Mohamed Sidahmed
Monday July 13 at 11AM in CU299
Abstract:
Over the past decade, open source software (OSS) projects underwent significant changes and restructuring, symbolizing venture from the original approach of producing open source code by volunteer contributors. The latest trend, which is fueled by commercial organizations, systems integrators, and IT vendors’ interest in OSS, involves the joint collaboration between open and proprietary concerns.
This study investigates the implications of a collaborative hybrid OSS development model from the perspective of the OSS project. By extending transaction cost economics and interorganizational cooperation frameworks to the OSS domain, the research investigates factors affecting network governance structure of this hybrid alliance. Theory predicts that efficient forms of collaborative transaction leads to perceived satisfaction with an alliance.
The study examines factors that contribute to satisfactory institutional governance and underlying principles that influence OSS projects to engage in hybrid relationships with commercial partners. Moreover, the research identifies the necessary dimensions of interorganizational cooperation and safeguards, which minimize project’s vulnerability to detrimental behavior by commercial partners.
Data was collected across OSS projects to analyze the impact of commercial partners’ involvement on project efficiency and governance. Results demonstrate that OSS projects seek to establish arrangements that give rise to atypical structure for efficient management of the development process. Results reveal that the formation of institutional establishment based on streamlined information flow, flexible non-formal relationship, collective collaboration responsibility, and moderation of influence effect give rise to a favorable form for governing transactions.
The study also found that trust and branding play significant roles in reinforcing a thriving governance structure. Findings support the notion that hybrid projects achieve gains in product distinctiveness, yet collaboration is fragile to commercial parties’ behavior of seeking self-interest. The emerging structure yields a perceived meritorious outcome for the OSS project; strongly suggesting that transaction cost efficiencies are realized.
Practical implications for the study include identifying significant factors that contribute to OSS project efficiency and optimal governance, in addition to, establishing brand identity as a mutual benefit that binds the alliance. Hybrid OSS project success is largely dependent upon how well these factors are managed.
The research fills a gap in empirical analysis of both OSS hybrid development model and OSS business model research.
Hyo-Jeong Kim
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Abstract:
Although various information technologies have been studied with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and training research, the study of specific technology features and complexity for professional groups employing information technologies such as internal auditors (IA) has been limited. To address this gap, I extend TAM and IT training research with technology features and complexity among IA professionals and test the model using a sample of internal auditors provided by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA). Two independent studies were conducted to examine the effect of technology features and complexity on technology acceptance and training.
The first study tests system usage, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use with technology features and technology complexity. More basic features such as database queries, ratio analysis, and audit sampling were more accepted by internal auditors while more advanced features such as digital analysis, regression/ANOVA, and classification are less accepted by internal auditors. As technology complexity increases, perceived ease of use decreased so that system usage decreased. Based on path analysis using TAM variables, the results indicated that path magnitudes were significantly changed by features and technology complexity. Perceived usefulness had more influence on feature acceptance when basic features were used, and perceived ease of use had more impact on feature acceptance when advanced features were used.
The second study tests the effect of advanced feature training on technology acceptance, computer self-efficacy, and performance at both feature and software level. I expect that the advanced feature training increases technology acceptance and computer self-efficacy of advanced feature and audit software, and increases the performance of audit tasks. I also expect that feature acceptance is positively associated with software acceptance and feature self-efficacy is positively associated with software self-efficacy. Advanced feature training is expected to have more influence on perceived ease of use than perceived usefulness.
Andrea Hester
Wednesday April 8, 1:30PM, CU299
Abstract:
Knowledge management strives for effective capture and application of organizational knowledge, a valuable resource imperative in sustaining an organization. In an effort to better achieve knowledge management initiatives, factors underlying increased adoption and usage of the various technologies implemented as knowledge management systems are of considerable interest. Advances in technology have fostered new approaches to knowledge management in the form of web-based collaborative technologies supporting environments of social computing. Wiki technology is an emerging trend with the potential to serve as an efficient and effective knowledge management system by providing benefits of improved communication and collaboration, improved work processes, and improved knowledge sharing and reuse. Deployment of technological solutions are deemed organizational innovations giving rise to potential problems of resistance, and additional obstacles including organizational cultures lacking an environment conducive to effective knowledge creation and sharing. With Innovation Diffusion Theory as a foundation, this research examines the factors underlying adoption and usage of knowledge management systems, with further attention given to the specific case of Wiki technology. The original diffusion model is expanded to include an additional independent variable as well as a moderating variable of Personal Innovativeness in IT.
Mohamed Sidahmed
February 24 from 11:30AM to 1PM in CU299
Abstract:
Over the past decade open source software (OSS) governance has undergone significant changes that represent a major departure from the original reasoning of producing free open source code by volunteer contributors. The latest trend in OSS is the joint collaboration between open source projects and vendors of commercial and proprietary "closed" code. This study investigates the implications of a joint governance model from the perspective of OSS project. By extending transaction cost economics and interorganizational cooperation framework to the OSS domain, I propose to investigate the causal factors affecting network governance structure of this hybrid form of alliance. Data will be collected from open source projects to examine the impact of commercial vendors" involvement on project governance. Results will demonstrate why open source projects seek to establish arrangements that give rise to a new construct for efficient management of OSS software development. Theory predicts that satisfactory governance structure leads to more efficient form of collaborative transaction. The study also proposes to examine factors that contribute to a satisfactory institutional governance structure. The study will reveal the underlying principles that influence OSS project to engage in hybrid relationship. In addition the study identifies necessary dimensions of interorganizational cooperation that minimize the vulnerability and safeguard project from detrimental vendor involvement. The study has practical implications for open source project by examining the effect of established brand identity and identifying significant factors that impact "outsourcing" decision. Namely, departure from a pure volunteer model ("make model") to adoption of commercial and proprietary companies" joint efforts (";buy model").
Matthew Jensen, Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Arizona
Thursday, February 7, 12:00PM - 1:30PM, CU299
Abstract:
Reliable credibility assessment is very difficult for humans to perform, yet it is a critical task for many organizations and businesses. This presentation will share methods of automated, unobtrusive credibility assessment of face-to-face interactions through analysis of linguistic, vocalic, and kinesic behavior. The findings of experiments designed to validate these methods will be presented. The presentation will also share the results of an experiment which examined the performance of novice users of a prototype system in a credibility assessment task. Findings regarding the system’s effects on the decision maker, decision making processes, and judgment outcomes will be presented.
Richard Mann, CSIS Doctoral Student, Business School, University of Colorado Denver
Thursday, March 20, 12:00PM - 1:30PM, CU299
Abstract:
This talk describes an effort to evaluate efficacy of Communities of Practice (CoP) for knowledge sharing at a very large geographically disparate healthcare provider, specifically with respect to job role. A web-based survey instrument was used to poll the beliefs of healthcare workers participating in one or more of 50 CoPs sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) to determine utilization and perceived benefits. The survey incorporated 25 Likert scale questions to evaluate attitudes towards and utilization of as well of perceived benefits of CoPs. Each participant was also asked several demographic questions, and two open ended questions. Open ended questions are analyzed using a word count analysis. Managers were additionally asked 4 Likert scale questions and 2 open ended questions to assess their involvement and perceived benefits. The findings suggest that job role affects community members’ perceptions of the benefit and impact of communities of practice as well as their participation in such communities. Although CHI appears to be utilizing most factors affecting CoP functionality, it must account for variances in job role to increase perceived benefits from knowledge transfer within CoPs. Specifically, managerial support for time (to use the CoP) and technical training should be provided as well as developing more hybrid style communities for roles that utilize this type of interaction normally.