2003 I dedicate this thesis to my son, Shuntaro, who came into this world on December

Mobile information systems (IS) hold great promise to support organizational processes. Clear guidelines, however, of how to design effective mobile IS in support of organizational processes have not been developed. Based on earlier research that emphasizes the importance of fit between organizational tasks and technology and that develops fit profiles for specific task−technology combinations, this paper develops a task−technology fit (TTF) profile for mobile IS to support managerial tasks. We suggest a three−way match between dimensions of managerial tasks, mobile IS, and the mobile use context. We find that use situations characterized by high distraction and poor quality of network connection are particularly challenging for the design of mobile IS, and that the user interface requires particular attention. The proposed conceptual model of task−technology fit provides guidelines for the design of effective mobile IS and for future research studies.

Instant messaging (IM) is one of the newest and fastest-growing communication technologies in the workplace today, yet little is known about its real implications for worker productivity. We have taken the particular affordances of instant messaging as the basis for extrapolating from and linking prior studies of email use, polychronic communication, and task interruptions to develop propositions regarding the unanticipated individual-level productivity implications of widespread IM use in the workplace. We argue that while instant message communication may accelerate particular tasks and decision processes, unstructured IM use will likely contribute to erosion in individuals' overall productivity due to an increase in users' communicative workloads, engagement in polychronic communication, and an increase in the frequency of interruptions. We intend our proposed model and propositions as an impetus for further study of both the benefits and challenges of workplace instant messaging.

With the recent advances in mobile technologies and infrastructures, there are increasing demands for ubiquitous access to tourist information systems for service coordination and integration. However, disparate tourist information and service resources make it particularly difficult for mobile tourists to use them effectively during their trips. Neither can current tourist portals assist tourists proactively or adequately to overcome this problem. Motivated by the emerging technologies of multi-agent information systems (MAIS) that can effectively assist mobile users together with Semantic Web that can effectively organize information and service resources, we propose a ubiquitous tourist assistance system (UTAS) be built upon these technologies. In this paper, we formulate a scalable, flexible, and intelligent MAIS infrastructure for a proactive UTAS with agent clusters based on a case study of a large service-oriented travel agency. Each agent cluster comprises several types of agents to achieve the goals of the major processes of a tourist’s trip. We show how agents can make use of ontology from the Semantic Web to plan better as well as help tourists better understand and specify their requirements and preferences. We discuss and evaluate our approach from different stakeholders ’ perspective.

This paper presents results from a study of mobile ticketing service acceptance in public transportation. The theoretical background of the study was drawn from technology acceptance and diffusion of innovation theories, which were augmented with issues related to mobile service features, as well as the mobile use situation. The resulting research model was tested with data gathered through a self-administered mail survey with 360 subjects. Our findings suggest that usefulness and benefits of the mobile ticketing service are perceived differently in different use situations and that use situation has a significant effect on use intention. The results indicate that traditional adoption models should be augmented with the use situation and mobility constructs to better understand and explain the specific factors, which determine the use of mobile services. 1.

Abstract: This paper examines the role of mobile communication, mobile tools and work practices in the context of organizations, especially knowledge-based organizations. Today, organizations are highly complex and diverse. Not surprisingly, various solutions to incorporating mobile tools and mobile communication in organizations have been devised. Challenges to technological development and research on mobile communication are presented.

Abstract This paper engages in a study of the conditions for convergence between information infrastructures. Inspired by the visions of convergence as one of the essential building blocks to achieve the goals of the Information Society and eEurope as well as the observation that no model has been proposed to address how and why convergence develops, we aim at providing a theoretical framework for studying such phenomena. To analyze the interrelatedness of the parallel evolution of information infrastructures, we introduce a concept of co-evolution and apply it to a study of the ongoing development of the two wireless communication platforms Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) in Norway. We emphasize the importance of an adequate understanding of the infrastructures involved, including the installed bases and their intra- and inter-linkages, to anticipate possible trajectories of co-evolution. Focusing on the network dimension of the communication platforms, we show how the various technologies, politics, interests and user preferences linked to the installed bases of each of the platforms may strongly influence the direction and speed of their co-evolution. Keywords Co-evolution, convergence, information infrastructure, installed base, UMTS, WLAN

Organisations continue to be disappointed at the difference that ICT has made to knowledge worker productivity. This paper reports an exploratory study of the extent to which emerging mobile and wireless ICT can support the mobile nature of the knowledge worker’s job, including the impact that these technologies can have on working practices, collaboration processes, knowledge worker performance, and productivity. We investigated these objectives by the example of geographically distributed IT consultants who had voluntarily adopted a mobile working solution which combined wireless General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) phones, Tablet Personal Computers (PCs), Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) in the organisation’s office buildings, and wireless broadband in the consultants ’ homes. Personal productivity gains resulted from consultants ’ ability to make use of previously unproductive time, access corporate information as needed, and communicate via multiple channels regardless of location. The new functionality, particularly of the Table PC, afforded the evolution of new working practices by supporting richer social connectivity, more engaging face-toface interaction, with the technology becoming more a social medium rather than barrier. Although based on an early adopter sample of IT professionals experienced with adopting new technology, we conclude from the study that emerging mobile and wireless ICT may have a greater impact on productivity due to its ability to support the mobile and collaborative nature of today’s knowledge workers ’ job.

We analyze mobile computing trends in research and practice between the years 2000–2009 with an inductive categorization of 806 articles in nineteen leading academic, crossover, and practitioner outlets. We integrate this categorization with previous research in mobile commerce and e-business in order to provide the most comprehensive categorization to date. Using this categorization, we next investigate trends in the discussion and research on mobile computing. From these trends, we develop a comprehensive framework that addresses both where mobile computing research has been over the past ten years, but also areas of opportunity for future research. Results indicate research is required in the areas of: (a) IT value stream proposition (both within and outside the firm), (b) human-computer interaction (designing usable mobile computing systems), (c) legal/ethical issues surrounding mobile computing-enabled activities, and (d) organizational/societal

We analyze mobile computing trends in research and practice between the years 2000–2009 with an inductive categorization of 806 articles in nineteen leading academic, crossover, and practitioner outlets. We integrate this categorization with previous research in mobile commerce and e-business in order to provide the most comprehensive categorization to date. Using this categorization, we next investigate trends in the discussion and research on mobile computing. From these trends, we develop a comprehensive framework that addresses both where mobile computing research has been over the past ten years, but also areas of opportunity for future research. Results indicate research is required in the areas of: (a) IT value stream proposition (both within and