Information Systems Strategy Research Articles

Research Commentary—Seeking the Configurations of Digital Ecodynamics: It Takes Three to Tango

This paper starts from the premise that the simultaneous increase in environmental turbulence, the requisite speed of organizational change, and the intensified ubiquity of digital technologies are spawning a phenomenon that is messy, complex, and chaotic. Accordingly, we need to change the way we examine how information technology (IT) can help organizations build a strategic advantage in turbulent environments. We propose a more systemic and holistic perspective to theory building and testing in the information system (IS) strategy area and correspondingly appropriate methods that capture the complexity of this phenomenon. We term this phenomenon digital ecodynamics, defined as the holistic confluence among environmental turbulence, dynamic capabilities, and IT systems—and their fused dynamic interactions unfolding as an ecosystem. We believe that a more holistic understanding of digital ecodynamics will fuel the next leap in knowledge in the IS strategy area. First, extending the strategic management literature that has mainly focused on two-way interactions between environmental turbulence and dynamic capabilities, we foreground IT systems as a third central element. We use a “threesome tango” analogy1 with strong mutual interdependence to accentuate our view of digital ecodynamics—while also stressing the emerging role of IT systems in triggering environmental turbulence and shaping dynamic capabilities to build a strategic advantage. Second, we propose a different paradigmatic lens (configuration theories) as an appropriate inquiring system to better understand the complexity of digital ecodynamics. The paper articulates the key aspects of configuration theories as inquiring systems, compares them with the more common variance theories and process theories, and illustrates the power of recent advances in configurational methods. Third, we create a preliminary roadmap for IS researchers to better examine digital ecodynamics using novel structural properties afforded by configuration theories (i.e., mutual causality, discontinuity, punctuated equilibria, nonlinear change). Fourth, we reflect on the broader opportunities that the configurational perspective of digital ecodynamics can create for IS strategy research. The paper ends by highlighting the double-barreled opportunity that digital ecodynamics renders, both as an energizing vision for IS strategy research and also as a reshaper of strategic management research and practice in a turbulent and digitized world.

Research Commentary—Reframing the Dominant Quests of Information Systems Strategy Research for Complex Adaptive Business Systems

We review and reframe three main quests of research on information systems (IS) strategy: (1) the strategic alignment quest, (2) the integration quest, and (3) the sustained competitive advantage quest. The assumptions and logic of these quests have become less relevant in increasingly complex adaptive business systems (CABS), where the competitive performance landscapes of products and services are highly dynamic and co-evolve. We revise the strategic alignment quest to propose a co-evolution quest that addresses not only competitive strategy questions of a firm but also corporate strategy questions. The co-evolution quest seeks to increase a firm's agility and dynamism in repositioning itself, identifying profitable product-market positions as the evolving competitive landscape erodes the profitability of the firm's existing positions. To support the co-evolution quest, we revise the integration quest and propose a reconfiguration quest that encompasses not only business processes but also products and services, as well as the contracts, resources, and transactions associated with them. As the firm makes repositioning moves to co-evolve with the competitive landscape, the reconfiguration quest seeks to increase the firm's agility in disintegrating its existing nexus of contracts, resources, and transactions that support the old positions and in reconfiguring new ones that support the new positions. Finally, we revise the sustained competitive advantage quest to propose a renewal quest that recognizes the temporary nature of competitive advantage in CABS. The renewal quest seeks to destabilize the firm's old sources of competitive advantage when competitive dynamics erode their utility, rapidly create new sources of competitive advantage, and concatenate a series of temporary advantages over time. The three reframed quests provide the foundation for a research agenda on IS strategy in CABS.

Analisis dan Perancangan Sistem Informasi Persediaan, Pembelian, dan Penjualan pada Toko Sinar Jaya

Increased sales and business systems development is a main beam that moves Toko Sinar Jaya on sales of goods primary to secondary to achieving progress in its business. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the potential of information systems strategy implementation and also to develop information systems at Toko Sinar Jaya and to design an application system based on an analysis of existing systems. The research methodology used is the method of analysis and design methods, in which the analysis method used consisted of literature study method, field surveys, and interviews of business processes that are running, whereas in the method of design using object-oriented design and design analysis. Result to be achieved is to provide facilities such as applications that are useful for recording data inventory, purchasing, and sales for Toko Sinar Jaya.

Integrating the smartphone into a sound environmental information systems strategy: Principles, practices and a research agenda

Smartphones are both green technologies and an integral parts of green information systems that are beginning to make serious contributions toward a sustainable environment. We trace the rise of the smartphone, with particular attention given to the iPhone and its many applications. The fundamental differences between smartphone-based and more common Internet applications, and how these might enhance sustainable strategies for organizations with a green agenda are highlighted. U-Commerce is suggested as a theoretical framework that best explains this, and the four dimension of U-Commerce are employed to illustrate how innovative organizations are using the unique characteristics of smartphones to pursue environmentally sound strategies. A process that might be followed for indentifying applications for sustainable issues, making sure that the applications take advantages of a smartphone’s unique features, and that contribute to sustainability by using fewer resources, protecting resources, and improving our use of current resources. The paper concludes by identifying a research agenda for information systems scholars to pursue studying the use of smartphones in search of a sustainable information technology agenda.

IS Strategic Processes

In large, geographically dispersed organizations, achieving a successful Information Systems (IS) strategy can prove very challenging. This case describes how a CIO in such an organization met that challenge by focusing on actions rather than plans, and on bottom-up processes rather than top-down decisions. The CIO keyed on benefitting from employees’ competencies. The organization, here called “NorConstruct,” has few long-term IS strategic plans. Instead, it has developed five different IS strategic themes on a general level. It’s actual IS strategy takes place through different IS projects. The case is told through the CIO and provides rich descriptions of IS strategic processes in NorConstruct, as well as the CIO’s thoughts on the pros and cons. Throughout the case, several relevant reflections are described.

Practice-as-research: An example of the use of action research to link practice and theory in a case of Information Systems strategy development

The ability to link IS practice to a sound theoretical and scientific basis has been an ongoing endeavour for both IS practitioners
 and researchers. This stems from the need of both practitioners and theorists to be able to ensure that the relationship between
 practical knowledge and experience gained in the workplace can be grounded in theory with due consideration of the converse
 requirement for theory to be based on practice. This paper provides an example of how Action Research (AR) was successfully
 applied by a practitioner as method in a South African strategic IS management environment. The paper describes the specifics
 of the process that was used and highlights various issues that had to be considered in this specific instance of use of AR as
 method.

Information systems strategy

Information systems strategy is of central importance to IS practice and research. Our extensive review of the literature suggests that the concept of IS strategy is a term that is used readily; ho...

Rethinking Strategy and Implementation of Knowledge Management from Innovation Perspective: A Lesson Learned from a Multinational Subsidiary in Indonesia

Facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities ahead in the knowledge economy, managing knowledge has been a priority for many organisations. Knowledge Management (KM) emerges and has quickly gained weight in research both from information systems perspective and management sciences. An amply documented dilemma is the absence of specific implementation guide due to different organisation’s characteristics and strategies. At times, endeavours to integrate KM into the organisation’s strategy and to customise it to meet organisation’s characteristics instead create undesired problems because of its prioritisation. We explore the implementation of KM in a telecommunication multinational subsidiary in Indonesia and investigate factors that affect the performance as well as the impacts. Benefiting from innovation perspective we identify the way KM strategies are devised and put into action. Using in-depth interviews and direct observation, we map some problems associated with the strategy and implementation of KM. We learn in our case that the lack of organisation-wide integrated systems, which is typical across different organisations, does contribute to this problem. However the main predicament lies on the fact that KM enabling scheme is never explicitly prioritised in the organisation’s information systems strategy.

Is Project Alignment – a Process Perspective

Information system (IS) project alignment has been defined as the degree to which an IS's project deliverables are consistent with the project's objectives, which are shaped by the organization's IS strategy. These objectives may change as the project unfolds, reflecting emergent opportunities, limitations, and strategy (Jenkin and Chan, 2005). The IS project alignment process refers to the sequence and flow of events that lead to project alignment and, thus, strategy execution. To develop an understanding of project alignment processes – how IS projects become aligned or misaligned – this study examines nine projects across two organizational settings to analyze the key events and processes of project alignment. By analyzing three different project patterns using different organizational metaphors, this study explains evidence contradicting widely held beliefs about project management. Rather than planning and process maturity, the results of this study highlight the importance of executing processes, change, learning, knowing in practice, and heedful interrelating between project team members to align final project deliverables. This research, based on an empirical study, contributes to both the IS alignment and project management literatures by further developing the emerging concept of project alignment to include a process view of how to achieve alignment of final project deliverables with IS project objectives and the IS strategy.

Data mining for health executive decision support: an imperative with a daunting future!

Data mining is highly profiled. It has the potential to enhance executive information systems. Such enhancement would mean better decision-making by management, which in turn would mean better services for customers. While the future of data mining as technology should be exciting, some are worried about privacy concerns, which make the future of data mining daunting. This paper examines why data mining is highly profiled - the imperative toward data mining, data mining models and processes. Additionally, the paper examines some of the benefits and challenges of using data mining processes within the health-care arena. We cast the future of data mining by highlighting two of the many data mining tools available - one commercial and one freely available. Subsequently, we discuss a number of social and technical factors that may thwart the extensive deployment of data mining, especially when the intent is to know more about the people that organizations have to serve and cast a view of what the future holds for data mining. This component is especially important when attempting to determine the longevity of data mining within health-care organizations. It is hoped that our discussions would be useful to organizations as they engage data mining, strategies for executive information systems and information policy issues.

Information Systems Strategy: Reconceptualization, Measurement, and Implications

Information systems strategy is of central importance to IS practice and research. Our extensive review of the literature suggests that the concept of IS strategy is a term that is used readily; however, it is also a term that is not fully understood. In this study, we follow a perspective paradigm based on the strategic management literature to define IS strategy as an organizational perspective on the investment in, deployment, use, and management of IS. Through a systematic literature search, we identify the following three conceptions of IS strategy employed implicitly in 48 articles published in leading IS journals that focus on the construct of IS strategy: (1) IS strategy as the use of IS to support business strategy; (2) IS strategy as the master plan of the IS function; and (3) IS strategy as the shared view of the IS role within the organization. We find the third conception best fits our definition of IS strategy. As such, we consequently propose to operationalize IS strategy as the degree to which the organization has a shared perspective to seek innovation through IS. Specifically, our proposed IS strategic typology suggests an organization's IS strategy falls into one of the two defined categories (i.e., IS innovator or IS conservative) or is simply undefined. We also develop measures for this new typology. We argue that the proposed instrument, which was cross-validated across both chief information officers and senior business executives, has the potential to serve as a diagnostic tool through which the organization can directly assess its IS strategy. We contend that our reconceptualization and operationalization of IS strategy provides theoretical and practical implications that advance the current level of understanding of IS strategy from extant studies within three predominant literature streams: strategic IS planning, IS/business strategic alignment, and competitive use of IS.

Conducting of the linkage between information systems strategy (ISS) and operation strategy: a case of an airline

The integration of IS/IT strategy with other business units' strategies has become an important issue. The layer of integration through business strategies requires an explanation of interrelationships so that business objectives appropriate to the available resources and market conditions can be established. This study is a comprehensive examination of the relationship between IS and operational strategy at 'X' Airlines. Operation is considered one of the core activities at 'X'. In this study, the researcher employs a qualitative method, presenting the literature on IS integration and utilising a case study approach to understand the how and why of using IS at 'X'. This study discusses the existing frameworks, both theoretical and practical, for IS strategic integration. The results show that there are strong relationships but as a traditional kind of back office support of IS for operational strategy within 'X'.

Risk Evaluation Model on Enterprises’ Complex Information System: A Study Based on the BP Neural Network

As modern enterprises’ dependence on complex information system is growing, higher risks of using these information systems are thus incurred. This paper firstly made an overview of both the importance of complex information systems in enterprises and the universality of risks. Then proposed and analyzed are eight types of risks of complex information systems in enterprises: infrastructure, systemic projects, system application, information asset, business continuity, information system strategy, information system supplier and outsourcer, external risks of information systems. Finally, these eight risks are introduced to construct a risk evaluation model on the enterprises’ complex information system based on the BP neural network.

An Empirical Study of the Construct of Information Systems Strategy

According to the ways of information systems(IS) to support business strategy, this paper proposes three dimensions of IS strategy fitting for organizations in China with theoretically deductive method, and they are respectively business action support dimension, business decision support dimension and network embeddedness support dimension. Then, the paper confirms this dimensional construct based on exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis.

PERENCANAAN STRATEGIS SISTEM INFORMASI PERGURUAN TINGGI

Strategic planning of information systems is to establish policy and planning implementation of information technology as a supporter of bussiness process and solution of the problem with high accuracy and know the possibilities of the system is less precise procedure. To achieve this, an information systems strategy planning organizations (including universities therein) should be done through the stages: an analysis of objectives and issues / information needs (goals and poblem), critical success factor (CSFs), SWOT analysis, impact analysis information technology (technology impact analysis) and analysis of the vision or strategic view of the system (strategy vision system) and a review model of business functions (business proccess) organization. In STMIK Raharja, strategic planning and information system model was developed based on through these stages and includes information services to be provided by STMIK Prog as a university. Determination of information system strategic planning and selection of models developed subsequently determined by the specific needs and determinants with attention to rules and procedures. This paper presented a discussion about the foundation and information systems strategic planning phases of Higher Education as an organization by taking a model of information services at Raharja STMIK Tangerang, with academic information subsystem as an example the case of the implementation of the development. To clarify the discussion, at this writing are also discussed briefly about the strategy on information systems implementation STMIK Prog as a university organization.Keywords: critical success factor, model, business process, strategy system vision

Antecedents of IS Strategic Alignment: A Nomological Network

Alignment of information systems (IS) strategy with business strategy is a top concern of both the chief information officer (CIO) and the top management team (TMT) of organizations. Even though researchers and key decision makers in organizations recognize the importance of IS strategic alignment, they often struggle to understand how this alignment is created. In this paper, we develop a nomological network in which shared understanding between the CIO and TMT about the role of IS in the organization (which represents the social dimension of IS strategic alignment) is posited to be a proximal antecedent of the intellectual dimension of IS strategic alignment. We further posit that shared language, shared domain knowledge manifest in the CIO's business knowledge and the TMT's strategic IS knowledge, systems of knowing (structural and social), and CIO-TMT experiential similarity are important determinants of this shared understanding. Data were collected from 243 matched CIO-TMT pairs. Results largely support the proposed nomological network. Specifically, shared understanding between the CIO and TMT is a significant antecedent of IS strategic alignment. Furthermore, shared language, shared domain knowledge, and structural systems of knowing influence the development of shared understanding between the CIO and the TMT. Contrary to expectations and to findings of prior research, social systems of knowing, representing informal social interactions between the CIO and TMT, and experiential similarity did not have a significant effect on shared understanding.

가정간호를 위한 간호과정 정보시스템 개발

본 연구는 가정간호사의 표준간호중재를 개발하여 이를 근거로 각각의 진단과 연결된 중재를 분류하고 프로토콜을 전산화하여 사용함으로써 의료기관간, 또한 의료인간의 격차를 없애고 서비스의 질 개선에 도움을 주고자 시행하였다. 연구방법은 크게 가정간호 표준중재 개발과정과 개발된 가정간호 표준중재 프로토콜을 전산화하는 과정으로 나누었는데, 가정간호 표준중재를 개발하기 위하여 먼저, 국내외 가정간호사의 직무분석, 대상자 사정 프로토콜 개발, 대상자 진단 프로토콜 개발, 대상자 중재 프로토콜 개발의 4가지 연구내용으로 구성하였다. 개발된 가정간호 표준 중재 프로토콜을 전산화하는 과정으로, 크게 가정간호 정보시스템을 위한 전략수립과 가정간호 정보시스템의 분석, 설계, 운영 및 평가 등의 4개 연구내용으로 구성하였다. 개발된 프로그램은 P시에서 가정간호사업 실시 기관에 근무하는 가정간호사를 대상으로, 가정간호 정보시스템 매뉴얼을 사용하여 직접 시범, 교육하였다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 표준 가정간호중재에 속하는 구성요소를 가정간호정보조사지, 가정간호경과기록지, 가정간호경과요약서, 가정간호종결 요약서 양식에 포함될 수 있도록 개발하였으며, 표준 가정간호중재가 개발됨으로써 가정간호사업부서 간의 정보교환이 용이하고 기록의 누락 및 중복을 막을 수 있으며 EMR, HMR 개발시 병원용어의 표준화에 기여할 수 있을 것이다. 【We carried out this study to reduce the gaps between medical institutes and between medical personnels and help to improve medical service quality, by classifying diagnoses and related intervention through the development of standard nursing intervention and by computerizing protocols. We considered two processes: one is the development process of home nursing standard intervention, and the other is the process of computerizing its related protocols. For the former, research covered analysis of home health care practices, development of client assessment protocol, of patients diagnosis protocols, and of patients intervention protocol. For the latter, strategies for home health care information systems should be set up and it constituted four research contents of analysis, design, management and evaluation of the systems. We also trained and educated home nurses who work at home health service center, by making them use the manual of home health care information systems at a certain city of P. In this study, therefore, we developed elements of standard home health care mediation so that they could be included in the forms of home health information note, home health progress note, and home health progress summary, home health discharge summary. Because standard home health care intervention has been developed, it became easier to exchange information between different home heath service center offices, can prevent from missing or redundant information, and contribute to standardization of hospital terminologies when EMR and HMR are developed.】

Employing Knowledge Transfer to Support is Implementation in SMEs

Information systems strategy is an increasingly important component of overall business strategy in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The need for readily available and consistent management information, drawn from integrated systems based on sound and upgradeable technologies, has led many senior company managers to review the business case for root-and-branch systems replacement. However, implementing new information systems (IS) is not easy and many projects fail or fall well short of expected outcomes. Key to successful implementation is getting the strategy right in the first place and then implementing it in a controlled manner to ensure the delivery of benefits. This article discusses three IS projects in different SMEs, where the UK's Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme has been used to transfer relevant expertise from the university sector to help with strategy development and systems implementation. The experience has led to an outline method for IS strategy development for SMEs and guidelines for the adoption and adaptation of mainstream project management and software package evaluation tools. It is hoped that this will help other SMEs to achieve IS strategy development and implementation more effectively in terms of timescale, cost control and benefits delivery.

Alignment of operations strategy, information strategic orientation, and performance: an empirical study

Functional-level strategic planning should align with and support business-level strategies. Alignment of strategies is presumed to be a positive contributor to business performance just as misalignment is presumed to be a negative contributor. These presumptions should be true for all types of business environments including the e-commerce environment. This study develops and tests these presumptions by examining managers’ perceptions of strategy. Drawing on both operations strategy and information systems strategy literature, this research compares how these managers’ perceptions of operations strategy and information system strategic orientation are aligned in an e-commerce setting. Based on a sample of matched pairs of general managers and operations managers from 176 organisations in the e-commerce industry, hypotheses relating strategy and business performance are tested. The influence of other organisational variables (i.e. operations manager tenure and years of associations with general manager) to moderate the results were also tested. The results support the hypotheses that organisational variables moderate the relationship between operations managers’ and general managers’ perceptions of operations strategy, IS strategy orientation, and the fit between them in e-commerce organisations.

An exploratory study of the relevance of trans-national global information systems to small and medium enterprises: evidence from Egypt

This paper provides an investigation into the information system (IS) strategy of SMEs in Egypt using questionnaires and case studies to explore if a trans-national global IS can be applied to SMEs in Egypt. Generally, most Egyptian SMEs lack the structure needed to successfully plan an ISS. However, it was evidenced that top management involvement is present at the decision-making stages and throughout implementation and IS planning is undertaken in some way by Egyptian SMEs. The case studies revealed that SMEs operating with a structured hierarchy proved to be far more advanced with regard to information system strategy planning (ISSP). The results of the OLS regression analysis indicated that the higher the involvement of top management in IS decision-making in Egyptian SMEs the more advanced the organisation regarding ISS; organisations that have an IS department and a specific IS budget are more successful in planning and implementing IS strategy; there is a lack of expertise to adequately implement ISS in new companies and in companies from the public sector and finally, the greater the IS budget the greater the outsourcing activities of a firm. A theory of trans-national global IS can therefore be applied to Egyptian SMEs with some modifications due to differing cultures.