Strategic information systems planning: too little or too much?

Abstract

Strategic information systems planning (SISP) is a key concern facing top business and information systems executives. Observers have suggested that both too little and too much SISP can prove ineffective. Hypotheses examine the expected relationship between comprehensiveness and effectiveness in five SISP planning phases. They predict a nonlinear, inverted-U relationship thus suggesting the existence of an optimal level of comprehensiveness. A survey collected data from 161 US information systems executives. After an extensive validation of the constructs, the statistical analysis supported the hypothesis in a Strategy Implementation Planning phase, but not in terms of the other four SISP phases. Managers may benefit from the knowledge that both too much and too little implementation planning may hinder SISP success. Future researchers should investigate why the hypothesis was supported for that phase, but not the others.