Towards a theory of individual-level discontinuance of information systems use

I develop a model of individuals’ intentions to discontinue information system use. Understanding these intentions is important because they give insights into users’ willingness to carry out system tasks, and provide a basis for maintenance decisions as well as possible replacement decisions. I offer a first conceptualization of factors determining users’ discontinuance intentions on basis of existing literature on technology use, status quo bias and dual factor concepts. The model is grounded in rational choice theory to distinguish determinants of a conscious decision between continuing or discontinuing IS use. I provide details on the empirical test of the model through a field study of IS users in a retail organization. The work will have implications for theory on information systems continuance and dual-factor logic in information system use. The empirical findings will provide suggestions for managers dealing with cessation of information systems and work routine changes in organizations.

Spatiotemporal analysis of indigenous and imported dengue fever cases in Guangdong province, China

Background Dengue fever has been a major public health concern in China since it re-emerged in Guangdong province in 1978. This study aimed to explore spatiotemporal characteristics of dengue fever cases for both indigenous and imported cases during recent years in Guangdong province, so as to identify high-risk areas of the province and thereby help plan resource allocation for dengue interventions. Methods Notifiable cases of dengue fever were collected from all 123 counties of Guangdong province from 2005 to 2010. Descriptive temporal and spatial analysis were conducted, including plotting of seasonal distribution of cases, and creating choropleth maps of cumulative incidence by county. The space-time scan statistic was used to determine space-time clusters of dengue fever cases at the county level, and a geographical information system was used to visualize the location of the clusters. Analysis were stratified by imported and indigenous origin. Results 1658 dengue fever cases were recorded in Guangdong province during the study period, including 94 imported cases and 1564 indigenous cases. Both imported and indigenous cases occurred more frequently in autumn. The areas affected by the indigenous and imported cases presented a geographically expanding trend over the study period. The results showed that the most likely cluster of imported cases (relative risk = 7.52, p < 0.001) and indigenous cases (relative risk = 153.56, p < 0.001) occurred in the Pearl River Delta Area; while a secondary cluster of indigenous cases occurred in one district of the Chao Shan Area (relative risk = 471.25, p < 0.001). Conclusions This study demonstrated that the geographic range of imported and indigenous dengue fever cases has expanded over recent years, and cases were significantly clustered in two heavily urbanised areas of Guangdong province. This provides the foundation for further investigation of risk factors and interventions in these high-risk areas.

A nationwide web-based automated system for early outbreak detection and rapid response in China

Timely reporting, effective analyses and rapid distribution of surveillance data can assist in detecting the aberration of disease occurrence and further facilitate a timely response. In China, a new nationwide web-based automated system for outbreak detection and rapid response was developed in 2008. The China Infectious Disease Automated-alert and Response System (CIDARS) was developed by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention based on the surveillance data from the existing electronic National Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Information System (NIDRIS) started in 2004. NIDRIS greatly improved the timeliness and completeness of data reporting with real time reporting information via the Internet. CIDARS further facilitates the data analysis, aberration detection, signal dissemination, signal response and information communication needed by public health departments across the country. In CIDARS, three aberration detection methods are used to detect the unusual occurrence of 28 notifiable infectious diseases at the county level and to transmit that information either in real-time or on a daily basis. The Internet, computers and mobile phones are used to accomplish rapid signal generation and dissemination, timely reporting and reviewing of the signal response results. CIDARS has been used nationwide since 2008; all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in China at the county, prefecture, provincial and national levels are involved in the system. It assists with early outbreak detection at the local level and prompts reporting of unusual disease occurrences or potential outbreaks to CDCs throughout the country.

Spatial governance: The metalanguage of spatiotemporal information and its infrastructure

‘Spatial governance’ involves a large number of situations where knowledge of place and time is important in achieving acceptable organisational outcomes. This paper argues that spatial governance calls for information-intensive activity in three main areas. The first establishes ‘authority’ in a legal entity to decide issues regarding resources within a territorial jurisdiction. The second involves planning the future use of resources. It engages a language of design, purpose, modeling, visualization, expectations and risk. The third involves monitoring of outcomes to see if expectations are met; and whether changes to authority and planning regimes need to be made in the light of experience. This engages a language of observing, recording, accounting, auditing, statistical indicators and accountability. ‘Authority’, ‘planning’ and ‘monitoring’ regimes can be constructed using a relatively small number of elements, in much the same way that a large number of words with recognisable meanings can be created using a relatively few standardised letters of the alphabet. Words can combine in a similar process of combinatorial explosion to create any message that can be imagined. Similarly, combining authority, planning and monitoring regimes can create a metalanguage of ‘spatial governance’ to give purpose, meaning and value to any spatiotemporal information system that can be imagined, described, interpreted and understood.

The dual nature of information systems in enabling a new wave of hardware ventures: Towards a theory

Hardware ventures are emerging entrepreneurial firms that create new market offerings based on development of digital devices. These ventures are important elements in the global economy but have not yet received much attention in the literature. Our interest in examining hardware ventures is specifically in the role that information system (IS) resources play in enabling them. We ask how the role of IS resources for hardware ventures can be conceptualized and develop a framework for assessment. Our framework builds on the distinction of operand and operant resources and distinguishes between two key lifecycle stages of hardware ventures: start-up and growth. We show how this framework can be used to discuss the role, nature, and use of IS for hardware ventures and outline empirical research strategies that flow from it. Our work contributes to broadening and enriching the IS field by drawing attention to its role in significant and novel phenomena.

An archival analysis of green information technology: The current state and future directions

This thesis provides a review of 199 papers published on Green IT/IS between 2007−2014, in order to present taxonomy of segments in Green IT/IS publications, where the segments are later used for multiple analyses to facilitate future research and to provide a retrospective analysis of existing knowledge and gaps thereof. This research also attempts to make a unique contribution to our understanding of Green IT/IS, by consolidating papers it observes current patterns of literature through approach analysis and segmentation, as well as allocating studies to the technology, process, or outcome (TPO) stage. Highlighting the necessity of a consolidated approach, these classification systems have been combined into a TPO matrix so that the studies could be arranged according to which stage of the Green IT/IS cycle they were focused on. We believe that these analyses will provide a solid platform from which future Green IT/IS research can be launched.

HR Information Systems: Exploiting the Full Potential

[Excerpt] Human resource management has always faced a fundamental paradox: Top managers in any company will readily agree that the people are the keys to success, but few believe they know whether their people are well managed or if they are prepared to fortify and enhance the transformations facing the organization. The information tools applied to the employees of an organization pale by comparison with the tools used to analyze markets, financial resources and production design.

Integration of clinical information systems in Saudi Arabian health care contexts: A grounded theory exploration

This research examined the implementation of clinical information system technology in a large Saudi Arabian health care organisation. The research was underpinned by symbolic interactionism and grounded theory methods informed data collection and analysis. Observations, a review of policy documents and 38 interviews with registered nurses produced in-depth data. Analysis generated three abstracted concepts that explained how imported technology increased practice and health care complexity rather than enhance quality patient care. The core category, Disseminating Change, also depicted a hierarchical and patriarchal culture that shaped the implementation process at the levels of government, organisation and the individual.

Suunnittelunäkemys metsäorganisaatioissa ja sen vaikutus tietojärjestelmälle asetettaviin vaatimuksiin

Department of Forest Resource Management in the University of Helsinki has in years 2004?2007 carried out so-called SIMO -project to develop a new generation planning system for forest management. Project parties are organisations doing most of Finnish forest planning in government, industry and private owned forests. Aim of this study was to find out the needs and requirements for new forest planning system and to clarify how parties see targets and processes in today's forest planning. Representatives responsible for forest planning in each organisation were interviewed one by one. According to study the stand-based system for managing and treating forests continues in the future. Because of variable data acquisition methods with different accuracy and sources, and development of single tree interpretation, more and more forest data is collected without field work. The benefits of using more specific forest data also calls for use of information units smaller than tree stand. In Finland the traditional way to arrange forest planning computation is divided in two elements. After updating the forest data to present situation every stand unit's growth is simulated with different alternative treatment schedule. After simulation, optimisation selects for every stand one treatment schedule so that the management program satisfies the owner's goals in the best possible way. This arrangement will be maintained in the future system. The parties' requirements to add multi-criteria problem solving, group decision support methods as well as heuristic and spatial optimisation into system make the programming work more challenging. Generally the new system is expected to be adjustable and transparent. Strict documentation and free source code helps to bring these expectations into effect. Variable growing models and treatment schedules with different source information, accuracy, methods and the speed of processing are supposed to work easily in system. Also possibilities to calibrate models regionally and to set local parameters changing in time are required. In future the forest planning system will be integrated in comprehensive data management systems together with geographic, economic and work supervision information. This requires a modular method of implementing the system and the use of a simple data transmission interface between modules and together with other systems. No major differences in parties' view of the systems requirements were noticed in this study. Rather the interviews completed the full picture from slightly different angles. In organisation the forest management is considered quite inflexible and it only draws the strategic lines. It does not yet have a role in operative activity, although the need and benefits of team level forest planning are admitted. Demands and opportunities of variable forest data, new planning goals and development of information technology are known. Party organisations want to keep on track with development. One example is the engagement in extensive SIMO-project which connects the whole field of forest planning in Finland.

Development and evaluation of a spatial decision support system for malaria elimination in Bhutan

Background: Bhutan has reduced its malaria incidence significantly in the last 5 years, and is aiming for malaria elimination by 2016. To assist with the management of the Bhutanese malaria elimination programme a spatial decision support system (SDSS) was developed. The current study aims to describe SDSS development and evaluate SDSS utility and acceptability through informant interviews. Methods: The SDSS was developed based on the open-source Quantum geographical information system (QGIS) and piloted to support the distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) in the two sub-districts of Samdrup Jongkhar District. It was subsequently used to support reactive case detection (RACD) in the two sub-districts of Samdrup Jongkhar and two additional sub-districts in Sarpang District. Interviews were conducted to ascertain perceptions on utility and acceptability of 11 informants using the SDSS, including programme and district managers, and field workers. Results: A total of 1502 households with a population of 7165 were enumerated in the four sub-districts, and a total of 3491 LLINs were distributed with one LLIN per 1.7 persons. A total of 279 households representing 728 residents were involved with RACD. Informants considered that the SDSS was an improvement on previous methods for organizing LLIN distribution, IRS and RACD, and could be easily integrated into routine malaria and other vector-borne disease surveillance systems. Informants identified some challenges at the programme and field level, including the need for more skilled personnel to manage the SDSS, and more training to improve the effectiveness of SDSS implementation and use of hardware. Conclusions: The SDSS was well accepted and informants expected its use to be extended to other malaria reporting districts and other vector-borne diseases. Challenges associated with efficient SDSS use included adequate skills and knowledge, access to training and support, and availability of hardware including computers and global positioning system receivers.

Systems between information and knowledge : In a memory management model of an extended enterprise

The research question of this thesis was how knowledge can be managed with information systems. Information systems can support but not replace knowledge management. Systems can mainly store epistemic organisational knowledge included in content, and process data and information. Certain value can be achieved by adding communication technology to systems. All communication, however, can not be managed. A new layer between communication and manageable information was named as knowformation. Knowledge management literature was surveyed, together with information species from philosophy, physics, communication theory, and information system science. Positivism, post-positivism, and critical theory were studied, but knowformation in extended organisational memory seemed to be socially constructed. A memory management model of an extended enterprise (M3.exe) and knowformation concept were findings from iterative case studies, covering data, information and knowledge management systems. The cases varied from groups towards extended organisation. Systems were investigated, and administrators, users (knowledge workers) and managers interviewed. The model building required alternative sets of data, information and knowledge, instead of using the traditional pyramid. Also the explicit-tacit dichotomy was reconsidered. As human knowledge is the final aim of all data and information in the systems, the distinction between management of information vs. management of people was harmonised. Information systems were classified as the core of organisational memory. The content of the systems is in practice between communication and presentation. Firstly, the epistemic criterion of knowledge is not required neither in the knowledge management literature, nor from the content of the systems. Secondly, systems deal mostly with containers, and the knowledge management literature with applied knowledge. Also the construction of reality based on the system content and communication supports the knowformation concept. Knowformation belongs to memory management model of an extended enterprise (M3.exe) that is divided into horizontal and vertical key dimensions. Vertically, processes deal with content that can be managed, whereas communication can be supported, mainly by infrastructure. Horizontally, the right hand side of the model contains systems, and the left hand side content, which should be independent from each other. A strategy based on the model was defined.

Solar energy potential assessment using GIS

Renewable energy resources are those having a cycling time less than 100 years and are renewed by the nature and their supply exceeds the rate of consumption. Renewable energy systems use resources that are constantly replaced in nature and are usually less polluting. In order to tap the potential of renewable energy sources, there is a need to assess the availability of resources spatially as well as temporally. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) along with Remote Sensing (RS) helps in mapping on spatial and temporal scales of the resources and demand. The spatial database of resource availability and the demand would help in the regional energy planning. This paper discusses the application of geographical information system (GIS) to map the solar potential in Karnataka state, India. Regions suitable for tapping solar energy are mapped on the basis of global solar radiation data, and this analysis provides a picture of the potential. The study identifies that Coastal parts of Karnataka with the higher global solar radiation is ideally suited for harvesting solar energy. The potential analysis reveals that, maximum global solar radiation is in districts such as Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada. Global solar radiation in Uttara Kannada during summer, monsoon and winter are 6.31, 4.40 and 5.48 kWh/sq.m, respectively. Similarly, Dakshina Kannada has 6.16, 3.89 and 5.21 kWh/sq.m during summer, monsoon and winter.

Sistema de suporte à decisão espacial aplicado à análise da vulnerabilidade dos recursos hídricos na bacia Guapi-Macacu / RJ.

No contexto do planejamento e gestão dos recursos hídricos em bacias hidrográficas, é crescente a demanda por informações consistentes relativas ao estado do ambiente e pressões ambientais de forma integrada, para que possam informar à população e subsidiar atividades do setor público e privado. Essa demanda pode ser satisfeita com a modelagem e integração em um Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG), com propriedades e funções de processamento que permitem sua utilização em ambiente integrado. Desta forma, neste trabalho é apresentada uma metodologia para a avaliação muticriterial dos recursos hídricos de bacias hidrográficas, que vai desde a seleção de indicadores e definição dos pesos, até a execução de avaliações e espacialização de resultados. Esta metodologia é composta por duas fases: avaliação da vulnerabilidade dos recursos hídricos de uma bacia hidrográfica a partir do uso de sistemas de suporte à decisão espacial, e, avaliação da qualidade das águas através da adaptação de um Índice de Qualidade das Águas. Foi adotada uma base de conhecimento, sistemas de suporte à decisão, SIG e uma ferramenta computacional que integra estes resultados permitindo a geração de análises com cenários da vulnerabilidade dos recursos hídricos. Em paralelo, a qualidade das águas das sub-bacias hidrográficas foi obtida a partir da adaptação do cálculo do Índice de Qualidade das águas proposto pela Companhia de Tecnologia de Saneamento Ambiental (CETESB) e aplicação do Índice de Toxidez. Os resultados mostraram sub-bacias com seus recursos hídricos mais ou menos vulneráveis, bem como sub-bacias com toxidez acima da legislação. A avaliação integrada entre áreas mais vulneráveis e que apresentam menor qualidade e/ou maior toxidez poderá nortear a tomada de decisão e projetos visando a conservação dos recursos hídricos em bacias hidrográficas.

Gestão Ambiental apoiada por SIG na estrada da Colônia, Ilha Grande (RJ): uma visão do futuro.

Os SIG Sistemas de Informação Geográfica vêm sendo cada vez mais estudados como ferramentas facilitadoras de análises territoriais com o objetivo de subsidiar a gestão ambiental. A Ilha Grande, que pertence ao município de Angra dos Reis, localiza-se na baía de Ilha Grande no sul do estado do Rio de Janeiro e constitui-se no recorte espacial de análise. Apresenta uma dinâmica ambiental complexa que se sobrepõem principalmente aos usos de proteção ambiental e de atividade turística em uma porção do território em que as normatizações legais são difíceis de serem aplicadas, pois são reflexos de interesses que se manifestam em três esferas do poder a municipal, a estadual e a federal. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é a realização do processamento digital de imagem para auxiliar a gestão territorial da Ilha Grande. Em foco, a estrada Abraão - Dois Rios, que liga Abraão (local de desembarque dos turistas, principal núcleo da Ilha) a Dois Rios (local de visitação por estudantes e pesquisadores, núcleo que abrigava o presídio, atualmente abriga sede do centro de pesquisa e museu da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), ambos protegidos por diferentes categorias de unidades de conservação. A metodologia fundamenta-se no processamento digital de imagem através da segmentação e da classificação supervisionada por pixel e por região. O processamento deu-se a partir da segmentação (divisão de uma imagem digital em múltiplas regiões ou objetos, para simplificar e/ou mudar a representação de uma imagem) e dos processos de classificações de imagem, com a utilização de classificação por pixel e classificação por regiões (com a utilização do algoritmo Bhattacharya). As segmentações e classificações foram processadas no sistema computacional SPRING versão 5.1.7 e têm como objetivo auxiliar na análise de uso da Terra e projetar cenários a partir da identificação dos pontos focais de fragilidade encontrados ao longo da estrada Abraão-Dois Rios, propensos a ocorrências de movimentos de massa e que potencializam o efeito de borda da floresta e os impactos ambientais. A metodologia utilizada baseou-se em análise de campo e comparações de tecnologias de classificação de imagens. Essa estrada eixo de ligação entre os dois núcleos tem significativa importância na história da Ilha, nela circulam veículos, pesados e leves, de serviço, pedestres e turistas. Como resultados da presente foram gerados os mapas de classificação por pixel, os mapas de classificação por região, o mapa fuzzy com a intersecção dos mapas de classificação supervisionada por região e os mapas com os locais coletados em campo onde são verificadas ocorrências de movimentos de massa nas imagens ALOS, 2000, IKONOS, 2003 e ortofotografias, 2006. Esses mapas buscam servir de apoio à tomada de decisões por parte dos órgãos locais responsáveis.

Uma Metodologia para Auxiliar no Processo de Conversão de Bases Cartográficas Utilizando o Padrão da Estrutura de Dados Geoespaciais Vetoriais.

Na década de 80, o surgimento de programas de computadores mais amigáveis para usuários e produtores de informação e a evolução tecnológica fizeram com que as instituições, públicas e privadas, se aperfeiçoassem em estudos sobre sistemas de produção cartográfica apoiados por computador, visando a implementação de Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG). A pouca simultaneidade de forças entre órgãos interessados, resultou em uma grande quantidade de arquivos digitais com a necessidade de padronização. Em 2007, a Comissão Nacional de Cartografia (CONCAR) homologou a Estrutura de Dados Geoespaciais Vetoriais (EDGV) a fim de minimizar o problema da falta de padronização de bases cartográficas. A presente dissertação tem como foco elaborar uma metodologia de trabalho para o processo de conversão de bases cartográficas digitais existentes no padrão da Mapoteca Topográfica Digital (MTD), do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), para o padrão da EDGV, bem como suas potencialidades e limitações para integração e padronização de bases cartográficas digitais. Será feita uma aplicação da metodologia utilizando a carta topográfica de Saquarema, na escala de 1:50.000, vetorizada na Coordenação de Cartografia (CCAR) do IBGE e disponível na Internet. Como a EDGV foi elaborada segundo técnicas de modelagem orientada a objetos, foi necessário um mapeamento para banco de dados relacional, já que este ainda é utilizado pela maioria dos usuários e produtores de informação geográfica. Um dos objetivos específicos é elaborar um esquema de banco de dados, ou seja, um banco de dados vazio contendo todas as classes de objetos, atributos e seus respectivos domínios existentes na EDGV para que possa ser utilizado no processo de produção cartográfica do IBGE. Este esquema conterá todas as descrições dos objetos e de seus respectivos atributos, além de já permitir que o usuário selecione o domínio de um determinado atributo em uma lista pré definida, evitando que ocorra erro no preenchimento dados. Esta metodologia de trabalho será de grande importância para o processo de conversão das bases cartográficas existentes no IBGE e, com isso, gerar e disponibilizar bases cartográficas no padrão da EDGV.