Abstract
IT investment is a crucial issue as it does not only influence the performance in Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) but it also helps executives to align business strategy with organizational performance. Admittedly, though, there is ineffective use of Information Systems (IS) due to a lack of strategic planning and of formal processes resulting in executives’ failure to develop IS plans and achieve long-term sustainability. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the phases of Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) process that contribute to a greater extent of success so that guidelines regarding the implementation of the process in SMEs can be provided. Data was collected by 160 IS executives in Greek SMEs during February and May 2017. Multivariate Regression Analysis was applied on the detailed items of the SISP process and success constructs. The results of this survey present that managers should be aware of the strategic use of IS planning so as to increase competitive advantage. Senior executives should choose the appropriate IT infrastructure (related to their business strategy and organizational structure), so as to align business strategy with organizational structure. The findings of this paper could help IS executives concentrate their efforts on business objectives and recognize the great value of the planning process on their business.
Highlights
Managers have to develop Information Systems (IS) that support business strategy and accommodate decision making so as to increase competitive advantage, as their businesses have to deal with environmental uncertainty and complexity [1,2,3,4]
Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) process that contribute to a greater extent of success so that guidelines regarding the implementation of the process in Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can be provided
SMEs do not invest in emergent technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things or Cloud executives in SMEs do not invest in emergent technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Computing and they cannot, fit with the strategic, structural and environmental dynamics
Summary
Managers have to develop Information Systems (IS) that support business strategy and accommodate decision making so as to increase competitive advantage, as their businesses have to deal with environmental uncertainty and complexity [1,2,3,4]. IS could be a source of sustainable competitive advantage on the condition that IT strategy is aligned with the business’ one This is the reason why many companies have spent resources with the aim of increasing their competitive advantage by examining their internal processes [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. SMEs have already been acting in a complex environment where uncertainty is increased and market characteristics have completely changed, since the current financial crisis has negatively affected plenty of their activities It is difficulties from a financial perspective though, and their relative lack of technological, managerial, and human capabilities that may limit their ability to overcome the crisis [15,16,17]. Another factor that negatively affects SMEs is the lack of strategic planning
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