14 participants using semi-structured interview techniques. The interpretivist approach was applied in the analysis of the data.FindingsFrom the analysis, six factors, software evaluation, process oriented, implementation policy, change management, power relationship and organisational structure, were found to be of influence on software testing. Based on the factors, a framework was developed to help software testers and managers understand how to customise their testing tools.Originality/valueThe originality of this study comes from its empirical nature, through which it contributes to practice by proposing a model for practical actions towards improving software testing in organisations. Also, this study contributes to ANT usefulness from the point of investigative effectiveness.

Feitosa Jorge, Leandro; Mosconi, Elaine; Santa-Eulalia, Luis Antonio

2022 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/jsit-08-2021-0154

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how to support small organizations to navigate the context of an accelerated Digital Transformation using Enterprise Social Media platforms, in response to external contingencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA longitudinal action research study, supported by an exploratory analysis that follows a hybrid approach of deductive and inductive reasoning, has been conducted in the context of a small organization. Several data collection techniques were used for context understanding and problem-solving.FindingsFindings suggest that value creation related to the use of Enterprise Social Media platforms supports small organizations in this accelerated context of Digital Transformation. Value perception is central in overcoming adoption barriers and achieving sustainable use of these platforms in daily basis activities, especially in remote working. External pressures, like those imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, play an important role in catalyzing digital initiatives.Research limitations/implicationsAs the main limitations to this paper, we highlight the study of a single organization in a specific context and the number of actors involved; hence, there is room to extend the study to other industries, organization sizes and contexts.Practical implicationsThis paper provides managers with insights into how to conduct their Enterprise Social Media initiatives in a turbulent environment, highlighting their key success elements, and their potential to create value for their organizations and stakeholders. Furthermore, managers could explore the potential of Enterprise Social Media platforms to support organizations in the Digital Transformation journey.Social implicationsSmall organizations play an important role in generating wealth for nations around the world. However, governments encounter difficulties in supporting the Digital Transformation of this type of organization. This paper provides insights into how to use an affordable and intuitive technology to include this type of organization in the Digital Transformation journey.Originality/valueA long-term study of Enterprise Social Media is recommended, but quite rare in the Information Systems literature. This study adopts a longitudinal investigation to analyze the use of Enterprise Social Media to support a small organization to adapt, in balance with their internal and external contingencies, providing a further contribution to the contingency theory. This research also adds contributions to the sociotechnical system perspective, analyzing the deep imbrication between social and technical subsystems in the required organizational change, supporting a small organization for coping with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abdullahi, Idris Na’umma; Husin, Mohd Heikal; Baharudin, Ahmad Suhaimi; Abdullah, Nor Athiyah

2022 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/jsit-11-2020-0249

This study aims to examine the determinants of Facebook adoption and its impact on the performance of service-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in northwestern Nigeria. The mediating effect of Facebook adoption between the determinants of Facebook adoption and the performance of the SMEs was examined.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive framework was built using the technology – organisation–environment framework integrated with the resource-based view theory. Data were collected from 165 SME decision-makers using an online survey. The hypothesised relationships were tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsFacebook adoption exerted a positive impact on the financial and non-financial performance of the SMEs. The important determinants of Facebook adoption were relative advantage, perceived risks, top management support, organisational readiness and government support. The mediating effect of Facebook adoption between these determinants and financial and non-financial performance was confirmed.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to better insight into the determinants of Facebook adoption and its impact on the financial and non-financial performance of SMEs. The findings can inspire and guide SMEs on adopting Facebook as a marketing strategy to improve performance and reduce failure rates.Originality/valueThe findings confirm the potential of adopting Facebook for enhancing the performance of SMEs. This is arguably among the first empirical studies to test the mediating effect of Facebook adoption.

Vaidya, Ranjan; Myers, Michael D.

2022 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/jsit-08-2021-0182

This paper aims to highlight the importance of the study of emotions in the successful implementation of information systems projects in developing countries. This paper studies one emotion, namely, anger, and discusses its detrimental impact on information system interventions. This paper suggests that controls are necessary for the management of anger emotion.Design/methodology/approachThis research study explores the case of an Indian agricultural marketing board that implemented an information systems project on the integration of agricultural markets. The data was collected through semistructured interviews from four stakeholder groups. This paper uses a qualitative approach and analyzes the data using thematic analysis. Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice is used to study emotions in the case.FindingsThis paper finds that anger is the prominent emotion displayed at public sector organizations in India. This paper permeates all aspects of public organizations and has a detrimental impact on successfully implementing the information systems projects. Successful implementation of the information systems (IS) projects in India will need to have a framework for managing the anger emotion.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper within the information systems discipline that focuses on anger and its detrimental impact on successful IS interventions. A unique contribution of this paper is a framework for the study of emotions. This paper also introduces the idea of controls for emotional management.

Schinckus, Christophe; Gasparin, Marta; Green, William

2022 Journal of Systems and Information Technology

doi: 10.1108/jsit-01-2020-0006

This paper aims to contribute to recent debates about financial knowledge by opening the black box of its algorithmization to understand how information systems can address the major challenges related to interactions between algorithmic trading and financial markets.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses financial algorithms in three steps. First, the authors introduce the phenomenon of flash crash; second, the authors conduct an epistemological analysis of algorithmization and identify three epistemological regimes – epistemic, operational and authority – which differ in terms of how they deal with financial information. Third, the authors demonstrate that a flash crash emerges when there is a disconnection between these three regimes.FindingsThe authors open the black box of financial algorithms to understand why flash crashes occur and how information technology research can address the problem. A flash crash is a very rapid and deep fall in security prices in a very short time due to an algorithmic misunderstanding of the market. Thus, the authors investigate the problem and propose an interdisciplinary approach to clarify the scope of algorithmization of financial markets.Originality/valueTo manage the misalignment of information and potential disconnection between the three regimes, the authors suggest that information technology can embrace the complexity of the algorithmization of financial knowledge by diversifying its implementation through the development of a multi-sensorial platform. The authors propose sonification as a new mechanism for capturing and understanding financial information. This approach is then presented as a new research area that can contribute to the way financial innovations interact with information technology.