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1 – 10 of over 25000This paper aims at improving the service‐oriented IT management by adopting relevant business continuity planning processes for service impact analysis in handling resource event…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims at improving the service‐oriented IT management by adopting relevant business continuity planning processes for service impact analysis in handling resource event. The paper also proposes a framework for implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
A framework was developed from the study of literatures in IT service management and business continuity management. It was implemented to a real IT operations environment to evaluate its effects and benefits.
Findings
Many organisations in the IT service industry drive the service‐oriented IT management rapidly in the region. For fault management and service continuity management, one relies heavily on the experience of experts in handling the event for realising the relationships between service and resource. Knowledge retention and information base for service management are the new challenges in the area of service management.
Research limitations/implications
Further optimisation and ongoing maintenance works are required to refine the correlation processes.
Practical implications
The framework was implemented using existing IT service management portal and network system monitoring tools with minimal modification effort.
Originality/value
This paper highlighted the value of adopting business continuity planning processes in service management. It also presented a way to implement a service management information base in practice.
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Stewart H.C. Wan and Yuk‐Hee Chan
This paper aims at presenting the benefits from implementing IT service management (ITSM) in an organization for managing campus‐wide IT operations. In order to improve the fault…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims at presenting the benefits from implementing IT service management (ITSM) in an organization for managing campus‐wide IT operations. In order to improve the fault correlation from business perspectives, we proposed a framework to automate network and system alerts with respect to its business service impact for proactive notification to IT operations management.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors first evaluate the effect of IT service management (ITSM) tools in practical adoption followed by experience sharing in developing management process modules in service outsourcing model. Three years of quantitative analysis using real operational data were used to present the effect on ITSM tools adoption. A framework was developed from the study of literatures in service management, incident prioritization, and business continuity planning. For the proposed framework, it consists of a hybrid case‐based and rule‐based reasoning module and a new approach which utilizing business continuity planning for service‐resource mapping with business criticality and user activities.
Findings
For the past decade in the IT industry, a paradigm shift in managing IT could be observed. People are concerned more in managing IT services instead of traditional device‐oriented IT system or network components. With the term “business‐driven IT services,” it has raised new challenges in the area of IT service management, especially with respect to the management of service level agreement with service provider and the management of system and network faults.
Research limitations/implications
Further work should be carried out on the aspect of using real data for the framework as motivated by the limitations of the present study. Practical real data could help the reader to experience its quantitative benefits.
Practical implications
This paper highlights the value of effective IT service management, placing particular emphasis on service outsourcing consideration and the mechanism in service‐event correlation.
Originality/value
This paper illustrates the effect of ITSM tools adoption by analyzing real operation data. The proposed framework explicitly utilizes business continuity planning (BCP) processes to identify the relationships between business services and IT resources that helps to improve the IT service management.
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Nurul Aisyah Sim Abdullah, Nor Laila Mohd Noor and Emma Nuraihan Mior Ibrahim
The purpose of this study is to investigate the contributing factors to E-government disruptions in Malaysia public service. Researchers have highlighted that the main factors…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the contributing factors to E-government disruptions in Malaysia public service. Researchers have highlighted that the main factors that contribute to IT service failure are the people, process and technology. However, relatively few empirical studies examine to what extent these factors contribute to E-government service disruptions. This study explores the level of contribution of each factor to the E-government service disruptions.
Design/methodology/approach
The research was conducted based on the hypothetical-deductive approach. Based on the synthesized literature review, a conceptual model is proposed and several hypotheses are developed. The study was undertaken using questionnaires via convenience sampling whereby eight frontline agencies, six departments and four ministries in Malaysian public service were selected. The selected agencies are frontline agencies (agencies that deal directly with citizens) and have implemented E-government. The respondents consist of IT department employees of those agencies. The data for this research were analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics analysis.
Findings
Statistically, both human error and process failure are significantly correlated with E-government service disruptions in the Malaysian public sector. More importantly for this research, the empirical results reveal that human action, decision, management, error and failure are the major causes to the E-government disruptions, followed by an improper process or procedures. In addition, it is found that technology failure is not significantly contributing to the E-government disruption frequency in the Malaysian public sector. Human error is an important factor and needs to be given more attention by the management, as human is the creator, who uses, manages and maintains the technology and process to enable the delivery of services as specified in the objectives, vision and mission of the organization. However, the approach used to address E-government disruptions is more toward technology-oriented and revolves around the recovery process.
Research limitations/implications
The study only focuses on three main factors, which are people, process and technology, and the target sample focuses only front-end service agencies. Further study can be extended by incorporating the other factor such as organizational environment, and the sample size could be expanded by including all agencies in public services. As human failure is a major cause of E-government disruptions, the proposed future research should also study the causes of human failure and how to address the problem by developing a resilient organization.
Practical implications
The results of this study have two implications: first is the discovery of the disruption factors that affect E-government service availability, and second is that the results of this study prioritized the factors that contribute to E-government service disruptions. This information would be beneficial to local, state and national governments for further action to ensure the availability and sustainability of E-government implementation.
Originality/value
This study identifies the factors that contribute to the service disruption of E-government and, thus, gives the priority of each factor based on its contribution to the E-government service disruption. This is an important finding because it enables public sector agencies to plan and implement improvements as needed and at the appropriate rate for each IT service component to ensure the E-government availability guarantee.
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The paper aims at defining a systemic framework for the implementation of business continuity management (BCM). The framework is based on the assertion that the implementation of…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims at defining a systemic framework for the implementation of business continuity management (BCM). The framework is based on the assertion that the implementation of BCM should be done through the systemic implementation of an “always-on” enterprise information system.
Design/methodology/approach
Systems approach is used in order to design a systemic framework for the implementation of continuous computing technologies within the concept of an always-on enterprise information system.
Findings
A conceptual framework has been proposed to develop a framework for a systemic implementation of several continuous computing technologies that enhance business continuity (BC) in the form of an “always-on” enterprise information system.
Originality/value
The paper identifies BC as a business pressure in internet era and suggests a systemic framework for implementation.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the practical issues regarding standards and the management of IT services delivered by external or outsourced service providers called…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the practical issues regarding standards and the management of IT services delivered by external or outsourced service providers called managed service providers (MSPs).
Design/methodology/approach
Extensive review of published materials from academic and industry sources is carried out to discuss the managed services practice as well as IT standards applicable for managed services.
Findings
Implementation of international IT standards such as the ITIL framework for IT service management benefits both internal IT organizations and MSPs. Availability of a common standard for managing IT services makes the transition of IT service management from the client organization to an MSP or from an MSP to another MSP less painful and helps to reduce or eliminate service disruptions.
Practical implications
The ultimate objective of this paper is to offer MSPs as well as internal IT organizations a comprehensive discussion on the IT standards that are applicable for managed IT services.
Originality/value
It is believed that this paper will help both MSPs as well as the internal IT organizations to understand the importance of having a common standard for managing IT services.
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Albert Plugge and Marijn Janssen
Clients and IT outsourcing service providers are regularly confronted with changes in their business and IT environment. This paper aims at understanding the need for adaptability…
Abstract
Purpose
Clients and IT outsourcing service providers are regularly confronted with changes in their business and IT environment. This paper aims at understanding the need for adaptability and the capabilities of service providers in outsourcing arrangements.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a combination of literature research and case study research. A retrospective view on the case study was investigated using interviews, and analyses of reports and observations.
Findings
Clients are dependent on their service providers to adapt to changes and their service providers can help to better deal with their ever‐changing environment. This case study shows that the level of adaptability of service providers affects their sourcing capabilities, which results in improved customer retention by service providers and in their clients gaining competitive advantage. Service providers can create adaptability by developing their organizational capabilities, specifically by managing relationships and developing procedures for dealing with change.
Research limitations/implications
As the aim was to improve the understanding, an explorative, single case study was performed. More detailed research of the various factors influencing the level of adaptability of services providers is recommended. Multiple case studies are recommended to gain a more in‐depth overview of a variety of causes and effects in different situations.
Practical implications
For outsourcing service providers this study suggests that they should create and continuously evaluate capabilities to remain competitive. In the case study the offshore service provider gained a larger share of the outsourced business. Furthermore, contracts are more likely to be extended. This research suggests that the service provider's ability to adapt should be part of the sourcing decision process of clients. During both the sourcing strategy and the tender selection phase, clients can identify to what extent an outsourcing partner will cater for environmental uncertainty.
Originality/value
The role of service providers in outsourcing arrangements has received only limited research attention so far. Furthermore, adaptability in sourcing arrangements has hardly been investigated at all.
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Pedro G.C. Pio, Tiago Sigahi, Izabela Simon Rampasso, Eduardo Guilherme Satolo, Milena Pavan Serafim, Osvaldo L.G. Quelhas, Walter Leal Filho and Rosley Anholon
This paper compares traditional and digital banks in nine categories of complaints and provides insights to improve complaint management performance.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper compares traditional and digital banks in nine categories of complaints and provides insights to improve complaint management performance.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of the major Brazilian banks was defined, with four traditional and four digital banks. The grey relational analysis (GRA) method was applied as an analytical tool to compare the most frequent complaints of traditional and digital banks. The most critical complaints identified were considered to discuss potential improvements in complaint management using quality and service management system concepts.
Findings
The GRA method enabled the development of a ranking of nine complaint categories, considering the uncertainty involved in the data and differentiating between traditional and digital banks. The most critical complaint categories, regardless of business model, were “unauthorized charges” and “poor service,” which were ranked first and second in the frequency rankings. Traditional and digital banks differed the most in the complaint category “unfair charge,” ranking third and eighth in the rankings, respectively.
Practical implications
Managers from traditional and digital banks can improve complaint management performance by applying ISO 9001 and ISO 20000 concepts such as incident, problem, change, service level, availability, capacity, information technology service continuity and financial management.
Social implications
The study's findings can help bank managers improve service levels in the face of technological competition. Improving these organizations is an important factor for developing countries such as Brazil.
Originality/value
This paper reveals the differences between two business models regarding complaint management. It also considers a methodological approach to include the uncertainty related to customers' perception and subjectivity inherent to complaints.
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Being resilient in the face of risks that have the ability to negatively impact the strategic objectives, reputation or existence of the organisation is now not just an…
Abstract
Purpose
Being resilient in the face of risks that have the ability to negatively impact the strategic objectives, reputation or existence of the organisation is now not just an interesting concept but a matter of organisational life and death in many industries. However, very few businesses go beyond simply implementing measures to defend their competitive advantage in the face of market changes and business continuity capabilities to be able to survive operational disruptions. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses real-life examples to explore some of the main issues associated with organisational resilience that are observed in the business and management literature. The aim is being able to demonstrate some of the practical reasons why organisational resilience is so hard to implement and what can be done to make it easier.
Findings
Organisational resilience is a business outcome and, as such, requires a holistic and adaptive management approach. This is theoretically straightforward as organisations are used to working together towards business outcomes. However, in practice three main issues generally thwart resilience-building activities: different professional groups within organisations anchor their understanding of resilience based on related interpretations such as psychology, ecology, economics, engineering, etc., which leads to internal conflict; there is often a widespread belief (or hope) that static goals and objectives will work in a dynamic environment; and flawed risk perceptions hamper organisation-wide situational awareness.
Practical implications
Faced with these issues, it is easy to understand why resilience activities are frequently limited to the tactical things that can be put in place to protect the organisation and its assets against acute shocks. However, as the risk landscape becomes ever more complex and uncertain such a defensive approach will only increase the vulnerability of organisations.
Originality/value
However, there are some straightforward and practical steps that organisations can take to break down internal barriers and promote a more collegiate approach to organisational resilience. An approach that is not only more efficient in terms of the management of risk but is also more cost effective and has a positive impact on culture, brand and reputation.
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The application of blockchain, particularly through avenues in teaching and learning and academic administration, has created scope for a new business model in higher education…
Abstract
The application of blockchain, particularly through avenues in teaching and learning and academic administration, has created scope for a new business model in higher education. Although higher education institutions in many African countries including Botswana are yet to adopt blockchain in their institutional processes, the chapter points to seven unique areas of practice in which the technology could be infused. Distributed ledgers and smart contracts are among the blockchain functions that could assist in improving efficiency, security, and privacy in the way academic administration is executed especially in student identification, processing of student admission applications, degree certification, document authentication, and quality assurance. A distinct highpoint of the chapter is the attention it calls to student experience in the learning and teaching process, by highlighting that it stands to benefit from the collaborative learning model that blockchain enables. At a wider level, the conversation about blockchain-based pedagogy coalesces with the push by many African governments, in particular in Botswana, towards a digitally transformed society. Already, many colleges and universities have placed the focus on achieving ‘smart campuses’ as a strategic goal. Blockchain adoption is one such step towards a smart campus. The chapter theorises that higher education institutions cannot legitimately talk about smart campuses while still holding steadfast to manual systems and processes.
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Liz Gill, Lesley White and Ian Cameron
This paper synthesises the literature on the issues related to the older patient, health service quality and its measurement. It discusses the need to consider these perspectives…
Abstract
This paper synthesises the literature on the issues related to the older patient, health service quality and its measurement. It discusses the need to consider these perspectives in the definition and assessment of quality of a community‐focused aged healthcare programme, and critically examines the existing evaluation of quality in healthcare, contrasting the patient's role and impact on the quality of the service and its outcome. The paper then reviews the documented problems associated with using satisfaction as an indicator of the patient's view of quality. An alternate validated approach to measuring the patient's perception of the quality of the service is identified in the services literature; this multidimensional hierarchical tool and scale, which specifically measures the patient's view of quality, is presented. The tool covers nine sub‐dimensions, four dimensions and the global perspective of quality as perceived by the patient. An adaptation of this tool is presented to measure the patient's view of quality using the relatively new Transition Aged Care programme as an example, and make the argument for the holistic measurement of transitional aged care quality, using a validated and reliable patient‐specific tool. Importantly, the paper proposes that the identification of the patient view of service quality will offer information that could specifically assist with service improvement.
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