Information management strategy — an evolutionary process

Abstract

The problems to be examined in this study concern the process of integrating information systems with business strategy. The main hypothesis is that integration can take place only in the minds of managers. Creating an information management strategy is thus a learning process, in which managers combine their understanding of information technology with their business plans. This implies an organizational approach to strategy creation. This paper presents a longitudinal study of an interactive, participative strategy process, in which the present author, as a researcher, was a member of the team creating and implementing the strategy in question. The object of study was the strategy generation process itself and the ways in which interaction may be promoted in such processes. Conclusions are drawn regarding key factors in strategy generation and implementation. A broad understanding of the field and a multiple method approach to strategy generation are proposed.