Identifying key Information Systems competencies in small firms

Abstract

Rather than examine all types of organisational capability, this paper focuses on Information Systems (IS) competencies, which can be viewed as a pre-requisite for building some organisational capabilities. The paper adopts a resource-based view of firms, which is an approach that has proved very useful in the study of Information Systems as the theory focuses on ‘resources’. Important information system type resources include skills, knowledge and technology. Resources can be combined to create competencies, and Peppard & Ward (2004) outlined a total of 26 IS competencies that firms may develop. Their 26 competencies cover a broad range of activities, including strategy formulation, defining IT needs, and creating and maintaining good relationships with suppliers. Their framework was used to examine factors that influence Information Systems success in small firms. The analysis identifies a set of ten competencies that make a difference to Information Systems success in small firms.