ASSIGNMENT 5.ü

TOPIC: Based on your adopted orgnaization(s), identify and discuss barriers in their IS/IT implementation ..(2000words)

Barriers to Technology Integration
Ever since computers were first used in commercial situations, organizations have tried to improve the operation of their business processes through the application of information technology in ways that have come to be described as "automation." While automation has achieved many stunning successes, experts in management and information technology have begun to recognize its considerable limitations. In brief, when business processes are automated without first streamlining and improving them (for instance by eliminating redundant activities), organizations generally fail to achieve significant benefits from their large investments in information technology. Also, when automation efforts are confined to small pieces of a business process (such as those pieces that fall within the boundaries of a particular functional unit of the organization), it can happen that the larger process is suboptimized, and performance is degraded, rather than improved.

Growing recognition of the limitations of the traditional "automation" paradigm has led experts to urge managers to conduct their system acquisition and system development activities in the context of larger organizational "reengineering" efforts. By carefully scoping out the boundaries of the whole business process and identifying its critical performance measures and the major points of leverage on them before selecting or developing an information system, managers can avoid the twin automation pitfalls of automating a bad process and automating the wrong process.

A barrier is defined as “any condition that makes it difficult to make progress or to achieve an objective” (WordNet, 1997). The objective under scrutiny in this study is increased technology integration. The understood and yet unspoken connotation of a barrier is that its removal acts as an aid towards the achievement of the objective. Therefore, the study of barriers as they pertain to technology integration is essential because this knowledge could provide guidance for ways to enhance technology integration. Ertmer (1999) echoed this sentiment, in stating that by providing “teachers with knowledge of barriers, as well as effective strategies to overcome them, it is expected that they will be prepared to both initiate and sustain effective technology integration practices” (Conclusion section, ¶ 4).


Common Barriers
The act of integrating technology into teaching and learning is a complex process and one that may encounter a number of difficulties. These difficulties are known as barriers. In order to lay the foundation for this, it is necessary to illustrate the established set of common technology integration barriers. Although these are often labeled, measured, and rated differently, researchers (Hadley & Sheingold, 1993; Anderson et al.1998; Jacobsen, 1998; Ertmer, 1999; Ertmer et al., 1999; Newhouse, 1999; Beggs, 2000; Becker, 2000b; Rogers, 2000; Cuban, 2001; Pajo & Wallace, 2001; Beaudin, 2002; Snoeyink & Ertmer, 2002; Bariso, 2003) have identified these or similar variations as widespread barriers:
-lack of computers,
-lack of quality software,
-lack of time,
-technical problems,
-poor funding,
-lack of teacher confidence,
-resistance to change,
-poor administrative support,
-lack of computer skill,
-poor fit with the curriculum,
-lack of incentives,
-scheduling difficulties ,
-poor training opportunities,
-and lack of vision as to how to integrate.

In order to draw conclusions, researchers have long attempted to categorize or group barriers through a factor analysis. This is the approach taken in this study. Hadley and Sheingold (1993) conducted a study involving known technology integrators at the 4-12 grade level, their factor analysis identified the following seven themes (ranked here from the most to least) which accounted for over 50% of the variance. The most cited barriers to technology integration were:
1. Poor administrative support
2. Problems with time, access, space, supervision, and operations
3. Poor software
4. Curriculum integration difficulties
5. Teacher’s attitudes and knowledge towards computers
6. Computer limitations and inadequate numbers of computers
7. Lack of technical support.

As stated by SONY:
1. MONEY
2. IT Support
3. Training
4. IT Infrastructure
5. Time
6. Priorities
7. Changing Technologies
8. Planning
9. Fear


Barriers Always Present
To best demonstrate the existence of barriers to technology integration independent of the environment, it is essential to examine the recent history of technology in the classroom. This allows one to see that as the main barrier – lack of technology access – was removed, other barriers still remained. Nevertheless, common sense dictates that in institutions that lack sufficient access to technology, effective technology integration would be a daunting, if not impossible task. It appears that Maddux’s (1998) claim that “it is essential that computers be placed in classrooms. Until that happens, true integration is unlikely to take place” remains true.

They found that abundant access to technology was not enough to ensure technology integration. This means that even in better than average technology-rich schools, teachers were still not integrating technology to any substantial degree. It appeared that even the straightforward task of scheduling a computer lab acted as a barrier. Yet again, the essential element of this study is that as a laptop institution, access to technology is not an issue. This provides depth to the investigation into the remaining technology integration barriers. Some of the barriers preventing teachers from integrating technology were poor computer literacy, lack of time, lack of confidence, and hardware malfunctions. Though access as a barrier had been overcome, others still remained. Similar sentiments are echoed by Cuban (2001) since he found that lack of time and inadequate generic training remained technology integration barriers in technology-rich high schools. He also noted that at technology-rich Stanford University, faculty continue to cite lack of time and poor technical support as barriers to technology integration.


Barrier Elimination
Recommendations as to the methods of eliminating technology integration barriers differ according to the type and intensity of the barrier. (Ertmer, 1999, Obtaining Resources Section, ¶ 1).

1. the less sophisticated technology integrator will require more professional development (sessions on ways to integrate technology) and more basic technical support (who to call when the computer crashes) because they are less independent;

2. the more advanced technology integrator will require more sophisticated technology support (things like learning how to make a CD) and advanced professional development (sharing sessions with other advanced integrators).


Links and Pdf's:

file:///C:/Users/ImpulsE/Desktop/MIS_assign5/6.htm
file:///C:/Users/ImpulsE/Desktop/MIS_assign5/barriers.htm
file:///C:/Users/ImpulsE/Desktop/MIS_assign5/Implementing%20a%20New%20Information%20System%20_%20Bizcovering.htm

http://is2.lse.ac.uk/asp/aspecis/19940017.pdf
barriers_ehr_implementation.pdf
ITbarriers.pdf
lthe02_05.pdf