When Reflection Hurts: The Effect of Cognitive Processing Types on Organizational Adaptation to Discontinuous Change

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 1

Authors: Alves, Marlon Fernandes Rodrigues; Vastola, Vincenzo; Vasconcelos Ribeiro Galina, Simone; Zollo, Maurizio

Abstract: Technological breakthroughs, institutional disruptions, and natural disasters of ... Expand

Abstract: Technological breakthroughs, institutional disruptions, and natural disasters often alter the course of organizations and entire industries. Such discontinuous changes threaten organizations’ survival by affecting the value of the knowledge accumulated in routines and capabilities. Although it is widely acknowledged that managerial cognition is a critical antecedent of organizational responses to discontinuous change, the role of type 1 (intuitive) and type 2 (reflective) processing in the adaptation of shared patterns of behavior, that is, routines, remains understudied. Drawing on dual-process theory, we propose that particular features of type 1 processing render this approach superior to type 2 processing, especially in highly ambiguous environments in which information is limited and difficult to verify. We tested our hypotheses in a longitudinal experiment linking individual-level factors with organizational-level practices of routine adaptation. Experienced managers, paired in 80 groups, developed routines in a first round of a simulation game; in a second round, we then introduced a discontinuous change making previous routines obsolete in order to observe how they adapted. The data show that priming type 1 processing facilitates organizational adaptation more than type 2 processing by providing faster, more routinized, efficiently coordinated, and optimal responses. In addition, type 1 appears to be more functional in highly ambiguous environments, whereas type 1 and type 2 processes yield similar levels of performance under low levels of ambiguity. Overall, our study advances the understanding of the nondeliberative dimension of organizational adaptation to discontinuous change.History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Experiments in Organizational Theory.Funding: This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Finance Code 001).Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1517. Collapse

Topics: decision making strategic management innovation management problem solving task productivity

Methods: experiment longitudinal research parametric test ANOVA statistical hypothesis test

Theories: dual-system theory dynamic capabilities theory

ICT-Based Country-Level Determinants of Social Media Diffusion

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Arayankalam, Jithesh; Krishnan, Satish

Abstract: There is a broad consensus that social media platforms have become critical tool ... Expand

Abstract: There is a broad consensus that social media platforms have become critical tools for policymakers in achieving various policy objectives in a country. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the ICT-based country-level determinants of social media diffusion has become necessary. To this end, we propose a government-people-technology (GTP) framework for categorizing the ICT-based country-level determinants of social media diffusion into three dimensions. Using this framework and utilizing archival data from 107 countries, we examine the roles of ICT in the government's vision, ICT law maturity, Internet bandwidth, ICT cost, ICT skill, and capacity to own ICT in influencing social media diffusion. A quantile panel data regression results reveal that ICT in the government's vision, ICT law maturity, Internet bandwidth, and capacity to own ICT were positively associated with social media diffusion. In contrast, ICT cost was negatively associated with it. Thus, by offering a new framework, we contribute to the technology diffusion literature by emphasizing the role of government, people, and supportive technologies in driving social media diffusion at the country level. Collapse

Topics: social media IT investment internet technology IT skill technology diffusion

Methods: longitudinal research regression analysis method post-hoc analysis cross sectional research archival research

Theories: theory of everything

Linking United Nations Sustainable Development Goals with the Impact of ICT4D Research – A Theory of Change Approach

2023 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Arikenbi, Temitayo; Boell, Sebastian; Li, Yan; Thomas, Manoj

Abstract: Information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) research are i ... Expand

Abstract: Information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) research are increasingly impactful in the field of IS, as they aspire to deliver developmental benefits across the different domains of application. Unfortunately, many ICT4D projects often fail to demonstrate in a quantifiable way how they have contributed to development. The United Nations mechanisms for global development, currently the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offers a quantifiable basis for assessing developmental goals attainment in general, and has been adopted for some ICT4D projects. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding how SDGs can be achieved through ICT4D initiatives at the local levels, especially when indicators for SDGs are all at a global level. In this research, we propose a Theory of Change (ToC) approach to link ICT4D project outcomes to specific SDG targets through a set of clearly articulated change pathways. We demonstrate how project-level indicators can then be developed to measure the ICT4D project's impact on SDGs. An example of the approach is provided in the context of the Techies Without Borders project called 'Continues Medical Education Solutions (CMES). The case study shows how ToC is used to explicitly create project-level indicators that are linked to a specific SDG target. This research makes an important contribution by providing guidance to IS researchers seeking to align ICT4D projects with UN SDGs. Collapse

Topics: information and communication technology for development digital divide

Methods: case study

Theories: theory of change

An Adversarial Dance: Toward an Understanding of Insiders’ Responses to Organizational Information Security Measures

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

Authors: Balozian, Puzant; Burns, A.; Leidner, Dorothy

Abstract: Despite the increased focus on organizational security policies and programs, s ... Expand

Abstract: Despite the increased focus on organizational security policies and programs, some employees continue to engage in maladaptive responses to security measures (i.e., behaviors other than those recommended, intended, or prescribed). To help shed light on insiders' adaptive and maladaptive responses to IS security measures, we conducted a case study of an organization at the forefront of security policy initiatives. Drawing on the beliefs-actions-outcomes (BAO) model to analyze our case data, we uncover a potentially nonvirtuous cycle consisting of security-related beliefs, actions, and outcomes, which we refer to as an "adversarial dance." Explaining our results, we describe a novel belief framework that identifies four security belief profiles and uncovers an underexplored outcome of IS security: insiders' lived security experiences. We find that individuals' unfavorable lived security experiences produce counterproductive security-related beliefs that, in turn, lead to maladaptive behaviors. Maladaptive behaviors create new potential for security risk, leading to increased organizational security measures to counter them. Thus, the adversarial dance continues, as the new security measures have the potential to reinforce counterproductive security-related beliefs about the importance and risk of IS security and lead to new maladaptive behaviors. To help situate our findings within the current security literature, we integrate the results with prior research based on extant theories. While this paper is not the first to suggest that security measures can elicit maladaptive behaviors, the emergent belief framework and expanded BAO model of IS security constitute an important contribution to the behavioral IS security literature.Puzant Balozian is an assistant professor of computer information systems at James Madison University. His research focus is primarily on the impacts of organizational factors on individual user behaviors in the context of information security and privacy and addressing security policy compliance and violation. Collapse

Topics: IT security IT security defense productivity IT security threat anonymity

Methods: case study qualitative interview personal interview theory development survey

Theories: information systems theory neutralization theory behavioral theory

On the Combinatory Nature of Knowledge Transfer Conditions: A Mixed Method Assessment

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 1

Authors: Bacon, Emily; Williams, Michael D.; Davies, Gareth H.

Abstract: Organisations are increasingly creating inter-organisational ecosystem partnersh ... Expand

Abstract: Organisations are increasingly creating inter-organisational ecosystem partnerships to innovate openly. Despite effective knowledge management significantly supporting ecosystem infrastructures, empirical insights into the importance of and interdependencies between conditions for successful knowledge exchange across ecosystem contexts remain unexplored within existing literature. This study implements a mixed-method approach to ascertain which conditions are responsible for knowledge transfer success across innovation ecosystems. Interpretive Structural Modelling was employed to analyse questionnaires with key ecosystem stakeholders, in order to impose a hierarchical structure upon the conditions. The configurational nature of these conditions, and their combinations into solutions for success was ascertained through analysing semi-structured interviews using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. Results reveal multiple, mutually exclusive pathways to knowledge transfer success, grouped into three solution types, increasing understanding of the interrelated nature of the knowledge transfer conditions. Limitations and implications for future research are provided. Collapse

Topics: knowledge sharing innovation management knowledge type open innovation digital transformation

Methods: qualitative interview survey computational algorithm literature study fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis

Theories: complexity theory

Microfoundations of Adaptive Search in Complex Tasks: The Role of Cognitive Abilities and Styles

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 1

Authors: Bergenholtz, Carsten; Vuculescu, Oana; Amidi, Ali

Abstract: Problem-solving in complex environments requires a cognitively demanding search ... Expand

Abstract: Problem-solving in complex environments requires a cognitively demanding search for task solutions. Managing this search process presents a major challenge in organizations. We contribute to the literature on this topic by providing new evidence on the cognitive antecedents that shape how individuals search when engaged in complex problem-solving tasks. We present results from three laboratory studies, wherein 335 individuals solved a complex task. In doing so, they generated behavioral data coupled with survey-based measurements of the individuals’ cognitive styles and performance-based tests of their cognitive abilities. Our data analysis contributes to the current literature by documenting systematic heterogeneity in the persistence and distance of search that can be explained by the participants’ level of creativity, attention to detail, and executive functions. We extend the research on the microfoundations of adaptive search by linking cognitive antecedents with a complex search task, widening our insight into what search behavior certain cognitive microfoundations lead to, and showing how managers can more effectively shape organizational search.History: This paper has been accepted for the Organization Science Special Issue on Experiments in Organizational Theory.Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.1654. Collapse

Topics: decision making logistics management problem solving anonymity competitive advantage

Methods: laboratory experiment survey qualitative interview experimental task generalized linear model

Theories: ambidexterity theory

Theorizing Organizational Benevolence

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Beveridge, ‘Alim J.; Höllerer, Markus A.

Abstract: We extend research on stakeholder orientation by introducing and conceptualizing ... Expand

Abstract: We extend research on stakeholder orientation by introducing and conceptualizing “organizational benevolence”—a notion that refers to a firm’s inclination to pursue the welfare of an external stakeholder group as an end in itself manifested in a behavioral tendency in which benefiting the “other” is the ultimate goal of action. Employing a microfoundational approach, we propose a theoretical framework and a process model that explain how firms develop such a posture and how it eventually can become an enduring feature of these organizations. We build our framework on the core notion of collective commitment to the well-being of an external constituency by elaborating on the processes through which such collective commitment is mobilized, translated into collective intention, and stabilized in a behavioral tendency. Our article develops several propositions highlighting the crucial roles that emotionality and rhetoric play in these processes, alongside an enabling sociocognitive infrastructure. Overall, our work goes substantially beyond current theorizing and provides a detailed account for why some firms not founded with a prosocial mission nonetheless act consistently to benefit an external constituency in the absence of instrumental reasons to do so. Collapse

Methods: theory development business process modeling

Theories: stakeholder theory organizational theory

The regulation of and through information technology: Towards a conceptual ontology for IS research

2023 | Journal of Information Technology | Citations: 0

Authors: Butler, Tom; Gozman, Daniel; Lyytinen, Kalle

Abstract: This special issue addresses a largely neglected area of Information Systems (IS ... Expand

Abstract: This special issue addresses a largely neglected area of Information Systems (IS) research – the regulation of and through Information Technology (IT). As with other human technologies, IT artefacts present risks and can harm individuals, groups, organisations, economies, and society: However, this remains a largely unexplored topic in IS research. Nevertheless, regulators, social commentators, the media, and the public have voiced their concerns about such risks, particularly those related to artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, privacy, digital assets (e.g. cryptocurrencies), and the market dominance of digital platforms. Accordingly, regulations have been instituted or proposed to regulate IT artefacts in and across several business sectors. Additionally, in response to the informational challenges posed by a complex web of laws and regulations, regulators and business organisations have implemented IT artefacts to transform regulatory and supervisory processes or to enhance organisational risk management and compliance reporting capabilities. This special issue addresses the research challenges related to emergent issues surrounding the regulation of and through IT. In this editorial, we take stock of where the field currently stands. We advance a conceptual ontology of IT regulation to guide future research by specifying several taken-for-granted core concepts. By rendering the concepts, categories, and their relationships explicit, the model and its related research questions provide a firm foundation to generate a cumulative body of research on the regulation of and through IT. Collapse

Topics: digital platform information technology infrastructure knowledge representation big data innovation management

Methods: design artifact ontological modelling qualitative content analysis theory development literature study

Theories: institutional theory theory of affordance general systems theory

The Crisis in Local Newspapers and Organizational Wrongdoing: The Role of Community Social Connectedness

2023 | Organization Science | Citations: 0

Authors: Choi, Tony Jaehyun; Valente, Mike

Abstract: Drawing on institutional anomie theory, we examine how the crisis in local newsp ... Expand

Abstract: Drawing on institutional anomie theory, we examine how the crisis in local newspapers has induced organizational wrongdoings in local communities. We argue that, because local newspapers are the primary source of accountability journalism in local communities, their decline leads to an anomic state that increases the scale of organizational wrongdoing. We also investigate whether institutional complementarity helps overcome the anomic state: Due to functional similarity, community social connectedness compensates for the scarcity of local newspapers. Our analysis of U.S. metropolitan areas for the period of 2007–2015 reveals that the positive relationship between local newspaper scarcity and the scale of organizational wrongdoing is not present in all communities but does appear when a community lacks community social connectedness. We also find that this moderating role of community social connectedness is observed only for internal organizational wrongdoings that are less visible to the public than external ones. Collapse

Topics: digital news missing data decision making social capital database system

Methods: descriptive statistic statistical hypothesis test longitudinal research longitudinal data analysis hierarchical linear modeling

Theories: organizational behavior theory

Engaging with self-tracking applications: how do users respond to their performance data?

2023 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Constantiou, Ioanna; Mukkamala, Alivelu; Sjöklint, Mimmi; Trier, Matthias

Abstract: Self-tracking devices and applications have become popular in recent years and c ... Expand

Abstract: Self-tracking devices and applications have become popular in recent years and changed user behaviour. Previous research has primarily focused on the adoption of self-tracking devices and their effects on self-assessment. As adoption increases, user engagement becomes prominent for the continuous use of the devices and the applications. In this study, we focus on user engagement with activity tracking applications, e.g., Fitbit Flex and Jawbone Up that offer data on user performance. We collected data from semi-structured interviews with 54 participants. We propose a process model comprising four stages which involve distinct user interactions with data: review, react, reflect, and respond. We advance research in this domain by the proposed process model that explicates user engagement in two cases: when the user encounters satisfactory or unsatisfactory results. In the latter case, we depict four response tactics when users are confronted with unsatisfactory results. Collapse

Topics: smart wearable device mobile system fitness tracker user behavior marketing management

Methods: wearables based research business process modeling qualitative interview archival research longitudinal research