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Research Commentary: Introducing a Third Dimension in Information Systems Design—The Case for Incentive Alignment

Author

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  • Sulin Ba

    (Electronic Economy Research Lab, Department of Information and Operations Management, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089)

  • Jan Stallaert

    (Electronic Economy Research Lab, Department of Information and Operations Management, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089)

  • Andrew B. Whinston

    (Center for Research in Electronic Commerce, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712)

Abstract

Prior research has generated considerable knowledge on information systems design from software engineering and user-acceptance perspectives. As organizational processes are increasingly embedded within information systems, one of the key considerations of many business processes—organizational incentives—should become an important dimension of any information systems design and evaluation, which we categorize as the third dimension: incentive alignment. Incentive issues have become important in many IS areas, including distributed decision support systems (DSS), knowledge management, and e-business supply chain coordination. In this paper we outline why incentives are important in each of these areas and specify requirements for designing incentive-aligned information systems. We identify and define important unresolved problems along the incentive-alignment dimension of information systems and present a research agenda to address them.

Suggested Citation

  • Sulin Ba & Jan Stallaert & Andrew B. Whinston, 2001. "Research Commentary: Introducing a Third Dimension in Information Systems Design—The Case for Incentive Alignment," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 225-239, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:12:y:2001:i:3:p:225-239
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.12.3.225.9712
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Sanghyun Kim & Bora Kim & Minsoo Seo, 2020. "Impacts of Sustainable Information Technology Capabilities on Information Security Assimilation: The Moderating Effects of Policy—Technology Balance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-24, July.
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    10. Jie Lou & Yulin Fang & Kai H. Lim & Jerry Zeyu Peng, 2013. "Contributing high quantity and quality knowledge to online Q&A communities," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 64(2), pages 356-371, February.
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    16. T. S. Raghu & B. Jayaraman & H. R. Rao, 2004. "Toward an Integration of Agent- and Activity-Centric Approaches in Organizational Process Modeling: Incorporating Incentive Mechanisms," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 316-335, December.
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    18. Darshana Karna & Ilsang Ko, 2022. "The Role of We-Intention and Self-Motivation in Social Collaboration: Knowledge Sharing in the Digital World," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    19. Lee, Dong-Joo & Ahn, Jae-Hyeon, 2007. "Reward systems for intra-organizational knowledge sharing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 180(2), pages 938-956, July.
    20. Bahlmann, Jan & Spiller, Achim, 2008. "The Relationship between Supply Chain Coordination and Quality Assurance Systems: A Case Study Approach on the German Meat Sector," 110th Seminar, February 18-22, 2008, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 49768, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    21. Sangmi Chai & Bomi Choi & Minkyun Kim & T. C. E. Cheng, 2023. "Why do people speak about products online? The role of opinion leadership," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 1-17, March.
    22. Onjewu, Adah-Kole Emmanuel & Walton, Nigel & Koliousis, Ioannis, 2023. "Blockchain agency theory," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    23. Tobias Widmer & Paul Karaenke & Vijayan Sugumaran, 2021. "Two‐sided service markets: Effects of quality differentiation on market efficiency," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(3), pages 588-604, April.
    24. Kazem Haki & Michael Blaschke & Stephan Aier & Robert Winter, 2019. "A Value Co-creation Perspective on Information Systems Analysis and Design," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 61(4), pages 487-502, August.
    25. Lin, Hui & Hwang, Yujong, 2021. "The effects of personal information management capabilities and social-psychological factors on accounting professionals’ knowledge-sharing intentions: Pre and post COVID-19," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).

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