From Theoritical Concept

to Survey Instrument

Example
Title

Knowledge Transfer in IT Outsourcing

Concepts/Dimensions Knowledge Transfer & IT Outsourcing

Related Theory

Knowledge Based view

Social Exchange Theory
Organizational Learning Theory
Resource Based view

Context

Malaysia E-government IT Outsourcing

project

Research Question

What are the client and vendor factors that

highly affect knowledge transfer in IT
outsourcing

Constructs

Client and Vendor characteristics

Factor

Absorptive Capacity

Example
Operationalize Definition
Conceptual Framework
Constructs and Measurement

Time for Hands-on

Operationalize Definition
Conceptual Framework
Constructs and Measurement

Exercise 1: Construct & Research

question
Title

Knowledge Transfer in IT Outsourcing

Concepts/Dimensions Kemahiran Berfikir Aras Tinggi,

Pembelajaran Bermakna
Related Theory

Teori Kognitif sosial

Teori Konstruktivisme

Context

PPPM 2013-2015

Research Question

Apakah item KBAT yang menyumbang

terhadap pembelajaran bermakna

Constructs

Taakulan
Analitik & Logik
Kecenderungan
Andaian

Factor

Komunikasi

An absorptive capacity
model

Absorptive
Capacity

Applying Laserfeld Schemes stages 1 & 2

Imagery:

Absorptive capacity

The ability of the client to acquire

new external knowledge provided
by the vendor, assimilate the
Concept
Specification knowledge and transform the
(clarification) knowledge into usable knowledge
then apply it to business ends

Exercise 2: Applying Laserfeld Schemes stages 1 & 2

There are four stages

Imagery:

Concept
Specification
(clarification)

Kemahiran berfikir aras tinggi

Keupayaan untuk mengaplikasi pengetahuan,

kemahiran, penaakulan, refleksi bagi menyelesaikan
masalah, membuat keputusan, berinovasi dan
berupaya mencipta sesuatu (KPM 2013).
Perlu extensive LR. Perlu hasilkn definisi
sendiri then kenalpasti faktor yg sesuai. LR
gunakan keyword cth penaakulanso
penaakulan berkaitan apa???? Definedefine..

Construct Operational
Definition
Variable Constructs
Item
Indicators
s
and
Measur
Operation ement
alized
Definition

Indep
enden
t

Absorptive
capacity
The ability of
the client to
acquire new
external
knowledge
provided by
the vendor,
assimilate
the
knowledge
and
transform

Adapted
Sources

Level
of
Meas
urem
ent
(Stev
ens,1
946)

Scal Data
e
Anal
ysis

Exercise 2: Applying Laserfeld Schemes stages 1 & 2

There are four stages

Imagery:

Absorptive capacity

The ability of the client to acquire

new external knowledge provided
by the vendor, assimilate the
Concept
Specification knowledge and transform the
(clarification) knowledge into usable knowledge
then apply it to business ends

Exercise 3: Applying
Laserfeld
stages 3 & 4
Stages
3 &Schemes
4

Selection of
Indicators

Construction of
Indices

Acquire- The ability to identify and filter

knowledge that will be valuable (can be used or
exploited at some future time)
To what extent do you agree with the
following statements?
Acquire
1. Each of the members in the ITO project team
has a vision of what the implementation of
project is trying to achieve.
2. It is easy for team members to decide what
information will be most useful in meeting
the project vision.
3. All team members has information on the
state-of-the-art that will be most valuable to
the project
7-point Likert scale
(Scale ranging from 1-strongly disagree to 7strongly agree)

Variab
les

Constructs
and
Operationaliz
ed Definition

Independ
ent

Client - Public agencies

as the recipient of
knowledge that
outsourced the Egovernment application

Client Factors:
1)
Absorptive
Capacity
2)
Retentive
Capacity
3)
Communication
4)
Motivation

Item
Measure
ment

Indicators

Adapt Level Scale Data

ed
of
Analy
Sourc Measu
sis
es
remen
t
(Steve
ns,194
6)

Construct Operational
Definition
1)

Absorptive
capacity
The ability of the
client to acquire
new external
knowledge
provided by the
vendor,
assimilate the
knowledge and
transform the
knowledge into
usable knowledge
then apply it to
business ends

Acquire- The
ability to
identify and
filter
knowledge
that will be
valuable (can
be used or
exploited at
some future
time)

To what extent do you

agree with the following
statements?
Acquire
1.
Each of the members
in the ITO project
team has a vision of
what the
implementation of
project is trying to
achieve.
2.
It is easy for team
members to decide
what information will
be most useful in
meeting the project
vision.
3.
All team members has
information on the
state-of-the-art that
will be most valuable
to the project

Schmidt
(2010)
Cadiz et al.
(2009)
Ko et al.
(2005)
Matusik &
Heeley
(2005)
Zahra &
George
(2002)
Szulanski
(1996)

Ordinal
Scale

7-point
Likert
scale
(Scale
ranging
from 1strongly
disagree
to 7strongly
agree)

Factor
Analysis
SEM

More Examples
Operationalize
Definition
Conceptual Framework
Constructs and
Measurement

Exercise 4: Complete Scale

Measurement Table
Vari
able
s

Constructs and
Operationalized
Definition

Inde
pen
den
t

Shared domain knowledge

Extracted from LR
Reich and Benbasat [55,
p. 86] found shared domain
knowledge, which they define as
the ability of IT and business
executives, at a deep level, to
understand
and be able to participate in the
others key processes
and to respect each others
unique contribution and
challenges,
to facilitate short-term and longterm alignment.

Item Indica Adapte Level Scale Data

Measu
tors
d
of
Analy
remen
Sources Measu
sis
t
remen
t
(Steve
ns,19
46)

Exercise 4: Complete Scale

Measurement Table
Var Constructs
iab
and
les Operationali
zed
Definition

Item Measurement

Shared domain
knowledge
Extracted from LR
Reich and Benbasat
[55,
p. 86] found shared
domain knowledge,
which they define as
the ability of IT and
business executives,
at a deep level, to
understand
and be able to
participate in the
others key
processes
and to respect each
others unique
contribution and
challenges,

Shared domain
knowledge is
assessed using two
items:
i. assessing how
informed IS
managers
were on the
organizations longterm plans
ii. how informed
top management is
on information

Ind
ep
en
de
nt

Indica Adapte Level Scale Data

tors
d
of
Anal
Source Measu
ysis
s
remen
t
(Steve
ns,19
46)

Exercise 4: Complete Scale

Measurement Table
Var Constructs
Item
iab
and
Measure
les Operationali
ment
zed
Definition

In
de
pe
nd
en
t

Shared domain
knowledge
Extracted from LR
Reich and Benbasat
[55,
p. 86] found shared
domain knowledge,
which they define as
the ability of IT and
business executives,
at a deep level, to
understand
and be able to
participate in the
others key
processes
and to respect each
others unique
contribution and
challenges,
to facilitate short-

Shared domain
knowledge is
assessed using
two items:
i. assessing
how informed
IS managers
were on the
organizations
long-term
plans

Indicators

Please indicate to what extent do you

agree with the following statements
IS managers are aware of the firms
objectives, business
strategies, and long term goal
IS managers are kept informaed about
key business initiatives and plans
IS managers are well informed about the
universitys long term plan
IS managers are/will be kept updated
with strategic
business plan of the university
IT managers understand the activities
of the business functions of the
university.
Top management is involved in IT
development

ii. how

Adapte Level Scale Data

d
of
Anal
Source Meas
ysis
s
ureme
nt
(Stev
ens,1
946)
Chan,
Sabherwal, and
Thatcher (2006)
Dmaithan A .
Al-Majali
(2011)

Exercise 4: Complete Scale

Measurement Table
Vari Constru
abl cts and
es Operati
onalize
d
Definiti
on

In
de
pe
nd
en
t

Shared
domain
knowledge
Extracted
from LR
Reich and
Benbasat
[55,
p. 86] found
shared
domain
knowledge,
which they
define as
the ability of
IT and
business
executives,
at a deep
level, to
understand
and be able
to participate
in the others
key
processes
and to
respect each
others

Item
Measure
ment

Indicators

Adapted
Sources

Shared domain
knowledge is
assessed using
two items:
i. assessing
how informed
IS managers
were on the
organizations
long-term plans

Please indicate to what extent do you agree with the following

statements
IS managers are aware of the firms objectives, business
strategies, and long term goal
IS managers are kept informaed about key business initiatives and
plans
IS managers are well informed about the universitys long term
plan
IS managers are/will be kept updated with strategic
business plan of the university
IT managers understand the activities of the business functions
of the university.
Top management is involved in IT development

Chan,
Sabherwal, and
Thatcher (2006)
Dmaithan A .
Al-Majali
(2011)

ii. how
informed
top
managemen
t is on
information
technology

Please indicate to what extent

do you agree with the
following statements.
In your university:
1. Managers comprehend IS
terminology well at all levels.
2. Managers understand
problems, tasks, and roles of
the IT department.
3. Managers understand the
4. accomplishments of the IT
department

Level
Scale Data
of
Analy
Measur
sis
ement
(Steve
ns,194
6)
Ordinal 7-point Factor
Scale
Likert
Analysi
scale
s
(Scale SEM
ranging
from 1
=
strongly
disagree
to 7
=strongl
y agree)

Please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statements by marking () at the appropriate answer.
Shared Domain Knowledge

No

Strongly
Disagree

Item

Disagree

Somewhat
Disagree

Undecided

Somewhat
agree

A.
i.

Assessing how informed are managers on the organizations long-term plans

IT managers are aware of the

firms objectives,
businessstrategies, and long
term goal.

i.

IT managers are/will be kept

updated with strategic
business plan of the
university.

i.

IT managers understand the

activities of the business
functions of the university.

i.

IT managers understand the

work environment of the
business functions of the
university.

B.
i.

i.

Managers understand
problems, tasks, and roles of the
IT department.

i.

Managers understand the

accomplishments of the IT
department.

Agree

Strongly
agree

How informed are top manageners on information technology

Managers understand IT

terminology well at all levels.

Exercise 5: The Complete Survey Questionaire

Please indicate to .............................................................................

No

Strongly
Disagree

Item

Disagree

Somewhat
Disagree

Undecided

Somewhat
agree

Agree

Strongly
agree