Human Systems Management - Volume 29, issue 4

Authors: Zeleny, Milan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The free-market economy is being continually challenged – by governments, monopolies, “too big to fail” enterprises, global banks and social experimentation. Crisis is still considered to be a failure of the capitalistic system rather than a failure of politicized state and governmental institutions unable to abstain from interfering with free-market fundamentals. Crisis represents a necessary catharsis which periodically renews and regenerates prevailing business ecology. At the same time, especially with the current crisis, the system is undergoing fundamental transformation, change of paradigm and change of dominant business models. Transformations get naturally confounded with crises. Man’s failure and challenge is that …we repeatedly fail to do the catharsis of crisis – without the crisis. Disentangling the phenomena of crisis from those of transformation is the main charge of this paper. We address the issues of unemployment in the post-crisis environment, especially in the U.S. We trace the difficulties to treating economy as a deterministic machine while it behaves as an adaptive organism. Show more

Keywords: Free markets, crisis, transformation, tradeoffs, resource allocation, sustainability, invisible hand, autopoiesis, unemployment, knowledge, self-service, job creation, Austrian school, self-organization

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2010-0725

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 191-204, 2010

Authors: Long, Suzanna

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The introduction of change is frequently met with resistance, especially if that change involves a re-engineering of basic work processes and the introduction of high technologies. This study examines the introduction of a complex software system to standard work processes within an organization staffed by a largely non-technical, professional workforce. A case study approach will be used to highlight high technology-driven change management and decision-making at the planning and early implementation stages.

Keywords: High technology, technology-driven change management, sociotechnical system design, strategic planning

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2010-0716

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 205-215, 2010

Authors: Katsamakas, Evangelos G. | Georgantzas, Nicholas C.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Is open source software disrupting the software industry? If yes, how does this process work and what are its likely impacts? The purpose of this article is to explore the market effects of open source software as a disruptive innovation. The research framework it proposes accounts for the dynamic complexity of the open-source disruptive innovation strategy (DIS) of disrupter firms or communities, and the disruptive-innovation response strategies (DIRS) of incumbent software firms. The article articulates essential components of DIS and DIRS, namely new software performance dimensions and organizational innovations that open source enables. The interaction of DIS and …DIRS processes through time can lead either to the failure or to the co-existence of incumbent and disrupter firms or communities. The article extends disruptive innovation theory and helps managers make sense of the complex competitive dynamics introduced by open source. Show more

Keywords: Open source software, disruptive innovation, information technology, innovation, organizational innovation, competitive dynamics, strategy

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2010-0729

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 217-229, 2010

Authors: Yu, Po-Lung | Chen, Yen-Chu

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In most challenging decision problems, relevant parameters are changing. Decision blinds, decision traps, and fuzziness, would unavoidably occur in the process of dealing with this kind of problems. To make effective decisions, it is important to be aware of the existence and changing nature of the potential parameters. In this article we first discuss a main cause of fuzziness and unknowns in decision making, and then introduce the relevant parameters including those in human behavioral systems and in decision processes. The concepts of habitual domains, decision blinds and decision traps are explored. The tools of habitual domains are proposed to …enable decision makers to more effectively expand and enrich their visions and perceptions on the problems as to reduce decision blinds and fuzziness, and avoid decision traps. Consequentially, effective solutions for decision making in changeable spaces can be located. Show more

Keywords: Decision making in changeable space, decision blinds, decision traps, behavior mechanism, habitual domain, competence sets analysis

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2010-0728

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 231-242, 2010

Authors: Eshet-Alkalai, Yoram | Geri, Nitza

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: With the expansion of digital information resources and the increasing amount of books and articles that are available online, people frequently read texts in incongruent reading conditions. That is, text, which was designed to be read from paper, is read online, and vice versa. This study investigated the effect of incongruent reading conditions on critical reading. A group of 80 11th graders were asked to read news items in congruent and in incongruent reading situations. Results show a negative effect of incongruent reading, in which text is converted from one display to another without adjustment. The effect was strongest for …reading from a computer screen text that was designed to be read in print. Findings demonstrate the importance of format-specific text design, and suggest that universities, information repositories and other text providers should consider format adjustments in making their texts accessible for readers. Show more

Keywords: Information literacy, critical thinking, information representation, disinformation and bias, real value of information, human computer interaction

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2010-0730

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 243-251, 2010

Authors: de Waal, Gerrit Anton | Knott, Paul

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The paper addresses research issues in new product development (NPD) activity, practices and tools, in particular the need to integrate the set of tools practitioners use with the praxis of how they use these tools in day-to-day activity. It draws on the strategy-as-practice literature to derive a model that integrates the concepts of NPD practices, practitioners and praxis. It then draws on a systematic review and synthesis of existing NPD literature to develop a generic multi-stage, 12-perspective organizing framework for NPD activity, and provides examples from the literature of twelve corresponding classes of NPD tools. The literature currently lacks such …a framework and hence uses individually defined schemes, resulting in a fragmented and incomplete picture. We have designed our generic framework so that it can both integrate existing findings and stimulate research that overcomes this fragmentation. We use the framework and our model of NPD practitioners, practices and project execution to articulate a comprehensive set of research challenges in NPD tool adoption and use. Our 12-perspective framework could also provide a basis for practitioners to develop or redesign NPD processes for specific situations and purposes. Show more

Keywords: New product development, tools, activities, integrative framework, practice perspective, innovation

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2010-0732

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 253-264, 2010

Authors: Niv (Burnovski), Moshe Bar | Lieber, Zvi | Ronen, Boaz

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: As in many countries, the court system in Israel suffers from long lead time, inadequate due date performance, and poor service quality. This paper shows that putting into practice the Focused Management techniques and philosophies can significantly improve the judicial system: It will achieve much more in terms of higher throughput, shorter lead time and better quality, while using the existing resources. The paper discusses the various components of the focused management philosophy adapted to the specific court environment, such as the Theory of Constraints, the global performance measures, the Just in Time concepts and other tools and techniques. The …paper describes a methodology to improve the court system and analyzes the potential outcomes of the process as perceived by 94 presidents, vice presidents and senior judges who hold most of the managerial-judicial positions in the system. Show more

Keywords: Focused Management, the Theory of Constraints (TOC), the complete kit concept, court system, lead time reduction, judges, judicial system

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-2010-0731

Citation: Human Systems Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 265-277, 2010