Constraining Opportunism in Information Systems Consulting: A Three Nation Examination

Watson, Richard T.1; Dawson, Gregory S.2; Boudreau, Marie-Claude3; Li, Yan4; Zhang, Hongyun5; Huang, Wei (Wayne)6; Al-Jabri, Ibrahim7

2019

10.17705/1jais.00560

Journal of the Association for Information Systems   影响因子和分区

1536-9323

1558-3457

In the context of IS consulting, this study applies the principles of engaged scholarship to examine the perennial problem of constraining opportunism. Using constructs proposed by the theory of relationship constraints, this paper examines the relative effectiveness of different constraint mechanisms on information systems (IS) consultants in China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, for projects with different levels of information asymmetry, tacit knowledge, and explicit knowledge. While we found support in all of these countries for the salience of these dimensions, there are important distinctions in the effectiveness of different constraints among the countries. Generally, consulting clients in the United States believe that social constraints are more effective, while those in China and Saudi Arabia favor legal constraints. Our research suggests that these findings are a result of differences in legal systems and the foundations of social norm formation. Our findings highlight the importance of tacit knowledge and information asymmetry (over explicit knowledge), and we provide a conceptual model for an IS-interventionist approach to reducing opportunism.

Opportunism Information Asymmetry Theory of Relationship Constraints National Differences Legal Constraints Social Constraints Knowledge Type

SCI ; EI ; SSCI

英语

其他

Computer Science ; Information Science & Library Science

Computer Science, Information Systems ; Information Science & Library Science

WOS:000499153000005

ASSOC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

20202208743088

Information use

Information Dissemination:903.2 ; Information Retrieval and Use:903.3

Web of Science

1.Univ Georgia, Terry Coll Business, Internet Strategy, Athens, GA 30602 USA
2.Arizona State Univ, WP Carey Sch Business, Accountancy, Tempe, AZ 85287 USA
3.Univ Georgia, Terry Coll Business, Dept MIS, Athens, GA 30602 USA
4.ESSEC Business Sch, Singapore, Singapore
5.Xi An Jiao Tong Univ, Sch Management, Xian, Shaanxi, Peoples R China
6.South Univ Sci & Technol, Shenzhen, Guangdong, Peoples R China
7.King Fahd Univ Petr & Minerals, KFUPM Sch Business, Management Informat Syst, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Watson, Richard T.,Dawson, Gregory S.,Boudreau, Marie-Claude,et al. Constraining Opportunism in Information Systems Consulting: A Three Nation Examination[J]. Journal of the Association for Information Systems,2019,20(7):986-1022.

Watson, Richard T..,Dawson, Gregory S..,Boudreau, Marie-Claude.,Li, Yan.,Zhang, Hongyun.,...&Al-Jabri, Ibrahim.(2019).Constraining Opportunism in Information Systems Consulting: A Three Nation Examination.Journal of the Association for Information Systems,20(7),986-1022.

Watson, Richard T.,et al."Constraining Opportunism in Information Systems Consulting: A Three Nation Examination".Journal of the Association for Information Systems 20.7(2019):986-1022.