I have had this similar issue, I bypassed it by utilizing cscript.exe application to activate the vbscript as a console application rather than a windows application. There is a possibility that there is a limitation on the domain or computer which does not allow windows applications to be executed via wscript. As an alternative, try activating the same script via "Cscript.exe" instead.
So the code would be:
cscript C:\dev\checkALPS.vbs
And the get object method is not activated off of the wscript executable. So you would need to activate it via wscript.
dim oWord
Dim wshShell, btn
Set wshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
set oWord = Wscript.GetObject(, "Word.Application")
if isobject(oWord) then
on error goto 0
wshShell.Popup "Word is running, making visible", 7, "ALPS Push print", &H0 + &H40
oWord.visible=true
wshShell.Popup "MS Word is now visible" & vbcrlf & vbcrlf & "Waiting 30 seconds then hiding it", 30, "ALPS Push print", &H0 + &H30
oWord.visible=false
else
wshShell.Popup "Word is not running" & vbcrlf & vbcrlf & "Quitting", 7, "ALPS Push print", &H0 + &H40
end if
Give that a swing and let me know how it works.