Trends and Trajectories in the Software Industry: implications for the future of work

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Laato, Samuli; Mäntymäki, Matti; Islam, A. K.M. Najmul; Hyrynsalmi, Sami; Birkstedt, Teemu

Abstract: In this study, we explore prominent contemporary technology trajectories in the ... Expand

Abstract: In this study, we explore prominent contemporary technology trajectories in the software industry and how they are expected to influence the work in the software industry. Consequently, we build on cultural lag theory to analyze how technological changes affect work in software development. We present the results from a series of expert interviews that were analyzed using the Gioia method. Moreover, we identify a set of technology trends pertinent to software development from which we derive four main changes affecting the future of work in software development: (1) a shift toward scalable solutions, (2) increased emphasis on data, (3) convergence of IT and non-IT industries, and (4) the cloud as the dominant computing paradigm. Accordingly, this study contains insights into how technology (as an element of material culture) influences non-material culture, as exemplified by the work involved in software development. Collapse

Topics: systems development devops cloud computing software developer low code development platform

Methods: qualitative interview deep learning theory development grounded theory constant comparative analysis

Building data management capabilities to address data protection regulations: Learnings from EU-GDPR

2023 | Journal of Information Technology | Citations: 0

Authors: Labadie, Clément; Legner, Christine

Abstract: The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (EU-GDPR) has initiated ... Expand

Abstract: The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (EU-GDPR) has initiated a paradigm shift in data protection toward greater choice and sovereignty for individuals and more accountability for organizations. Its strict rules have inspired data protection regulations in other parts of the world. However, many organizations are facing difficulty complying with the EU-GDPR: these new types of data protection regulations cannot be addressed by an adaptation of contractual frameworks, but require a fundamental reconceptualization of how companies store and process personal data on an enterprise-wide level. In this paper, we introduce the resource-based view as a theoretical lens to explain the lengthy trajectories towards compliance and argue that these regulations require companies to build dedicated, enterprise-wide data management capabilities. Following a design science research approach, we propose a theoretically and empirically grounded capability model for the EU-GDPR that integrates the interpretation of legal texts, findings from EU-GDPR-related publications, and practical insights from focus groups with experts from 22 companies and four EU-GDPR projects. Our study advances interdisciplinary research at the intersection between IS and law: First, the proposed capability model adds to the regulatory compliance management literature by connecting abstract compliance requirements to three groups of capabilities and the resources required for their implementation, and second, it provides an enterprise-wide perspective that integrates and extends the fragmented body of research on EU-GDPR. Practitioners may use the capability model to assess their current status and set up systematic approaches toward compliance with an increasing number of data protection regulations. Collapse

Topics: General Data Protection Regulation legal context data management data protection information technology capability

Methods: focus group qualitative interview archival research design science survey

Theories: resource based view of the firm

Enterprise Information Systems vs. Digital Twins – A Case Study on the Properties, Purpose, and Future Relationship in the Logistics Sector

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Lachenmaier, Jens; Weber, Patrick; Lasi, Heiner

Abstract: Traditional enterprise information systems have been around for more than 40 yea ... Expand

Abstract: Traditional enterprise information systems have been around for more than 40 years. They are designed to support business processes and deliver information to the people within a company who require it for their work. However, there are blind spots that these systems are unable to address. In this article, we investigate how digital twins, which are based on the technology and architecture of the Industrial Internet of Things, as well as the principles of cyber-physical systems, can be used to fill such gaps and elucidate how their application will affect the prospective relationship between internal information systems and digital twins. The insights are based on a single case study within the logistics department of an industrial company and its service provider. From the case study, properties of both system types were identified that provided a basis for comparison and stimulated discussion about their future dependencies. Collapse

Topics: enterprise information system digital twin enterprise resource planning cyber-physical system database system

Methods: literature study case study single case study design science longitudinal case study

Evaluating Data Science Project Agility by Exploring Process Frameworks Used by Data Science Teams

2023 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Lahiri, Sucheta; Saltz, Jeffrey

Abstract: The lack of effective team process is often noted as one of the key drivers of d ... Expand

Abstract: The lack of effective team process is often noted as one of the key drivers of data science project inefficiencies and failures. To help address this challenge, this research reports on semi-structured interviews, across 16 organizations, which explored data science agile framework usage. While 62% of the organizations reported using an agile framework, none actually followed the Scrum Guide (or any other published framework), but rather, each organization had defined their own process that incorporated one or more aspects of Scrum. The other organizations used a proprietary / ad-hoc approach, often based on a proprietary data science life cycle. In short, while many data science teams are trying to be agile, they are adapting existing frameworks to work within a data science context. Future research could explore how data science teams can best achieve agility, perhaps via new agile frameworks that address the unique data science project management challenges. Collapse

Topics: project management video conference brainstorming business process improvement

Methods: qualitative interview personal interview grounded theory

Empowering users with medical artificial intelligence technologies

2023 | European Conference On Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Lai, Yuanyuan; Panagiotopoulos, Panos; Lioliou, Eleni

Abstract: Medical AI technologies promise to empower their users in managing their health ... Expand

Abstract: Medical AI technologies promise to empower their users in managing their health. We develop a research model aiming to explain the role of user empowerment and resistance on users' continuous use intention of medical AI technologies. The model was tested with data from 306 users of the Left-Hand Doctor self-diagnosis chatbot in China. The analyses indicate that users value the emotional support, responsiveness and accessibility of the chatbot. These features provide a strong explanation of user empowerment which in turn supports continuous use intention. While resistance to medical AI technologies negatively affects continuous use intention, it does not weaken the positive effects of empowerment. The research contributes to our knowledge of what user empowerment means and how it can support sustainable engagement with medical AI technologies. It further guides developers to more comprehensively consider similar user experience elements and positive outcomes of AI technologies in other application areas. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence usage intention user resistance system quality WeChat

Methods: chatbot survey PLS tool statistical hypothesis test chi squared test

Unemployment and Online Labor: Evidence from Microtasking

2023 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 0

Authors: Laitenberger, Ulrich; Viete, Steffen; Slivko, Olga; Kummer, Michael; Borchert, Kathrin; Hirth, Matthias

Abstract: We analyze the relationship between unemployment and the supply of online labor ... Expand

Abstract: We analyze the relationship between unemployment and the supply of online labor for microtasking. Using detailed U.S. data from a large microtasking platform between 2011 and 2015, we study the participation and the number of hours supplied by workers in the U.S. We found that more individuals registered on the platform and completed microtasks as the unemployment level in the commuting zone increased. This effect was strongest in regions with a high share of low-skilled workers. Our analyses of the intensive margin, wage elasticity, and temporal work patterns suggest that the increased participation was likely motivated by an effort to substitute income. Our findings suggest that microtasking platforms are an interesting online labor market for less educated workers. However, we also observed very low retention rates, indicative of a solely transient participation effect. Collapse

Topics: online labor market Facebook task complexity information technology infrastructure accounting

Methods: instrumental variables estimation survey archival research autocorrelation analysis longitudinal research

Ambivalence is Better than Indifference: Behavioral and Neurophysiological Assessment of Ambivalence in Online Environments

2023 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 0

Authors: Lakhiwal, Akshat; Bala, Hillol; Léger, Pierre-Majorique

Abstract: Information representations such as ratings and reviews play an important role ... Expand

Abstract: Information representations such as ratings and reviews play an important role in assisting users in making decisions in online environments. Prior information systems (IS) research has mostly focused on the role of extreme valence, i.e., the positivity/negativity of information, portrayed by such representations. Yet this bipolar approach discounts how the coexistence of positivity and negativity (i.e., ambivalence) or their absence (i.e., indifference) is formed and leads to distinct attentional processes and outcomes such as purchase decisions. We theorize how and why the valence of information projected through such representations may elicit mixed feelings and influence decision-making in online environments. We conducted four randomized controlled experiments, including an electroencephalography (EEG) study, to disentangle the influence of ambivalence and indifference on decision-making in an online shopping context. We found that ambivalence and indifference to online information distinctly influenced attention and purchase decisions relative to positivity and negativity. Our findings further suggest the inability of incumbent bipolar representations, such as the widely implemented star rating system, to capture the mixed feelings expressed in online content. We propose a bivariate intervention that overcomes the limitations of bipolar representations by not only discerning ambivalence from indifference but also amplifying purchase decisions for products with ambivalent information by at least 50%, compared to incumbent bipolar representations. Our findings advance ongoing research on the role of information valence in online environments and offer implications for practice. Collapse

Topics: decision making enterprise resource planning digital platform user experience user attitude

Methods: experiment theory development electroencephalography NeuroIS statistical power analysis

Using AI to Improve Sustainable Agricultural Practices: A Literature Review and Research Agenda

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

Authors: Lakshmi, Vijaya; Corbett, Jacqueline

Abstract: The world is confronted with the grand challenge of food insecurity amidst grow ... Expand

Abstract: The world is confronted with the grand challenge of food insecurity amidst growing populations and the climate crisis. Artificial intelligence (AI) deployed in agricultural decision support systems (AgriDSS) raises both hopes and concerns for increasing agricultural productivity in sustainable ways. We conduct a scoping review to uncover the roadblocks to the use of AI-supported AgriDSS in sustainable agriculture. Based on the corpus of 121 articles, we find that the effective use of AI-supported AgriDSS is hindered at technical, social, ethical, and ecological levels. Then, drawing on the experiential learning perspective, we propose how conjoint experiential learning (CEL) can enhance sustainable agricultural practices by enhancing both AI and human learning and overcoming roadblocks in using AgriDSS. Based on this conceptual framework, we build a research agenda that suggests blind spots and possible directions for future research. Collapse

Topics: artificial intelligence decision support system human computer interaction human in the loop decision making

Methods: literature sample literature study computational algorithm qualitative coding artificial neural network

Working from Home During Covid-19: Doing and Managing Technology-enabled Social Interaction With Colleagues at a Distance

2023 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Lal, Banita; Dwivedi, Yogesh K.; Haag, Markus

Abstract: With the overnight growth in Working from Home (WFH) owing to the pandemic, orga ... Expand

Abstract: With the overnight growth in Working from Home (WFH) owing to the pandemic, organisations and their employees have had to adapt work-related processes and practices quickly with a huge reliance upon technology. Everyday activities such as social interactions with colleagues must therefore be reconsidered. Existing literature emphasises that social interactions, typically conducted in the traditional workplace, are a fundamental feature of social life and shape employees’ experience of work. This experience is completely removed for many employees due to the pandemic and, presently, there is a lack of knowledge on how individuals maintain social interactions with colleagues via technology when working from home. Given that a lack of social interaction can lead to social isolation and other negative repercussions, this study aims to contribute to the existing body of literature on remote working by highlighting employees’ experiences and practices around social interaction with colleagues. This study takes an interpretivist and qualitative approach utilising the diary-keeping technique to collect data from twenty-nine individuals who had started to work from home on a full-time basis as a result of the pandemic. The study explores how participants conduct social interactions using different technology platforms and how such interactions are embedded in their working lives. The findings highlight the difficulty in maintaining social interactions via technology such as the absence of cues and emotional intelligence, as well as highlighting numerous other factors such as job uncertainty, increased workloads and heavy usage of technology that affect their work lives. The study also highlights that despite the negative experiences relating to working from home, some participants are apprehensive about returning to work in the traditional office place where social interactions may actually be perceived as a distraction. The main contribution of our study is to highlight that a variety of perceptions and feelings of how work has changed via an increased use of digital media while working from home exists and that organisations need to be aware of these differences so that they can be managed in a contextualised manner, thus increasing both the efficiency and effectiveness of working from home. Collapse

Topics: remote work IT supported collaboration pandemic information system use spreadsheet

Methods: diary study survey qualitative interview theoretical contribution

Past, present and future: A systematic multitechnique bibliometric review of the field of distributed work

2023 | Information and Organization | Citations: 0

Authors: Lamovšek, Amadeja; Černe, Matej

Abstract: This review focuses on the growing field of distrubuted work, made even more rel ... Expand

Abstract: This review focuses on the growing field of distrubuted work, made even more relevant in light of the current pandemic. Many different definitions, labels, and conceptualizations of distributed work exist, resulting in a fragmented field, threatened by a proliferation of concepts. Prior re­ views addressed a limited scope of phenomena or review approaches; are narrative, subjective, or not systematic, lacking objectivity, comprehensiveness, and reproducibility; or are not recent. Our study advances the current overview of the field by presenting a compendious review of the development and current state of the field. We implemented three bibliometric approaches (i.e., co-citation, co-word and bibliographic coupling) and interpreted the results using the “invisible colleges” framework. This produced an integrative and holistic framework of the field of distributed work, portraying its historic development and theoretical background, conceptual space, and nomological net, guiding future research on this and connected research fields. Collapse

Topics: virtual teamwork IT supported collaboration remote work pandemic innovation management

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

Theories: organizational behavior theory