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Oct 8: Jinyoung Min to speak on Yes, It is me: Emotional Attachment to Self-Presenting Information Technology

September 27, 2010 By

Jinyoung Min

Visiting Research Scholar

Fox School of Business, Temple University


October 8, 2010

Speakman Hall 200, 1000am – 1130am


Abstract

As information technology (IT) continues to permeate everyday life experiences, it is no longer simply a tool to improve task performance; people use technology to present themselves and fulfill their inner desires. Yet, there are few studies examining this new aspect of information technology.

To fill this gap in the literature, we propose the concept of self-presenting IT, a class of information technology whose primary purpose is to present users’ self-image, either actual or possible. We consider two examples of self-presenting IT: blogs and social network sites (SNS). We propose that actual and possible self-presentations can be either strategic or expressive and further argue that strategic self-presentation appeals to a cognitive assessment of technology, while expressive self-presentation appeals to an affective process. Finally, we argue that people are more likely to use SNS for actual self-presentations and blogs for possible self-presentations.

We test our theory using the data collected from 321 bloggers and 299 SNS users. Our findings reveal the separate roles of actual and possible self-presentation with blogs and SNS in influencing perceived usefulness and emotional attachment to IT. However, contrary to our expectation, perceived usefulness for self-presentation in isolation does not have a direct impact on a user’s commitment to IT. Our results show simply improving perceived usefulness is not enough to sustain the use of self-presenting IT – we must make sure that individuals are emotionally attached to IT to in order to strengthen their commitment to the technology.

For a copy of the paper, click here.

Oct 1: Bob Zmud to speak on Engendering Organizational Technical Capabilities and Business Capabilities by Fabricating the Operating Environments that Comprise IT Infrastructure

September 15, 2010 By

Bob Zmud

Professor, Michael F. Price Chair in MIS and George Lynn Cross Research Professor

Michael F. Price College of Business

University of Oklahoma

October 1, 2010

Speakman Hall 200, 1000am – 1130am

Abstract

With information technology (IT) infrastructure serving as a foundation for much of the managerial and operational activities occurring in organizations, investment decisions targeted at enhancing or reengineering IT infrastructures are increasing in frequency, dollar amount and importance. However, current conceptualizations of the nature and value relevance of IT infrastructure remain rather limited, resulting in proponents of IT investment proposals finding it challenging to build convincing business cases for these investments. We offer new conceptualizations of IT infrastructure and its value relevance that move beyond portraying IT infrastructure as a broad collection of technical assets and services to a portrayal of IT infrastructure as a mindfully-determined aggregation of technical operating environments and business operating environments, which in turn engender specific value-adding technical and business capabilities. Next, we apply this conceptualization in synthesizing extant research examining the value-adding role of IT infrastructure across three distinct IT activity domains (solution identification, solutions delivery, and solutions execution), concluding the analysis within each domain with assessments of progress and suggested future research directions. Finally, after reiterating our theoretical contributions, we suggest research directions that apply across all three IT activity domains and discuss the implications of our ideas to practice.

For a copy of the paper, click here.

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Sept 24: Detmar Straub to speak on Is Information Systems Research Relevant?

September 6, 2010 By

Detmar Straub

A Regent’s Professor of the University System of Georgia and the J. Mack Robinson Distinguished Professor of Information Systems

Georgia State University

September 24, 2010

Speakman Hall 200, 1000am – 1130am

Abstract

One of the most common beliefs circulated among both IS academics and practitioners is that IS scholarly work, i.e., research, is not being widely disseminated in practice.  One explanation offered for this belief is that there is a natural tension between academic scholarship (rigor) and practice (relevance), the two groups not sharing knowledge as much as they might because of failings on the part of academics and academic journals, in particular, to make their work “speak” more to practice.

This presentation argues that if we understand the highly defensible goals of scholars and practitioners, the tension could fade into the background or even disappear.  In short, this perception could be badly overstated because of a widespread misunderstanding of what scholarship is trying accomplish as opposed to what practice is trying to accomplish.  It could also be overstated because we have never really studied the knowledge transfer issue.

The logic that follows argues that “rigor versus relevance” is the wrong framing; practitioners generally cannot understand nor can they directly use academics’ “methodological rigor.”  They may learn IT research findings through other avenues, but NOT thru scholarly journals.  Sadly, there has been NO literature germain to the underlying, real issue of whether IS research is relevant.

For a copy of the paper, click here.

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