Client peripheral knowledge is the knowledge residing in the client organization regarding the specific technologies and methodologies needed to successfully complete an IT (information technology) project that has been outsourced by the client. Data is collected from 205 USA managers, who have overseen outsourced IT projects, to see if peripheral knowledge in their own client organization affected outsourced project processes and outcomes. The project processes examined are the degree of stability of requirements during the project, and the level of vendor activities to interface with the client. The project outcome is operationalized as client satisfaction, as well as project cost performance and time performance. We find client peripheral knowledge positively affects requirement stability and vendor activities to interface with the client; requirement stability in turn positively affects client satisfaction and time performance; and vendor activities positively affect client satisfaction, but levy a penalty on the cost performance and time performance.

In 2008, Jones and Leonard developed and tested a model of trust in consumer-to-consumer (C2C) electronic commerce (e-commerce). The authors expected that natural propensity to trust (NPT) and perception of website quality (PWSQ) and others’ trust of buyers/sellers (OTBS) and third party recognition (TPR) would impact a person’s trust in C2C e-commerce. They only found support for PWSQ and TPR. Much has changed with the sharing economy since the 10 years in which this research was conducted. Concepts such as collaborative consumption and social commerce are based on the principle of trust between strangers. This study replicated the Jones and Leonard study. The new study finds that C2C e-commerce has changed and the resulting factors of influence have as well. More specifically, the study finds NPT, OTBS, and TPR to influence a consumer’s trust in C2C e-commerce. The discussion section provides the significance of these findings.

The present study sheds light on what employers believe to be important hard skills and soft skills for entry-level information systems (IS) positions. Results from a survey of N = 73 U.S.-based and international employers suggest that soft skills are significantly more important than hard skills for entry-level IS positions. The most important hard skills are Microsoft Office, database/data warehouse/SQL, and knowledge of security, while the most important soft skills are willingness to learn, critical thinking, and attitude. Employer characteristics (e.g., industry, size, location) do not affect the importance of hard skills and soft skills. Findings of this study are discussed in light of previous research. Results of this study can help to guide universities in IS curriculum development.

C2C e-commerce is increasingly being utilized by individuals to buy and sell products to and from one another. With this increase in use comes the need for specific studies regarding C2C e-commerce. This study develops and tests a model of buyer's trust in C2C e-commerce. Examining previous trust models, perceived web site quality, third party recognition, fear of seller opportunism, information asymmetry, and Internet safety training are proposed to influence buyer's trust. Additionally, the age the individual first started using a computer is proposed to moderate the relationship between Internet safety training and buyer's trust. The findings indicate that all variables significantly influence buyer's trust in C2C e-commerce, except Internet safety training and the moderation of age of first computer use. A discussion and conclusion are provided.