Categories of Global Information Management Research
Together the three variable groups identified by Ives et al. (1980), and extended in Figure 2, can provide a number of different perspectives for research in GIM. Researchers can examine one or more variables within the same variable group or between variable groups. This chapter contends that GIM research can also be classified into five different categories as depicted in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Five Categories of Global Information Management Research.
Type I research involves variables within a single category—global IS environment, global IS processes, or global IS characteristics. An example of this category of GIM research is a study of the global IS development processes for a single company. Type II research explores the relationship between one or more variables from the process category and one or more from the environment category. An example of this type of GIM research might be a study of end-user satisfaction for a system that is used in a number of countries. Type III research examines the relationship between the IS characteristics and IS process variables. An example of this research might be a case study that examines the way information is presented to users and how they use the system in a variety of countries. Type IV research investigates the relationship between environmental resources and constraints and IS characteristics. This type of research might look at the content of an EDI system and its effect on organizational planning tasks. Type V research studies the relationship between one or more variables from each of the three categories. An example of this research might be a comprehensive study of the impact of national culture on the characteristics and use of a global EIS application.
