1. Establishing a Model to Identify Information Systems in Nontraditional Organizations Jean S. Adams, D.Sc.

2. Outline  Terminology  Motivation  In the news  Literature  Tool Development  Overview of Study  Motivation for Educators  Terminology  Motivation  In the news  Literature  Tool Development  Overview of Study  Motivation for Educators

3. Traditional Organization  Medium to Large Organizations  Business settings - Office settings  Sales  Manufacturing  Accounting  Computer adoption = IS adoption  IS research focus on automated systems.  Medium to Large Organizations  Business settings - Office settings  Sales  Manufacturing  Accounting  Computer adoption = IS adoption  IS research focus on automated systems.

4. Nontraditional Organization  Smaller organizations < $100,000.00  Unique settings  Research should focus on the individuality of organizations and not on applying standards developed in a different setting. (El Louadi, 1998).  Smaller organizations < $100,000.00  Unique settings  Research should focus on the individuality of organizations and not on applying standards developed in a different setting. (El Louadi, 1998).

5. FIS - Farm Information Systems  What Information systems exist on Small Farms in Pennsylvania?  Identify  Classify  What Information systems exist on Small Farms in Pennsylvania?  Identify  Classify

6. Motivation  Why do you think they have information systems?  We all live in an information society.  “ Today ’ s agriculture exists in the context of an information society, and so the gathering, processing, and outputting of information is one of the most important roles of the modern farmer ” (Case & Rogers, 1987).  Information is a new farm commodity.  Why do you think they have information systems?  We all live in an information society.  “ Today ’ s agriculture exists in the context of an information society, and so the gathering, processing, and outputting of information is one of the most important roles of the modern farmer ” (Case & Rogers, 1987).  Information is a new farm commodity.

7. In the News  E. coli contamination  Mad Cow  Food Safety - Agri-terrorism  NAIS - National Animal Identification System  Animal health surveillance by identifying and tracking specific animals. (RFI)  E. coli contamination  Mad Cow  Food Safety - Agri-terrorism  NAIS - National Animal Identification System  Animal health surveillance by identifying and tracking specific animals. (RFI)

8. Literature - FIS  A tool to assist farms in forward planning, risk management, and the control functions of farm management.  Doye, Jolly, Hornbaker, Cross, King, Lazarus, Yeboah, Rister, (2000)  Used by Large farms to support farm management.  Steglin/Smith/Putler/Batte/Ascough/Baker/Jones/ Schnitkey/Case…  Large farms > $100,000 of agricultural related income.  A tool to assist farms in forward planning, risk management, and the control functions of farm management.  Doye, Jolly, Hornbaker, Cross, King, Lazarus, Yeboah, Rister, (2000)  Used by Large farms to support farm management.  Steglin/Smith/Putler/Batte/Ascough/Baker/Jones/ Schnitkey/Case…  Large farms > $100,000 of agricultural related income.

9. FIS Research  Focus on Large Farms - Traditional Org.  Computer Adoption = FIS Adoption  Research focused on automated systems  No Tools to study the unique nature of a small farm.  Focus on Large Farms - Traditional Org.  Computer Adoption = FIS Adoption  Research focused on automated systems  No Tools to study the unique nature of a small farm. How do I identify a small farm FIS if I don’t know what I am looking for?

10. Tool Development  Step 1 - Find an IS model that was not contingent on technology.  Step 2 - Find a model related to farm management.  Step 3 - Merge the two models to develop a tool to look at small farm information systems.  Step 1 - Find an IS model that was not contingent on technology.  Step 2 - Find a model related to farm management.  Step 3 - Merge the two models to develop a tool to look at small farm information systems.

11. Alter Work System Framework Alter 2002

12. Farm Management - Kay Implementation Control Planning Kay 1999

13. FIS Research Tool ControlPlanningImplementation

14. Study Overview  Exploratory - Quantitative  100 Participants  FIS exist -  Financial  Crop  Livestock  Business Process  Manual and computer based  Technology present in 50%  Exploratory - Quantitative  100 Participants  FIS exist -  Financial  Crop  Livestock  Business Process  Manual and computer based  Technology present in 50%

15. Conclusions  Combining two established and accepted models provided an exploratory tool to begin discovery in unique settings.  This approach can be used in other settings to isolate and identify information gaps.  Combining two established and accepted models provided an exploratory tool to begin discovery in unique settings.  This approach can be used in other settings to isolate and identify information gaps.

16. Motivation for Educators  PA had 58,000 farms in 2004 - (NASS)  14,600 had gross sales less than $100,000  In 2003 NASS started recording computer usage on all farms.  Opening market - Entrepreneurial  Need to help students relate to different environments. (Real world examples)  PA had 58,000 farms in 2004 - (NASS)  14,600 had gross sales less than $100,000  In 2003 NASS started recording computer usage on all farms.  Opening market - Entrepreneurial  Need to help students relate to different environments. (Real world examples)

17. Thank you for your time. Any questions? Thank you for your time. Any questions?