Strategic information systems planning model for building flexibility and success

Abstract

PurposeThis paper provides a model for IS planning for building flexibility and success, by considering volatile environment and the possibilities for leveraging the user's cognitive capabilities.Design/methodology/approachA review of existing IS planning models is given to identify the shortcomings in building flexibility and success. A model is evolved by hypothesizing user involvement in IS planning leads to IS flexibility; and flexibility in IS enables organizational flexibility and IS success. The control variables were considered at the user, IS, and organizational levels. The proposed model was examined by a questionnaire survey, in which 296 users and planners from 42 organizations participated.FindingsThe study results validated the proposed model that IS success and organizational flexibility could be achieved through IS flexibility, which could be generated by involving users in IS planning. Also, the study results have shown that user expectations, perceived personal usefulness, and users' internal flexibility possess a high driver power for user involvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe variables included in the model are not exhaustive, and the validity of the model has not been tested in a real life situation.Originality/valueThis paper explains the ways of collaborating with users and top management to plan a flexible IS by studying the impending changes in the environment.

Lean information management: Understanding and eliminating waste

“…Such approaches typically result in recommendations for corrective action of a particular implementation or provide a framework which supports the formulation of an IS strategy based on the business strategy and core competencies of the organisation. In addition to this, the challenges surrounding the IS infrastructure for many large organisations has matured to those of effective planning and implementation (Palanisamy, 2005;West & Daigle, 2004) and change management (Edwards & Humphries, 2005). These techniques are important for the development and implementation of more effective IS strategies but do not provide a fundamental set of principles or framework for more effective information management per se.…”

E-business's impact on organizational flexibility

“…Organizational flexibility is the degree to which an organization possesses a variety of actual and potential procedures to improve the controllability of the organization and environment (Palanisamy, 2005). The processes underlying flexibility are multidimensionsal with prior research adopting differing perspectives, such as economic (Klein, 1984), organizational (Jennings and Seaman, 1994), operational (Newman et al, 1993) and strategic (Sanchez, 1995).…”

Overcoming barriers to participation during requirements elicitation

“…The choice of the case company was made because participation for innovation is a key feature of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within high tech firms (Trumbach et al, 2006). In addition, SISP is needed to cope with today's business 'fast moving, turbulent and unpredictable' environments (Palanisamy, 2005) and none more so for high tech firms. Rapid advances in IT forces companies within the technology domain to be highly innovative so as to maintain competitiveness and firm sustenance.…”