Status differentials and framing in the implementation of IT-enabled task migration strategies

2022 | Information Systems Journal | Citations: 0

Authors: Brooks, Jade Wendy; Ravishankar, M. N.; Oshri, Ilan

Abstract: In globally distributed environments, gaps exist between an organisational-level ... Expand

Abstract: In globally distributed environments, gaps exist between an organisational-level decision to migrate IT-enabled tasks and the actual execution of strategy since a high-level consensus does not always specify the precise sequencing and pacing of task migration in detail. This absence of operational-level detailing can trigger status-led enactments of power. Drawing on a qualitative case study of a distributed finance function in a global logistics firm, this paper explores how high-status business units (BU) frame their task migration actions and contrasts it with how a low-status support unit frames and accounts for the actions of high-status BUs. The findings show how high-status BUs frame their own actions as protecting, supporting and monitoring the migrated tasks while the low-status support unit frames the same set of actions as resisting, interfering and hypercriticizing. Theoretically, the paper suggests that during the implementation of task migration strategies, frames deployed by a low-status unit considers its weaker position of power and serves to neutralise conflict with the more powerful, higher-status unit. Collapse

Topics: logistics management onshoring systems implementation virtual teamwork organization structure

Methods: qualitative interview case study field study longitudinal research triangulation

A quantitative and qualitative study of the link between business process management and digital innovation

2021 | Information & Management | Citations: 6

Authors: Van Looy, Amy

Abstract: The information revolution leaves its mark on businesses, resulting in organizat ... Expand

Abstract: The information revolution leaves its mark on businesses, resulting in organizations looking for digital inno­ vation (DI) to apply to their business processes and anticipate competitors. Since the interplay between business process management (BPM) and DI has been underdeveloped, this mixed-methods article investigates the strength and nature of the relationship. We supplement the findings of an international survey (stage 1) with explanations from an expert panel (stage 2) to generalize a positive yet moderate link because of manifold contextual factors affecting strategic decision-making. We extend the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework and profile organizations along their digital process innovation (DPI) mastery in a readiness matrix. Collapse

Topics: innovation management business process management decision making business model information systems strategy

Methods: survey qualitative interview expert panel maturity model parametric test

Theories: theory of everything management theory

Prioritization of Interconnected Processes

2018 | Business & Information Systems Engineering | Citations: 7

Authors: Lehnert, Martin; Röglinger, Maximilian; Seyfried, Johannes

Abstract: Deciding which business processes to improve is a challenge for all organizatio ... Expand

Abstract: Deciding which business processes to improve is a challenge for all organizations. The literature on business process management (BPM) offers several approaches that support process prioritization. As many approaches share the individual process as unit of analysis, they determine the processes' need for improvement mostly based on performance indicators, but neglect how processes are interconnected. So far, the interconnections of processes are only captured for descriptive purposes in process model repositories or business process architectures (BPAs). Prioritizing processes without catering for their interconnectedness, however, biases prioritization decisions and causes a misallocation of corporate funds. What is missing are process prioritization approaches that consider the processes' individual need for improvement and their interconnectedness. To address this research problem, the authors propose the ProcessPageRank (PPR) as their main contribution. The PPR prioritizes processes of a given BPA by ranking them according to their network-adjusted need for improvement. The PPR builds on knowledge from process performance management, BPAs, and network analysis -particularly the Google PageRank. As for evaluation, the authors validated the PPR's design specification against empirically validated and theory-backed design propositions. They also instantiated the PPR's design specification as a software prototype and applied the prototype to a real-world BPA. Collapse

Topics: nearshoring electronic commerce Google+ evaluation criteria IT career

Methods: design artifact survey computational algorithm network analysis personal interview

Knowledge Overlap in Nearshore Service Delivery

2016 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Brooks, Jade Wendy; Ravishankar, M N; Oshri, Ilan

Abstract: Multinational organizations now increasingly source tasks from nearshore units. ... Expand

Abstract: Multinational organizations now increasingly source tasks from nearshore units. While, offshore locations promise superior opportunities for cost savings and access to large scale, flexible workforces, organizations are increasingly distributing work much closer to home (Deloitte 2014). One of the biggest attractions of nearshore locations is proximity. In principle nearshore units are geographically, temporally, and culturally closer to their onshore counterparts reducing the cost and coordination effort to manage distance. Despite the anticipation that onshore units and nearshore units will operate effectively from distinctive and separate knowledge bases, they continue to be bogged down by knowledge overlaps. Knowledge overlaps (KOs) are a duplication of information and know-how of specific migrated activities that allow onshore units to retain control of nearshore units. In this paper, we draw on data from an on-going qualitative case study to demonstrate how nearshore units manage KOs and relinquish control of processes. Collapse

Topics: nearshoring onshoring virtual teamwork offshoring logistics management

Methods: qualitative interview case study field study theory development

Identifying the Giants: A Social Network Analysis of the Literature on Information Technology Outsourcing Relationships

2015 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Schmidt, Nikolaus; Müller, Mario; Rosenkranz, Christoph

Abstract: After more than 25 years of research on information technology outsourcing (ITO) ... Expand

Abstract: After more than 25 years of research on information technology outsourcing (ITO) in general and ITO client-vendor relationships in particular, an already comprehensive body of knowledge is available on this important topic and related phenomena. This study sheds further light on the existing knowledge on ITO client-vendor relationships by applying social network analysis and content analysis methodologies. Based on our approach, we were able to (1) evaluate key articles, authors, and journals covering the research topic, (2) analyse the development of ITO client-vendor related research in the last 10 years and, most importantly, (3) identify gaps in our knowledge on ITO client-vendor relationships. Specifically, our research identified several gaps in our knowledge on important ITO client-vendor relationship concepts such as trust, control, and knowledge transfer. In accordance to Lacity et al. (2010), our results show the need for indigenous theories on ITO as a next step in further enhancing our understanding of the topic. We emphasize further research on ITO client-vendor relationships and provide distinctive research directions for the research community. Collapse

Topics: cross cultural research business process outsourcing offshoring nearshoring onshoring

Methods: literature study literature sample co-citation analysis qualitative content analysis path analysis

Theories: graph theory

Everywhere and nowhere: nearshore software development in the context of globalisation†

2012 | European Journal of Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Abbott, Pamela Y.; Jones, Matthew R.

Abstract: Offshore software development has been identified as one of the most striking ma ... Expand

Abstract: Offshore software development has been identified as one of the most striking manifestations of contemporary globalisation and as evidence of placelessness, the idea that information and communication technologies have rendered location irrelevant. Research in the International Business and Information Systems fields, in contrast, has suggested that all locations are not equal and has identified a number of characteristics that may influence the attractiveness of a location for multinational investment and offshoring, respectively. These literatures, however, focus almost exclusively on quantitative, economic characteristics that are seen as fixed and applying uniformly throughout a whole country. They therefore offer little guidance on the suitability of particular locations as offshoring destinations, especially in countries without a track record in offshore software development. Drawing on two cases of nearshore software development centres set up by offshore service providers in the Caribbean, this paper illustrates that, while the initial decision to establish the ventures reflected a logic of placelessness, characteristics of these particular locations affected their subsequent success. Through the findings, we therefore develop a typology of espoused, unanticipated and remediable locational characteristics, which illustrates that locational attractiveness may vary significantly within countries and that offshore service providers and government agencies can modify locational characteristics to their advantage. Collapse

Topics: nearshoring offshoring systems development outsourcing accounting

Methods: case study qualitative interview personal interview

Analyzing and Managing the Impact of Cultural Behavior Patterns on Social Capital in Multinational IT Project Teams: A Case Study Approach

2012 | Business & Information Systems Engineering | Citations: 0

Authors: von Stetten, Alexander; Beimborn, Daniel; Weitzel, Tim

Abstract: Cultural diversity in multinational IT project teams or in near-and offshoring ... Expand

Abstract: Cultural diversity in multinational IT project teams or in near-and offshoring arrangements can lead to serious problems. This research explores the cultural reasons for certain culture-specific behaviors such as face maintenance by Indian or post-communism by Czech team members. Case studies using software projects from different German firms reveal what collaboration problems may arise from these cultural behavior patterns and how management actions might help to understand and mitigate such problems. Collapse

Topics: social capital IT project team cross cultural research IT project project productivity

Methods: qualitative interview case study qualitative coding theory development multiple case study

Distance Advantages in IS Nearshoring: Do They Matter?

2011 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Markov, Rostislav

Abstract: This paper reviews and extends previous literature on information systems offsho ... Expand

Abstract: This paper reviews and extends previous literature on information systems offshoring by providing a critical analysis of the advantages of shorter client-supplier distance in nearshoring projects (as compared to farshoring ones). Prior research indicated that nearshoring brings forth a number of critical distance advantages, e.g. real-time overlaps, cultural similarities, linguistic connections, as well as political/economical similarities, and that firms increasingly consider nearshoring as part of their sourcing strategies in order to benefit from the relative proximity of nearshore suppliers. The conceptual paper at hand develops six propositions challenging this simplified perspective by presenting emerging arguments which downplay frequently mentioned advantages resulting from proximity. Our results suggest that the advantages of nearshoring over farshoring in practice may not be as significant as previously assumed due to a number of factors including small size and availability of nearshore labor force, limited nearshore supplier experience, and increasing international awareness. Collapse

Topics: nearshoring offshoring virtual teamwork

SETTING TARGETS RIGHT! HOW NON-RATIONAL BIASES AFFECT THE RISK PREFERENCE OF IT-OUTSOURCING DECISION MAKERS - AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

2011 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Vetter, Johannes; Benlian, Alexander; Hess, Thomas

Abstract: During the past 20 years, a rich but diverse body of knowledge has accumulated r ... Expand

Abstract: During the past 20 years, a rich but diverse body of knowledge has accumulated regarding information technology outsourcing (ITO). Researchers have studied several factors that explain ITO decisions. So far, previous studies resorted mainly to rational efficiency criteria. In recent years researchers started to integrate soft factors into the explanatory models. In many cases, the failure of ITO projects still cannot be fully explained. By expanding ITO research in the direction of behavioral economics, this paper integrates psychological concepts that demonstrate that IT decision makers suffer from non-rational biases. Representing a broad variety of biases, this empirical study focuses on cognitive dissonance and reference point dependency. Using a structural equation model, based on an online survey with 198 participants, we show that IT decision makers use targets of past decisions as reference points. The assessment of target achievement in a subsequent decision can evoke cognitive dissonance that non-rationally affects the risk preferences of the decision maker. Two fictional scenarios demonstrate the practical implications of our study. Setting targets too high can cause non-rational risk affinity, potentially leading to project failure. Conversely, setting targets too low may cause non-rational risk aversion restraining the decision maker to make use of the full performance of a project. Collapse

Topics: outsourcing electronic mail decision making database system nearshoring

Methods: survey partial least squares regression PLS tool factor analysis structural equation modeling

Theories: cognitive dissonance theory loss aversion prospect theory theory of bounded rationality behavioral economics

Deriving a Research Agenda for the Management of Multisourcing Relationships Based on a Literature Review

2010 | Americas Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 5

Authors: Herz, Thomas Ph

Abstract: There has been considerable development in Information Technology (IT) outsourci ... Expand

Abstract: There has been considerable development in Information Technology (IT) outsourcing during the last two decades. Nowadays, practitioner-related as well as scholarly literature have identified multisourcing as an emerging key strategy. Multisourcing is described as the blending of services from multiple internal and external vendors. Especially in the case of multisourcing the management of relationships is complex. For a certain field of research it is important to have an overview of the existing literature and a common understanding of basic terms. In this article we identify and analyze the body of knowledge in the area of managing multisourcing relationships. We hence conduct a structured literature review based upon an established literature review framework. It can be observed that the current literature lacks depth in terms of management of multisourcing relationships and that only a few articles cover the aspects of multisourcing in detail. Particularly regarding performance management, governance and knowledge management of multisourcing relationships we propose further research. We subsequently deduce a detailed research agenda for future research options. Collapse

Topics: outsourcing knowledge management offshoring nearshoring onshoring

Methods: literature study literature sample structured literature research synthesis qualitative interview