Editorial

Citation

Irani, Z. (2010), "Editorial", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 23 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeim.2010.08823aaa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Volume 23, Issue 1

It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to the first issue of the 23rd volume of the Journal of Enterprise Information Management (JEIM). This issue covers a variety of contributions that span the theoretical and practical.

Yogesh K. Dwivedi and Navonil Mustafee start off with a profiling piece that reviews research published in the JEIM. The purpose of this paper is to analyse research published over the last ten years (1999-2008). Employing a profiling approach, the analysis of the 381 JEIM publications includes examining variables such as the most active authors, geographic diversity, authors' backgrounds, co-author analysis, research methods and keyword analysis. The paper presents and discusses the findings obtained from the citation analysis that determines the impact of the research published in the JEIM. The primary value of this paper lies in extending the understanding of the evolution and patterns of information systems (IS) research.

Khong Sin Tan, Siong Choy Chong, Binshan Lin and Uchenna Cyril Eze explore internet-based information and communications technology (ICT) adoption among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This research seeks to investigate the demographic characteristics of SMEs with regards to their patterns of internet-based ICT adoption. Taking into account the dimensions of ICT benefits, barriers and subsequently adoption intention. A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data from 406 managers or owners of SMEs in Malaysia. The results reveal that the SMEs would adopt internet-based ICT regardless of years of business start-up and internet experience. Some significant differences are spotted between manufacturing and service SMEs in terms of their demographic characteristics and internet-based ICT benefits, barriers and adoption intention. Both industry types expressed intention to adopt internet-based ICT, with the service-based SMEs demonstrate greater intention. Tan et al. go on to conclude that the findings offer valuable insights to the SMEs in particular in promoting internet-based ICT adoption for future business success.

Then, Craig Standing, Rosemary Stockdale and Peter ED Love , discuss how the transition to global electronic markets in the resource engineering sector is conducted. They argue that most electronic market (e-markets)- based research that has been undertaken has primarily focused on the design and development of systems to support electronic trading within national boundaries and it has been implied that conducting business through this medium is beneficial to the organisation. The purpose of this paper is therefore to examine the relative significance of economic, social, political and cultural factors and their interconnections in the transition to global e-markets. The purpose of the study is to examine the role and significance of the globalisation constructs identified from the literature and, to investigate the relative importance of economic and relational factors in the move to global procurement operations in a resource-based engineering organisation. The paper uses an interpretive case study as this facilitates a rich understanding of how globalisation constructs affect the transition of organisations to the global market environment. The case study has found the need for organisations to address a wide range of issues if they are to benefit from participation in global electronic marketplaces. The development of ICT has been viewed as a primary factor in the reduction of transaction costs and one which allows for a greater number of suppliers in electronic markets. A large supplier base is seen as an advantage by some since it improves the bargaining position of the buyer. Dealing closely with a small number of suppliers may reduce transaction costs and risk, but such costs and risks have been significantly reduced by the development of internet based e-marketplaces where the market absorbs a high proportion of both. Standing et al., argue the literature adoption of global procurement platforms stresses the economic benefits. However, few studies have examined the social, cultural and political factors that are part of the globalisation trend and how these impact on companies trying to make a transition to global procurement strategies thus, highlighting the originality of their research. The authors are explicit in revealing that the trend toward globalisation fuelled by ICT is affected by a complex array of economic, social, political and cultural factors.

An interesting paper on e-procurement systems is then presented by Amany Elbanna. The technology acceptance model (TAM) has been described as one of the most influential theories in IS, but new studies have suggested that the simplicity of this theory, which helped predict users' acceptance, has actually hindered research progress on the complex issues involved and called researchers to go beyond TAM. This study argues that TAM studies implicitly assume a linear straightforward relationship between intentions to adopt and use IS and actual use. It aims to explore this relationship and investigate the possible existence of factors that could moderate the impact of initial intentions on actual IS use. The study follows the interpretive research tradition through investigating a case of an e-procurement system that was initially accepted for its usefulness and ease of use. The system and was later rejected and not put into any significant use when it went live. The data analysis reveals the complex ramification of systems configuration and business process change that could affect system use reversing its initial acceptance and positive intention to use. It shows that business processes holds human and non-human networks which presents the performing power of some actors. The study provides insight of system acceptance and use in mandatory and workplace context. It demonstrates that the move from the initial acceptance to actual use is more problematic than TAM suggests. It provides a novel conceptualisation of business processes as holders of social and technical networks that constitute actors' performing power.

Alan Simon, Peter Schoeman and Amrik S. Sohal prioritise best practices in a ratified consulting services maturity (CSM) model for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) consulting. The aim of this paper is to explore the factors that lead to consulting success in the enterprise software environment and thereby develop a refined CSM model. Such a model includes prioritised best practices grouped under eight key focus areas. The research was conducted among tier-1 ERP vendors using interviews, focus group sessions and a web survey. Based on the findings of the survey, the CSM model was improved, refined, and ultimately ratified by a number of experienced ERP sector practitioners. The fundamental basis of the CSM model is that an enterprise software company will be able to improve the maturity level of its consulting services operations by focusing on certain key areas and adopting prioritised best practices in each of the key areas. These key areas include leadership, values, consulting skills, consulting success factors, adaptability, project management practices, profitability and customer focus. The level of maturity of the organisation increases as best practices are implemented and continuously refined. The outcome of the research is a blueprint for best practice consulting services for companies operating in the ERP software environment that can be adopted for very little cost. When implemented, the CSM model readily helps a company improve the performance of its consulting services business.

Zahir Irani