PhD ku...


Jika ada saudara-saudari yang berminat dalam topik MIS dalam port industry boleh contact saya. Saya sertakan abstract PhD saya sebagai rujukan. Heh..heh..Jangan cedok terus hah, kena minta kebenaran dulu daripada saya!. Harga boleh kira...saja aje-menyakat.

FACTORS DETERMINING INTRANET USAGE: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF MIDDLE MANAGERS IN MALAYSIAN PORT INDUSTRY

Abstract:
The evolution of ICT has contributed to the sudden growth in the use of Intranet in doing business. One of the areas in industry that is affected by the growth of Intranet is the port industry. However, the impact of Intranet implementation in terms of performance improvement and related benefits are still elusive. This ambiguity comes largely from the absence of empirically-based assessment of Intranet implementation especially in Malaysian port industry. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to (1) determine what is the perception of Malaysian port middle managers on the impact of Intranet usage on their performance (2) the extent to which task characteristics, and technology characteristics are the predictors of task technology fit (3) the extent to which task-technology fit is a predictor of its perceived usefulness, usage, and user resistance (4) the extent to which perceived usefulness predicts user resistance and usage (5) the extent to which usage predicts user satisfaction (6) the extent to which user satisfaction predicts usage (7) the extent to which user satisfaction predicts user resistance (8) the extent to which task technology fit, usage, user satisfaction, and user resistance as predictor of port middle manager’s performance (9) the extent to which user resistance predicts usage

To achieve these objectives, the researcher has developed a new IT model, Technology Improved Usage Model (TECHPROVED, previously known as TPRS model), and tested a variety of variables. The study was conducted over a nine-month period amongst 357 middle managers in terminal operators, port authorities, the immigration department, the customs department, and the marine department in Malaysia. Descriptive analysis was used to determine the perception of middle managers’ on the impact of Intranet on their performance and type of information used by them. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was also utilised to determine the significant levels of associations and interactions between the variables tested. The results from the descriptive analysis suggest that middle managers in Malaysian port industry agreed that Intranet has improved their performance. Also, they are satisfied with Intranet, perceived Intranet as useful, and they do not resist Intranet. Besides, the results from structural equation modelling (SEM) indicate that task-technology fit and usage significantly explains the variance on managers’ performance. However, the user satisfaction and user resistance are not significantly co-related. In addition, task characteristics, and technology characteristics significantly justify the variance on task-technology fit. Task-technology fit is significantly related to perceived usefulness, and usage except for user resistance. Perceived usefulness predicts usage, but, not user resistance. Also, this study suggests that usage significantly predicts user satisfaction; however, user satisfaction does not significantly predict usage. Similarly, user resistance does not significantly predict usage.

The result of this study will be able to provide an insight into what are the factors that influence the successful implementation of Intranet and human performance in Malaysian’s port organisations. The resulting relationship will reinforce the previous findings of numerous studies on technology usage. The findings are also useful for port companies (or in other companies/industries) whereby this research provides an opportunity to the practitioners to undergo a self-check of the various important technology usage areas that this research intends to study. For academicians and students, the empirical insights from this study will add to the literature on the relationships between the various factors affecting the successful implementation of Intranet (i.e. technology) among the port companies in Malaysia. This allows to better understanding of the pre-requisites necessary to succeed in ICT businesses especially in today’s competitive environment.

This study has won international and national invention awards, for instance, a Gold Medal at the Inventions, Innovations, and Designs 2007 (Malaysia), a Silver Medal at the Malaysia Technology Expo 2007 (Malaysia), a Silver Medal at the 17th International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design & Technology Exhibition 2006 (Malaysia), a Silver Medal at the Inventions, Innovations and Designs 2006 (Malaysia), a Bronze Medal at the Seoul International Invention Fair 2006 (South Korea) and a finalist of Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia; Public-Private Joint Research Innovation Award 2006 (Malaysia). This research is already appeared in Industrial Management & Data Systems (IMDS) (2007) and Journal of Computer Information Systems (JCIS) (Fall-2008).

To date, a few multinational companies and government agencies have already employed TECHPROVED model to improve technology usage in their organisation, e.g. 3M (Malaysia), Northport (Malaysia) Limited, 12th world largest terminal operator; Marine Department of Peninsular Malaysia, the largest marine department in Malaysia; as well as Port Klang Authority, the largest port authority in Malaysia.

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