This study was primarily an empirical investigation in the field of Information Systems (IS) and the related fields of occupational psychology and management. It focussed specifically on the concept of user satisfaction, the construct of cognitive style as applied to users and systems analysts, and their interrelationships. Prior studies were found rarely to investigate the changes in user satisfaction during system usage. Further, any reference to cognitive style in the IS literature proved to be sparse, open to question and discouraging in terms of its value. By developing and using a new instrument, the System Satisfaction Schedule, or SSS, the present study was able empirically to demonstrate clear patterns of changing user satisfaction during system usage. These were demonstrated, both as a general trend and in terms of its relationship to the cognitive styles of the key players (analyst and user) involved in system development and maintenance. Cognitive style was measured using Kirton's Adaption-innovation Inventory, or KAI. This study was thus able to suggest new rules for system development based on the assessments of the cognitive styles of both users and systems analysts. These rules focussed primarily on simple team choice: which analyst to put with which user. However, inferences for larger system development teams were drawn and suggestions for further research duly made. The present study thus also contributes to the successful practice of system development. To give effect to the above, this study set out to investigate empirically the way user satisfaction changes over 1½ to 2 years of system usage and, as mentioned above, the way user satisfaction is impacted by the cognitive styles of the user and the systems analyst. Most significantly, relationships were studied between user satisfaction and the difference in cognitive style between the analyst and user. It was found that user satisfaction generally rises linearly with usage, and that while the size of the analyst user cognitive differential does negatively impact user satisfaction over most of the time of system use, this effect is only particularly strong for two short periods; one within the first four months of usage and the other in the last three. From these results the new rules for system development mentioned above, followed. In terms of the decline of users' mean perceived severities of individual problems, the exponential decay and reciprocal models were found to fit the data the best. This study developed a new model for the motivation to use, develop or maintain a system (the Mechanical Model), based on its own results and Herzberg's two-factor theory of motivation. In this, Herzberg's hygiene factors have been replaced with the concept of dissatisfiers. These are measured as expressions of dissatisfaction as and when they occur. Their use removes the researcher's need, when designing user satisfaction instruments, to speculate on complete lists of factors which may satisfy users, and which may date as technology and other contextual factors change.

Sharing and exploitation of information resources across a diverse organisation can confer a significant competitive advantage but also can be a substantial challenge in coordinating across structural and specialisation boundaries. This challenge reflects the difficulties traditionally associated with lateral relations, which were recognised by classical organisational theorists but are more pronounced with the emergence of information as a critical resource. Notwithstanding the benefits of information sharing across the organisation, the classical concept of specialisation remains fundamental to organisational theory; thus there is potential for friction between requirements for specialisation and coordination. This research therefore examines information management arrangements to balance specialisation and coordination in a diverse organisation. The research takes advantage of organisational and systems theory literature to appreciate complex information management requirements in terms of differentiation/cohesion and integration/coupling of organisational elements. Information management???s business and technology perspectives define the conceptual framework, within which gaps in the literature are identified and become the focus of the research. The two key research areas are the opportunities enabled by technology for business integration through collaborative decision-making and the management of organisation-wide information technology infrastructure. Collaborative decision-making is an integrating mechanism that can provide balance between specialisation and coordination contingent upon the nature of decision tasks and their organisational context. Propositions associated with an adaptive approach to collaborative decision-making were tested in laboratory experiments, with positive support for the contingency model albeit constrained by individual cognitive variances. Organisations increasingly are adopting centralised approaches to the provision of IT services, with IT governance as an integrating mechanism and a need for multiple business-IT alignments to add value according to the differentiation required by organisational elements. Propositions relating to the adaptation of IT management arrangements based upon organisational characteristics were tested using a multi- iv -discipline approach, which resulted in support for the model although practical difficulties were experienced in the action research component. This research provides a framework for maintaining effective variety of information capabilities commensurate with the diverse organisation???s mission and environment, while also exploiting the synergies and economies of shared information resources for holistic benefits.

Sharing and exploitation of information resources across a diverse organisation can confer a significant competitive advantage but also can be a substantial challenge in coordinating across structural and specialisation boundaries. This challenge reflects the difficulties traditionally associated with lateral relations, which were recognised by classical organisational theorists but are more pronounced with the emergence of information as a critical resource. Notwithstanding the benefits of information sharing across the organisation, the classical concept of specialisation remains fundamental to organisational theory; thus there is potential for friction between requirements for specialisation and coordination. This research therefore examines information management arrangements to balance specialisation and coordination in a diverse organisation. The research takes advantage of organisational and systems theory literature to appreciate complex information management requirements in terms of differentiation/cohesion and integration/coupling of organisational elements. Information management???s business and technology perspectives define the conceptual framework, within which gaps in the literature are identified and become the focus of the research. The two key research areas are the opportunities enabled by technology for business integration through collaborative decision-making and the management of organisation-wide information technology infrastructure. Collaborative decision-making is an integrating mechanism that can provide balance between specialisation and coordination contingent upon the nature of decision tasks and their organisational context. Propositions associated with an adaptive approach to collaborative decision-making were tested in laboratory experiments, with positive support for the contingency model albeit constrained by individual cognitive variances. Organisations increasingly are adopting centralised approaches to the provision of IT services, with IT governance as an integrating mechanism and a need for multiple business-IT alignments to add value according to the differentiation required by organisational elements. Propositions relating to the adaptation of IT management arrangements based upon organisational characteristics were tested using a multi- iv -discipline approach, which resulted in support for the model although practical difficulties were experienced in the action research component. This research provides a framework for maintaining effective variety of information capabilities commensurate with the diverse organisation???s mission and environment, while also exploiting the synergies and economies of shared information resources for holistic benefits.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, 2005. / Bibliography: p. 241-260. / Introduction -- Literature review -- Development of the KM Spectrum -- Research design and method -- Results -- Discussion of results -- Conclusions and implications. / There is growing consensus in business research and practice that knowledge is increasingly the driver of competitive advantage. This thesis focuses on one aspect of the issue by identifying factors that affect the adoption of Knowledge Management (KM) applications by individuals in an IT Services organisation. The study considers the adoption decision by individuals once senior management have decided to invest in IT enabled KM applications (KMA) and KM systems (KMS). -- In the thesis, a framework, the KM Spectrum, is developed that differentiates between the varying characteristics of KMAs and frames the research. The thesis identifies 32 potential success factors for KM adoption proposed in the reviewed literature. These factors are related to the disciplines of organisational science, diffusion theory and adoption models. -- The methods used in the research: secondary data study, interviews and the electronic survey, combined with the representativeness of the survey sample, triangulate to provide confidence in the empirical understanding of the factors that influenced the adoption of KM within the specific knowledge-based organisation. -- In developing the theoretically-informed view of the factors that affect individual adoption of KMAs the research concludes that studying KM adoption at an individual level and across multiple KMAs identifies influences on adoption masked by adoption research conducted at a KM system and/or organisational level. By studying KM adoption at an individual level this thesis finds that the adoption by individuals of KMAs is primarily a diffusion phenomenon and that the factors that influence KMA adoption vary with the type of KMA being adopted. The empirically identified factors that affect adoption at an individual level build to a staged model of KM adoption, called the enhanced KM adoption (EKMA) model. The EKMA model represents four phases of KM adoption and differential influences that apply across the adoption lifecycle. Additionally, the study provides some indications of further research topics and proposes a checklist to assist practitioners with the deployment of KMAs and KM systems. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xx, 330 p. ill

Lic.-avh. Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2005. / På titelsidan felaktiga serieuppgifter.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1997. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2004. / "This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the University of Western Sydney, College of Law and Business, School of Management, Business Information Systems, 2004" Includes bibliography.

Diss. Universität Bremen, 2008. / Business and Economics (German Language) (Springer-11775) (GWV).

Diss. Universität Bremen, 2008. / Business and Economics (German Language) (Springer-11775) (GWV).

222 p. / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-01-10T17:51:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_-_texto_final3.pdf: 2841285 bytes, checksum: b1c740772931bfcd1464107905d0bcb3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-01-10T17:51:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_-_texto_final3.pdf: 2841285 bytes, checksum: b1c740772931bfcd1464107905d0bcb3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / O objetivo deste trabalho é correlacionar a qualidade da gestão da implantação com a avaliação do impacto estratégico de um sistema do tipo Enterprise Resource System (ERP) em uma companhia do setor elétrico do Brasil. A estratégia metodológica escolhida foi o estudo de caso, tendo como objeto a implantação do SAP R/3 na Companhia de Eletricidade do Estado da Bahia (COELBA). Tendo sido adquirida pelo grupo espanhol Iberdrola, em 1997, a companhia engajou-se no processo de implantação do ERP para uniformizar os seus processos e compartilhar melhor a sua informação com a sua nova operadora; logo, porém, a implantação do sistema também se mostrou, como será visto neste trabalho, importante para melhorar o conhecimento da empresa sobre si mesma e, finalmente, alavancar a eficácia operacional, reduzindo custos. Os benefícios da implantação do sistema mostram-se especialmente relevantes considerando-se os fatores críticos de sucesso no setor. Verificou-se, porém, que a implantação da ferramenta não esgotou todo o seu potencial e buscou-se identificar quais foram as causas deste fenômeno. Transformações mais profundas podem ocorrer na organização, para além das já concretizadas, trazendo novos benefícios em diferentes dimensões estratégicas, desde que existam estruturas e iniciativas voltadas para explorá- los. O estudo baseou-se em entrevistas com membros do quadro executivo da companhia, na documentação produzida ao longo do processo de implantação e na análise das informações disponibilizadas na mídia e nos órgãos reguladores a respeito da performance da empresa e do setor elétrico como um todo no país. O framework de análise foi construído a partir de contribuições teóricas nas áreas de gestão da tecnologia da informação, estratégia empresarial e ferramentas de monitoramento e avaliação estratégica, como Balanced Scorecard. / Salvador