IT adoption

Abstract. We describe the design and use of the Ontology Pre-Processor Language (OPPL) as a means of embedding the use of Knowledge Patterns in OWL ontologies. We illustrate the specification of patterns in OPPL and discuss the advantages of its adoption by Ontology Engineers with respect to ontology generation, transformation, and maintainability. The consequence of the declarative specification of patterns will be their unambiguous description inside an ontology in OWL. Thus, OPPL enables an ontology engineer to work ...

This paper examines how a game-like 3D Multi-User Virtual Environment (MUVE), Quest Atlantis (QA), is used in an after-school programme to engage a group of 14 academically at-risk primary students in their learning. It adopts an activity theoretical perspective to identify the ...

Wait-free synchronization has been recognized in the literature as an effective concurrent programming technique. The concurrent programming community, however, has been slow to adopt this technique. This paper addresses the practical application of wait-free synchronization in the design of distributed applications. In this paper, we present an implementation of a server that uses wait-free synchronization. The resulting code is more easily seen to be fault tolerant. The performance analysis of the wait-free synchronization server outperformed a server that uses traditional locking techniques. This practical demonstration of the benefits of wait-free synchronization should help foster its adoption in the development of distributed applications.

Many banks in Saudi Arabia are starting to offer banking services through mobile phones. However, not many studies investigate the factors that may help the bankers to design mobile services, which are suitable for and adoptable by bank customers. This study fills this gap and examines a number of factors affecting the mobile banking adoption. Using Diffusion of Innovation as a baseline theory, data are obtained from 330 actual mobile banking users. It is found that relative advantage, compatibility, and observability have positive impact on adoption. Contrary to the findings in extant literature, trialability and complexity have no significant effect on adoption. Perceived risk has a negative impact on adoption. The findings of this study will have practical implications for banking industry in Saudi Arabia.

The paper presents an application of the "Fit between Individuals, Task and Technology" (FITT) framework to analyze the socio-organizational-technical factors that influence IT adoption in the healthcare domain. The FITT framework was employed as the theoretical instrument for a retrospective analysis of a 15-year effort in implementing IT systems and eHealth services in the context of a Regional Health Information Network in Crete. Quantitative and qualitative research methods, interviews and participant observations were employed to gather data from a case study that involved the entire region of Crete. The detailed analysis of the case study based on the FITT framework, showed common features, but also differences of IT adoption within the various health organizations. The emerging picture is a complex nexus of factors contributing to IT adoption, and multi-level interventional strategies to promote IT use. The work presented in this paper shows the applicability of the...

Argentine farm managers see precision agriculture as a means to reduce costs in grain production, to increase productivity and make input use more efficient. Yield monitors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) guidance and satellite images are increasingly used in large operations, while Variable Rate Application (VRA) is rare. Factors that encourage its adoption include: large farm operations with relatively high capital

Many banks in Saudi Arabia are starting to offer banking services through mobile phones. However, not many studies investigate the factors that may help the bankers to design mobile services, which are suitable for and adoptable by bank customers. This study fills this gap and examines a number of factors affecting the mobile banking adoption. Using Diffusion of Innovation as a baseline theory, data are obtained from 330 actual mobile banking users. It is found that relative advantage, compatibility, and observability have positive impact on adoption. Contrary to the findings in extant literature, trialability and complexity have no significant effect on adoption. Perceived risk has a negative impact on adoption. The findings of this study will have practical implications for banking industry in Saudi Arabia.

Cloud computing has emerged as one of the most discussed topics among enterprise information technology (IT) professionals. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with low budget and human resources are one of the major groups that tend to use cloud computing for achieving the benefit of this technology. A multitude of factors influence the adoption of cloud computing for SMEs. These decisive factors must be systematically evaluated prior to making the decision to adopt cloud-based solutions. The purpose of this study is to identify these factors and determine the extent to which they influence the adoption of cloud computing for SMEs. Therefore, the project describes a research model that is based on the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory and the technology, organization and environment (TOE) framework. Based on previous study, research model was developed to test eight (8) variables, which are: relative advantage, compatibility, security concerns, cost savings, technology readiness, top manager support, competitive pressure and regulatory support. Data was collected by survey questionnaires from a sample of 22 SMEs that all of these SMEs as a customer’s of one cloud provider. There are 77 experts in information technology department from those SMEs are selected to fill the questionnaires. The Smart PLS tool was used for data analysis. The results of the data analysis generally support the model, as well as all of the proposed hypotheses. In summary, the results of this research have shown relative advantage, compatibility, security concerns, cost savings, technology readiness, top manager support, competitive pressure and regulatory support were found to have significant influence on adoption of cloud computing for SMEs.

This paper explores the relationship between SMEs' internal environment and SMEs' ability to use information systems for strategy implementation. The resource-based view of the firm is used to examine those factors hindering strategic adoption. Five hypotheses were confirmed through a cross-sectional survey of SMEs in Nigeria leading to the conclusion that owners’/management involvement, IT-business plan, funding, sufficient IT regulation and types of IT implemented are significantly related to strategic IS adoption. Another key finding is that a significant number of SMEs have adopted IT applications and are using them for managing accounting/payroll, sales, personnel, inventory and other business concerns.

The study seeks to examine the impact of Information technology (IT) governance structure, process and relational mechanisms on firm performance. Using an event study, we collected a sample of 70 announcements of IT governance adoption investments. We found that most firms adopt all three types of IT governance mechanisms. IT governance structural mechanisms have a positive impact on firm's profitability. In contrast, IT governance process and relational mechanisms have a negative association with firm performance. More interestingly, the findings provide insight for organizations that they should realize the potentially negative impact of the controls requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 and IT leadership on firm performance.