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Global Information Technologies: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications

Global Information Technologies: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Author(s)/Editor(s): Felix B. Tan (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)
Copyright: ©2008
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-939-7
ISBN13: 9781599049397
ISBN10: 1599049392
EISBN13: 9781599049403

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Description

Global Information Technologies: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications compiles a defining body of authoritative research on these topics, resulting in a complete reference collection that cuts across all major areas of concern in the global information domain. Among the 269 chapters from over 450 international experts are examinations of culture in information systems, IT in developing countries, global e-business, and the worldwide information society.

A matchless compendium on this topic for reference collections in libraries worldwide, Global Information Technologies: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications provides a critical mass of knowledge to fuel the future work of researchers, academicians and practitioners in a variety of fields that engage with the implications of global information technology.



Table of Contents

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Preface

Bridging the gap between geographical and social borders, global information technologies have become mainstream focuses of researchers, scholars and academics within present and previous years. Now more than ever, the information technology landscape is growing with emerging research and new discoveries to expand to all points of the globe. Profoundly traversing all facets of compound societies, global information technologies implicate and impact information science, political science, international relations, sociology and more.

During this period of time numerous researchers and academicians have developed a variety of techniques, methodologies, and measurement tools that have allowed them to develop, deliver and at the same time evaluate the effectiveness of several areas of global networking. The explosion of these technologies and methodologies have created an abundance of new, state-of-art literature related to all aspects of this expanding discipline, allowing researchers and practicing educators to learn about the latest discoveries in the field of global information technologies.

Due to rapid technological changes that are continually taking place, it is a constant challenge for researchers and experts in this discipline to stay abreast of the far-reaching effects of this worldwide expansion, and to be able to develop and deliver more innovative methodologies and techniques utilizing new technological innovation. In order to provide the most comprehensive, in-depth, and recent coverage of all issues related to this global phenomenon, as well as to offer a single reference source on all conceptual, methodological, technical and managerial issues, as well as the opportunities, future challenges and emerging trends related to global information technologies, Information Science Reference is pleased to offer a six-volume reference collection on this rapidly growing discipline, in order to empower students, researchers, academicians, and practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of the most critical areas within this field of study.

Entitled Global Information Technologies: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications, this collection is organized in eight distinct sections, providing the most wide-ranging coverage of topics such as: (1) Fundamental Concepts and Theories; (2) Development and Design Methodologies; (3) Tools and Technologies; (4) Utilization and Application; (5) Organizational and Social Implications; (6) Managerial Impact; (7) Critical Issues; and (8) Emerging Trends. The following provides a summary of what is covered in each section of this multi volume reference collection:

Section 1, Fundamental Concepts and Theories, serves as a foundation for this extensive reference tool by addressing crucial theories essential to the understanding of global information technology. Chapters such as, “The Cross-Cultural Dimensions of Globalized E-Learning” by Andrea L. Edmundson as well as “An Open Source Primer” by Brian Still provide an excellent framework in which to position globalnetworking within the field of information science and technology. “Digital Government and the Digital Divide” by Richard Groper offers excellent insight into the critical incorporation of E-government into global systems, while chapters such as, “Global IT Risk Management Strategies” by Chrisan Herrod address some of the basic, yet principle stumbling blocks of issues within global technologies. With over 38 chapters comprising this foundational section, the reader can learn and chose from a compendium of expert research on the elemental theories underscoring the global information technology discipline.

Section 2, Development and Design Methodologies, provides in-depth coverage of conceptual architecture frameworks to provide the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the emerging technological developments within the field of global information technology. “IT Software Development Offshoring: A Multi-Level Theoretical Framework and Research Agenda” by Fred Niederman, Sumit Kundu, and Silvia Salas offers research fundamentals imperative to the understanding of research and developmental processes within global networking. From broad examinations to specific discussions on global IT such as, Melih Kirlidog’s, “Developing Regional Communities in Turkey” the research found within this section spans the discipline while offering detailed, specific discussions. From basic designs to abstract development, chapters such as “A Quantitative Study of the Adoption of Design Patterns by Open Source Software Developers” by Michael Hahsler, and “Digital Governance Worldwide: A Longitudinal Assessment of Municipal Web Sites” by Tony Carrizales, Marc Holzer, Marc Holzer, and Chan-Gon Kim, serve to expand the reaches of development and design technologies within the global information technology community. This section includes more than 20 contributions from researchers throughout the world on the topic of global networking within the information science and technology field.

Section 3, Tools and Technologies, presents an extensive coverage of various tools and technologies available in the field of global information technology that practitioners and academicians alike can utilize to develop different techniques. Chapters, such as Babita Gupta and Lakshmi S. Iyer’s, “GIS Applications to City Planning Engineering,” enlighten readers about fundamental research on one of the many methods used to facilitate and enhance the integration of information systems in the community whereas chapters like, “How to Globalize Online Course Content” by Martin Schell explore global technology and online learning—an increasingly pertinent research arena. It is through these rigorously researched chapters that the reader is provided with countless examples of the up-and-coming tools and technologies emerging from worldwide information technology. With more than 20 chapters, this section offers a broad treatment of some of the many tools and technologies within the global IT community.

Section 4, Utilization and Application, discusses a variety of applications and opportunities available that can be considered by practitioners in developing viable and effective global programs and processes. This section includes more than 55 chapters such as “Integration of Global Supply Chain Management with Small to Mid-Size Suppliers” by Asghar Sabbaghi and Ganesh Vaidyanathan which reviews certain global aspects of supply chain management through strategic aspects of business philosophy as it pertains to the small- to mid-sized supplier. Additional chapters such as John Sagi, Elias Carayannis, Subhasish Dasgupta and Gary Thomas’, “Globalization and E-Commerce: A Cross-Cultural Investigation of User Attitudes” investigates what issues affect different cultures’ attitudes toward technology. Also considered in this section are the challenges faced when utilizing trust with the global electronic market systems as outlined by Ana Rosa del Águila-Obra and Antonio Padilla-Meléndez’s, “Exploring Trust Building Mechanisms in Global B2B Electronic Markets.” Contributions included in this section provide excellent coverage of today’s global community and how research into information technology is impacting the social fabric of our present-day global village.

Section 5, Organizational and Social Implications, includes a wide range of research pertaining to the social and organizational impact of globalization in information technologies around the world. Introducing this section is Yining Chen, Wayne Huang, D. Li, H.Z. Shen, P.Z. Zhang and Lori Klamo’s chapter entitled, “A Comparative Study of Strategic Issues of Digital Government Implementation Between Developed and Developing Countries.” This study compares strategic issues of digital government implementation between developed and developing countries, while discussing critical success factors for digital government implementation. Recommendations are also made for implementation of digital government. Additional chapters included in this section, such as “Crossing the Digital Divide in a Women's Community ICT Centre” by Clem Herman, examine the link between global networking and the influence of gender in an IT environment. Also investigating a concern within the field of global technology is David Kreps and Alison Adam’s, “Failing the Disabled Community: The Continuing Problem of Web Accessibility,” which provides an overview of web accessibility for disabled people as, in their opinion, much of the web remains inaccessible or difficult to access. With over 40 chapters, the discussions presented in this section offer research on the integration of global information technologies and computational access for all.

Section 6, Managerial Impact, presents contemporary coverage of the social implications of global information technologies, more specifically related to the corporate and managerial utilization of information technologies and applications, and how these technologies can be facilitated within organizations. Core ideas such as training and continuing education of human resources in modern organizations are discussed through the more than 20 chapters. “Global Internet Marketing Strategy: Framework and Managerial Insights” by Gopalkrishnan R. Iyer explores some key managerial issues in the development and implementation of a global Internet marketing strategy. Equally as crucial, chapters such as “Challenges of Managing the Global IS/IT Workforce” by Rosann Webb Collins and Stanley J. Birkin details the unique nature of a global IS/IT workforce, identifies and discusses specific challenges to the management of employees, and describes strategies for addressing these challenges. Concluding this section is a chapter by Brian A. Polin, Marvin D. Troutt, and William Acar, “Supply Chain Globalization and the Complexities of Cost-Minimization Strategies.” This chapter reviews the evolving literature on globalization with three aims in mind—first, by introducing the concept of globalization within the context of supply chain management. Second, presenting information that may be useful for supply chain planners and thirdly addressing global supply-chain issues that may be at odds with cost-minimizing strategies.

Section 7, Critical Issues, contains over 35 chapters addressing issues such as IS/IT outsourcing, the digital divide, web services and their impact on globalization and cultural diversity in E-adoption to name a few. Within the chapters, the reader is presented with an in-depth analysis of the most current and relevant issues within this growing field of study. Don Fallis’, “Epistemic Value Theory and the Digital Divide” argues that the epistemic value theory can help determine which distribution of knowledge to aim for while “Risk and Investment in the Global Telecommunications Industry” by Irene Henriques and Perry Sadorsky use quantitative modeling and simulation techniques to estimate various risk measures and the associated cost of equity for the global telecommunications industry. Crucial questions are addressed such as that presented in Eric Walden and Param Vir Singh’s chapter, “Is the Business Model Broken? A Model of the Difference Between Now and Pay-Later Contracts in IT Outsourcing” seeks to evaluate the dominant IT outsourcing contracts model (pay-later) as compared to an alternative model (pay-now) in light of changing economic conditions. “Web Services and Their Impact in Creating a Paradigm Shift in the Process of Globalization” by Bhuvan Unhelkar closes this section by exploring the impact of Web services in creating a paradigm shift in the way businesses strive to globalize.

The concluding section of this authoritative reference tool, Emerging Trends, highlights research potential within the field of global information technology, while exploring uncharted areas of study for the advancement of the discipline. Introducing this section is a chapter entitled, “A Brave New E-World? An Exploratory Analysis of Worldwide E-Government Readiness, Level of Democracy, Corruption and Globalization” by Zlatko J. Kovacic which sets the stage for future research directions and topical suggestions for continued debate. Providing an alternative view of global information technology is the chapter, “Does Strategic Outsourcing Undermine the Innovative Capability of Organizations?” by A. Hoecht and P. Trott. This chapter argues that firms have responded to the intense pressure from markets and financial operators to reduce asset investments by outsourcing activities. Another debate which currently finds itself at the forefront of research within this field is presented by Hongxin Zhao, Seung Kim, Taewon Suh and Jianjun Du’s research, “Social Institutional Explanations of Global Internet Diffusion: A Cross-Country Analysis” empirically examines how social institutional factors relate to Internet diffusion in 39 countries. Found in the more than 20 chapters concluding this exhaustive multi-volume set are areas of emerging trends and suggestions for future research within this rapidly expanding discipline.

Although the primary organization of the contents in this multi-volume is based on its eight sections, offering a progression of coverage of the important concepts, methodologies, technologies, applications, social issues, and emerging trends, the reader can also identify specific contents by utilizing the extensive indexing system listed at the end of each volume. Furthermore to ensure that the scholar, researcher and educator have access to the entire contents of this multi volume set as well as additional coverage that could not be included in the print version of this publication, the publisher will provide unlimited multi-user electronic access to the online aggregated database of this collection for the life of edition, free of charge when a library purchases a print copy. This aggregated database provides far more contents than what can be included in the print version in addition to continual updates. This unlimited access, coupled with the continuous updates to the database ensures that the most current research is accessible knowledge seekers.

Global information technologies as a discipline has witnessed fundamental changes during the past two decades, allowing information seekers around the globe to have access to information which two decades ago, was inaccessible. In addition to this transformation, many traditional organizations and business enterprises have taken advantage of the technologies offered by the development of global information technologies in order to expand and augment their existing programs and practices. This has allowed practitioners and researchers to serve their customers, employees and stakeholders more effectively and efficiently in the modern virtual world. With continued technological innovations in information and communication technology and with on-going discovery and research into newer and more innovative techniques and applications, the global information technologies discipline will continue to witness an explosion of information within this rapidly growing field.

The diverse and comprehensive coverage of global information technologies in this six-volume authoritative publication will contribute to a better understanding of all topics, research, and discoveries in this developing, significant field of study. Furthermore, the contributions included in this multi-volume collection series will be instrumental in the expansion of the body of knowledge in this enormous field, resulting in a greater understanding of the fundamentals while fueling the research initiatives in emerging fields. We at Information Science Reference, along with the editor of this collection, and the publisher hope that this multi-volume collection will become instrumental in the expansion of the discipline and will promote the continued growth of global information technologies.

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Reviews and Testimonials

"An excellent collection of readings dealing with a breadth of issues in global information technologies research and practice. An essential reading for those interested in global information technologies research and practice."

– Felix B. Tan, AUT University, New Zealand

This reference book is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive collection of articles about global IT today.

– Professor Michael Myers, The University of Auckland, NZ.

This is the most comprehensive compendium I have seen on the issues, trends, and societal impact of global information technology.

– Professor Ralph Sprague, University of Hawaii, USA

Global information technology is an important and growing aspect of contemporary information systems research. This book is a useful resource in developing a further understanding on the subject.

– Professor Kwok Kee Wei, City University of Hong Kong.

This must-read book provides an IT-enabled approach to gain further sustainable competitive advantages to face future challenges…Highly recommended.

– Professor Lihua Huang, Fudan University, China

This six-volume referencet edited by Tan brings together a large body of research in the rapidly expanding field of global information technologies.

– Book News Inc. (March 2009)

Author's/Editor's Biography

Felix Tan (Ed.)
Felix B Tan is Professor of Information Systems and Chair of Business Information Systems discipline at Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand). He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Global Information Management. He is on the Executive Council and is Fellow of the Information Resources Management Association. He was also on the Council of the Association for Information System between 2003-2005. Dr. Tan’s current research interests are in electronic commerce, global information management, business-IT alignment, and the management of IT. Dr. Tan has published in MIS Quarterly, Information & Management, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, IEEE Transactions on Personal Communications, Information Systems Journal, Journal of Information Technology, International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, International Journal of Electronic Commerce, as well as other journals and refereed conference proceedings. Dr. Tan has over 25 years experience in information systems management and consulting with large multinationals, as well as university teaching and research in Singapore, Canada, and New Zealand.

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