Towards a flexible information architecture: integrating business strategies,information systems strategies and business process redesign*

Abstract. . Factors which help to integrate business and information systems strategy are identified, a linchpin being the identification of what might be termed an information strategy. Information is defined and the implications of this definition for Vie provision of a flexible information environment are identified. The use of soft systems methodology in identifying key information needs and flows is summarized and an extension of this approach, which utilizes the concept of developing alternative future scenarios and associated business strategies, is introduced.     

Information Systems, Operational Research and Business Reengineering

There has been much concern expressed during recent times to ensure that information technology (IT) considerations are firmly aligned with business imperatives. For example, two of the top ranked information systems management issues during the 1980s were concerned with the problems incurred in aligning the Information Systems function with that of the organisation as a whole, and in linking information systems and business strategies. Conversely, recent research and practice has provided us with a vision of IT-induced business process redesign, the opportunity for inter-organisational systems and even the redefinition and refocusing of business products and services. The reality for many organisations remains that IT investment is seen as a necessary evil at best, with many questioning whether it represents value for money. There have also been somewhat negative reactions to the topic of business process redesign itself: is it old wine in a new bottle? And is it all too risky a business to suggest that radical change rather than incremental change is what is required? This paper reviews these issues and argues for a refocussing of our attention on (i) information and business systems, and (ii) implementation issues and organisational change, as opposed to the more common practice of concentrating on information technology per se. It takes an organisational, soft operational research perspective on the subject of business reengineering, and provides some outline guidelines for the process of managing the change that is often both necessary and potentially desirable with the introduction and utilisation of new IT. It raises the question whether the lessons from the application of the softer operational research approaches over the past 20 years or so could be used to provide a more informed intervention, given the complexity of the task... and answers that question in the affirmative!     

End-user computing and information systems methodologies

End-user computing is a growing area within the information technology (IT) industry. The number and size of end-user-developed applications is steadily increasing, yet little attention is paid to the way in which such applications are developed, and their impact upon organizations. In this paper we examine the relationship between information systems methodologies and the end-user-computing environment. In particular, the potential benefits and disadvantages of the use of information systems methodologies for end-user-computing, and strategies by which such usage can be accomplished are discussed. This paper is partly the result of a research programme involving case studies in 34 UK organizations aimed at improving business systems.     

The Impact of Top Management Commitment, Business Process Redesign, and IT Planning on the Business-to-Consumer E-Commerce Site

Managers and researchers would benefit from an understanding of the organizational practices that result in more featured e-commerce sites and of the particular features that contribute to firm performance. In a Web-based survey of 458 business-to-consumer e-commerce managers, CEO commitment and planning resulted in more featured sites whereas business process redesign did not. Four features, namely publishing applications, catalog applications, interactivity, and interfaces, predicted firm performance at a statistically significant level, while transaction applications and server performance did not. The research contributes by demonstrating the general importance of the organizational practices and site features, while raising questions about business process redesign, transaction applications, and server performance.     

发电企业内部流程再造的思考

发电企业改革已经取得了阶段性成果,但管理还未能完全摆脱传统的计划经济时期的方式,存在诸多不和谐的地方.发电企业的业务流程再造具有现实的必要性和可行性,通过业务流程再造,在实践中采用更适合的管理流程,完成管理创新,形成个体企业的管理特色.     

Communicative action-based business process and information systems modelling with DEMO

Abstract. Abstract. The field of communicative action-based modelling of business processes and information systems has attracted more and more attention in recent years. Inspired by the seminal work of Winograd and Flores, researchers have proposed several modelling approaches. In this article we discuss communicative action-based modelling approaches in general and the DEMO (dynamic essential modelling of organizations) approach in particular. Besides establishing the theoretical foundations of this modelling approach, we also apply DEMO to a case study, and we discuss how the resulting models can be used for information systems design and business process optimization.     

An information processing framework for understanding success and failure of MIS development methodologies

Organizations seeking to improve systems development performance have implemented a variety of project methodologies. The success of these efforts has been mixed. Some organizations have found that implementation of a systems development methodology leads to on-time, within budget project completions with improved productivity; others have experienced reduced productivity. This paradox can be explained by viewing both systems development and the methodology development in terms of two key information processes - uncertainty reduction and equivocality resolution. Project methodologies that are implemented with the procedures, definitions, and policies necessary to reduce the uncertainty and resolve the equivocality associated with the systems development process can be successful only if the management of the process allows those mechanisms to be fully utilized. Implementation experiences with a particular methodology in different environments discussed here demonstrates that equivocality resolution during the implementation process is critical to realizing improved productivity. Suggestions for management action necessary to resolve equivocality during the implementation of a systems development methodology are discussed.     

Action research in information systems development

Abstract. Action research is located within a spectrum of problem-solving activity that ranges from pure basic scientific research, the purpose of which is to add to knowledge, to human action designed to achieve a purpose without thought of contributing to knowledge. Action research both adds to knowledge and applies it in practice. Action research is particularly appropriate information systems development. A number of alternative methodologies for action research exist that make differing philosophical assumptions. A body of theory exists that enables a choice to be made among methodologies. This theory is useful in analysing information system problems.     

An integrated approach toward strategic information systems planning

Within the competitive global environment, information has become a key resource for increasing a corporation's competitiveness by changing the nature or conduct of business. Accordingly, corporations are now seeking a method for information systems planning to maximize their strategic effectiveness.Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) refers to the process of creating a portfolio for the implementation and use of IS to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of a corporation, so that it can achieve its objectives. An investigation of SISP, however, showed that only 24% of planned applications were actually developed (Int. J. Comput. Appl. Technol., 8 (1995), 61; MIS Quarterly, September (1988), 445). This figure clearly shows that enhancements are required for current SISP processes. In particular, this paper focuses on SISP methodologies, which provide support for overall SISP processes.The paper initially identifies four general SISP methodology problems: lack of support for Information Technology Architecture, under-emphasis on information technology opportunities, duration of SISP, and lack of support for business process reengineering. Next, it proposes an integrated SISP methodology which solves the above problems while retaining the advantageous qualities of current SISP methodologies. Finally, a case study is added to show how the methodology actually works in practice.     

Issues in information systems planning

Numerous difficulties face information systems managers as they develop IS plans. Three nominal group technique sessions used IS practitioners from different levels of management to identify specific difficulties. The findings indicate a wide variety of problems faced by these managers. Top IS managers were concerned most with learning the objectives of top general management. Middle IS managers were concerned most with adopting a methodology for planning. Operating IS managers were concerned most with understanding the perceived needs of the user. These results suggest the need for more sophisticated management techniques (or the better use of existing techniques) and the need for research to address the development, utilization and evaluation of such techniques.     

Organizational information management strategies

Abstract. Information technology is a key factor in competitiveness. Business managers increasingly have to make decisions in this field. Their involvement in planning and decision making should be active and genuine. There are numerous methods to support information systems planning and implementation. This study focuses on the organizational approach to generating plans. An interactive framework for evolutionary information systems planning is presented together with the results of applying this framework in six organizations. The author has been working with these organizations very intensively, using an action research approach. The main emphasis is on the success of the organizational method of creating information management strategies. The main finding is that an interactive way of generating strategies is not enough. The role of internal 'project champions' in both planning and implementation is extremely important. Outside facilitators cannot replace their contribution.     

'Soft' systems thinking and information systems: a framework for client-led design

Abstract. Since the mid-1980s there has been a growing interest in the application of soft systems methodology (SSM) to the information systems design process. This interest has resulted from attempts to overcome the recognized deficiencies of conventional computer systems analysis methods and techniques. A particular problem which has received attention over the past 5 years is the epistemological and operational differences between the investigative process of the pre-design stage and the technological specification. We suggest that this argument is somewhat unproductive and advocate a necessary rethinking about the nature of information systems and the use of technology to support their activities. A re-evaluation of the way that we set about designing computer-based information systems suggests that many of the problems of conventional systems analysis methods may be alleviated by an approach that allows the 'client', or 'user', to have a greater control over the identification, specification and development of their information system(s). The authors' belief in this course of action has led to the development of client-led design as an underpinning philosophy for user participation in the design of computer-based information systems. Client-led design draws upon and develops concepts and tools from 'interpretive', or 'soft', systems thinking and, in particular, can be seen as providing a framework for the type of subjective inquiry that Checkland & Scholes (1990) referred to as 'ideal-type' mode 2 SSM. This paper is related to the papers published in the Journal of Information Systems (Vol. 3, No. 3), which was a special edition to illustrate the influence of 'soft' systems thinking upon information systems design and development.     

Levels of sophistication of information management systems and their upgrading

The organizational Information Management System is identified, analyzed and evaluated. In order to identify it, the objectives and functional components of such a system are described; then, the different levels of sophistication of the alternatives implementing each one of the system components are presented. A proposed “upgrading approach” is applied to analyze the information management activities within the organization.     

Process and reality in information systems benefit analysis

The identification of the potential benefits of a proposed information system project is a very challenging and important task. However, little research describes how this is actually carried out. The objective of this research was to answer the core question: how do organizations identify the expected benefits of proposed IS projects? To accomplish this objective, the authors studied 24 projects by interviewing 20 subjects from 13 organizations. Based on these interviews, a model of the benefit identification process was formulated showing it to be a set of loosely defined, overlapping, iterative activities. The study suggests that, despite great uncertainty about the potential benefits, proposers were compelled to use the benefit identification process to persuade the organization to be committed to the project. This effort to build commitment under great uncertainty may contribute to the overstatement or understatement of expected benefits. The study offers managers an understanding of the process and guidance for carrying it out. It also suggests that future researchers validate the model, use it to help identify best practices and test related hypotheses.     

Literature review: Understanding information systems strategy in the digital age

IT/IS strategy is of central importance to practice and many well-developed lines of research have contributed to our understanding of IT/IS strategy. However, throughout the last decade, digitalization has fundamentally transformed the business world and put into question traditional strategy wisdom. As information technologies are the driver of this digital transformation, we can expect an even more fundamental change in IT/IS strategy thinking. To verify this expectation, we undertook an in-depth, extensive review of the academic literature on this topic. Our review, which is time-framed to the years 2008–2018, distils five different directions in the development of IT/IS strategy research. It also identifies a shift in how IT/IS strategy is defined and investigated over this period. Moreover, we present an emerging debate on how digitalization challenges traditional IT/IS strategy wisdom. As this debate is still in its infancy, we take it further by entering into the larger discussion on digitalization, including digital innovation, digital ecosystems, and digital transformation. Building on this, we derive at deeper insights on how IT/IS strategy could, should, or should better not be understood in the digital age.     

信息系统项目管理研究

信息系统在组织中的地位和作用至关重要,但是信息系统建设的失败率还是很高,通过对信息系统项目的特点、信息系统项目成功与失败的标准、信息系统项目管理的发展阶段、信息系统项目管理的内容、信息系统项目管理的过程、信息系统项目管理的工具和技巧等的分析与讨论,以期帮助全面理解信息系统项目管理,指导信息系统项目管理和信息系统建设。     

Rapid adoption of information systems in an organization with poor management: the case of fund-holding in UK primary health care

Abstract. Reorganization of the UK primary health care system to create an internal market for health services depends upon local family doctors (general practitioners) taking on budgetary responsibilities and purchasing services from hospitals. These budgets will be monitored by local committees. The success of the internal market is heavily dependent upon computerized management information systems. This paper investigates the introduction of information systems into an organization that is ill prepared for change.     

基于知识管理的信息系统项目管理研究

以构建基于知识管理的信息系统项目管理模式为目的，提出了以知识管理为中心的信息系统项目管理领域模型、以知识管理为主导的信息系统项目管理过程模型、以知识为基础的信息系统项目管理组织发展层次模型以及以知识和知识管理为纽带的信息系统项目管理总体框架，用于指导信息系统项目管理实践。     

Data management in executive information systems

Data management is important in developing and maintaining executive information systems (EISs). An EIS can fail due to the lack of an adequate data infrastructure for this `data intensive' application. From the literature, discussions with developers, consulting experiences, and eight case studies, a set of key data management issues were identified. Three – data security, ownership, and standards – were further studied, using survey data collected from 85 organizations. Canonical correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between these issues and potentially related variables. The breadth and depth of information provided were found to be correlated with the difficulty of the issues. The degree of support from key individuals was also found to be correlated with the level of difficulty.     

A knowledge-based approach for handling exceptions in business processes

This paper describes a novel knowledge-based methodology and toolset for helping business process designers and participants better manage exceptions (unexpected deviations from an ideal sequence of events caused by design errors, resource failures, requirement changes, etc.) that can occur during the enactment of a process. This approach is based on an on-line repository exploiting a generic and reusable body of knowledge, which describes what kinds of exceptions can occur in collaborative work processes, how these exceptions can be detected, and how they can be resolved. This work builds upon previous efforts from the MIT Process Handbook project and from research on conflict management in collaborative design. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.