Editorial

Citation

Irani, Z. and Dwivedi, Y.K. (2013), "Editorial", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 26 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeim.2013.08826daa.001

Editorial

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Volume 26, Issue 4.

It gives us great pleasure to welcome our readers to the fourth issue of the 26 volume of Journal of Enterprise Information Management, and express our appreciation to them for their continuous support during the past year. The continuous update of the journal's scope to promote theory and practice has led to an increase in submissions that has allowed us to further the quality of the journal. This issue continues to incorporate excellent “quality” submissions that focus on providing a mixture of practical and theoretical contributions.

The fourth issue of volume 26 commences with a research paper by Konstantinos Koumadititis, Marinos Themistocleous and Paulo Rupino Da Cunha, entitled “SOA implementation critical success factors in healthcare”. This paper investigates the critical success factors (CSFs) influencing SOA implementation in healthcare organizations. This research is conducted in order to provide initial insights for researchers and practitioners. Consequently, a literature review of published cases from various industries (non-specific sector) and healthcare was conducted. This review resulted in a proposition of a SOA CSFs model, which was then, tested using a qualitative case study strategy. The case study was carried out in a big public healthcare organization with 1.5 million members that at the time required a cost reduction on expenditure by utilizing IT. Reflecting these challenges the administration decided to implement SOA-based e-health services. The authors claim this research as novel as it explores and classifies SOA CSFs for solutions that have been developed in the area of healthcare.

The above research is followed by a research paper by Sanjay Mathrani, Anuradha Mathrani and Dennis Viehland, entitled, “Using enterprise systems to realize digital business strategies”. This study utilizes a transformational model to empirically evaluate the way organizations realize digital business strategies by employing enterprise systems. This is achieved by assessing the enterprise systems data support activities for knowledge creation, particularly how enterprise systems data are transformed into corporate knowledge in relevance to business strategies sought. The research findings reflect the views of two large and one medium-sized organization in the manufacturing sector. Although, the evidence of the benefit realization process success and its results is more prominent in larger organizations than medium-sized, it may not be generalized that smaller firms cannot achieve these results. Exploration of these aspects in smaller firms or a different industry sector such as retail/service would be of value. The contribution of this paper is to determine the impact of enterprise systems on realizing business strategies (both an expert perspective with insights from key ES vendors and consultants, as well as a user perspective with viewpoints from the users who are using ES technology in industry are adopted).

Then we have a conceptual research focusing on interceding role of IT in the decision-making perspective by Sabrina Boulesnane and Laid Bouzidi, entitled “The mediating role of Information technology in the decision-making context”. In this paper, the authors aim to contribute to the management literature by offering a theoretical framework. In doing so, they evaluate the vibrant association and communications that subsist between three organizational capabilities (i.e. collective intelligence, knowledge management and innovation) and the affiliation with decision-making effectiveness. The authors investigate the interaction between the different dimensions and the mediating role of IT. Based on the conceptual findings, the authors further intend to establish how an organization can coalesce these capabilities to create superior value and to understand the role played by IT. The proposed conceptual model is established on the interconnection between different dynamic suggestions. The authors assert that their conceptual model associates several organizational capabilities with strategic notions in the management of organizations.

Thereafter, we have another research paper from Zhixiang Chen and Li Li, entitled “Information support technologies of integrated production planning and control for OEM driven networked manufacturing: framework, technologies and case”. This research paper studies the information support technologies of integrated production planning control for original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-driven networked manufacturing systems, and offer implications to firms for implementing networked manufacturing. The authors highlight that the main contributions of the paper lie in two aspects. First, a new multi-layer coordination integration framework of production planning and control for networked manufacturing is proposed. Second, new technologies, such as radio frequency identification (RFID)-based order tracking system and multi-echelon coordination production control mechanism are presented.

Following the above research paper, we have another research paper by Sunday C. Eze, Hart O. Awa, Joseph C. Okoye, Bartholomew C. Emecheta and Rosemary O. Anazodo, entitled “Determinant factors of information communication technology (ICT) adoption by government-owned universities in Nigeria: a qualitative approach”. This paper investigates and prioritizes the effects of 13 factors in determining ICT adoption in Nigerian universities. The findings from this research indicate that regardless of the perceived competitive pressures and perceived benefits of ICT solutions, government-owned universities are yet to exploit its full potentials in their operations. The authors claim that this paper is one of the early inquiries that offer interesting insights into adoption of ICT solutions from Nigerian universities, and attempt to validate such ICT theories. The paper raised some challenges that will serve as points of departure to future researchers and provides university management, government, policy makers, and other stakeholders the bases for encouraging ICT adoption.

Then we have a conceptual research focusing on interceding role of IT in the decision-making perspective by Yuanyuan Yin, Eujin Pei and Ashok Ranchhod, entitled “The shopping experience of older supermarket consumers”. This research is designed to extend the knowledge of the shopping experience within the senior consumer segment in the UK so as to explore potential opportunities to adapt IT supports for improving the shopping experience. In doing so, the main purpose of this research is to explore the difficulties and challenges faced by the older supermarket consumers in order to form insights into potential ways of applying IT support and design solutions within the supermarket service for older consumers. The rationale for this research stemmed from observations and discussions with supermarkets with regards to the use of IT and better process design for a growing segment of their consumer base. The empirical research investigation is based on a mixed research methodology. An ethnographic approach that undertook direct observations was backed up by semi-structured interviews. These two approaches, it was felt would offer a comprehensive view of the shopping experience.

Finally, we have a research paper by Martin Hubert Ofner, Kevin Straub, Boris Otto and Hubert Oesterle, entitled “Management of the master data lifecycle: a framework for analysis”. The authors in this research paper proposed a reference model unfolding a holistic view of the master data lifecycle, together with strategic, tactical, and operational facets. The paper uses a participative case study to evaluate the suggested model. The findings indicate how the reference model allows analysing the master data lifecycle on a strategic, a tactical, and an operational level, and how it helps identify areas of improvement. The authors attempt to establish a holistic view of the master data lifecycle, including strategic, tactical, and operational aspects, in order to provide more comprehensive support for its analysis and improvement.

Zahir Irani and Yogesh K. Dwivedi