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Several accreditation agencies in Latin America introduce their standards and guidance for documentation but they do not explicitly elaborate on the key performance indicators on which higher education institutions can rely for evaluating their activities. The purpose of this research is to analyse the management indicators that higher education institutions in the region have implemented to identify those that have more impact in obtaining an institutional accreditation. A quantitative survey of 114 institutional leaders from 97 universities in 11 countries identified the management indicators. Findings in this research may serve as guidelines for leaders and practitioners to decide which indicators to implement and help institutions in the region to succeed in national and international institutional accreditation processes.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to expand current knowledge about the security organizational practices and analyze its effects on the information security management performance. Design/methodology/approach Based on the literature review, the authors propose a research model together with hypotheses. The survey questionnaires were developed to collect data, which then validated the measurement model. The authors collected 111 responses from CEOs at manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that had already implemented security policies. The hypothesized relationships were tested using the structural equation model approach with EQS 6.1 software. Findings Results validate that information security knowledge sharing, information security education and information security visibility, as well as security organizational practices, have a positive effect on the information security management performance. Research limitations/implications The consideration of organizational aspects of information security should be taken into account by academics, practitioners and policymakers in SMEs. Besides, the work helps validate novel constructs used in recent research (information security knowledge sharing and information security visibility). Practical implications The authors extend previous works by analyzing how security organizational practices affect the performance of information security. The results suggest that an improved performance of information security in the industrial SMEs requires innovative practices to foster knowledge sharing among employees. Originality/value The literature recognizes the need to develop empirical research on information security focused on SMEs. Besides the need to identify organizational practices that improve information security, this paper empirically investigates SMEs’ organizational practices in the security of information and analyzes its effects on the performance of information security.

Although Latin America has exhibited lately the largest growth in terms of ERP adoption rate worldwide, there is a gap in the literature focused in examining the success and underlying causes of such adoptions. After an extensive literature review, the authors found little evidence of studies oriented to the study of human factors in ERP projects in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the region, which is the aim of this study. It is known that the success of these projects is limited, and that the failure rate is high (between 60% and 90%). Therefore, it is worth identifying the human factors that may serve as reference for the HEIs that are planning to implement these systems. This work compiles the experiences of experts who have participated in projects at universities in Latin American countries, establishing a set of unique features and the specific factors to lead successful ERP projects.

This chapter studies the challenges that higher education institutions (HEIs) in Latin America face for the implementation of information systems (IS), highlighting specific characteristics of the region compared with other parts of the world. The study evidences distinctives of universities in comparison with other type of industries that need to be considered for the implementation of IS. Critical success factors and barriers for IS implementation projects are also recognized through a compilation of the experience of experts who have participated in projects in 14 countries in the region. It is intended that this work research will serve as a reference for institutions that are seeking the implementation of IS, and that it will also serve as guide for interested stakeholders—academics, researchers, administrators, and managers—to start such projects and ensure the understanding of the conditions required that will help them succeed.

This chapter studies the challenge of the management of the R&D and innovation (hereafter R&D+i) projects considering an empirical focus through an in-depth analysis of R&D+i project sample developed for industrial companies. This work evidences that, in order to innovation projects would be a success, it is necessary to ensure the participation of all stakeholders, from the conceptual and design phase of the project to the industrial-production and market phases and it must be taken into account the processes of watching and competitive intelligence, the continuous assessment of the viability of the projects, the industrialization of the results, and the innovation through the operating plans focused towards the market. Accordingly, the chapter presents the key performance factors to take into account for the improvement of R&D+i projects management and results.

The effective use of technologies supporting decision making is essential to companies? survival. Recent studies analyzed social media technologies (SMT) in the context of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), contributing to the discussion on SMT benefits from the marketing perspective. This article focuses on the effects of SMT use on innovation. Our findings provide empirical evidence on the positive effects of SMT use for acquiring external information and for sharing knowledge and innovation performance.

Objeto: La literatura analiza la relación entre tecnologías de la información y resultados empresariales principalmente mediante relación directa entre inversión en tecnologías de la información (TI) y medidas financieras. Esto ha generado disparidad de resultados y falta de consenso y por tanto, la necesidad de profundizar en este tema. En este sentido, el presente trabajo tiene por objeto analizar en pymes industriales los efectos que la utilización de las TI tiene en distintas variables financieras y no financieras vinculadas a los resultados. Diseño/metodología/enfoque: El trabajo sigue el esquema clásico de investigación con revisión de la literatura, proposición de hipótesis y aplicación de metodología empírica cuantitativa, recogiendo información mediante cuestionarios enviados por correo electrónico, para el posterior tratamiento y contraste estadístico mediante modelos ANOVA, que permiten obtener resultados y conclusiones. Aportaciones y resultados: El trabajo aporta un enfoque más allá de la clásica búsqueda de relación directa entre inversión en TI y medidas financieras, utilizando en su lugar como variable explicativa la “utilización de las TI” y como variables explicadas las dimensiones del cuadro de mando integral, que considera las financieras e introduce otras más cualitativas como clientes, recursos humanos y procesos internos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que las TI contribuyen a la generación de valor no solo a través de la rentabilidad sino también de otros factores más cualitativos. Limitaciones: El tamaño muestral (85 empresas) dificulta la extrapolación de resultados. Además, a futuro sería adecuado considerar nuevos desarrollos tecnológicos como el Cloud computing, junto con variables como la seguridad de la información y sus efectos en la generación de valor. Originalidad / Valor añadido: Este trabajo pone de manifiesto que para analizar el valor generado por las TI hay que considerar variables financieras y no financieras. El enfoque, variables y escalas propuestas complementan los enfoques clásicos y pueden orientar tanto futuras investigaciones, como a las empresas que quieran generar su propio sistema de autoevaluación. Purpose: The literature examines the relationship between information technologies and business results mainly through direct relationship between investment on Information Technologies (IT) and financial measures. This has resulted in disparity of results and lack of consensus, and therefore, the necessity to deepen this topic. In this sense, this paper aims to analyze in industrial SMEs the effects of the use of IT on different financial and non-financial variables related to business value. Design/methodology: The work follows the classical research scheme with literature review, statement of hypotheses and application of quantitative empirical methodology, collecting information through questionnaires sent by email, for further processing and statistical testing using ANOVA models, which allow get results and conclusions. Findings: The study provides an approach beyond classical search of direct relationship between IT investment and financial measures, using instead as an explanatory variable the "use of IT" and as explained variables the Balance scorecard dimensions, which considers the financial ones and introduces other more qualitative as customers, human resources and internal processes. The obtained results show that IT contributes to the generation of value not only through the profitability but also other more qualitative factors. Research limitations/implications: The sample size (85 companies) complicates the extrapolation of results. In addition, in the future it would be appropriate to consider new technological developments like Cloud computing, along with variables such as information security and its impact on value creation. Originality/value: This work shows that to analyze the generated value by IT it must to be considered financial and non-financial variables. The proposed approach, variables and scales complement traditional approaches and can guide future research as well as companies who want to generate their own self-assessment system

Public administrations have a fundamental role in developed societies ensuring the citizens' welfare through the provision of important services. Despite its importance, the effects of using IT in administrations has been less studied by the academy in comparison with using it in businesses, so there is an absence of works focused on analyzing which technologies administrations apply and which results they produce. Accordingly, this chapter aims to analyze the practical results that may be encountered in the application of CRM 2.0 in public administrations. For this, firstly, the CRM concept and its application are analyzed, finding that traditional CRM maintains a unidirectional approach of information, with little room for citizen participation. Secondly, to overcome the one-way approach, concept of Web 2.0, based on the collaborative use of the IT, which extends the possibilities of interaction between administrations and citizens is presented. This integration of traditional CRM with Web 2.0 gives rise to the CRM 2.0; its applications are expected to be the opportunity to modernize services and move closer to citizens. However, the literature has not identified the specific effects of applying CRM 2.0 in public administrations. In this sense, the work identifies some practical results of these implementations through exploratory research by applying a Delphi to senior managers of nine Spanish public administrations; this has allowed the authors to identify as principal results an improved productivity, an increased citizen satisfaction, and a better integration of information. Security and organizational issues are the main difficulties.

Objeto: La literatura analiza la relación entre tecnologías de la información y resultados empresariales principalmente mediante relación directa entre inversión en tecnologías de la información (TI) y medidas financieras. Esto ha generado disparidad de resultados y falta de consenso y por tanto, la necesidad de profundizar en este tema. En este sentido, el presente trabajo tiene por objeto analizar en pymes industriales los efectos que la utilización de las TI tiene en distintas variables financieras y no financieras vinculadas a los resultados. Diseño/metodología/enfoque: El trabajo sigue el esquema clásico de investigación con revisión de la literatura, proposición de hipótesis y aplicación de metodología empírica cuantitativa, recogiendo información mediante cuestionarios enviados por correo electrónico, para el posterior tratamiento y contraste estadístico mediante modelos ANOVA, que permiten obtener resultados y conclusiones. Aportaciones y resultados: El trabajo aporta un enfoque más allá de la clásica búsqueda de relación directa entre inversión en TI y medidas financieras, utilizando en su lugar como variable explicativa la “utilización de las TI” y como variables explicadas las dimensiones del cuadro de mando integral, que considera las financieras e introduce otras más cualitativas como clientes, recursos humanos y procesos internos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que las TI contribuyen a la generación de valor no solo a través de la rentabilidad sino también de otros factores más cualitativos. Limitaciones: El tamaño muestral (85 empresas) dificulta la extrapolación de resultados. Además, a futuro sería adecuado considerar nuevos desarrollos tecnológicos como el Cloud computing, junto con variables como la seguridad de la información y sus efectos en la generación de valor. Originalidad / Valor añadido: Este trabajo pone de manifiesto que para analizar el valor generado por las TI hay que considerar variables financieras y no financieras. El enfoque, variables y escalas propuestas complementan los enfoques clásicos y pueden orientar tanto futuras investigaciones, como a las empresas que quieran generar su propio sistema de autoevaluación. Purpose: The literature examines the relationship between information technologies and business results mainly through direct relationship between investment on Information Technologies (IT) and financial measures. This has resulted in disparity of results and lack of consensus, and therefore, the necessity to deepen this topic. In this sense, this paper aims to analyze in industrial SMEs the effects of the use of IT on different financial and non-financial variables related to business value. Design/methodology: The work follows the classical research scheme with literature review, statement of hypotheses and application of quantitative empirical methodology, collecting information through questionnaires sent by email, for further processing and statistical testing using ANOVA models, which allow get results and conclusions. Findings: The study provides an approach beyond classical search of direct relationship between IT investment and financial measures, using instead as an explanatory variable the "use of IT" and as explained variables the Balance scorecard dimensions, which considers the financial ones and introduces other more qualitative as customers, human resources and internal processes. The obtained results show that IT contributes to the generation of value not only through the profitability but also other more qualitative factors. Research limitations/implications: The sample size (85 companies) complicates the extrapolation of results. In addition, in the future it would be appropriate to consider new technological developments like Cloud computing, along with variables such as information security and its impact on value creation. Originality/value: This work shows that to analyze the generated value by IT it must to be considered financial and non-financial variables. The proposed approach, variables and scales complement traditional approaches and can guide future research as well as companies who want to generate their own self-assessment system

Cloud computing is a new technological paradigm that may revolutionize how organizations use IT by facilitating delivery of all technology as a service. In the literature, the Cloud is treated mainly through a technological approach focused on the concept definition, service models, infrastructures for its evelopment and security problems. However, there is an important lack of works which analyze this paradigm adoption in SMEs and its results, with a gap between the technological development and its adoption by organizations. This paper uses a qualitative technique methodology -group meetings with managers- and a quantitative one-survey- and identifies which factors act as barriers to Cloud adoption and which positive effects its application generates in 94 industrial SMEs. The conclusion is that the main barriers are of a cultural type and that the positive effects go well beyond reducing costs.