Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Information systems organisation'

Denna kandidatuppsats har utförts under hösten, 2007, och syftet med denna uppsats är tvådelad och har gått ut på att bland annat studera ett förändringsarbete inom en global IT-organisation samt arbeta fram en förändringsplan för de befintliga förändringsåtgärder som ska implementeras på IT-organisationen med start 2008. Förändringsplanen är avgränsad till stora verksamheter med dedikerad IT-organisation (med extern drivkraft till förändring). Uppsatsen är även avgränsad till den så kallade designfasen i implementeringen av ett prestationssystem. Rapportens metodologi och ansats är en kombination av hermeneutisk och aktionsforskning.

Förändringen på IT-organisationen sker för att den externa verksamheten planerar att expandera de tre närmaste åren och verksamheten förväntar sig att IT-organisationen ska börja arbeta på ett sätt som skapar ett högre affärsvärde för hela företaget samt att dubbla sin leveranskapacitet inom tre år utan att dubbla kostnaden och antal medarbetare. I och med denna verksamhetsexpansion har IT-organisationen identifierat ett ökat leveransglapp mellan verksamhetens kommande behov och IT:s kapacitet och man inser att det inte är möjligt att IT – organisationen klarar av att leva upp till den förväntade ökade kapacitet, med sina egna interna resurser. Man har inom IT-organisationen insett att enda möjligheten att lösa detta problem är att genomgå förändringar som bland annat innebär att IT-organisationen måste använda den globala IT-marknaden till en låga kostnader att dubbla sin leveranskapacitet inom tre år utan att dubbla kostnaden och antal medarbetare.

Det som ska förändras på IT-organisationen är att IT-organisationen ska gå från teknikorieneterad till att bli mer tjänsteorienterad. IT-organisationen ska även börja arbeta mer kross funktionellt, arbeta med extern kapacitet som levererar kompletta tjänster. Förändringen innebär även att IT-organisationen ska satsa på högre medarbetarkompetens och utbildning för att de ska bli starkare som ledare och med kontroll eftersom den typen av ”outsourcing” IT-organisationen valt ska styras och kontrolleras internt av medarbetarna själva i IT-organisationen. Detta leder till att förändringens innehåll kräver bland annat en högre och annan kompetens inom ledarskap och kontroll. För att verksamhetens system ska kunna underhållas så enkelt och kostnadseffektivt så möjligt innebär även att det krävs standardiserade system. Hela förändringen medför ett nytt sätt att arbeta, nytt sätt att kommunicera och ett nytt sätt att fatta beslut.

Förändringen ska ske genom en förändringsstrategi där målet är att utveckla organisationens mänskliga resurser så att de kan tillämpa strategin själva och lära sig av erfarenheterna från de förändringsåtgärderna som tillämpas. Medarbetarna deltar i förändringsarbetet så mycket så möjligt, och IT-organisationen utnyttjar i betydligt mindre grad konsulter. Förändringen är ett långsiktigt arbete där organisationen kommer att bli starkare på ett både djupare och ett bredare sätt än tidigare. Planeringen i förändringsstrategin är en icke-lineär process eftersom att planeringen inte består av en rad aktiviteter som följer efter varandra enligt en fastställd ordningsföljd. Denna form av planering har många fördelar. Bland annat genom att man inser att världen är komplex, denna planering fungerar på så sätt att man maximerar insamlandet av information och fattar beslut med små konsekvenser och att fatta små beslut innebär också att man får mindre motstånd. Därför viktigt att den inkrementella planeringen samordnas och styrs för att bli sammanhängande så att alla åtgärderna hänger ihop och det har under hösten, 2007 skett en ökad förståelse bland förändringsaktörerna för behovet att samordna alla förändringsåtgärder.

Det finns totalt åtta komplexa förändringsinitiativ på IT-organisationen och varje initiativ har sin egen uppgift, omfattning och struktur att arbeta efter. Förändringsinitiativen ska koordineras av den IT ledar tillsatta kärngruppen, CIC (Continues Improvement and Changes). Förändringsinitiativen har idag inte någon fullständig överensstämmelse mellan idé och resultat. För det första för att man kan omöjligt ha full kontroll över idéernas effekter och för det andra har det inte funnits några tydliga krav på initiativägarna, varken när det gäller uppdragsbeskrivning, uttalande mål enligt IT-organisationens eget SMART koncept, fullständiga rapporter eller regelbundna koordineringsmöten. För det andra är det omöjligt att med total säkerhet förutse vad som kommer att hända och vilken effekt som förändringsåtgärderna kommer att ge på IT-organisationen, i gruppen och på individen, till och med inom den närmaste framtiden. Det finns nämligen alltför stor osäkerhet förbunden med förändringar av sociala system. Och IT-organisationen möter hela tiden oförutsedda problem i förändringsarbetet genom att lösningar som förändringsaktörerna trodde skulle fungera visar sig inte vara den önskade effekten, och ofta kan det vara så att en lösning skapar istället nya problem. Det är därför viktigt att hitta ett sätt att mäta och följa upp dessa förändringsåtgärder på ett immateriellt sätt så att det gynnar alla, både förändringsaktörerna men även medarbetarna så att de kan se vad deras insatts verkligen leder till och att IT-ledningen kan se om förändringsarbetet går åt rätt håll.

För att genomföra en framgångsrik mätning och uppföljning är vikten av att införa regelbundna koordineringsmöte med initiativägarna stort och det totala syftet på dessa möten är att hitta ett prestationsmätningssystem som är direkt anknutet till företagets strategi och vars variabler är definierade för att mäta ”goda prestationer” av immateriella slag. Eftersom de olika förändringsåtgärderna varierar för olika strategiska mål definierar prestationsmätningssystemet effektmålen från skilda delar av förändringsarbetet vilket visar hela effekten på förändringsarbetet. Det är viktigt att prestationsmätningssystemet är anpassningsbart, och det måste förändras med tiden med tanke på att behoven skiftar, vara enkelt och lätt att använda, ge snabb återkoppling till chefer och medarbetare, vara noggrant, om inte i absoluta mått, så åtminstone ge konsekvent felvisning. Prestationsmätningssystemet ska kunna ge samlad information och en snabb överblick. Metoden som används kommer även att ha stor inverkan på hur prestationsmättningssystemet accepteras, uppskattas och används av alla som det är avsett för. För att uppnå denna acceptans är det viktigt att ”stämma” av med både den uttalade strategin och de mål som är kommunicerade uppifrån och med initiativägarna. För att nå den acceptansen är de lämpligt att använda två olika implementeringsteorier:

· En stegvis ”uppifrån-ner”-metod.

· En ”nerifrån-upp”-metod/uvecklingsprocess.

Genom att slå ihop dessa två metoder kan IT-organisationen ta vara på styrkorna hos dessa båda och undvika några av svagheterna. CIC, sammanfattar mätresultaten genom olika beräkningar eller i en mindre rapport för att kunna rapportera resultat både uppåt och neråt i IT-organisationen.

Att utveckla prestationsmått är en stark kreativ process och bör göras av små grupper inom mindre, avgränsade områden. Därför är det passande att driva igenom koordineringsmöte med de olika initiativen eftersom de bara är åtta stycken. Om alla är närvarande kan man dela in dem i ytterligare mindre grupper på fyra personer per grupp då dem ska arbeta i workshops. Riktlinjerna för prestationsmåtten är att de bör ha styrgräns det vill säga, lägsta acceptabla prestation. Eftersom IT-organisationen vill ha en så hög prestation så möjligt anger man ingen högre gräns. Det måste finnas ett så kallat riktvärde det vill säga ett värde som prestationsmåttet inriktar sig mot. Det tar tid att nå ett riktvärde och därför bör en tidsgräns sättas för att försöka nå det utsatta riktvärdet inom rimlig tid. Oberoende vad som mäts och hur det mäts är det viktigt att mäta det som är relevant.

För att följa upp och rapportera på ett trovärdigt sätt är det viktigt att förstå vad och vem som förväntar sig rapportering. I CIC:s uppdrag ingår det att mäta och följa upp förändringsinitiativen till IT-ledningen vilket är en intern angelägenhet. Rapporteringen måste ske på ett snabbt, enkelt och trovärdigt sätt och lösningen kan presenteras i ett så kallat, bubbeldiagram. Diagrammet visar fyra olika parametrar på ett och samma diagram. Vilket gör att det är det går snabbt och enkelt att presentera. Trovärdigheten grundar sig bland annat på att de olika parametrarna och variablerna mäter samma sak.

Förutom dessa förslag på ett framgångsrikt förändringsarbete är det viktigt att det finns en stark lojalitet hos alla förändringsaktör för IT-organisationens totala förändring, ett tydligt förändrarledarskap hos förändringsaktörerna samt att det förändringsaktörerna har rätt attityd, det vill säga har tålamod, förståelse, “open minded” och starkt fokus på vart IT-organisationen är på väg.

Avslutningsvis i denna sammanfattning, vill jag knyta an till inledningen i kapitel 1 med att det är oerhört vanligt att det existerar olika uppfattningar om IT: s roll på olika håll i både företaget som helhet men även inom IT-organisationen själv, men det är alltid bara en uppfattning som tenderar att dominera. Enligt min uppfattning går denna specifika IT-organisations roll under förväntningsprofil 1, det vill säga effektivitetsprofilen. I denna profil ser den totala verksamheten sin IT-organisation som en funktion som stödjer och bidrar till ökad effektivitet. IT-organisationen är en nödvändig kostnad som inte bidrar med att förbättra företagets prestationsförmåga eller kompetens. Fokus läggs istället på att underhålla den lägsta möjliga servicenivå konstant till lägsta kostnad. IT-organisationens mål med förändringen är bland annat att bli mer tjänsteorienterad vilket passar in under förväntningsprofil 2. Vilket innebär för det första att varje tjänsteområde ska leverera konkurenskraftiga tjänster och för det andra innebär det att IT-organisationen i framtiden kommer att få en avgörande roll i affärsprocessens effektivitet. Detta anser jag vara ett konkret effektmål på IT-organisationens förändringsarbete.

Sammanfattning av förändringens framgångskriterier;

· Lärande organisation

· Kontinuerlig och iterativ process

· Rätt ”aktions”

– Nedbrytning av de strategiska målen

– Koordineringsmöte med initiativägarna

– Effektivt och trovärdigt prestationsmätningssystem

– En gemensam lojalitet för hela förändringen

– Tydligt förändrarledarskap hos förändringsaktörerna

· Rätt attityd

– Tålamod, förståelse, “Open minded” och fokusering.

Incorrect requirements have long been considered to be one of the biggest reasons for failed IT projects. Insufficient requirements are also one of the most expensive sources of error. This is especially problematic within small enterprises, which in nature are time and cost sensitive. The purpose of this experimental case study is to identify efficient requirements gathering activities and by extension an efficient requirements gatherings process for small enterprises by utilizing their unique prerequisites. We gathered data through the execution of five user-centered requirements gathering activities on a small organization. The result of these activities, our observations and a survey were analyzed in order to draw conclusions regarding the success and efficiency of the activities and process as a whole. The results show that by utilizing the prerequisites of small organizations through the use of user-centered activities an efficient requirements gathering process can be accomplished. The results also show that the prerequisites of small organizations combined with the impact of external consultants with the purpose of problematizing the operational procedures contributes to other organizational benefits than the requirements documentation.

This thesis represents a qualitative study of the Information Systems Development (ISD) process and puts forward the argument that IS development leads to Organisation Development (OD). The thesis argues that an OD perspective should be incorporated into the main ISD paradigm and provide the basis for transformation in the field which is plagued by failure. The thesis reviews both the IS development and Organisation Development literature and makes connections between the two fields, as in practice they are both comparable activities. With the qualitative framework, Grounded Theory Methodology was used to guide research and analytical activities. We conducted research in 6 large and largemedium sized consultancy firms and in 5 large organisations that utilised non-traditional approaches to ISD. Fieldwork and analysis resulted in the emergence of an ISD process theory that explains how information systems are developed within the organisational context. The theory provided the basis from which we could more rigorously understand the true nature of IS development and determine the nature of a suitable OD contribution. In this thesis, the superiority of an OD-informed solution is argued in detail and contrasted to other proposals from the ISD field. The OD contribution is distinguished in: a) formulating an OD-informed ISD approach, we have termed the Total Systems Development Approach (TSD), b) defining a diagnostic model of ISD practice, c) and providing an extensive collection of OD improvement programmes and techniques that have direct application to ISD. The contribution the thesis makes is also multi-level. At one level we have contributed in rectifying the lack of research in the area of "process" in IS development. In doing so we have provided the basis from which the aspects of the ISD process can be explored in detail. The emergent ISD process theory itself confirms arguments that ISD is a complex socio-technical and organisational process. It highlights aspects of development that have been traditionally outside the ISD paradigm. Our theory helps readdress and challenge a number of elements in the ISD process. The notion of approach emerges as much more suitable for solving ISD problems than methodology. The role of the ISD consultant also emerges as requiring a range of appropriate consultation modes to deal with intervention complexity. Our results also show that the role of the client is much more involving and demanding than previously assumed. Another area of contribution is the formulation of the TSD approach which focuses on the development of the total system: the organisation, through IS or system development activities. It is holistic, iterative, it allows flexible problem-solving, collaboration and focuses on change, intervention and reflection. A final area of contribution is in establishing a link between OD content and IS development. With the advent of new types of development, OD "interventions" have an increasing applicability to ISD situations. The diagnostic model of ISD practice also utilizes an OD-perspective to facilitate diagnosis of organisational failure that leads to IS failure.

Sharing and exploitation of information resources across a diverse organisation can confer a significant competitive advantage but also can be a substantial challenge in coordinating across structural and specialisation boundaries. This challenge reflects the difficulties traditionally associated with lateral relations, which were recognised by classical organisational theorists but are more pronounced with the emergence of information as a critical resource. Notwithstanding the benefits of information sharing across the organisation, the classical concept of specialisation remains fundamental to organisational theory; thus there is potential for friction between requirements for specialisation and coordination. This research therefore examines information management arrangements to balance specialisation and coordination in a diverse organisation. The research takes advantage of organisational and systems theory literature to appreciate complex information management requirements in terms of differentiation/cohesion and integration/coupling of organisational elements. Information management???s business and technology perspectives define the conceptual framework, within which gaps in the literature are identified and become the focus of the research. The two key research areas are the opportunities enabled by technology for business integration through collaborative decision-making and the management of organisation-wide information technology infrastructure. Collaborative decision-making is an integrating mechanism that can provide balance between specialisation and coordination contingent upon the nature of decision tasks and their organisational context. Propositions associated with an adaptive approach to collaborative decision-making were tested in laboratory experiments, with positive support for the contingency model albeit constrained by individual cognitive variances. Organisations increasingly are adopting centralised approaches to the provision of IT services, with IT governance as an integrating mechanism and a need for multiple business-IT alignments to add value according to the differentiation required by organisational elements. Propositions relating to the adaptation of IT management arrangements based upon organisational characteristics were tested using a multi- iv -discipline approach, which resulted in support for the model although practical difficulties were experienced in the action research component. This research provides a framework for maintaining effective variety of information capabilities commensurate with the diverse organisation???s mission and environment, while also exploiting the synergies and economies of shared information resources for holistic benefits.

The development of Information and Communication Technologies has opened up a large pool of possibilities for any and every business actor. These possibilities have brought up new vulnerabilities as well. Information security has become an inherent part of any organization. Companies and organizations invest significant amount of resources in IT security solutions, usually omitting the weakest link of the defense - the people.

The research intended to study and evaluate the information security awareness level of employees in a public organization which preferred to remain anonymous. This study is based on a mixed-methods approach. A survey was built up and performed, basing on the interview of the employees and the IT Security Chief. The interview intended to give a general picture of the attitude, knowledge and behavior the employees towards information security and its constituent aspects.

The results of the survey show that the information security awareness at this particular organization has an average performance based on the grading scale determined by the management of the company. Generally speaking, half of the information security focus areas show underdeveloped sense of awareness among employees, whereas the other focus areas are close to perfect. In terms of information security, the research indicates that there is a gap between the employees' theoretical condition and their day to day be-havior. In other words, the theoretical and practical preparation of the employees does not provide an appropriate information security awareness behavior. Some of the reasons for unsecure behavior were complex and sophisticated security designs including passwords; another problem was inherent in the work design which imposed the use of multiple systems and applications in the daily work.

In the end, the research suggests some recommendations for improvement, as well as practices to sustain a desirable level of information security awareness level. The overall information security awareness program required immediate improvements in order to boost the positive attitude and behavior of employees towards information security, as well as enrich the knowledge of information security in general.

In recent times, while numerous organisations have difficulty keeping abreast with the frequent year-on-year technology changes, their employees on the other hand, continue to bring their personal devices to work to more readily access organisational data. This concept is known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Studies have demonstrated that the introduction of BYOD commonly has a positive effect on both organisation and employees: increased optimism, job satisfaction and productivity are some of the perceived positive effects. Furthermore, BYOD can improve employees’ opportunities for mobile working and assist with the work flexibility they seek. This phenomenon, however, is still not well understood. In the South African context, this refers particularly to an inadequate understanding of risks associated with the introduction of BYOD into organisations. Some of the risks associated with this phenomenon are, for instance, related to information security, legislation and privacy issues. Hence, the intention of this research was to investigate, determine and assess BYOD risk considerations in a South African organisation. Using the available literature on this subject and an interpretative exploratory case study approach, this research explored various facets of BYOD-related risks (e.g. implementational, technological, legislation, regulation and privacy risks, human aspects and organisational concerns) as well as the impact these risks may have on both employees and an organisation. The organisation under investigation – from this point onward referred to as “Organisation A” – is a South African based information technology (IT) security consulting and service management organisation, which has seen increased expansion in its business and thus an increase in the number of its employees utilising their personal devices at the workplace. Even so, Organisation A was uncertain regarding possible risks that might hinder benefits of BYOD. Hence, this researcher defined the main research question as “What are the risks of introducing the BYOD in the South African organisation and what is an effective approach to address identified risks?”. The main objective was to identify and describe BYOD-related risks and to propose an appropriate model for addressing these risks. To answer the main research question, this researcher reviewed the applicable literature on the BYOD, including the limited South African literature pertaining to the subject. The review elicited the most common BYOD-related risks but also some models, frameworks and standards that may be applied for addressing these risks. Based on these revelations, an applicable BYOD risk management model was created and proposed. The literature review findings were subsequently tested in the empirical setting (in Organisation A) by conducting comprehensive interviews with research participants. This research adopted a qualitative approach in general and a case study methodology in particular. The collected data were analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), which aided in providing a comprehensive understanding of the interviewees’ responses regarding the BYOD risks. The interviewees were selected based on a purposeful (pre-defined) sampling. The results of this interpretative research suggest that the interviewees’ responses are closely aligned with the information on BYOD risks collected from the pertinent literature. The results show that successful introduction and usage of BYOD in the studied organisation requires the implementation of mixed risk management measures: technological (e.g. mobile device management and its additional components), non-technological (e.g. IT or BYOD security policies), the usage of general risk management frameworks (e.g. ISO 27001), the development of an organisational security culture and skilling of the human factor (e.g. employee awareness, training and education, for example). Additionally, it was found that participation of employees in the development of BYOD policies is an essential and effective tactic for transforming a fragile BYOD risk link (i.e. employees) into a strong risk prevention mechanism. Furthermore, this research also revealed that in the South African context, it is important that an organisation’s BYOD security policies are sound, preferably meeting the POPI Act requirements and thereby avoiding legislation risks. The contribution of this research is twofold: first academic, and second, practical. The academic contribution is realised by adding to the body of knowledge on the BYOD risks – most particularly in terms of understanding potential risks when introducing BYOD in the South African context. The practical contribution manifests through the provision of detailed risk considerations and mitigation guidelines for organisations wishing to introduce BYOD practices or considering ways to improve their current BYOD risk management strategy. It is acknowledged that this research has some limitations, particularly in regard to the limited generalisation of the findings due to the limited sample provided by only one organisation. Although the results are not necessarily applicable to other South African organisations, these limitations did not impact the relevance and validity of this research.

Information systems design was investigated and a model was developed aimed obtaining organisational advantages through quality and participation. This was developed by connecting high quality information assurance in an IS to the needs of the organisation and incorporating the users in the development through participation factors.

The model generates a instruction that connects the impact on the individual and organisation when developing an IS to the organisational benefits. Its purpose is to enable the benefits of motivation, awareness and empowerment.

We applied the model using the case study approach for connecting the model to a real life situation. The results provided a blueprint to implement the IS design strategy and may be investigated later to verify if the advantages were reached.

The work is of great interest to project managers, software developers and programmers

Design av informationssystem var undersökt. En modell togs fram med målet att knyta organisatoriska fördelar från kvalitet och medverkan av organisationen i framtagandet av ett IS. Modellen skapades utifrån två ståndpunkter, hög kvalitet på datasäkerhet och de behov som finns inom organisationen samt en inkorporerad medverkan av användarna i framtagandet av IS.

Modellen fungerar som en instruktion med målet att koppla påverkan på organisationen samt individen av att implementera ett IS till de organisatoriska fördelarna genererade av förändringen. Resultatet möjliggör fördelarna av motivation, medvetenhet och empowerment hos organisationen samt individen.

Vi applicerade modellen i ett verkligt företag. Resultatet blev en beskrivning för realisering av en IS designstrategi. Denna strategi bör senare bli utvärderad för att säkerställa att det önskade målet har uppnåtts.

Detta arbete skulle kunna intressera projektledare, mjukvara utvecklare och programmerare.

En lärande organisation kännetecknas av att medarbetarna i en organisation utvecklar och för vidare kunskap mellan varandra, samt förmågan att förändra och tillämpa kunskaperna. Peter Senge utvecklade begreppet en lärande organisation och med hjälp av fem discipliner redogör han vad en organisation bör göra för att åstadkomma en lärande organisation. Kline och Saunders uppmärksammade att företag tog åt sig av Senge’s fem discipliner och märkte även att företagen behövde en mer detaljerad information om hur den lärande organisationen skapas. Därav grundade Kline och Saunders tio detaljerade steg som skapar en sådan organisation.

Genom att ett företag är en lärande organisation anpassar den sin verksamhet till det som händer i omvärlden för att det ska gynna både medarbetare och ägare. Kline och Saunders förklarar att en lärande organisation har bra sammanhållning och en förenande kraft. Det leder sedan i sin tur till att grupparbetet, kreativiteten och problemlösningarna effektiviseras, och att tankeverksamheten gynnas.

Syftet med uppsatsen blev därför att undersöka vilka av Kline och Saunders tio steg Markant Reklambyrå använder sig av för att ses som en lärande organisation. För att besvara syftet i uppsatsen valdes att undersöka hur kunskaper och erfarenheter används och förmedlas mellan medarbetarna i det valda fallföretaget.

Undersökningen resulterade i att Markant Reklambyrå omedvetet använder sig av alla de steg som Kline och Saunders beskriver, dock finns det områden där lärandet kan förbättras. Med hjälp av utökad struktur vid dokumentering och möten kan Markant Reklambyrå bli en ännu effektivare organisation där medarbetarna förmedlar sina kunskaper och erfarenheter till varandra.

Research has shown that educating end-users on information security awareness plays an essential part in securing any environment. While best practice standards provide a set of minimum information security awareness controls that should be implemented, little guidance exists on how to implement these controls to ensure the effectiveness of the training. This research set out to define and evaluate a method for implementing an Information Security Awareness Campaign within an organisation based on existing research and standards while assisting the organisation in improving their information security awareness campaign through the creation of artifacts and measurement techniques. A design science research approach guided the research to evaluate changes in the information security awareness campaign implementation method through several research cycles. The method was implemented within an organisation and evaluated based on the impact, effectiveness and results of each step as well as the feedback from participants. The research found both positive and negative results throughout the method. Specific steps within the method proved to be lengthy, time-consuming and confusing to participants. Although many improvements can yet be made, the method was suitable as it achieved the required objective within the organisation. The research outcome provided a risk-based method with a visual representation that demonstrated the lack of awareness of specific information security awareness topics to the organisation. The results of the study not only provided value to the organisation but provided a tried and tested method for implementing an Information Security Awareness Campaign within other organisations.

The technological development of digital devices and the rapid increase in global internet usage has forever changed our lives. Ever since Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 it has been under the person data protection directive (95/46/EG) from the same year. Today, more than two decades later a new international regulation will take its place. This will result in major changes in how companies and organizations must handle personal data. Every company and organization within every country within the European Union must adapt to these changes or risk paying rather fees. Not only does this affect the national laws across a continent and companies like Facebook and Sony on a grand scale - but it also affects the local organizations, small companies, and municipalities. It can be hard to understand what this regulation really means and what should be done to follow it. To do that, the entire work process must be redrawn to provide the best protection possible for the individual citizen. The study shows the work progress of a municipality that is in this position and is in need to adjust its work progress. The study shows how they are adapting to the new changes and are dealing with the problems to be ready when the regulation goes live on May 25th, 2018.

This study examines IS project trajectories in a Saudi organisation showing how the project is shaped and re-shaped in day-to-day activities. Three project features are adapted to characterise project phenomena: project complexity, embeddedness and project learning. Accordingly, the first objective is to investigate project complexities showing how they are dynamically changed due re-defining project properties of goals, methods, deadlines and team relations. The second objective is to understand the interactions between project members and external groups and individual from the surrounding context and how those interactions shape and re-shape local project context. The third objective is to analyse the challenges which bound project members’ knowledgeability. The research methodology incorporates a self-ethnography over twelve months of participation and observation study of three IS projects in a Saudi organisation. Structuration theory is used to guide the research philosophically and to offer an analytical perspective to understand collected data. Structuration theory is implemented to highlight the dynamic nature of project trajectories taking into consideration that project is not a result of an isolated local context or shaped only according to surrounding organisational procedures: rather project trajectories are results of a series of recursive interactions between the project’s local and surrounding contexts, where project member’s knowledgeability plays a role in informing actions. This research can be considered as a theoretical contribution to IS project management literature. This study is situated in new project management literature as distinct from dominant traditional project management prescriptions. This study suggests a view of the project phenomenon merging the three separate project features: project complexity, embeddedness and learning. On the methodological level, this study introduces the project phenomenon as an ethnographic object stressing its dynamic and social nature embedded in daily activities. Finally, on the context level, this study contributes towards compensating for the paucity of studies about the context of Saudi Arabia in project management and management studies in general.

Denna studie är en fallstudie som behandlar telekomföretaget Relacoms arbete med att gå från ett affärssystem till ett annat. Vi har med hjälp av intervjuer och flera enkätundersökningar bland personal samt diskussion med företagets ledning erhållit relevant fakta. Den planering och de processer som företaget använts sig av har dokumenterats och analyserat med hjälp av teorier hämtade från diverse akademiska skrifter inom området. Vi avslutar vår studie med en slutsats där vi presenterar vårt resultat samt en rekommendation till Relacom som behandlar fortsättningen av övergångsarbetet. Vårt resultat av Relacoms tillvägagångssätt vid byte av affärssystem är att ledningen skötte sig väl, men vissa kommunikationsbrister uppstod.
This lucubration is a case study which deals with the telecommunications company Relacoms transition from one business system to another. Through interviews and surveys among staff and management we have been able to document and analyze the planning and processes used by Relacom using theories drawn from various academic writings in the field. Our study ends with a conclusion where our results are presented plus a recommendation to Relacom considering the continuation of the transition process.Our result shows that the management did well during Relacom´s transition of business system, but some communications issues emerged.

Background: The implementation of information technology (IT) solutions by end-users, while bypassing organisational laid-down IT acquisition and implementation processes and controls, poses a significant challenge for most organisations. This phenomenon, which is known as Shadow IT (SIT), has major financial, legal and security implications for the organisation. Studies indicate that even when organisations implement IT policy to minimise the implementation of SIT, end-users may still find innovative ways to bypass the IT department when implementing unsanctioned software. Purpose of the research: The objective of this study was to investigate how end-users (functional departments) who implement SIT in organisations justify their actions. The term Justification refers to the techniques employed by a social actor to indicate that their deviant behaviour is actually reasonable. Understanding justifications for SIT is essential for IT managers since they can understand them as justification and not confuse them with other phenomena and at the same time they can devise appropriate strategies to counter them. IT Managers who are not aware of the justifications for SIT may implement measures which may not be effective in curbing the phenomena. Design/Methodology/approach: The study adopted an interpretivist approach. The study was guided by the 'Neutralisation Theory’ from the social deviance discipline. The study examined whether an organisation had an IT policy which prevents end-users from implementing SIT, and also assessed the 'Neutralisation’ techniques employed by end-users to justify SIT. The study adopted a case study approach based on a South African office of a multinational organisation. The study collected data through (i) semi-structured interviews with end-users from different functional departments who were involved with implementation of SIT and (ii) documentation (IT policy and email correspondences). The study adopted the purposeful sampling (snowball) technique to target the employees who were involved with the implementation of SIT. A total of 13 respondents were interviewed. The data was analysed using thematic analysis approach. Findings: The organisation did not have an IT policy which prevented functional departments from implementing SIT. Instead, it had a policy which allowed functional departments to implement their own IT solutions as long as they inform the IT department to assess the software application for potential risks and compatibility with the existing landscape. Most respondents did not use Neutralisation techniques to justify the implementation of SIT due to the policy which allowed them to implement their own IT solutions. Nevertheless, the respondents who employed Neutralisation techniques mainly used Denial of responsibility, Denial of injury and Appeal to higher loyalties to justify SIT. Originality/contribution: The study contributed to the justifications of SIT literature when it explored the concept of SIT in a corporate company setting - as opposed to earlier studies that used quantitative methods and experiments when exploring the concept of SIT. The study also makes a further contribution to literature by investigating SIT in an environment where functional departments are allowed to implement their own IT solutions - this was not explored by previous studies on Justification of SIT. The study also contributes to the practice where there is a need by IT management to minimise SIT by providing awareness of Neutralisation techniques which may be employed by functional departments to justify SIT. Through the understanding of the Neutralisation techniques, IT managers could make sound decisions when implementing measures to minimise SIT

There are three different uses of the term 'information' in ordinary language: in the restricted sense, it means diverse types of material objects, such as data or documents ('information as thing'); alternatively, the term is used as in reference to the act of informing or becoming informed ('information as process'), or to equate to knowledge ('information as knowledge'). Each of these connotations represents a legitimate view of information in its own right, being equally significant to information-intensive organisations. The literature lacks studies that approach information from an integrative viewpoint, however. The purpose of this study was to explore and develop the notion of 'information governance' as an integrative, systemic approach to information in the context of research organisations. Soft Systems Methodology was used in a case study involving the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Qualitative data was gathered through in-depth interviews with researchers and information/knowledge managers, followed by a thematic, two-level analysis. From a 'macro level' of analysis (the wider Brazilian agricultural research system) it was found that, to solve increasingly complex research problems, collaborative, multidisciplinary networking is needed. On the other hand, competitive forces are continuously emanating from the systems of research steering, funds and resources' allocation, quality control, and recognition and reward. This conflict inhibits the collaborative sharing of 'information as thing' and 'as knowledge', disturbs internal communication flows and contributes to low levels of synergy and cross-departmental partnerships, ultimately affecting research outcomes. At a 'meso level' (the local practices and culture of agricultural knowledge production), different epistemic cultures were identified (named in vitro, in situ and in silico research), which respond differently to the opposing forces of collaboration and competition. Based on a deep understanding of the agricultural research system and underlying epistemic cultures, a framework for effective governance of information was developed. Action to improve the governance of information at Embrapa would involve nurturing an information culture that supports collaborative work. Given that interactions between researchers are determined by their individual pursuits and struggles, this would require a change in the corporate system of performance evaluation and reward, according to the different epistemic cultures.

Information systems, by nature, are open to interpretation from a number of viewpoints. This thesis emphasizes that information systems are not 'technical' systems that have behavioural and social consequences, they are 'social systems' that rely to an increasing extent on information technology for their functions. Hence any systems development methodologies used cannot deal simply with the problem of how one designs technically reliable and cost effective information systems. Instead it regards systems development as an example of multidimensional social change, the application of technology may not be a desirable solution to the situation. The choice of a development methodology should therefore take into account its sensitivity to the cultural, social, and political aspects of systems design. The aims of the thesis are three-fold. The first aim is to transform an idea or perception of needs into actionable drivers for change in a public sector organisation in Brunei Darussalam. The second aim is to identify and diagnose the problems associated with the management of information. Finally, the study aims to identify a suitable methodology that can be used to investigate a number of organisational issues. This work incorporates a practical case study of a problem situation at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the sole government agency responsible for perpetuating and disseminating Islamic teaching in Brunei Darussalam. The methodology used to investigate the problem situation is Checkland's Soft System Methodology (SSM). This is well chosen as the case study deals with human activity systems that are not well defined. Systems intervention via a semi-structured and informal discussion interviews were used to identify the unstructured problem situation (stage 1) of the SSM. The SSM progressed through to the recommendation of actions that constitute culturally feasible and desirable change. In fact, although manual systems are less efficient and effective than their computer-based counterparts, they are preferred in the first instance. Only when the manual system has reached maturity should a computer-based replacement be considered.

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Includes bibliographical references.
This investigation is exploratory and seeks to gain an insight into the culture of IT organisations by using an SA based IT organisation as a case study. The initial assumptions are that the organisational culture in IT influences the business outcomes and the effectiveness of IT as a service provider to meet business demands. The finding of this investigation confirms the impact and significance of the IT organisational culture and describes how this manifests in the organisations performance.

In response to the pressure of the ever-changing and dynamic global market, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have become the cornerstone for organisations of all sizes to compete internationally. However, implementing organisations in developing countries doesn't enjoy the same benefits as implementing organisations from developed countries, because ERP systems general originate from developed countries and these do not necessarily fit the requirements of implementing organisations in developing countries owing to the different business practices, legal and government regulations. ERP systems are built on institutional models, procedures and forces that set the rules of rationale and these forces serve to bind implementing organisations to fundamental choices about how organisational operations and processes should be organised. Limited studies have been done on the impact of institutional forces on implementing organisations from developing countries, particularly in South Africa, yet these organisations continue to invest huge amounts of their financial resources in ERP systems. Until implementing organisations understand the impact of institutional forces on their operations, misalignment will continue to deny realisation of the full benefits of these systems. This study aimed at exploring the institutional forces and their impact on the operations of the implementing organisation within the South African context. A qualitative research approach was undertaken from an interpretive epistemological position. A single case study was conducted at Organisation X. Organisation X is a public sector organisation formed in 1999 and implemented an ERP system in 2006. Thirty employees participated in the study and the data were analysed using the thematic analysis qualitative technique. The selected participants only include those who joined the Organisation X before the implementation of the ERP system because they have a broad general knowledge of the ERP and have undergone the experience during this time. These include executive managers, senior managers and support staff. Major themes from the data illustrate that implementing organisations from the public sector resort to modifying the ERP because they operate in highly regulated environments. These themes also demonstrate that economic differences, sector requirements, organisational culture, IT infrastructure and operational differences are the institutional forces that affect the implementation and use of software packages. The findings reveal that ERP-embedded institutional forces have a negative impact on the implementing organisational structures, bring changes to the process controls and procedures of the implementing organisation, affect the reporting structure of the organisation, create additional roles and responsibilities, bring undesirable changes to organisational culture and increase organisational spending in IT infrastructure. Institutional forces also have positive impact on implementing organisation operations, including improved availability, accessibility, accuracy and reliability of the information and, lastly, thus improve the effectiveness and efficiency of operations. The findings of this study help to build a body of knowledge on ERP misalignment for organisations planning to implement or adopt ERP systems. This study alerts implementing organisations of the need to systemically review regulations and national rules together with industry best practices prior to deployment.

En stor utmaning för många organisationer och företag i samband med implementation av informationssystem är förändringsmotstånd. Förändringsmotstånd kan bli problematiskt ur en organisatorisk synvinkel om det oppositionella beteendet leder till minskad effektivitet och produktivitet. Denna studie inbegriper en kvalitativ undersökning av en organisation som genomgick en omfattande digitaliseringsprocess varav förändringsmotstånd som faktor visade sig vålla stor problematik. Studien visar att en organisation redan innan en IT-implementation inleds bör inventera sin egen förändrings- och IT-mognad. Det är även viktigt att som organisation utforma en tydlig kravbild gentemot IT-leverantören gällande den nya systemlösningen. Slutligen bör en organisation utarbeta en intern kommunikationsplan för att på ett tydligare sätt kunna lyfta fördelar med de nya informationssystemen inom den egna organisationen.

The aim of the thesis is to explore the effects of Inter-Organisational (Information) Systems (IOSs) on business relationships and competition in business markets from a managerial perspective. Previous research in this area is fragmented across many different subject areas, the main ones being information systems, marketing, strategy, economics and organisational behaviour. The research problem is developed from previous work on electronic markets and hierarchies and on theory from the general management literature. The principal research method used is detailed case analysis, and data were collected from a ran e of organisations in different industries. The data collection strategy was to obtain theoretically diverse data with respect to the theoretical constructs chosen. In addition to the case research, a novel research method for collecting management data directly from the Information Systems of organisations and markets is proposed. This research method was applied in the treasury department of a global manufacturing organisation and the structure of its global market network was analysed using matrix algebra and visualisation techniques. Four models are proposed concerning IOSs and competition in business markets:- (i) A taxonomy of IOSs is described based on the theoretical constructs which defines IOSs with reference to their managerial and technical components. (ii) The forms of association model is proposed which details different mechanisms for logistics management in the vertical supply chain and predicts the emergence of hierarchical structures rather than electronic markets. (iii) A model of cooperative supply chain management centred around shared Information Systems is developed which predicts that competition between supply chains is becoming more important than competition between individual organisations because of cooperative behaviour between separate organisations within supply chains. (iv) A mathematical analysis of a global market network is presented which illustrates the utility of a novel research method for measuring and analysing the structure of massive market networks. The mathematical results and visualisation of a global market network show that it is extremely sparsely connected and that the dominant structures are relatively simple organisation-sets, and distinct three stage supply chains. These results confirm the predictions of the detailed case research concerning the emergence of hierarchical structures in business markets. The implications of the research findings are discussed with reference to the structure of market networks and competition in business markets. Future research in this subject area L is outlined and specific problems and theoretical approaches are described which will provide a better understanding of this complex and important subject.

This study investigated the key elements that shape the implementation of an Agile method in an organisation as it moves from a traditional to an Agile approach. The results reveal that organisational change is the key element. This study presents two complementary theoretical models (an integrated thematic model and a process model) which provides a comprehensive explanation of the change surrounding Agile implementation. It will assist organisations in developing strategies to manage the organisational change.

The relevance of this research stems from the persistent failure rate of large-scale Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations. The foremost reasons advanced in explaining organisations' failure to achieve the desired ERP benefits, despite substantial investments, relates to the complex, risky and challenging nature of the implementation process. Understanding the ERP implementation challenges faced by organisations and the subsequent coping mechanisms deployed to overcome the challenges remain a pertinent research endeavour. Another eminent area of concern alludes to the limited significance attributed to the systemic analysis of the implementation process. This research describes the challenges faced by organisations during their ERP implementation process and explains the systemic interaction of the ERP implementation challenges. In conjunction, this study identifies the coping mechanisms established by organisations to overcome the encountered ERP implementation challenges. An interpretive research paradigm, in concurrence with an inductive research approach was adopted for the purpose of this research. This study was conducted within the context of a large, decentralised, public organisation. Two embedded case studies within the designated organisation were selected. At the onset of the study, the organisation was in the process of implementing a large-scale vanilla ERP solution. The study was qualitative in nature and data were collected through interviews, observations and documentary evidence between April 2012 and October 2014. The ERP implementation challenges and ensuing coping mechanisms were revealed through the use of thematic analysis. Constant comparative analysis allowed the researcher to compare and contrast the data and themes emerging from both cases. The systemic interrelation and interconnected nature of the ERP implementation challenges were, subsequently, examined, using the principles of system dynamics. Key research contributions comprise the development of both descriptive and explanatory knowledge. The research findings disclose numerous ERP implementation challenges resulting in the emergence of a taxonomy which includes organisational, project management, management, change management, technical and knowledge challenges. The proposed taxonomy provides a comprehensive breakdown and analysis of different ERP implementation challenges which adds to the existing body of knowledge on ERP implementation. The major theoretical contribution, however, is the explanatory theory arising from the systemic model of the dynamics of ERP implementation challenges. The theory provides rich insights into the complex and interconnected nature of an implementation process. Specific implications are drawn from the empirical findings to form theoretical propositions as principles of explanation and generalisation. Another key contribution includes an interpretation of how coping mechanisms are deployed by organisations to overcome the ERP implementation challenges. The predominant coping mechanisms include the use of workaround solutions, workgroups, super-users, and retraining, support, and rewards and incentives. The theoretical contribution can be generalised to large, decentralised organisations implementing ERP systems. The contribution to practice is to assist organisations in their implementation endeavours by empowering ERP implementers with the fundamental knowledge in order for them to better manage the inherent complexity of their implementation processes.

Traditionellt har organisationer en funktions/avdelningsbaserad organisationsstruktur där resultat i de enskilda enheterna prioriteras. I motsats till detta kan organisationer välja att arbeta processorienterat, vilket syftar till att förändra den traditionella organisationsstrukturen och organisationskulturen. Dokumenterade effekter av processorientering är bland annat en bättre samhörighet och integration inom organisationen, ett högre kundfokus och mindre interna konflikter och problem. Syftet är att undersöka vad som krävs av en organisation för att lyckas arbeta processorienterat. Detta genom att studera hur organisationer i Sverige arbetar med kända framgångsfaktorer berörande förändring och processledning för att uppnå de positiva effekter som processorientering kan bidra till. Utifrån tidigare studier om bland annat processorientering, processledning och processer samt framgångsfaktorer och utmaningar berörande detta har en kvalitativ metod använts för att undersöka hur organisationer i Sverige arbetar med, och tänker kring processorientering, processledning och förändring. Under studiens gång användes semi-strukturerade intervjuer för att intervjua fyra personer från tre olika organisationer; två processledare från ett tillverkande företag, en enhetschef från ett landsting samt en verksamhetsutvecklare från en statlig myndighet. Resultatet visar att det är vanligt att organisationer väljer att kombinera en traditionell funktionsbaserad organisationsstruktur med influenser från det processorienterade tankesättet. För att lyckas gå från att vara en strikt funktions-orienterad organisation till att arbeta mer med processer visar studiens slutsatser att det krävs ett medvetet förändringsarbete där syftet och målet med förändringen är tydlig och väl kommunicerat inom organisationen. Studien visar även att en av de viktigaste framgångsfaktorerna för att lyckas med denna förändring är att visa tidiga resultat för organisationen och att det är rätt personer som driver förändringsarbetet framåt. Framgångsfaktorerna för processledning som framstod som mest vitala i undersökningen var att rollerna som processägare och processledare är permanenta positioner inom organisationen. Det visades även att de som är processägare behöver ha stark koppling till ledningsgruppen för att ha möjlighet att kommunicera och fatta beslut som är gränsöverskridande över flera funktioner. Resultatet visar även att respondenterna anser att det är viktigt att mäta processerna för att förstå varför ett specifikt utfall uppstår. Det handlar då främst att mäta in- och outputs mellan delprocesser för att skapa en förståelse för hur varje enskild delprocess presterar. Detta för att tydliggöra kopplingen mellan en delprocess resultat och huvudprocessens resultat. Vidare lyfter studien även att fallföretagen anser att det är viktigt att arbeta med empowerment för att öka medarbetarnas förståelse kring det arbete de utför i sina processer och att ett IT/IS-stöd endast är ett hjälpmedel för processledning när arbetet med processer redan har påbörjats.

Quality information is critical to organisations’ success in today’s highly competitive environment. Accounting information systems (AIS) as a discipline within information systems require high quality data. However, empirical evidence suggests that data quality is problematic in AIS. Therefore, knowledge of critical factors that are important in ensuring data quality in accounting information systems is desirable. A literature review evaluates previous research work in quality management, data quality, and accounting information systems. It was found that there was a gap in the literature about critical success factors for data quality in accounting information systems. Based on this gap in the literature and the findings of the exploratory stage of the research, a preliminary research model for factors influence data quality in AIS was developed. A framework for understanding relationships between stakeholder groups and data quality in accounting information systems was also developed. The major stakeholders are information producers, information custodians, information managers, information users, and internal auditors. Case study and survey methodology were adopted for this research. Case studies in seven Australian organisations were carried out, where four of them were large organisations and the other three are small to medium organisations (SMEs). Each case was examined as a whole to obtain an understanding of the opinions and perspectives of the respondents from each individual organisation as to what are considered to be the important factors in the case. Then, cross-case analysis was used to analyze the similarities and differences of the seven cases, which also include the variations between large organisations and small to medium organisations (SMEs). Furthermore, the variations between five different stakeholder groups were also examined. The results of the seven main case studies suggested 26 factors that may have impact on data quality in AIS. Survey instrument was developed based on the findings from case studies. Two large-scale surveys were sent to selected members of Australian CPA, and Australian Computer Society to further develop and test the research framework. The major findings from the survey are: 1. respondents rated the importance of the factors consistent higher than the actual performance of those factors. 2. There was only one factor, ‘audit and reviews’, that was found to be different between different sized organisations. 3. Four factors were found to be significantly different between different stakeholder groups: user focus, measurement and reporting, data supplier quality management and audit and reviews. 4. The top three critical factors for ensuring data quality in AIS were: top management commitment, education and training, and the nature of the accounting information systems. The key contribution of this thesis is the theoretical framework developed from the analysis of the findings of this research, which is the first such framework built upon empirical study that explored factors influencing data quality in AIS and their interrelationships with stakeholder groups and data quality outcomes. That is, it is now clear which factors impact on data quality in AIS, and which of those factors are critical success factors for ensuring high quality information outcomes. In addition, the performance level of factors was also incorporated into the research framework. Since the actual performance of factors has not been highlighted in other studies, this research adds new theoretical insights to the extant literature. In turn, this research confirms some of the factors mentioned in the literature and adds a few new factors. Moreover, stakeholder groups of data quality in AIS are important considerations and need more attention. The research framework of this research shows the relationship between stakeholder groups, important factors and data quality outcomes by highlighting stakeholder groups’ influence on identifying the important factors, as well as the evaluation of the importance and p erformance of the factors.

Denna studie syftar till att undersöka hur en stor organisation arbetar med förvaltning av information genom att undersöka dess nuvarande informationsförvaltning, samt undersöka eventuella förslag till framtida informationsförvaltning. Vidare syftar studien också till att undersöka hur en stor organisation kan etablera en tydlig styrning, samverkan, hantering och ansvars- och rollfördelning kring informationsförvaltning. Denna studie är kvalitativ, där datainsamlingen sker genom dokumentstudier och intervjuer. Studien bedrivs med abduktion och är en normativ fallstudie då studiens mål är att ge vägledning och föreslå åtgärder till det fall som uppdragsgivaren har bett mig att studera. Fallet i denna studie är ett typiskt fall, då studiens resultat kan vara i intresse för fler än studiens uppdragsgivare, exempelvis organisationer med liknande informationsmiljö. För att samla teori till studien så har jag genomfört litteraturstudier om ämnen som är relevanta för studiens syfte: Informationsförvaltning, Business Intelligence, Data Warehouse och dess arkitektur, samt Business Intelligence Competency Center. Denna studie bidrar med praktiskt kunskapsbidrag, då studien ger svar på praktiska problem. Uppdragsgivaren har haft praktiska problem i och med en icke fungerade informationsförvaltning, och denna studie har bidragit med förslag på framtida informationsförvaltning. Förslaget på framtida informationsförvaltning involverar ett centraliserat Data Warehouse, samt utvecklingen utav en verksamhet som hanterar informationsförvaltning och styrningen kring informationsförvaltningen inom hela organisationen.
This study aims to investigate how large organizations can work with information management by examining an organization's existing information management, and investigate possible future proposals to information management. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate how an organization can establish a clear direction, collaboration, management and responsibilities and roles regarding information management. This study is qualitative, where data collection occurs through document studies and interviews. The study is conducted by an abductive research approach and the study is a normative case study as the study's goal is to provide guidance and propose measures to the case that the collaboration partner has asked me to study. The case in this study is a typical instance, because the result will be representative of more than the study's collaboration partner, such as other large organizations with similar cases concerning information management. To collect theory to the study I conducted literature reviews on topics that are relevant to the purpose of the study: Information management, Business Intelligence, Data Warehouse and its architecture, as well as Business Intelligence Competency Center. This study contributes with practical knowledge, because the study provides answers to practical problems the collaboration partner has expressed within the non-operated information management, and this study contributes with suggestions for future information management. The suggestions involve a centralized Data Warehouse and the development of a function that handles information management, and disseminate the governance of information management throughout the organization.

Syftet med denna studie har varit att få ökad förståelse för hur projektledare upplever sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö. För att uppnå detta syfte har vi genom en kvalitativ fallstudie på ett telecomföretag i Karlstad undersökt hur projektledare upplever sin psykosociala arbetsmiljö. Vi har även undersökt vilka faktorer i projektledarens yrkesroll som kan påverka den psykosociala arbetsmiljön.

Vi har utifrån Karasek/Johnsons modell delat upp den psykosociala arbetsmiljön i arbetskrav, egenkontroll och socialt stöd. Arbetskrav handlar rent konkret om de fysiska och psykiska krav som ställs på individen för att denne skall kunna genomföra sitt arbete. Egenkontrollen på arbetsplatsen kan delas upp i två delar. Dessa två delar är kvalifikationsgrad och beslutsutrymme. Kvalifikationsgraden handlar om huruvida individen får möjlighet att lära sig nya saker och får utnyttja sina kvalifikationer i arbetet. Beslutsutrymmet handlar om i vilken utsträckning arbetet tillåter att individen själv får avgöra hur det egna arbetet skall läggas upp. Socialt stöd kan vara av olika slag men handlar främst om individens sociala relation till ledning, arbetskamrater och kunder.

Det empiriska resultatet visar att det ställs höga krav på de anställda projektledarna vid den valda organisationen. Kravbilden försvåras av att många av kraven är outtalade och/eller diffusa. Kraven kommer dessutom från många olika personer både i och utanför organisationen vilket försvårar arbetssituationen för våra respondenter. Respondenternas egenkontroll är ganska komplex. Respondenterna har inga mandat i sitt arbete trots en ledande position. De beslut de fattar måste många gånger kontrolleras med chefer och ledning. De upplever dock att de har påverkansmöjligheter både uppåt och nedåt i organisationen. Respondenterna styr även helt över sin egen tid och kan disponera den precis som de önskar vilket ökar egenkontrollen betydligt. Men då kraven är så pass höga och påfrestande blir respondenterna låsta i möten och rutinarbete och måste ofta ta itu med de problem som uppstår. Den egenkontroll som i grunden är ganska hög stramas på så vis åt och minskar. Respondenternas sociala stöd är ganska svårbedömt då det finns olika typer av socialt stöd. Den typ av socialt stöd som respondenterna uttrycker som det viktigaste är det tekniska stödet eller som litteraturen beskriver som det informativa och det instrumentella stödet. Informativt stöd innebär tillgång till information från andra människor i form av råd och förslag vilket kan användas av individen för att bemästra en situation. Det instrumentella sociala stödet handlar om konkret samarbete, det vill säga handgripligt stöd. Detta stöd upplevs från respondenterna som tillfredställande. Det värderande stödet som tar sin form i feedback finns det en uttryckt avsaknad av. Även det emotionella stödet är relativt lågt. Vissa respondenter känner att det finns en respekt och ett emotionellt stöd från ledning och arbetskamrater men inte i överflöd. Några respondenter uttrycker även en ensamhet och isolering i den position som de befinner sig i. Avsaknaden av en tillhörighet och någon jämbördig är också uttryckt.

Vi kan utifrån resultatet konstatera att projektledarrollen ligger i risk för en negativ psykosocial arbetsmiljö. Detta innebär inte att våra respondenter mår dåligt. Att den psykosociala arbetsmiljön är negativ behöver inte ge ett direkt resultat på dem som utsätts för den men risken för utbrändhet eller psykosomatiska besvär ökar. Trots denna negativa psykosociala arbetsmiljö har respondenterna uttryckt att arbetet som projektledare är stimulerande och roligt.

The purpose with this research has been to gain more knowledge about how project managers experience their psychosocial work environment. In order to fulfil this purpose, have we through a qualitative case study of a telecom company in Karlstad, examined how project managers experience their psychosocial work environment. We have also studied which factors in the project managers role that can affect the psychosocial work environment.

We have, based on Johnson and Karasek’s model divided the psychosocial work environment into (1) job demands, (2) job control and (3) social support. Job demands deal with the actual physical and psychic demands on the individual for him or her to be able to perform the job. Job control in the workplace can be divided into two parts, which are (1) skill discretion and (2) decision authority. Skill discretion is whether the individual gets the opportunity to learn new tasks and use his or hers qualifications in the job. Decision authority is to what extent the job allows the individual to decide over work methods. Social support can be of different kinds but is foremost about the individual’s social relation to management, colleagues and clients.

The empirical findings show that there are high demands on the project leaders at the studied organisation. The demands are increased by the fact that many of them are implicit and/or unclear. Moreover, the demands come from many different persons both from within and outside the organisation, which makes the work situation more difficult for our respondents. The respondents job control is quite complex. Despite their leading positions, they have no real mandate. Decisions they make must many times be controlled by supervisors and management. Nevertheless, the respondents feel that they have the possibility to influence both upwards and downwards in the organisation. The respondents also fully control their own time and can utilise it according to their wish, which increases the job control considerably. Although when the demands are so high and trying, the respondents get tied up in meetings and routine tasks and are often forced to deal with problems arising. In this way, the job control that basically is quite high gets tightened up and diminishes. The respondent’s social support is rather difficult to assess when there are different kinds of social support. The type of social support which the respondents express as the most important one is the technical support, the literature describes this as the informative or instrumental support. Informative support is the access to information from other persons in the form of advice and suggestions that can be used by the individual to overcome a situation. Instrumental support is concrete cooperation, in other words physical support. This kind of support is experienced by the respondents as rewarding. There is an expressed lack of evaluating support in the form of feedback. There is even quite low emotional support. Some respondents do experience respect and emotional support from management and co-workers, however not in abundance. Some respondents even express a loneliness and isolation in the position they find themselves in. They also express the lack of affiliation and individuals equal in merit.

We can from the result state that the role of project manager is risking a negative psychosocial work environment. This does not mean that our respondents have a bad helth, neither physical or psychological. A negative psychosocial work environment does not have to result in direct effects on individuals exposed to it, still there is an increased risk for getting ‘burned out’ or having psychosomatic troubles. Despite this negative psychosocial work environment, the respondents have expressed the role of a project manager as fun and stimulating.

Information systems design has been strongly influenced by computer technology. However, there are other aspects which can also influence information systems design. It seems that organisational design can greatly influence the success of information systems design. In this thesis we set out to investigate this very issue. This research begins by the discussion of information systems design. The conclusion from this initial probing of the subject is that an information system is a mirror image of the organisation for which it is designed. Also, the notion of the hierarchical structure is built into the models of informations systems and information systems design methodologies. This is being the case, the logical step to follow is to investigate the models of the organisation. The remaining chapters of part I are devoted to discussing models of the organisation. It is argued that, apart from the cybernetic model, none of the other models provide good enough basis for information processing and transmission. These models may differ in certain aspects; however, they are all (except the cybernetic model) built on the hierarchical notion of the organisation. It is argued that an hierarchical structure is a major hindrance to the smooth flow of information inside an organisation. As to the cybernetic model, as exarnplified by Beer's viable system model (VSM), the picture is fundamentally different. This model discards the traditional notion of hierarchy, and replaces it by that of logical hierarchy. The model of organisation it provides is built around the information needs of the organisation. The organisation is provided by an elaborate network to facilitate its internal functioning, and enable it adapt to its environment. Since it is our chosen model of the organisation for providing a suitable basis for information systems design, the totality of part II is dedicated to this model. In part III we set out to test the model. The means by which this is carried out is an emirical investigation of a steel distribution organisation. In this empirical part the model proved to be a very powerful diagnostic tool. By mapping the model onto the organisation in question we could discover that the problems of information processing and transmission of the organisation are largely due to its faulty design. Before we can seriously attempt to redesign its information system, we must look into the organisation itself. In other words, there need be certain structural prerequisites for successful information system design.

Då IT idag spelar en central roll inom i stort sett varje organisation ökar även kravet på organisationen att förstå verksamheten och dess processer och vilka problem man försöker lösa med hjälp av IT. I denna studie kommer vi försöka identifiera de problem som är kopplade till kravhantering och kommunikation i ett multi-nationellt företag där kravinhämtningsprocessen sker kontinuerligt snarare än projektbaserad. Vi kommer också att försöka föreslå lösningar på de problem vi identifierar. Datainsamlingen har skett via enkäter och intervjuer. Enkäten skickades ut till slutanvändarna av systemen och intervjuerna riktades till fyra nyckelintressenter i kravhanteringsarbetet. Den insamlade datan har ställts mot tidigare studier inom området som berör utmaningar inom kravhantering samt vanliga problem inom kommunikation. Vi har även försökt utvinna användbar insikt i ämnet genom att titta på teman i datan. Resultaten av vår studie tyder på en avsaknad av en definierad kravvalideringsstruktur, och att kravhanteringsprocessen i denna kontext är ett väldigt komplext åtagande som kräver en tydlig kommunikationsstrategi.

Syfte – Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vilka problem den offentliga organisationen har vad gäller informationsflödet inom organisationen samt föreslå en lösning på detta. För att uppnå syftet kommer följande frågeställningar att besvaras: Vilka problem har en offentlig organisation med informationsflödet? Hur kan en kravspecifikation bidra till en effektivisering av informationsflödet inom en offentlig organisation? Metod – För att uppnå studiens syfte och besvara frågeställningarna har en kvalitativ studie utförts på en offentlig organisation. Först utförs semistrukturerade intervjuer, efter det har det teoretiska ramverket skapats ur litteraturstudier för att ge en kunskapsgrund inom området. Ur detta framkommer riktlinjer för skapandet av en kravspecifikation, som ligger till grund för ett mer effektivt informationsflöde inom en offentlig organisation. Den empiri som insamlats på beskrivet sätt har sedan analyserats och jämförts med den insamlade teorin. Detta för att jämföra verkliga det arbetslivet med teorin. Även litteraturstudier har genomförts eftersom det är viktigt att få en stabil bakgrund gällande metoder, teorier och verktyg. Med sin grund i kravspecifikationen skapandes ett lösningsförslag efter att ett val har gjort vilken typ av lösning som är lämplig för ändamålet. Detta gjordes i samrådande med den berörda organisationen. Kravspecifikationen har analyserats mot empirin och teorierna samt skett i samrådande med den berörda organisationen. En demonstration av den slutliga lösningen och uppföljningsintervju utfördes även för att få feedback lösningsförslaget effektiviserade den berörda organisationen informationsflöde. Resultat – Studiens resultat bygger på den insamlade empirin och den utförda litteraturstudien. Resultatet visar att utvecklandet av en artefakt i form riktlinjer för en kravspecifikation som ligger till grund för en vidareutveckling för att effektivisera informationsflödet, har resulterat i en förbättring av informationsflödet inom en offentlig organisation. Kraven som framkom genom semistrukturerade intervjuer har använts vid skapandet av kravspecifikationen. Detta för att få ett bra resultat som löser den berörda organisationen krav och behov, vad det gäller att effektivisera informationsflödet inom en offentlig organisation. Implikationer – Ambitionen i denna studie är att skapa riktlinjer för en kravspecifikation som ligger till grund för en effektivisering av informationsflödet inom en offentlig organisation. Genom studiens resultat fås riktlinjer fram som borde användas av andra utvecklare eller studenter vid liknade projekt. Blomkvist och Hallin (2015) menar att vissa exjobb ger ett metodologiskt bidrag till forskningen detta genom att på ett nytt sätt lösa en organisations praktiska problem. Detta är denna studies kunskapsbidrag. Kunskapsbidraget vad det gäller forskningen inom ämnet informatik, bidrar den till en förbättring av förmedling av information. Detta genom att ta fram och använda riktlinjer för en kravspecifikation som ligger till grund detta. Studien ges stöd genom att ta fram ett riktlinjer för en kravspecifikation i form av en artefakt som ligger till grund vid utvecklingsarbetet. Ytterligare studier kan ses som önskvärt då denna studie endast har inriktat sig på en organisation och för att forskningen ska bli optimal och behöver ytterligare studier inom området utföras. Begränsningar – En studie utfördes på en offentlig organisation och därför blir studien relevant för denna organisation samt för liknade organisationer. Studiens ämnesområden är av varierande djup, eftersom det inte tidsmässigt varit möjligt att gå lika djupt inom alla ämnen.
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate what kind of problems a public organization has with their information flow and suggest a solution to the identified problems.To achieve the purpose, will the report answer the following questions: What problems do a public organization have with the information flow? How can a specification contribute to efficiency the flow of information within a public organization? Method – In order to achieve the objectives of the study and answer the research questions, a qualitative study is conducted in a public organization. First, semi-structured interviews have been conducted, and then a literature search is performed to provide a knowledge base in this field. From this emerges a specification that forms the basis for a more efficient flow of information within a public organization. The empirical data, which is collected in the manner described, is then analysed and compared with the collected theory. This is to compare the real working life with the theory. Even literature studies have been carried out because it is important to have a stable background current methods, theories and tools. With its basis in the specification, the proposed solutions was developed after an election has made the kind of solution that is fit for purpose. This was done in consultation with the organization concerned. The requirement specification has been analysed by the empirical data and theories, and occurred in consulting with the organization concerned. A demonstration of the final solution and follow-up interviews were also conducted, to get feedback about the solution improvement of the information flow within the public organization. Findings – The study results are based on the collected empirical data and the conducted literature review. The result shows that development of an artefact in the form of guidelines for a set of requirements that form the basis, for further development solution improvement of the information flow has resulted in an improvement of the information flow within a public organization. The requirements that have been identified; with semi-structured interview have been used to create the specification demands. This is done to get a good result that solves the organizations requirements and needs, in terms of information flow in a public organization. Implications – Blomkvist and Hallin (2015) argues that some thesis provides a methodological contribution to research this, a new way to solve an organization's practical problems. This is this study knowledge contribution. Knowledge contribution in terms of research in informatics, it contributes to an improvement in the distribution of information. This is through the development and use guidelines for a set of requirements that underpin it. The study provides support by producing a guidance on a specification in the form of an artefact that is the basis for development. Further studies may be seen as desirable as this study has only focused on the organization and for research to be optimal and needs further studies in the field carried out. Limitations – The study was conducted in a public organization and therefore the results of the study are specifically relevant for this kind of organizations.

Date: 2008-06-04

Purpose: The primary goal of this research is to describe the IT function and examine how its alignment to an organisations strategy affects the way it is organised.

Method: The chosen method was a purely theoretical examination with the use of the case study of Windham International as primary resource and secondary resources such as book and literature review used for the thesis.

Research Questions: How does the alignment of IT to business strategy affect the organisation of the IT function?

Conclusion: One of the findings was that a few researchers seem to suggest that the centralized mode of organising IT was symbolic of the past, while outsourcing and decentralization are the modern approach to organising IT. Wyndham International shows the opposite, after the introduction of the CIO in 2002, centralization was the chosen mode of organisation because that was what would best fit the new strategic approach of the organisation. Insourcing rather than outsourcing proved to be a winning formula.

Internetanvändande har de senaste 20 åren växt på en global nivå från 2 % till 40 %. Detta har ökat den allmänna hotbilden mot organisationer och deras sårbarhet till förlust av viktig information. Idag har flera organisationers värde större omfattning som består av information. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) samt International Electrotechnical Commision (IEC) bildar ett system som används för global standardisering inom informationssäkerhet. ISO 27001 är ett hjälpmedel för att skapa ett strukturerat och effektivt arbetssätt för organisationer att öka den allmänna säkerheten samt kontrollen inom organisationen.  Syftet med studien är att beskriva hur personalens förutsättningar påverkas vid en implementering av ISO 27001-standarden i en medelstor organisation. För att ta reda på hur personalens förutsättningar påverkas vid en ISO 27001-certifiering utfördes en kvalitativ datainsamling, i form av intervjuer, på en medelstor organisation som nyligen har infört ISO 27001. Fyra intervjuer utfördes med personer som arbetar med IT-säkerhet på undersökningsföretaget.  Studien beskrev att anställdas förutsättningar påverkades, genom att de var tvungna att arbeta efter en ny arbetsstruktur i samband med införandet av ISO 27001. Anställda var positiva till att ISO-certifieras, eftersom att det ansågs vara en del av säkerhetsarbetet. Det fanns också en osäkerhet kring hur det dagliga arbetet samt rutinerna skulle påverkas av ISO 27001.

Denna uppsats dokumenterar en fallstudie som gjordes hösten 2006 vid Linde Material Handling i Örebro. Företaget var på väg att expandera och planerade att utöka användningen av IT i verksamheten. I samband med detta gavs undertecknade i uppdrag att utforma en informationssäkerhetspolicy för verksamheten. I en litteraturstudie kunde det konstateras att det inte fanns några enklare riktlinjer för att utforma sådana policies, varmed syftet blev att göra detta. Genom en fallstudie på företaget där vi utformade en IS-policy för deras verksamhet, och även gjorde intervjuer med ledning och dokumentationsanalyser, utrönas vilka problem som kan uppstå och vilka överväganden som bör göras för att utforma en lyckad policy. Riktlinjerna kan användas av företag som känner igen sig i fallbeskrivningen. Vi har i arbetet avgränsat oss från att studera hur en policy ska införas eller utvärderas.

De riktlinjer vi utformade kan sammanfattas som följande:

* Utforma minimalistiskt

Policyn bör vara enkel, de föreskrifter och sidor som finns bör vara få till antalet och endast omfatta det absolut viktigaste.

* Tillgodose användaracceptans

Policyns innehåll ska inte uppfattas som kränkande eller alltför omständligt av de anställda.

* Formulera och ordna mål

Det är viktigt att se till att de säkerhetsmål som finns i verksamheten hjälper till att uppfylla de mer generella organisatoriska målen.

* Förankra i beslutande organ

Säkerhetsarbetet bör vara förankrat i ledningen.

* Uppdelning i delpolicies

Det kan vara aktuellt med olika delpolicies för olika delar av verksamheten

om dessa skiljer sig märkbart åt.

This thesis addresses the subject of internal communication between the leadership and the employees. Communication is a common process and according to Tufvesson (2008), the primary focus has been on the role and responsibility of the leadership. This can mean that, from the employee's point of view, it is not clear what the organization expects, and this lack of clarity dimishes the ability of the employees to live up to those expectations (ibid). Tufvesson (2008) believes that today's organizations need common interpretations, which requires a well thought out communication strategy between leadership and employees.   Because communication represents an organization's functionality, the report’s authors were interested in studying the employees’ representatives. This study examined leaders’ perspectives, including perceptions and expectations of their employees' communication skills. After this it was possible to identify and compare the results with the employees' perspectives. The survey covers sixteen qualitative interviews in two case studies, in which eight interviews, including interviews with people whose role is a manager or leader, and eight interviews with normal employees.   In summation of the collected data, the authors found both shared and separate opinions on the expectations managers and employees have in regard to the “communicative-employee.” The report’s authors believe that the shared and different opinions are based upon which leadership style the core informants used. According to Ahltorp (1998), a leader's behavior depends on the individual characteristics the leader possesses, and these are reflected in their actions. Communication is often considered to be self-evident, but it is something that should be given priority in work-related contexts where an information society exists.
Examensarbetet berör ämnesområdet intern kommunikation där den kommunikativa ledaren och medarbetaren har studerats. Kommunikation är en gemensam process och enligt Tufvesson (2008) har fokus kontinuerligt behandlat ledarens roll och ansvar. Detta har medfört att det ur medarbetarens perspektiv inte är lika tydligt vad organisationen förväntar sig, samt att det har minimerat utrymmet för medarbetaren att leva upp till dessa förväntningar (ibid). Tufvesson (2008) anser att dagens organisationer har ett behov av gemensamma tolkningar och för det krävs en genomtänkt kommunikation.   Då kommunikation sägs utgöra en organisations funktionalitet fann rapportförfattarna ett intresse i att studera den kommunikativa medarbetaren. Undersökningen förutsatte att rapportförfattarna först studerade ledarnas perspektiv, inkluderat uppfattning och förväntningar på sina medarbetares kommunikationsförmåga. Detta för att senare kunna kartlägga och jämföra resultatet med medarbetarnas perspektiv. Undersökningen omfattar sexton kvalitativa intervjuer på två fallföretag, där åtta intervjuer innefattar intervjuer med personer vars arbetsroll tituleras som chef eller ledare, samt åtta intervjuer med kollektiva medarbetare.   I summeringen av insamlad data fann rapportförfattarna både delade och separata åsikter om vilken uppfattning och vilka förväntningar ledare och medarbetare har på den kommunikativa medarbetaren. De delade åsikterna tror rapportförfattarna bland annat grundar sig i vilket ledarskap som ledarinformanterna utövar. Enligt Ahltorp (1998) är en ledares beteende beroende av vilka individuella egenskaper en ledare besitter, och dessa speglar sig i deras handlingar. Kommunikation anses ofta vara en självklarhet, dock är det något som bör prioriteras i arbetsrelaterade sammanhang då det idag är ett informationssamhälle som existerar.

Since organisations are expanding geographically the need for global applications has become extensive. This work examines how a global support organisation should be organised, with respect to communication and technical aspects, when providing support for a global application to a user organisation. This work has been accomplished through a literature study and an interview study. The result from the investigation shows that a decentralised support organisation is superior to some extent. Specially when it comes to communication but both the literature and the respondents claim that communicating with people from different countries with different languages is something you get used to over time. It is however not superior to implement too many sites since it is expensive to have several support centres. The conclusions of this work are that the literature claims that decentralisation is the approach to have if the infrastructure is in place, the respondents however, believe that it is too expensive to decentralise too much.

In a comprehensive review of literature on the strategic adoption of information systems (IS), various approaches to strategic IS adoption were unable to verify and coordinate different factors for IS investment as a strategic business unit. An assessment of different models in this area through the review of empirical case studies was required to identify the factors that affect IS strategic adoption, because these factors support the evaluation and adoption of both the process and result of IS strategic adoption. Thus, a study to investigate and evaluate the adoption of strategic information systems planning (SISP) within organisations is required in order to identify the factors that affect this type of adoption. The research in this thesis takes into account the adoption process and the factors for the adoption of SISP. There is also a need to understand and evaluate different IS planning techniques within a framework that can support decision-makers through the entire IS strategic adoption process. This framework is a component of the proposed novel model that considers other crucial factors that influence IS strategic evaluation and adoption. Decision-makers may employ such a model and evaluation framework that considers important SISP criteria, such as (a) SISP benefits, (b) SISP requirements and, (c) SISP drivers, as an important reference tool. After presenting the conceptual components of this research, the empirical side expresses the application of a qualitative research approach through a case study strategy to investigate the proposed model of SISP adoption. As a result, two global organisations were investigated, reported, and analysed. Additional factors for the adoption of SISP emerged from these analyses. The proposed conceptual model was modified to present 11 factors that influence the adoption of SISP, including (a) planning team; (b) benefits; (c) requirements; (d) drivers; (e) costs; (f) IS performance measurement; (g) framework for the evaluation of SISP techniques; (h) SISP methods; (i) SISP tools; (j) support; and (k) IS strategy. The primary contribution of this thesis is a comprehensive novel model for the evaluation and adoption of SISP. The model includes two levels of original contribution. Firstly, it accounts for previous studies in SISP and their factors, which supports the conceptual level of this contribution. The researcher incorporated and extended these studies to merge the factors which were recognised in the normative literature. In addition, factors from empirical work have also been combined in the proposed model, thus developing a consistent paradigm for the evaluation and adoption of SISP. Secondly, the concept and process of the proposed model can be applied as an educational guide throughout the IS strategic evaluation and adoption process. Nevertheless, this model contains a proposed framework for the evaluation of IS strategic planning techniques as factors that influence the adoption of SISP. This framework is novel, since it is a part of the proposed model as well as a classification of IS planning techniques, and supports decision-makers’ understanding and evaluation of planning techniques during the adoption of SISP.

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.
In today’s world, organisations cannot exist without having information readily available. The protection of information relies not only on technology but also on the behaviour of employees. The failure to institutionalise an information security culture inside an organisation will cause the continued occurrence of security breaches. The aim of the research is to explore how an information security culture can be institutionalised within a petroleum organisation in the Western Cape. The primary research question is posed as follows: “What are the factors affecting the institutionalisation of an information security culture?” To answer the research question, a study was conducted at a petroleum organisation in the Western Cape. A subjectivist ontological and interpretivist epistemological stance has been adopted and an inductive research approach was followed. The research strategy was a case study. Data for this study were gathered through interviews (12 in total) using semi-structured questionnaires. The data collected were transcribed, summarised, and categorised to provide a clear understanding of the data. For this study, twenty-four findings and seven themes were identified. The themes are: i) user awareness training and education; ii) user management; iii) compliance and monitoring; iv) change management; v) process simplification; vi) communication strategy; and vii) top management support. Guidelines are proposed, comprising four primary components. Ethical clearance to conduct the study was obtained from the Ethics committee of CPUT and permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the petroleum organisation. The findings point to collaboration between employees, the Information Security department, and management in order to institute a culture of security inside the organisation.

Informationsteknologi spelar en allt viktigare roll i dagens organisationer. Trots detta har lite forskning genomförts kring hur en organisation resonerar vid utvärdering av nya system och hur de förs in i organisationen. För att införandet av ny teknologi skall ske med bästa möjliga resultat i en organisation krävs en ökad kunskap om vad som kan vara kritiskt avgörande för framgång. Då införandeprocessen är en komplex process kan det för att uppnå framgång vara klokt att identifiera vilka faktorer som kan vara viktiga att behandla för den specifika organisationen. I denna studie kartläggs hur utvärderingen av en IT-produkt genomförs i en specifik kontext på ett sådant sätt att den slutgiltiga produkten skall motsvara det specifika organisatoriska behovet. I arbetet studeras etableringen av framgångsfaktorer före införande av ett stödsystem i en organisation. Arbetet med att identifiera organisatoriska framgångsfaktorer har genomförts som en tillämpning av 2G-metoden. De identifierade faktorerna ingick i ett utvärderingsramverk som användes vid utvärderingen av potentiella nya system. Vid analysen ansågs de identifierade faktorerna vara kritiska för framgång vid införandet av ett nytt ärendehanteringssystem i organisationen

Abstract

In this thesis we aim to extend the current theories about a concept called persona. A persona is a model of a user, mostly based on qualitative research and made with such accuracy that it to some extent can be used as a replacement of a real user in a development process and as a communicative tool. We will present a way of constructing this persona without meeting the actual users and follow up with interviews from the organization using them. This will lead to a model over the process of introducing personas as a concept in an organization,previously not familiar with the concept. The model is adapted to also work for projects and organizations where the concept is already known.

Executive summary

When developing and designing systems or products to be used directly by end users,it is important that these are developed with people in mind. One way to do this is to have close contact between the end user and the developer as can be seen in for example agile development methods. This is however not applicable at all times and therefore the developer need to get the information about the end user some other way.

Often this is done by a spokesman or project manager for the ordering company who delivers the information to a project manager or spokesman for the systems development company who in turn make sure the developer get the relevant information. Of course this means that sometimes information that could be relevant is missed and sometimes even altered due to misunderstandings or even personal interest.

One way to deal with this is to have a written description or model of the primary end user that is so correct and accurate that it to some extent could be used as a replacement of the real user. Especially effective is this when making design decisions and as a communicative tool to ensure a common and shared picture of the different needs of the users. Even if a description of the end user has been made, the view of the user is not always shared.

This thesis will address the problem of creating this description of a user by using the concept of persona, first presented by Alan Cooper 1999 in his book “The Inmates are running the Asylum – Why High-Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity”. In our research we show that under certain circumstances, this can be done without actually meeting the real end users by interviewing and observing other people with very similar roles.

Using this persona as a development tool requires introduction of the concept in the organization as well as introduction of the personas for the actual project. This research is summarized in a model that includes the different steps of creating a persona using several methods and also how to implement this tool in an organization

or project. For each general step in the model there is a short description which includes the construction of personas and which activities to include in the introduction, either if personas is previously known or not.

Appendix 10 in this thesis consists of a brief and more hands on guide of the process of creating personas and introducing the concept in an organization. This guide could serve as a quick introduction to the subject and could also be used at a later time to refresh some of the highlights in the process.

Sammanfattning

Denna uppsats avser utöka befintliga teorier runt konceptet persona. En persona är en modell av en användare, baserad främst på kvalitativa studier, och utvecklad med sådan precision att den till vissa delar kan ersätta en riktig slutanvändare i en utvecklingsprocess samt som ett kommunikationsverktyg. Vi kommer att presentera ett sätt att utveckla denna persona utan att träffa den riktiga slutanvändaren och följa upp med intervjuer från organisationen som använder dem. Detta leder fram till en modell över processen med att utveckla personas samt införandet i en utvecklingsorganisation som tidigare inte har använt sig av konceptet. Modellen är anpassad för att fungera vid införande av persona även i projekt och organisationer där konceptet är känt sedan tidigare.

The aim of this study is to examine the challenges of practicing leadership in temporary distributed organizations. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, organizations have had to face unique challenges when adapting their organization. One of the most prolific universities in Sweden was forced to become a distributed organization in a matter of days. This has put immense pressure on leaders to take responsibility and figure out solutions to effectively lead staff and manage the organization. Former research suggests that technology is at the core of distributed work and leaders must consider how to utilize it. Furthermore, leaders in a distributed organization are required to be digitally competent and understand the complexity of leading from a distance. The goal of this study was to better understand how leaders can effectively lead a temporary distributed organization. We managed to gain knowledge towards this goal by analyzing previous research regarding distributed organizations and teams as well as analyzing the empirical material from the completion of 7 interviews from leaders at the university. The interviews were methodologically analyzed using a thematic analysis which led to six emergent themes. These themes showcased a set number of challenges for leaders at the university such as loss of oversight, communicative challenges and digital disadvantages. Because of the uniqueness of the pandemic, prior research regarding distributed organizations is lacking the perspective of forced and temporary distributed organizations. The result of this is that our respondents’ perspectives are new and interesting to the area of research. This makes our case stand out and contributes to further research concerning leadership in distributed organizations.

Knowledge Management is associated with organisational initiatives in response to the demands of a knowledge-based economy in which the potential value of knowledge as a source for competitive advantage is recognised. However, the lack of a common understanding about knowledge itself, its characteristics and how it is constructed has led to diverse approaches about how to "manage" it. This study presents a critical overview of traditional and contemporary KM approaches. The main focus of this study was to discover and apply a suitable methodology for assessing an organisation's knowledge processing environment. This includes an analysis of the current practices and behaviours of people within the organisation relating to the creation of new knowledge and integrating such knowledge into day-to-day work. It also includes inferring from the above practices those policies and programmes that affect knowledge outcomes. This research makes extensive use of the Knowledge Life Cycle (KLC) framework and the Policy Synchronisation Method (PSM) developed by advocates of the New Knowledge Management movement. A case study approach was followed using a range of data collection methods, which included personal interviews, a social network survey and focus group discussions. The selected case is the small IT department at the East London campus of Rhodes University. Evidence from the case suggests that the knowledge processing environment within the IT department is unhealthy. The current knowledge processing practices and behaviours are undesirable and not geared towards the creation of new knowledge and the integration of such knowledge within the business processes of the IT department. There is little evidence of individual and organisational learning occurring and the problem solving process itself is severely hampered by dysfunctional knowledge practices. The study concludes that the above state of affairs is a reflection of the quality and appropriateness of policies and programmes in the extended organisation. Equally, the local definition of rules, procedures and the execution thereof at a business unit level is mostly lacking. The study illustrates that a systematic assessment of the knowledge processing environment provides the organisation with a sound baseline from where knowledge-based interventions can be launched.

Background: There are numerous studies in the Information Technology (IT) field on IT project success and/or failure and reasons thereof. There is much discussion about what constitutes IT project success and the main determinants are generally a subjective matter. Several studies address critical success factors and some address success criteria about IT projects. However, the combination of mechanisms, success criteria, and critical success factors has not been adequately researched or widely addressed and hence the need to conduct this study which seeks to examine the aforementioned relationships and propose a modified model to explain the links among them. Objectives: The main objectives of this study are: 1) To identify and discuss the role played by success factors (input variables) in an IT project; 2) To identify and discuss the role played by success criteria (output variables) in an IT project; 3) To identify and discuss the role played by mechanisms (mediating variables) and impact thereof on an IT project; and 4) To identify, investigate and explore the interrelationships between the aforementioned constructs and how they impact the success of an IT project. Research Methodology/Approach: A modified model of the Black Box of IS Project Success Mechanisms was utilised to guide the data collection process. The model was based on three fundamental constructs developed from various sources of literature viz. success criteria, critical success factors, and mechanisms. The study made use of a single case study based on a data migration project which one of the major corporates in South Africa executed. The data migration project provides for a distinct type of IT project suitable to meet the study objectives. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and a thematic analysis was conducted to identify success factors, mechanisms, and IT project success criteria. Findings: The findings revealed that there are several success criteria measures viz. the traditional project management triangle (cost, scope and time), non-functional requirements, customer satisfaction, other stakeholders' requirements, quality assurance, organisational benefits, and learning and growth. Further, there are several critical success factors including project management factors, team-related factors, organisational factors, business process factors, and governance and risk factors. There are core mechanisms that are pivotal to the success of the IT project which includes project visibility, teamwork, and effective communication.

Living systems theory provides a conceptual model the use of which might help to improve the understanding of an organisation and its problems, thus helping analysts to find solutions to these problems. A method to guide the application of living systems theory to the analysis of organisations is needed. In this work, a number of methods based on living systems theory are analysed, and a method for analysing organisations that consists of nine steps based on fundamental living systems theory concepts and, to some extent, the aforementioned methods is proposed. The steps of the method range from the initial problem, i. e. the reason to undertake the analysis, to the evaluation of the final solution. The method is iterative - the analyst will have to go back and forth between the steps of the method - and is also supposed to be continually applied. Together with this method a number of description techniques are proposed. Several of these description techniques are graphical, which will hopefully enhance readability and maintainability.

Information system projects are gaining immense popularity among the manufacturing organisations across the globe. Due to the challenges associated with the information system project management with the manufacturing organisation, organisations have started focusing on technology-oriented solutions such as Information system (IS) projects. However, the success or failure of these projects is ultimately dependent on a range of critical success factors. The purpose of the research was to investigate the Critical Success Factors (CSF) in an Information System (IS) project using the case of Wartsila, a manufacturing organisation operating in marine and energy sector. For this purpose, a qualitative research method was adopted with semi-structured interviews carried out with the IT manager, the Integration Manager (Int. M), and the project teams involved in the project. Thematic analysis, which was chosen as the appropriate data analysis method, assisted in the identification of several codes that were categorized and finally guided to the extraction of seven (7) key themes. A conceptual framework was drawn from the secondary literature review containing CSF within the two major categories such as subjective and objective CSFs. The set of subjective CSFs included project management and team member, commitment and management support, training, change management perceptions, communication, and project planning and management. On the other side, the set of objective CSFs included the process of redesigning, technological difficulties in system design, costs, time engineering, and quality.   These literature-based factors were simultaneously analysed by the responses of the interviewees, ultimately ending up in the development of a modified and comprehensive framework for the manufacturing organisation. The findings revealed the significance of subjective factor in shaping the accomplishment of objective factors, drive the project towards the success. These findings have further recommended the need for culturally sensitive ‘training’ and integration of formal and informal ‘communication’ methods for the success of the projects in the manufacturing organisations.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Information Technology (IT) artefacts, such as Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs), promise much with regard to meeting the requirements of organisations. In the knowledge economy, organisations require real time data, information flow and integration of business processes to remain financially viable and competitive. However, organisations often fail to harness ERP systems effectively. This thesis attempts to unpack a section of the complex nature of ERPs with emphasis on the post-adoption phase of the systems’ development life cycle. This study explores the complex interface between rigid IT artefacts like ERPs and the, often unpredictable, reality of organisational work processes. Focus falls, in particular, on the workaround practices that end users of the system perform and the effects these have on the integrity of the business process. Based on an extensive literature review, an integrated framework for business process integrity is developed and formulated. This model is applied to the analysis of a qualitative data set compiled during an empirical investigation of a large Local Government Organisation utilising a proprietary ERP product. The data set includes semi-structured interviews with members of the ERP user community relating to their handling of impositions or deficiencies experienced when using the artefact. To define the relationship between business process integrity and workaround practices, each workaround identified is individually analysed to determine the reasons and outcomes that are associated with its enactment. Results indicate that workaround practices have diverse impacts on the various dimensions of business process integrity. While, in certain scenarios, they pose serious threats to organisational performance, they also play a particularly important role in enhancing the organisation’s ability to handle non-standard business cases. Despite their informal and often covert nature, workaround practices are at the heart of the balance between control and flexibility in organisations and their existence suggests that, contrary to common beliefs, ERPs only have limited agency in determining organisational workflow.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inligtingstegnologie (IT) artefakte, soos ondernemingshulpbronbeplanningstelses (OHBs), beloof baie ten einde aan organisasies se vereistes te voldoen. In die kennis-ekonomie vereis organisasies regstreekse data, inligtingsvloei en integrasie van besigheidprosesse om finansieel lewensvatbaar en kompeterend te bly. Dikwels faal organisasies egter om OHB stelsels effektief te benut. Hierdie tesis poog om ʼn deel van die ingewikkelde aard van OHBs te ontleed, met klem op die postaanvaardingsfase in die stelsels se lewensiklus. Hierdie studie ondersoek die ingewikkelde koppelvlak tussen rigiede IT artefakte soos OHBs en die dikwels onvoorspelbare realiteit van organisatoriese werk prosesse. Die klem val in besonder op die alternatiewe praktyke wat eindgebruikers van die stelsel gebruik, en die uitwerking wat hierdie praktyke op die integriteit van die besigheidsproses het. Gegrond op ʼn uitgebreide literatuurstudie, is ʼn geïntegreerde raamwerk vir besigheidsprosesintegriteit ontwikkel en geformuleer. Hierdie model is toegepas op die ontleding van ʼn kwalitatiewe datastel wat saamgestel is tydens ʼn empiriese ondersoek van ʼn Plaaslike Regeringsorganisasie wat ʼn privaat patent OHB-produk gebruik. Die datastel sluit semigestruktureerde onderhoude in wat met lede van die OHB gebruikersgemeenskap gevoer is met betrekking tot hul hantering van opleggings of tekortkominge wat tydens die gebruik van die artefakte ondervind word. Om die verhouding tussen besigheidsprosesintegriteit en die toepassing van omweë te definieer, is elke geïdentifiseerde alternatief individueel ontleed om sodoende die redes en uitkomste wat met die uitvoer daarvan geassosieer word, te bepaal. Resultate dui aan dat alternatiewe gebruike diverse uitwerkings op die verskillende dimensies van besigheidsprosesintegriteit het. Terwyl, in sommige gevalle, dit ernstige bedreigings vir organisatoriese prestasie inhou, speel dit ook ʼn besonder belangrike rol in die verbetering van die organisasie se nie-standaard bedryfsake. Ten spyte van hul informele en dikwels verborge aard, is alternatiewe gebruike die hart van die balans tussen beheer en buigsaamheid in organisasies, en hul bestaan dui daarop dat, in teendeel met algemene oortuigings, OHBs net beperkte werking het met betrekking tot die bepaling van organisatoriese werksvloei.