Global Information Systems Management - Research Paper Example

Running Head: GLOBAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT Global Information Systems Management Global Information Systems ManagementAbstract To realize the potential of the changing business world, it is important to understand the current status and meaning of Global Information Systems through carrying out a comprehensive research. This research document will present a review of research studies of Global Information Systems during the period 2000 to 2008. The paper will explore major themes addressed in Global Information Systems literature based on reliable criterion and also show how researchers are approaching this field. Based on some main findings, it is evident that cross cultural research from different geographical sites and research on Information System for global enterprise management will be needed. This document also encourages for the adoption of new research methods by researchers in global information systems research. Introduction Advances in information technology and globalization trends have for the last two decades dominated the business world. Globalization reflects the interconnection of societies in terms of political, cultural and economic aspects (Giddens, 2002). Opportunities and feasibility of globalization have been enhanced by information and communication technology, by enabling new structural organizations, new modes of work and communication across space and time (Walshan, 2001) as well as facilitation of movement of goods and coordination of services (Palvia and Wang, 1995). Businesses today find it necessary to incorporate global information systems in their organizational structure due to its usefulness and impact. A firm’s global business strategy can be achieved through global applications such as using information technology platforms to transmit, store, and manipulate data across diverse cultural environments (Wang, 1995). Global Information systems deal with development, management and use of information systems across the globe. Implementation and use of information systems may be affected by national differences such as infrastructure capabilities, physical environments, cultural issues, economic and political factors. Hence, it is essential to understand the challenges and opportunities related to global information systems in the volatile business world. Research on global management of information systems goes across national boundaries to include research spanning on multiple countries. Recent research studies have focused only on particular aspects of global IS. It has been revealed through a literature search (Lehman & Gallupe, 2004) that, less than 1 percent of the IS literature published in academic periodicals deals with IS in international settings. They contend that more academic research is needed from different methodologies and stands. Understanding of the current global IS research status is of paramount importance. The objective of this paper is to explore examples of opportunities and challenges with global IS in organizations and generate insights of key issues addressed in the global IS literature during the recent years. The paper also does seek to address various concerns by bringing into focus areas that were neglected during the previous research. A systematic review that explores on different aspects of the existing literature is needed in order to understand complex issues related to the use and implementation of IS in global organizations. The document will focus on the period 2000 to 2008. The document will also include a section that briefly presents former classifications of the global IS literature, followed by an outline of literature review methodology that includes; categories of the research literature and definitions of the classifications. In addition, there will be a presentation of some general trends and findings. The document will finally contain a section for discussions and a summary of main findings together with suggestions on areas that need further research. Methodology The research involves the use of a source such as literature review to get solid foundation for further research and for identifying areas that need to be focused on (Webster & Watson, 2002). There is a clear need for accumulation of knowledge to learn from further research and support theory building within interdisciplinary areas such as global information systems. Relevant research articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals between he period 2000 to 2008 are located by the review through a step by step approach to provide a systematic and explicit method. Literature search The following steps were undertaken while conducting a systematic literature search for identifying a substantial and representative sample of articles on global IS management. i. Identification of keywords based on earlier relevant research on global IS (e.g. Gallupe & Tan, 1999; Ives & Jarvenpaa, 1991; Palvia et al., 2002). Variations of the term global information systems have been used in the literature. Apart from abbreviations such as IT and IS other keywords chosen as search parameters included: cross-border information systems/technology, multinational information systems/technology, transnational information systems/technology and global information systems/technology. ii. A literature search was conducted during January to May 2008 in two online databases; EBSCO host and Web of Science. The search included research published between 2000 & 2008, thus extending the former review by Gallupe & Tan (1999) covering the period 1990 to 1998. The search procedure was restricted with filters that limited the search to articles where the combination of keywords occurred in the title, abstract or keywords. The aim of the paper is to illuminate global IS research from a research based stand. Thus, a further filter was added, limiting the search to scholarly journals and peer-reviewed articles only, which excluded conference proceedings, book chapters, and newspaper articles. The initial search resulted in 120 unique articles. iii. During the screening of articles, only 79 articles were found to be relevant to the research focus. The rest of the articles were excluded iv. Subsequently publications were then coded according to taxonomic classification model based on the abstract and in some cases full text. During the coding process, further exclusion of less relevant articles was conducted, resulting in a final sample of 68 articles. Paper Classifications One of the major challenges of literature review is the classification of materials in a review. “A firm foundation for advancing knowledge is created through an effective review. Theory development is facilitated, complexity in research reduced and areas where further research is needed uncovered.” (Webster & Watson, 2002, 8). The aim of the review is to explore main topics addressed in recent global IS literature, and provide examples of opportunities and challenges dealt with in global IS. The classification model consists of four dimensions; research design, research category, type of organization and global IS theme. Research category This is the first dimension through which combination of research variables addressed within the articles is defined (Ives et al, 1980). The table below shows the classification of variables into 3 main groups. List of Research Variables Group of Research Variable Research Variables (Resources and Constraints) Global environment characteristics Development environment (IS) Operations environment (IS) External environment Organizational environment User environment (Performance measures) Use process Development process Operation process Characteristics of global information systems Presentation time IS content Form of presentation Examination of one or more variables can be done by researchers between different groups or within the same group. This allows for the identification of the following 5 research categories (Gallupe & Tan, 1999). 1. Category that involves variables within a single group 2. A category of relationship between environmental and process variables 3. A category showing relationship between IS and process characteristic variable groups 4. A category of the relationship between environment and IS characteristic variables 5. A category detailing the relationship between environments, IS and process characteristics variables. Research design This is the second dimension and it refers to how the researcher(s) approach global IS research field. The table below shows the research design categories adopted by the literature review (Walsham, 2001). Table showing definition of research design Research design Definition Case study This is a study that is involved with a single site or a few sites over a certain period of time. Survey These are studies that gather data by using questionnaires Laboratory experiment These are studies that place within a designed controlled environment and they usually involve special treatments of different groups to contrast the precise relationships among the variables Field experiment It is similar to a laboratory experiment, only that it is conducted in real world setting Action research These are studies in which the researchers are an integral part of the subject matter being studied. Others Refers to conceptual, argumentative/descriptive articles and research with secondary data such as existing data sets and public records. Research theme Articles are classified according to the global IS theme addressed in the third dimension. There are 6 distinct global IS research themes based on a content analysis of review publications (Gallupe & Tan, 1999). Global IS research themes Research theme Description Studies in single countries The management, development, operations and IT use in a domestic context Comparative studies of nations The comparisons between two or more countries of IT operation, development, management and use. Socio-economic and cultural issues What effect does national culture have on IT management, development, operations and use Research issues and frame works Refers to conceptual research offering research agendas, frameworks and theory on various global IS management aspects Management of global information resources The management, operations, development and use of IT in a global context Management of global enterprise Using IT/IS for functional management of enterprises across national boundaries. It also includes the management of transnational and multinational operations. Type of organization Type of organization or industry is the fourth dimension which is often used as a variable in MIS research. The organizations are classified by the review into service, manufacturing and non profit (Niederman et al., 1991). Review method limitations. Lack of categorizing and indexing in the online databases approached in this review may cause relevant research to be excluded. Other valid sources can be online media, book chapters, conference papers etc. However, journals provide a more conceptual and empirical research compared to other forms of publications, hence academic journals form a more reliable platform for publication of high quality research in global IS. Moreover, the search does limit itself to two databases that only accept English language publications, hence disadvantaging some countries under study. There is also no quality assessment made regarding reported findings or research methods used. Editors and reviewers are expected to be the guardians of quality assurance. Influence of different articles may not be reflected by the analysis which is based on ‘quantity’ evidence. Citation analysis would be an alternative approach for an emphasis on quality, or a focused search in a selection of high ranked niche journals and IS journals with focus on publishing global IT or IS research. Nonetheless, for the objective of this review the sample was considered appropriate. Findings The analysis of some of the articles in the sample is presented by this section. In comparison to previous research in this field it is clear that there is an increasing number of publications during the period of 2000 to 2008 . Categories of global IS research The distribution per each of the five categories of research articles as previously discussed is as shown in the table below. Most publications do focus on the relationship between environmental variables and process variables. Most publications are found in the single variable group, which is the second largest in this review analysis (Gallupe & Tan, 1999). Research category Articles number Percentage Type 1 Single variable group 20 32 Type 2 The relationship between global environmental variables and global process 35 52 Type 3 The relationship between global IS characteristics variables and global process 6 6.2 Type 4 The relationship between global process, environment and IS characteristics 4 5.8 Type 5 The relationship between global environment, process and IS characteristics 3 4 Total number of publications 68 100 % Type 1 research: Three research categories were addressed by approximately one third of the articles; global process variable, characteristics with the global IS or global or global environment characteristics. This category had publications that were either conceptual or descriptive. Some articles discussed economic, political, legal or cultural variables. Outsourcing decisions were evaluated through a taxonomy and assessment methodologies. Information systems characteristics are emphasized by other studies such as those describing issues related to a global IS for the control of tobacco (Carrao & Guindon, 2000). Type 2 research The impact of variables from environmental variable group on process variables to development, operation and use are explored by more than 50 % of the articles. The emphasis of research in this category is on the relationship between operation process variable and organizational/ external variables. The argument that national culture is an important factor in global IS research is supported by the cultural issues that are described in the sample. For instance, the research study of unsuccessful implementation of an ERP project in a Chinese subsidiary suggest that china has particular cultural factors that include, governance, legal, political and language issues (Avison & Malaurent, 2007). Local culture, local competition and local regulation normally have a moderating effect on the relationship strategy-effectiveness of a global information system (Lai & Wong, 2003). Type 3 research This focuses on the influence of global IS characteristics on process variables. 6 out of 68 articles in the sample (6.2%) were classified in this category. For example, the relationship between business process and the quality of service of a global information system were analyzed (Caseau, 2005). Type 4 Research The relationship between environment characteristics and global IS characteristics are addressed in this category of global IS research. An example of this research study is that which seeks to explore how an environmental global information system can be designed to meet external stake holders’ expectations. Type 5 research Finally, the relationship between variables from all three categories; environment, global IS characteristics and process are examined. In this category, only 3 of the 68 articles were classified. A research project to develop a health information system can be designed by taking into account economical and cultural factors e.g. in South Africa and at the same time describe a reform process for health data standardization (Braa & Hedberg, 2002). Research design As is the case with a new research area, a significant number of research articles were descriptive and some had conceptual framework. Case studies and survey were the most preferred empirical research design. There was only one lab experiment and one action aid research study in the sample. Research Themes The literature review also had the objective of exploring research themes in the foregoing global IS literature. These themes include; i. Single country studies: 12 of the articles in the sample were single country studies. Different aspects of IS research were looked at from a domestic perspective. Most of these studies are conducted from the eastern part of Europe or from developing countries. These studies serve the purpose of adding insight on global IS from a global perspective. ii. Comparative studies of nations: This seeks to compare the use and implementation of IS from different regions or countries. Global comparison on the growth of international and local IT management is a good example of one of the 13 publications in this category. The impact of global information technology on the accountability and openness of bureaucracies is examined Welch & Wong, 2003). iii. Socio-economic and culture issues: cultural factors play a major role in global IS management as the results of the analysis suggest. The effects of culture and development, management, use and operation of global IS is dealt with by the main research theme in 8 of the articles. Example of this is the use of ERP study (Sheu et al, 2004) and cultural influence on IT infrastructure. Organization Type The studies mostly focused on manufacturing, non-profit organizations and service industry respectively. The pie char below shows distribution between industries (Lai and Wong, 2003). Discussion The literature review shows an increasing number of global IS publications. This shows that there is increased attention towards global IS. Variables addressed Impact of environment variables is explored on process variables are explored by. Regarding the number of variables addressed, the IS research field is bound to be complicated. Comprehensive studies addressing the relationship between all three categories of variables are missing from the research field. Globalization and IS should focus on diversity (Walsham, 2001). Research approaches in the global IS research There is a balance between case studies and surveys in this review as well as considerable number of empirical research studies. Also a large number of articles were conceptual and descriptive. Theme of studies Management of IS research is fragmented. Global IS research is characterized by diversity. Global information resource management is the most commonly studied theme. Increasing number of studies address issues related to management, use and development of IS internationally. More research is needed to provide insight into the role of global IS spanning organizational and national boundaries. Single and multiple country studies It was also found that the distribution among single countries is even when compared with studies of nations. Single country studies mostly focus on reports from eastern part of Europe, developing or newly industrialized countries. This has helped in defining global IT (Wang, 1995). Cross-cultural issues are normally dealt with by the multiple country studies. This helps in improving our understanding of IS challenges and opportunities within various cultural settings. Setbacks of the framework Categorizing into research themes for some of the articles was not straight forward. The major themes exclude a total of four of the articles. In Gallupe frame work, some of the articles addressed more than one research theme e.g. some articles describing comparative studies of cultural issues addressed nations. Conversely, in the classification network single country studies verses multiple country studies could be used as a fifth dimension. Conclusion The objectives of the research were to explore the major themes of IS research studies and identify areas in which more research was needed to increase understanding of global IS. Global IS research literature has been found to have several gaps. From a global corporate management perspective, there have been a limited number of studies addressing IS. More cross- Different geographical sites require more cross-cultural research. It was encouraging to note that several studies dealt with, management, operation, use and development of IS globally. References Braa, J., & Hedberg, C. (2002). "The Struggle for District-Based Health Information Systems in South Africa", Information Society, vol. 18, no. 2, 113-127. Carrao, M. A. & Guindon, E. (2000). "Building the evidence base for global tobacco control", Bulletin of the World Health Organization, vol. 78, no. 7, 884. Gallupe, R. B., & Tan, F. B. (1999). A research manifesto for global information management. Journal of Global Information Management, vol. 7, no. 3, 5-18. Avison, D. & Malaurent, J. (2007). "Impact of cultural differences: A case study of ERP introduction in China". International Journal of Information Management, vol. 27, no. 5, 368-374 Giddens, A. (2002). Runaway World: How globalization is reshaping our lives. Profile Books Ltd, London. Lai, V. S. & Wong, B. K. (2003). "The Moderating Effect of Local Environment on a Foreign Affiliates Global IS Strategy-Effectiveness Relationship", IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, vol. 50, no. 3, 352-361. Palvia, P. & Wang, P. (1995). “An expanded global information technology issue model: an addition to newly industrialized countries”, The journal of Information Technology Management, vol. 4, no.2, 29-39. Walsham, G. (2001). Making a World of Difference: IT in a Global Context. Wiley, Chichester, UK Webster, J. & Watson, R. T. (2002). "Analyzing the Past to Prepare for the Future: Writing a Literature Review", MIS Quarterly, vol. 15, no. 2, xiii-xxiii. Palvia, P. (1998). “Global information technology research: past, present, and future”, Journal of Global Information Technology Management, vol. 1, no. 2, 4-14. Read More