Data analytics in small and mid-size enterprises: Enablers and inhibitors for business value and firm performance

A critical question arises as to whether data analytics (DA) can bring value and improve organizational performance. The benefit offered by DA can be achieved only when organizations are able to direct their attention on the conditioning factors that amplify business value. At the same time, organizations should cautiously resolve the issues that dampen DA business value. This study applied resource-based view (RBV) and the dual factor concept to understand such factors within the Small and Mid-size Enterprises (SMEs) context. The results revealed that information and systems qualities were the catalysts for data analytics business value, whereas lack of understanding and concerns over data security and privacy were the most salient predictors that could prevent SMEs from realizing DA business value. Our study highlights the importance of understanding both enablers and inhibitors in IT business value research. We also offer strategies to stakeholders to help SMEs realize DA business value.     

Rethinking IT governance: Designing a framework for mitigating risk and fostering internal control in a DevOps environment

An increasing amount of companies is transforming their IT departments towards cross-functional teams which are responsible for both development and operation of software and use automation to speed up their delivery process. This novel approach, which is commonly known as “DevOps”, promises many benefits such as increased speed and frequency of deployment. However, companies using DevOps are often struggling with demonstrating control of their software delivery processes to IT auditing parties, due to the decentralized decision-making structures and high degree of automation in DevOps teams. The research at hand presents a framework which aims to provide guidance to organizations in mitigating and governing risks in IT teams and departments that make use of the DevOps paradigm. We have adopted a design science research approach, building on a literature review and semi-structured interviews with seventeen employees from nine Dutch companies that are in different stages of their DevOps transition. The results suggest that two main factors which influence how departments design their DevOps environment are risk appetite and the DevOps maturity. We furthermore find that companies in practice often use a mixture of traditional, manual IT controls and the automated controls suggested in literature. Based on these insights, a situational control framework is designed which suggests suitable risk mitigation practices.     

信息化如何促进国内市场整合：减少黏性信息的视角

数字信息技术能够使市场主体以较低的成本获得及时、准确、充分的商品供求与价格信息，减少跨地区交易中的黏性信息，这为促进国内市场整合提供了新途径。文章采用2015-2017年近100个地级市的“数字中国”指数及大样本产品价格数据，使用基于时间序列的动态方法计算地区间市场分割度，并构建有调节的中介效应模型考察数字信息技术对国内市场整合的作用及机制。结果发现：提升信息化水平能够推动国内市场整合，其中促进地区间价格联动调整具有部分中介作用，而信息化水平差距和空间地理距离则具有负面的调节作用。因此，改善信息条件、提升交易效率，构建更为高效、灵敏的地区间供求与价格联动机制，应成为当前促进国内市场整合的必要之举。     

数据中心IT设备的能耗分析与节能研究

为了解决数据中心的高能耗问题,分析了数据中心的能耗构成,从IT设备的角度,研究服务器和路由器的能耗模型,根据设备负载通过动态调节电压和频率以及设置灵活的睡眠唤醒机制,从而降低了设备能耗,达到节能的目的。     

Wind of change brought by COVID-19: Exploring the response and the new normal from the perspectives of Indian flexpatriates

Drawing from the positive organizational change theory, this paper aims to explore how Indian flexpatriates responded to the change brought by the pandemic of COVID-19 and what is the new normal according to them. Thematic analysis of 19 in-depth interviews with flexpatriates from the IT industry revealed four explicit phases of change process – reflection, communication, collaboration, and transformation. Further, the analysis brought out four tenets of the new normal. First, it is time to blend physical and virtual work; second, the “personal” touch of Indians in international assignments is irreplaceable; third, working from home amidst the entire household being housebound is the new normal; and last, international travel will resume soon with some changed protocols. This is the first qualitative study combining the issue of global talent management with Indian flexpatriates vis-à-vis the impact of COVID-19, the findings of which expand the positive organizational change theory and have important implications.