<p>Strategy and IT research has been extensively discussed during the past 40 years. Two scientific disciplines Management Science (MS) and Management Information Science (MIS) investigate the importance of IT as a competitive factor. However, although much research is available in both disciplines, it is still difficult to explain how to manage IT to enable competitive advantages. One reason is that MS research focuses on strategies and competitive environments but avoids the analysis of IT. Another reason is that MIS research focuses on IT as a competitive factor but avoids the analysis of the competitive environment. Consequently, there is a gap of knowledge in the understanding of the strategic management of information technology (SMIT).</p><p>The strategic analysis of IT as a competitive factor is important for achieving the competitive advantages of IT. This thesis explores factors related to strategy and IT that should be considered for the strategic analysis of IT as a competitive factor, and proposes a framework for SMIT. The research is conducted by means of a qualitative analysis of theoretical data from the disciplines of MS and MIS. Data is explored to find factors related to SMIT.</p><p>The results of the analysis show that the strategic management of information technology is a continuous process of evaluation, change, and alignment between factors such as competitive environment, competitive strategies (business and IT strategies), competitive outcome, and competitive factors (IT). Therefore, the understanding of the relationships between these factors is essential in order to achieve the competitive advantages of using IT.</p><p>This thesis contributes to strategic management research by clarifying the relationships between strategic management, competitive environment, and IT as competitive factor into a holistic framework for strategic analysis. The framework proposed is valuable not only for business managers and for IT managers, but also for academics. The framework is designed to understand the relationship between competitive elements during the process of strategic analysis prior to the formulation of competitive strategies. Moreover, it can also be used as a communication tool between managers, in order to achieve alignment among company strategies. To academics, this thesis presents the state-of-the-art related to strategic management research; it can also be a valuable reference for strategic managers, as well as researchers interested in the strategic management of IT.</p> / Report code: LiU-Tek-Lic.2006:53.

Strategy and IT research has been extensively discussed during the past 40 years. Two scientific disciplines Management Science (MS) and Management Information Science (MIS) investigate the importance of IT as a competitive factor. However, although much research is available in both disciplines, it is still difficult to explain how to manage IT to enable competitive advantages. One reason is that MS research focuses on strategies and competitive environments but avoids the analysis of IT. Another reason is that MIS research focuses on IT as a competitive factor but avoids the analysis of the competitive environment. Consequently, there is a gap of knowledge in the understanding of the strategic management of information technology (SMIT). The strategic analysis of IT as a competitive factor is important for achieving the competitive advantages of IT. This thesis explores factors related to strategy and IT that should be considered for the strategic analysis of IT as a competitive factor, and proposes a framework for SMIT. The research is conducted by means of a qualitative analysis of theoretical data from the disciplines of MS and MIS. Data is explored to find factors related to SMIT. The results of the analysis show that the strategic management of information technology is a continuous process of evaluation, change, and alignment between factors such as competitive environment, competitive strategies (business and IT strategies), competitive outcome, and competitive factors (IT). Therefore, the understanding of the relationships between these factors is essential in order to achieve the competitive advantages of using IT. This thesis contributes to strategic management research by clarifying the relationships between strategic management, competitive environment, and IT as competitive factor into a holistic framework for strategic analysis. The framework proposed is valuable not only for business managers and for IT managers, but also for academics. The framework is designed to understand the relationship between competitive elements during the process of strategic analysis prior to the formulation of competitive strategies. Moreover, it can also be used as a communication tool between managers, in order to achieve alignment among company strategies. To academics, this thesis presents the state-of-the-art related to strategic management research; it can also be a valuable reference for strategic managers, as well as researchers interested in the strategic management of IT. / <p>Report code: LiU-Tek-Lic.2006:53.</p>

[pt] O crescimento do setor de Tecnologia da Informação tem demandado a contratação de consultores dos quais são pretendidos elevados desempenhos e dedicação intensa ao trabalho. A satisfação no trabalho afeta diretamente a qualidade dos serviços prestados por estes consultores de TI. Desta forma, este estudo objetiva analisar a satisfação dos consultores do setor de TI de empresas brasileiras com algumas das dimensões do trabalho. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa quantitativa (survey) baseada no modelo Job Descriptive Index (SMITH et al., 1969) e coletados 158 questionários de empregados de consultorias de TI no Brasil. Concluímos que os consultores de TI no território brasileiro não estão satisfeitos com os salários que recebem nem com as oportunidades de promoção que as empregadoras oferecem. Por outro lado, eles sentem-se satisfeitos com as atividades laborais que exercem e com seus companheiros de equipe, mas são indiferentes quanto aos seus supervisores (incapazes de alimentar qualquer sentimento positivo ou negativo). Por fim identificamos também que não há evidências de que a satisfação com o salário e com as oportunidades de promoção interfira na satisfação com os supervisores e com a natureza do trabalho; e também não podemos afirmar que a satisfação com os companheiros de equipe afete a satisfação com as atividades laborais. / [en] The growth of the Information Technology sector has demanded the hiring of consultants from whom high performance and intense dedication to work are desired. Job satisfaction directly affects the quality of services provided by these IT consultants. In this way, this study aims to analyze the satisfaction of consultants in the IT sector of Brazilian companies with some of the work dimensions. A survey was conducted based on the Job Descriptive Index (SMITH et al., 1969) and 158 questionnaires were collected from IT consultants in Brazil. We conclude that IT consultants in Brazil are not satisfied with the salaries they receive, nor with the promotion opportunities offered by employers. On the other hand, they feel satisfied with the work activities they do and with their coworkers, but they are indifferent to their supervisors (unable to feed any positive or negative feelings). Finally, we also identify that there is no evidence that satisfaction with salary and promotion opportunities interferes with satisfaction with supervisors and the nature of work; And we cannot say that satisfaction with teammates affects satisfaction with work activities.

Information technology (IT) plays an important role in contemporary organisations and this role continues to expand in scope and complexity and affects business operations dramatically. Advances in the IT industry have caused major changes in every industry sector. The banking industry is no exception and it has undergone a dramatic change over the past few decades. With the coming of the information age, IS investments are becoming increasingly important to banks` survival, growth and prosperity. IS managers are under increasing pressure to justify the value and contribution of IS expenditure to the productivity, quality and competitiveness of the organisation. This study aims to propose a model which investigates the success of information systems in the banking industry in order to help bank managers to evaluate the success of their IS, to be able to develop these systems and to improve the performance of bank managers and employees. Given that the ultimate dependent variable for this research is individual impacts, DeLone and McLean (2003) updated IS success model is leveraged and extended in this research. The study proposes a research model which is guided by the decision to select a suitable number of key potential demographic and situational variables, in addition to the adoption of DeLone and McLean (2003) updated model. This model proposes that a variety of factors were found to affect IS success in general, however, from the socio-technical viewpoint, IS success should capture both technological and human elements. Therefore, an effective Banking Information System (BIS) typically requires an appropriate combination of both. As such, Thus, the technological dimensions (i.e. system, service and information quality) and the human dimensions (e.g. user satisfaction, perceived system benefits, user involvement, user training, age, education and system use) can be a good starting point when considering suitable constructs for measuring BIS success. The research methodology of this study involved interviews with BIS practitioners and professionals to shape and refine the research model. Further, questionnaire survey was employed to collect data from bank managers in Egyptian banks. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using Partial Least Square (PLS) was used to test the research model. Three research models were proposed according to age groups and initial results from PLS analysis reported different results in each research model. Findings indicated that system, information and service quality, level of training, age, length of system use, user involvement and top management support were the main predictors (success constructs) of user satisfaction and individual impacts in the three proposed research models. However, the relationships between these constructs varied according to each age group of managers. The study offers important academic and practical contributions. Firstly, as a contribution to research, the study serves to extend the DeLone and McLean (2003) IS success model by introducing some key human and situational dimensions and confirming certain links in that model with the context of banking industry. The contribution to practice is especially relevant for bank CIOs, software designers and developers looking for ways to improve BIS developments by providing them with directions regarding the BIS success dimensions that should be considered to encourage bank managers to adopt and be more satisfied with BIS which in turn influence their job performance. / Egyptian Higher Education Ministry

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[pt] O presente trabalho pretende identificar, descrever e compreender a natureza das principais relações entre tecnologia da informação (TI) e poder, nas organizações que adotam os sistemas ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). Para tal, é preciso adotar uma visão crítica, que dê novo enfoque ao estudo sobre estas relações. No referencial teórico, analisado sob esta perspectiva crítica, o tema poder se configura de forma complexa, não sendo uma mera característica da estrutura organizacional e, com isso, a tecnologia apresenta-se como um de seus instrumentos dentro da organização. Identifica-se o caráter dual do poder, que atua em duas dimensões interdependentes: a dimensão superficial (tomada de decisão, negociação, relacionamento interpessoal, estruturas hierárquicas e delegação de poder) e a dimensão profunda (sistemas de influências, dominação, criação de crenças, símbolos e significados). A pesquisa de campo ilustra tais relações, focando o contexto dos sistemas de informação ERP. Além de gerar grande quantidade de informações para a gestão e tomada de decisão nas empresas, a TI altera a estrutura organizacional. No caso dos ERP, a implantação destes sistemas é extremamente complexa e tende a alterar a estrutura de poder dentro das empresas, desta forma, é possível identificar e descrever diversas relações que envolvem poder e tecnologia. Com este estudo, espera-se poder contribuir com o pensamento administrativo a desenvolver uma visão mais crítica e abrangente sobre sua própria realidade. / [en] The present work intends to identify, describe and understand the nature of the main relationships between information technology (IT) and power, in organizations which adopts ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning). To do so, it s necessary to adopt a critic view,witch gives a new approach about these relationships. In the theoretical framework, power is analyzed under this critic perspective, not as a simple characteristic inside the organizationalstructure, and, doing this, technology shows up as one of its instruments inside organizations. It is identified a dual character of power, witch acts on two interdependentdimensions: the superficial dimension (decision-making, negotiating, interpersonal relationship, hierarchical structures and empowerment) and the deep dimension (influence systems, domination, constructing believes, symbols and meanings). The research illustratesthese relationships, focusing the context of ERP information systems. Besides information generation to support management and decision making, IT also changes organizational structure. In ERP cases, this system implementation process is extremely complex and tendsto change power structure inside organizations, so it s possible to identify and describe a great number of relationships involving power and technology. This study wishes to contribute the administrative thinking to develop a more critical and comprehensive view about its own reality.

No description available.

Yes / Although IT-enabled dynamic capabilities (ITDCs) add value to firms operating in turbulent and rapidly changing environments, firms face several challenges in developing, deploying, and maintaining the right portfolio of ITDCs. Since ITDCs are not uniformly advantageous, firms need to make strategic decisions in order to accomplish the complex task of achieving optimal ITDC configurations. This conceptual paper draws on the strategic alignment perspective to identify the optimal configuration of ITDCs for a firm based on its business strategy orientation indicated by the Miles and Snow typology. This paper first explicates the theoretically ideal configurations of ITDCs based on the competitive strategy patterns associated with each Miles and Snow archetype and then develops a model for measuring the strategic fit of ITDCs. This paper contributes to the literatures on ITDCs and strategic alignment by identifying optimal ITDC configurations and by conceptualizing the strategic fit of ITDCs respectively.

[pt] O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar os principais problemas e desafios da logística hospitalar e como o uso da tecnologia da informação pode ajudar a indústria da saúde a minimizar os impactos destes problemas e desafios. O mercado de saúde, envolvendo fabricantes, distribuidores, fornecedores e estabelecimentos de saúde, sofre grande controle dos órgãos reguladores para atendimento de exigências quanto à rastreabilidade, manipulação, acondicionamento, dispensação e descarte de produtos para a saúde. Complexidades como a dificuldade de gestão pela falta ou excesso de estoques, multiplicidades de itens comerciais, embalagens, especificações e apresentações de medicamentos e a obrigatoriedade de controle de lote de fabricação e data de validade de insumos para a saúde, são grandes impactantes e responsáveis por custos com suprimentos representarem 25 por cento a 35 por cento dos custos totais operacionais de uma organização de saúde. Outro grande desafio do gestor de saúde está em garantir a segurança do paciente, através de processos de prescrição, dispensação e administração de medicamentos de forma controlada, estruturada e segura. Estudos afirmam que os erros com medicação representam a maior causa de não conformidades no ambiente hospitalar. Neste contexto a tecnologia da informação se apresenta como ferramenta para realizar a gestão adequada da logística hospitalar, minimizando a complexidade e os desafios da indústria de saúde, destacando a utilização de código de barras e identificação por rádio frequência – RFID como umas das principais ferramentas da tecnologia da informação adotadas pelas organizações de saúde em busca de realizar uma gestão logística eficaz e eficiente. / [en] This paper aims to present the main problems and challenges of hospital logistics and how the use of information technology can help the healthcare industry to minimize the impacts of these problems and challenges. The healthcare market involving manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and healthcare facilities, suffers great control of regulators to fulfill such requirements as traceability, handling, packaging, dispensing and disposal of health products. Complexities such as the difficulty of managing the lack or excess inventories, multiplicities of commercial items, packaging, specifications and presentations of medicines and compulsory control of batch manufacturing and expiry date of health inputs are large and impactful responsible for costs with supplies representing 25 per cent to 35 per cent of total operating costs of a health organization. Another major challenge of the health manager is to ensure patient safety, through processes of prescribing, dispensing and administration of drugs in a controlled, structured and safe way. Studies claim that medication errors represent the major cause of non-conformity in the hospital setting. In this context information technology presents itself as a tool to achieve the proper management of hospital logistics, minimizing the complexity and challenges of the healthcare industry, highlighting the use of barcode and radio frequency identification - RFID as one of the main tools information technology adopted by healthcare organizations seeking to conduct an effective and efficient logistics management.

[pt] A área de ensino vem passando por uma grande transformação com o desenvolvimento da infra-estrutura da telecomunicação mundial, na qual o elemento fundamental consiste na difusão e utilização das Tecnologias da Informação e da Comunicação (TIC) como uma nova ferramenta para a educação a distância. As tecnologias digitais são poderosos recursos educacionais que podem proporcionar inovações na área de ensino em Design, visando, entre outros fins, criar núcleos de desenvolvimento de pesquisa pelo País. Neste sentido, esta dissertação tem por tema a Educação a Distância e sua aplicação em Programas de Pós-graduação stricto sensu em Design, em nível de mestrado, e teve por objetivo descrever princípios e critérios para a estruturação de um curso de mestrado nesta modalidade, utilizando as potencialidades da Internet. Para tanto, apresenta considerações referentes ao planejamento de projetos educacionais a distância, com foco em aspectos pedagógicos desta modalidade de educação, bem como modelos metodológicos de projetos desta natureza. Aborda questões de infraestrutura tecnológica e recursos humanos envolvidos neste processo, além de apresentar relatos de experiências de projetos de educação a distância em instituições de ensino brasileiras. A educação online traz características próprias que impõem uma nova logística e, em decorrência deste fato, cresce a preocupação em definir com critérios específicos estes novos espaços, onde a comunicação deve se dar de forma interativa e dinâmica. / [en] The teaching field is being transformed with the development of the infrastructure of the world telecommunication, of which the basic element consists of the diffusion and use of the Technologies of the Information and Comunication (TIC) as a new tool for the distance learning. The digital technologies are powerful educational resources that they can provide innovations in the teaching area in Design, among other ends, to create centers of research development in Brazil. In this direction, this dissertation has for subject the e- Learning and your application in Programs of Masters Degree in Design, and it had as objective to describe bases and criteria for the structuring of a master's degree course in this modality, using the potentialities of Internet. For in such a way, this work presents considerations about the planning of distance education projects, with focus in pedagogic aspects of this education modality, as well as methodological models of projects of this nature. It approaches issues of technological infrastructure and human resources involved in this process, besides presenting reports of experiences of distance education in Brazilian education institutions. The online learning brings own characteristics that impose a new logistics and, for that reason, it increases the concern about the definition of specific criteria for these new spaces, where the communication should be interactive and dynamics.