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Research Topics
Inter-Organizational Informations
Systems (IOIS)
In studying IOIS we are most interested in understanding the evolution of Inter-organisational Information Systems (IOIS) as well as the emergence of Industry-wide Information Infrastructures (III). In this ongoing research effort we collaborate with Prof. Stefan Klein from the University of Münster. In a large project, funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG), we developed a new theoretical and methodoloical apparatus to study the evolution of IOIS and III (the final report is available as a PDF-File). We further collaborate with Professor
Robert Johnston (University College Dublin, Ireland) and Professors
Guoqing Chen, Xunhua Guo, Bin Xie and Mingzhi Li (all Tsinghua University, Beijing). Our current research activities focus on developing a longitudinal research design to study the evolution of III in the distribution of pharmaceutical products in differnt national contexts. As a first step, the project 'Establishing Learning Communities for Application of Novel Information Technologies in Healthcare', funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), aims at setting up a research environment within which the emergence of III in China can be studied. A flyer describing the project (on page 18) is available here. We have also successfully acquired a new DFG-funded project which follows up on our first DFG-project. A short project description is available here.
- Publications
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K. Reimers, R.B. Johnston, and S. Klein: Evolution of Inter-organizational Information Systems on Long Timescales: A Practice Theory Approach. In: K. Vaidya (ed.): Inter-Organizational Information Systems and Business Management: Theories for Researchers. Hershey: IGI Global, 2011, pp. 38-54.
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K. Reimers, R.B. Johnston, X.H. Guo, S. Klein, B. Xie and M.Zh. Li: Novice-based Data Collection Methods for the Study of IOIS: Practice Probes and Learning Communities. In: Proceedings of 24th Bled eCommerce Conference "eFuture", June 12-15, 2011, Bled, Slovenia, pp. 407-420 [winner of outstanding conference paper award]. (PDF File)
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K. Reimers, R.B. Johnston, and S. Klein: The Difficulty of Studying Inter-organisational IS Phenomena on Large Scales: Critical Reflections on a Research Journey. In: Electronic Markets, Vol. 20, Nos. 3-4 (December 2010), pp. 229-240 (a pre-print version is available here).
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K. Reimers, R.B. Johnston, and S. Klein: Toward a Theory of IOIS Variance -- A New Framework for Studying Inter-organisational Information Systems. In: International Journal of Information Systems Technologies and Applications, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 36-56. (PDF File, Copyright 2010, IGI Global, posted by permission of the publisher)
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K. Reimers, R.B. Johnston and S. Klein: Understanding Resilience and Evolution of IOIS in the Australian Pharmaceutical Distribution Industry. In: Proceedings of the Thirtieth International Conference on Information Systems, December 16-18 2009, Phoenix. (PDF File)
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K. Reimers, R.B. Johnston and S. Klein, Stefan: Challenges in Explaining Structure and Evolution of Inter-organizational Information Systems -- Lessons from an Empirical Research Journey. In: Proceedings of 22nd Bled eCommerce Conference "eEnablement", June 14-17, 2009, Bled, Slovenia. (PDF File)
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K. Reimers and R.B. Johnson: The Use of an Explicitly Theory-Driven
Data Coding Method for High-Level Theory Testing in IOIS. In: Proceedings
of the Twenty Ninth International Conference on Information Systems,
Paper 184, December 15 - 17 2008, Paris. (PDF-File)
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K. Reimers and R.B. Johnston: Explaining Persistence and Resilience
of Inter-organisational Information Systems: Theoretical and Methodological
Considerations. In: Proceedings of the 16th European Conference
on Information Systems, Galway, Ireland, June 9-11, 2008. (PDF
File)
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K. Reimers and M.Zh. Li: Interaction of Technological and Institutional
Change in the Development of an Electronic Commerce System in China's
Pharmaceutical Distribution Chain -- A Transaction Cost Perspective.
In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics (HEALTHINF), Funchal, Portugal, 28-31 January, 2008. (PDF
File)
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K. Reimers, Th. Wagner and A. Zenke (eds.): Case
Studies of Inter-organisational Information Systems -- Results from
Four Industries and Four Countries. Göttingen: Cuvillier Verlag,
2005 (in German; a description of this book is available here).
- K. Reimers, R.B. Johnston and S. Klein: The Shaping
of Inter-Organisational Information Systems: Main Design Considerations
of an International Comparative Research Project. In: Proceedings
of the 17th Bled eCommerce Conference "eGlobal", Bled,
Slovenia, June 21-23, 2004.
(PDF File)
Development of IT Standards
In the research area “Development
of IT-Standards” we focus on the emergence and diffusion of IT-Standards.
We distinguish between compatibility standards and communication standards.
The former are used to create standardized interfaces between different
hardware and software components, the latter regard rules for communication
between different information systems. The close relationship with the
research topic “Inter-Organisational Information
Systems” is apparent: Standardized interfaces provide the basis
for Inter-Organisational Information Systems through enabling companies
to communicate electronically.
In this research area, we closely collaborate with Prof. Mingzhi Li
from Tsinghua University in Beijing. As part of a university-funded project (a so-called pathfinder project) we began a fruitful collaboration with Dr. Kai Jacobs from the computer science department of RWTH Aachen University concerning the standardisation of the Internet of Things (IoT). The final report of the pathfinder project is available here.
- Publications
- K. Jacobs, Th. Wagner and K. Reimers: Project Report: Standardising the Internet of Things - What the Experts Think. In: International Journal of IT Standards & Standardisation Research, Vol.9 (2011), No. 1, pp. 63-67.
- K. Jacobs, Th. Wagner, and K. Reimers: Developing Standards for the IoT - A Collaborative Exercise!? In: L. Legardeur and K. North (eds): Towards New Challenges for Innovative Management Practices, Vol.3, No. 1, pp. 108-16 (ERIMA 2010 Proceedings). (PDF File)
- M.Z. Li and K. Reimers: China's Practice of Implementing a 3G Mobile Telecommunications Standard: A Transaction Costs Perspective. In: K. Jakobs (ed.): Information Communication Technology Standardization for E-Business Sectors: Integrating Supply and Demand Factors. Hershey, New York: IGI Global, 2009, pp. 140-151.
- K. Reimers and M.Zh. Li: Effectiveness of the International
3G Standardisation Process and Implications for China's 3G Policy.
In: International Journal of Public Policy, Vol. 2 (2007), Nos.
1/2, pp. 124-139.
- K. Reimers and M.Zh. Li: Antecedents of a Transaction
Cost Theory of Vertical IS Standardisation Processes. In: Electronic
Markets, Vol. 15, No. 4 (2005) (Special Issue on Vertical Industry
Information Technology Standards and Standardization), pp. 301-312.
- K. Reimers and M.Z. Li: Should Buyers Try to Shape
IT-markets through Non-market (Collective) Action? Antecedents of
a Transaction Cost Theory of Network Effects. In: Journal of IT
Standards & Standardization Research, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Jan.-June
2005), pp. 44-67.
Implementation of ERP Systems
The term ERP system refers to a class
of software which connects different functional departments in an organisation
by using a common database. In an ongoing research project we are helping
to roll out a global ERP solution in an international enterprise. This
company is one of the leading suppliers for chemical products in different
sectors. The members of the research project take a deeper look at problems
of daily life, hierarchical frictions and implicit cross-country problems
such as cultural differences or power issues. Moreover, the influence
on organisational structures in the implementation process is thoroughly analysed
by the research team. For these purposes, the research team has developed
a control and forecasting tool which will help the firm to organize
and “review” their activities leading to a reduced number
of failures. We have also developed some teaching cases in this area.
- Publications
- K. Kelzenberg, T. Wagner, K. Reimers: A Conceptual Framework for
Developing and Evaluating ERP Implementation Strategies in Multinational
Organizations. In: Enterprise Resource Planning for Global Economies:
Managerial Issues and Challenges, edited by C. Ferran and R. Salim,
Information Science Reference (2008). More Information here.
- Sh.-W. Chien, Ch. Hu, K. Reimers, J.-Sh. Lin: The Influence of
Centrifugal and Centripetal Forces on ERP Project Success in Small
and Medium-sized Enterprises in China and Taiwan. In: International
Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 107, No. 2 (June 2007), pp.
380-396.
- K. Reimers: Gearbox China (Ltd.): Will the Company's
ERP System Support Its Ambitious Growth Strategy? In: Journal of
Information Technology, Vol. 19, No. 2 (June 2004), pp. 140-148.
- F.W. McFarlan, G.Q. Chen and K. Reimers: Digital China Holdings Limited: ERP as a Platform for Building New Capabilities. Harvard Business School Case, No. 9-302-080, Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, Rev. May 21, 2002.
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Publications
A complete list
of publications by Kai Reimers is available on his personal website:
www.kai-reimers.net
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