Continuous Communication Control Disruptors During Systems Development

This paper presents an open-ended, exploratory study of formal and informal communication and control subprocesses during information systems development (ISD) over an extended period in a large bureaucracy. Using a participant action research strategy, the case study explores the continuous unintended disruptions and barriers to the effective implementation of the ISD project and suggests major variables associated with them. Based on an inductive analysis of the data, the authors suggest some tentatively hypothesized action stages for future research and a broad conceptual model incorporating the process variables. Implications for MIS research, management, and MIS professionals are discussed.     

The Application of Critical Systems Thinking to Enhance the Effectiveness of a University Information System

Faced with the common problem of dissatisfaction with the outcome of investments in information systems (IS), the IS community has long sought ways to improve information systems development (ISD). This paper reports on action research (AR) that sought to improve the effectiveness a UK university’s student record system (SRS), which had exhibited persistent problems. Critical systems thinking (CST) is seen to have value for ISD and was used to guide the AR. In the first stage of this research, the issues with the initial design of the SRS were identified to have largely resulted from insufficient elicitation of the underlying assumptions about, and perspectives on, complex organisational issues. The second stage centred on examining the situation from an “ought” perspective analysing what should be done and how, in order to develop creative solutions to the problems uncovered. The third stage involved recommending solutions to address the problems identified in order to improve the effectiveness of the SRS. Overall, the AR indicates that CST enables those involved to view the design and implementation of the SRS as a holistic system, critically reflect upon broad and complex human, technological and organisational issues from different perspectives, and thereby identify creative solutions. The main contribution of this research is in generating support for an ISD intervention guided by CST. The results of, and the understanding developed from, this intervention are likely to be relevant to the problems that frequently occur in similar situations.     

Action Learning and Action Research (ALAR): A Methodological Integration in an Inter-Organizational Setting

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how action learning and action research were used concurrently as a single ALAR methodology in one research project which focused on collaborative improvement in the supply chain. The research in which the ALAR methodology was used was a European Union funded research project called CO-IMPROVE which sought to develop a business model, supported by a web-based software system, and action learning-based implementation guidelines to support the design, implementation and ongoing development of collaborative improvement between partners in Extended Manufacturing Enterprises (EMEs). The article describes how the participating managers worked in an action learning to achieve their commercial objectives and how action research was used by academic researchers to consolidate the action learning processes and to generate actionable knowledge.     

基于群体理性行为的GDSS设计及实现

分析了群决策支持系统发展现状,认为除了提供信息处理和交流平台的技术支持外,有必要更多地结合人的决策行为等理论和方法来构建新一代决策支持系统,从分析理性决策行为入手,提出新的群决策支持系统应主要在消除信息不对称,实现完备性;群一致性达成和判断,和选择择优处理的适应性三个方面的支持,并以此为基础设计群决策支持系统的方法和技术框架,给出了设计中应考虑的原则和要点,并通过一个验证性GDSS系统的实现过程证实了可行性,最后简介了下一步研究思路。     

Systems thinking for information systems development

Although many information systems development methods (ISDMs) are available, past experience indicates that none of them completely supports the design process. One of the major problems is that the traditional ISDMs represents a poor match for some subsystems or dimensions involved in the information systems design (ISD). This paper presents an integration and interpretation of recent research on the mismatch of the ISDMs with the ISD process and suggests that systems ideas can be used to learn about and clarify our perceptions of the ISD processes. First, some important systems concepts such as systems, subsystem, dimensionality, system types, and characteristics are introduced. Second, some lessons of mismatch learned in the past that are related to those systems concepts are discussed. The discussion includes experiences learned through the ISD process such as communication problems, inadequate analysis of systems maintenance, lack of understanding of the relationship between the nature of the subsystem/dimension to be represented and the selection of tools, difficulties in integrating subsystems and dimensions, as well as Brooks' Law along with others. Third, some recommendations are given concerning how to avoid mismatch with a systems concept phase. Fourth, some guidelines are provided for implementing the tasks of the systems concept phase. Finally, a number of areas where research appears needed are mentioned.     

国防科研中有关项目选题的探讨

在国防科研领域中 ,项目从选题、投资到研究开发都应遵循内在的科学规律。在分析国防项目主题发展一般规律的基础上 ,就科研项目选题原则和切入点问题展开讨论。引入“两头大象”理论 ,形象地揭示选题的内在依据。最后以一个由师生组成的典型科研小组为背景 ,就工程和基础理论两类研究的投入时机和权重问题建立决策模型 ,并给出了模型的数值结果及一些结论。     

Competency-Based Model Through It: An Action Research Project

Competency-based management is a strategic approach for Human Resources Management and organizational change. Additionally, in business environment, information technologies competencies are a significant factor to organizational success (Bharadwaj, MIS Q 24(1):169–196, 2006). However the implementation of a model of competency-based management in business environment is difficult and complex (Lawler, J Organ Behav 15(1):3–15, 1993). In this context, Information systems are a suitable tool to manage individual and organizational knowledge (Alavi and Leidner, MIS Q 25(1):107–136, 2001; Bowman, Inf Syst Manag 19(3):32–40, 2002). This paper introduces a dynamic approach to a competency-based model through IT. We validate such approach through an action research project in RTVE, the largest company and reference public corporation of radio and television in Spain. The action research process in this organization is presented, and the findings highlight the potential benefits of the proposed model, and may be used in facilitating organizational change.     

Organization Change in a University Hospital: A Six Year Evaluation Report of the HORIZONS Project

Many health care organizations are currently engaged in changing the design of their health care services delivery system. The issues of cost containment, quality, and access are prominent. This paper reports on the impact of the implementation of a new organization design at one university hospital. The organization change effort (named HORIZONS) was a five year project funded in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. In a changing health care environment, the project was undertaken with three goals in mind: (1) to maintain and enhance quality of patient care; (2) to improve the quality of working life; and (3) to accomplish this in a budget neutral manner. Initiated as a program to strengthen hospital nursing, the project became a patient-focused redesign effort encompassing both clinical and administrative affairs. The core ideas of the project approach included systems thinking, interactive planning and idealized design. This evaluation reports on the project's progress after six years.     

科研基金项目立项评估方法的研究与改进

以我国某一基础研究资助部门的基金项目立项评估为讨论对象,根据自身工作的实际体验,分析了目前立项评估中存在的问题,包括:1专家判断映射失真;2不完全信息难以描述;3量化信息过于粗糙.随后在对处理不确定性的有效工具——证据理论的基本概念进行论述的基础上,引入证据理论对现有评估方法加以改进,提出了一种科研基金项目立项评估的改进方法,阐述了改进方法的原理,列举了其实施步骤.在最后的讨论中,从有效性、精确性、简单性等方面论证了改进方法的合理性,并给出了关于非共识项目的定量描述和分析说明.     

复杂系统虚拟样机信息管理中的项目管理研究

虚拟样机的研究已成为多年的研究热点，其相关基础技术发展也很快，在国外也有了成功的应用案例，然而复杂系统协同虚拟样机技术的研究尚不成熟，在研究中还存在一些技术障碍，其中缺乏全生命周期、全方位和全系统的信息管理就是障碍之一。在给出了复杂系统及其虚拟样机定义的基础上，分析了复杂系统虚拟样机中信息管理的需求，然后论述了项目管理在复杂系统虚拟样机信息管理中的特点和需要攻克的几个关键技术，接着对项目管理与工作流的集成作了探讨。在此基础上，本文给出了相应的系统说明和应用验证说明。     

Consumers' Social Learning About Videogame Consoles Through Multiple Website Browsing

This research examines the micro-level correlation between traditional marketing actions(TV ads and public relations) and pre-release consumers' social learning about videogame consoles(Wii and PS3, launched in 2006). We evaluate consumers' learning processes via the perusal of information in online communities using "pageview" data for multiple websites from a clickstream panel as indicators. We propose a bivariate Bayesian learning model combined with complementary purchase choices.The proposed model enables simpler estimation of parameters and allows to accommodate detailed information about interactions between social and personal learning processes. From the results, we find empirical evidence that companies' traditional marketing actions have a greater impact on social learning than on regular personal learning during the pre-launch period. When consumers make purchase decisions, their social beliefs about product quality are weighed at least three times more heavily than their personal beliefs. Counterfactual simulations suggest that by optimizing marketing actions,firms can stimulate consumers' learning and promote increased product engagement.     

Building Organizational Identity: an Insider Action Research from a Founder’s Viewpoint

This paper features the implementation of an extensive insider action research, exhaustively following the framework of Coghlan and Brannick (2010, 2014). It consisted of two action research projects - the thesis action research and the core action research - which were done in a parallel manner, both following the iterative cycles of constructing, planning, taking, and evaluating action. The thesis action research was aimed at developing a theory on building organizational identity from the viewpoint of an organizational founder. On the other hand, the core action research was focused on promoting the specific identity of the Institute for Integrality, Inc. Quality and rigor were observed in the implementation of the action research cycles. In the fieldwork, there were three main cycles undertaken – understanding organizational identity, fine-tuning the practice of this identity, and designing the integration of this identity in organizational culture. Thereafter, significant learnings were derived from meta-learning in the form of content, process, and premise reflections. Finally, through the critical reflection of the project in the light of the experience and theory, A-Founder’s Integrative Theory of Organizational Identity Building was derived.     

Using Action Research to Implement Selective Waste Collection Program in a Brazilian City

The objective of this paper is to study and report upon the elaboration of a selective waste collection program in a Brazilian city through action research; the overarching goal is that all knowledge generated may serve as a basis of information and reference to aid in decision making for similar programs globally. The municipality chosen was São Lourenço in the state of Minas Gerais. The implementation of the selective waste collection program happened over the course of multiple improvement and learning cycles, and enabled many environmental, economic and social benefits for all of the project’s stakeholders. Eighty-nine tons of potentially recycled material were sent to recycling processes rather than being disposed of in a landfill. No great difficulties were observed for the use of action research as a method, but some challenges were encountered and overcome during the whole process, due to the lack of structure and confidence on part of the population, in relation to the selective collection program. The choice for action research as the methodology and the use of improvement and learning cycles proved to increase the project’s overall efficiency, making it possible to make decisions more quickly, generating better results, and enabling replications of good decisions and correction of errors from one cycle to the next.     

Comparative Analysis and Fuzzy Selection of Information System Development Approach

ＣｏｍｐａｒａｔｉｖｅＡｎａｌｙｓｉｓａｎｄＦｕｚｚｙＳｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎｏｆＩｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎＳｙｓｔｅｍＤｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔＡｐｐｒｏａｃｈ⒇ＣＨＥＮＸｉａｏｈｏｎｇ＊ＬＩＵＭａｉ＊ＹＡＳＵＨＩＫＯＴａｋａｈａｒａ＊＊＊ＣｏｌｅｇｅｏｆＢｕｓ...     

基于“情景-应对”的国家应急平台体系基础科学问题与集成平台

基金委"非常规突发事件应急管理研究"重大研究计划集成项目直接面向和紧密围绕重大研究计划的总体目标从两方面开展研究: 提升现有国家应急平台体系科学性的多学科融合的基础研究; 相关研究成果的集成升华和与国家应急平台体系的"对接". 具体包括: 突发事件应急场景下数据集成、组织与存储、数据共享方法研究; 面向应急辅助决策的定量与定性相结合的案例分析与集成管理方法; 网络分布式多模型环境下的智能化应急处置决策模型库构建方法; 个体和群体在紧急状态下的心理反应与行为规律; 面向"情景-应对"型决策、与国家应急平台体系相融合的应急管理开放式集成研究平台设计与构建; 基于集成平台的突发事件情景推演与决策过程模拟仿真与集成应用示例. 提出"数据融合-模型推演-案例推理-心理行为规律"综合集成的"情景-应对"型应急决策理论和方法; 构建基于"网络集成-计算集成-应用系统集成"三层交互的, 与国家应急平台体系相融合的, 跨学科、跨地域协作共享的"交响"式应急管理开放集成研究平台.     

Addressing Online Information Needs in Palliative Care: An Action Research-Inspired Approach

Whereas user participation has been embraced worldwide as a means to provide better patient outcomes, the implementation of formative, action research approaches in online health information has remained under-explored. The purpose of this study is to present an action research-based methodology that allows the scoping of health information and design needs in complex, multi-user online environments. The project's four main stages were informed by an iterative, formative approach involving continuous expert and user evaluation. The study suggests that an action research-inspired formative approach can be successfully employed to generate user-participation. Moreover, sustained user-participation effectively addresses most quality issues regarding content, language, and accessibility raised in the recent literature. The paper concludes that an action research approach geared to develop online health resources deserves more attention.     

When Research and Practice Collide: The Role of Action Research When There Is a Conflict of Interest with Stakeholders

This article discusses problematic aspects of the role of the action researcher when working with multiple stakeholders on a complex research project concerning regional development. The case presented here deals with the improvement of the regional innovation system in a small region in the south of Norway. The project resulted in a conflict between stakeholders and the action research (AR) team. We claim that when working in a regional context, the role of the action researcher is set to be a collaborator in a context of power play; the ultimate stakeholders must be defined as the citizens in that region. Therefore, in some situations the action researcher must have a legitimatised right to abandon collaboration and present a critical voice in the public deliberation. Strategic power play and strategic action by stakeholders represent a clear threat to the soft approach of collaboration, reflectivity, and democratic dialogue that AR represents. The ultimate challenge and obligation of the action researcher is to improve democracy in society in a long-term perspective through representing a critical capacity in the public deliberation.     

不确定SMDP基于全局优化的鲁棒决策问题

考虑半马尔可夫决策过程（SMDP）在一些系统参数不确定，且性能函数依赖于这些参数时的鲁棒决策问题。这些参数的不确定性不仅导致等价无穷小生成子的不确定性，也导致性能函数的不确定性。论文针对相关参数的情况，分别采用不同的全局优化算法，即填充函数法和模拟退火算法，进行鲁棒控制策略求解。仿真实例说明，全局优化方法的使用保证了平均准则和折扣准则下的计算结果之间当折扣因子趋近于零时的极限关系成立。     

Claremont Colleges Emergency Preparedness: An Action Research Initiative

This study examines the role of knowledge management systems in the context of emergency preparedness at Claremont University Consortium. The research objectives required the researcher's direct involvement with CUC. Canonical action research methodology was used to guide the project. Overall, the client was satisfied with the project's outcome. The researcher designed and implemented an instantiation of a web-based knowledge management system using Wiki technology. This system can assist CUC in overcoming some of its immediate concerns with emergency preparedness. These include the ability of the system to facilitate the communication process, and enable a more structured approach for documenting and storing emergency related information. The system as it exists today is subject to further improvement. This includes the need for continuous training with the system, improving the navigational aspects, and seeking a better fit between the system and the emergency planning and response processes.

Distance Education: A Reflective Action Research Project and Its Systemic Implications for Higher Education

This reflective action research study examines faculty experience with distance education. Distance education has become increasingly of interest in higher education and is seen by many as the opportunity for systemic change in higher education. This study is a reflective action research project which examined the author's experiences teaching a distance version of a basic instructional design course at the same time as teaching a residential version of that same course. The examination finds significant faculty issues that emerged during the experience and specifically found concerns with the distance education learner. In the end, the study finds that as a tool for systemic change of higher education, distance delivery will have to engage faculty with their concerns in more substantive ways than they have to date. In essence, this study asserts that the current demands on distance educators are not motivating for traditional faculty members because of increased time demands, lack of traditional rhythm, lack of personal contact with students, and less evident interest among distant students in the areas that faculty value.