A snapshot of key information systems (IS) issues in Estonian organizations for the 2000s

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight key information system (IS) issues in Estonian organizations for the mid‐2000s. This research is a follow‐up to an initial effort in the country in 1993, in which a similar theme was investigated. The primary objective of this present study was to compare and contrast the findings in the previous study with the present effort.Design/methodology/approachThe Delphi method was used. Viewpoints of both information technology (IT) professionals and non‐IT professionals (business managers) in the country were sought across two rounds of the Delphi method.FindingsThe findings suggest the following: the past decade has produced salient changes in the ranking of key IS issues for Estonia; it appears that there is a convergence of opinions on key IS issues in both the Estonian public and private sectors; and there are significant differences in key IS issues across professional groupings (IT and non‐IT).Research limitations/implicationsThe ranking of issues as opposed to rating issues was used in the data analysis. Ranking items is more challenging to participants and might be a limiting factor. The sample size of this study is small and perhaps a larger sample would yield better insights.Practical implicationsThose in charge of IT resources in Estonian organizations, as well as policy makers in the country, may benefit from the information provided herein. Such insights may facilitate better understanding of current key IS issues in the country.Originality/valueThis research offers a snapshot of key IS issues in Estonian organizations for the mid‐2000s. More importantly, this work complements a prior study on the same topic that was conducted in the country in the 1990s.