An empirical study of IS architectures in French SMEs: integration approaches

Abstract

This paper, based on a cross-sectional empirical study of information system (IS) architectures within 143 small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in France, reports findings on how SMEs architect to achieve IS integration and interoperability. This research provides an empirically derived taxonomy of enterprise architectural variants of the types often described in the literature for large firms. This study finds indications that for SMEs the immediate goal of interoperability prevailed over fuller and more formal system integration. The most common means for approaching enterprise architecture and any form of integration is via the construction of software bridges and interfaces. Partially standardized architectures based on Enterprise Systems (ERP) are the next most common type. Hybrid architectures -mixed Enterprise Applications Integration and ERP -are the third most common. The contribution of this paper lies not in the identification of the three types but resides (1) in the description of their distribution in SMEs; (2) in the absence of other integration/interoperability types in this population; and (3) most importantly in the interpretation of the organizational and historical rationale explaining the emergence of these types in this organizational context.

Urbanization of Information Systems: An Outdated Method?

“…This model is still not generally applied, but it echoes issues currently raised by enterprises [6]. It is also aligned with the recent proposals to modify enterprise architecture concepts, like in the works from Pierre Pezziardi [7].…”

Information system integration in mergers and acquisitions: research ahead

“…IS integration refers to the creation of some sort of linkage between two or more previously separated ISs (Markus, 2000), which has great relevance in determining M&A success (Benitez-Amado & Ray, 2012). Bidan et al (2012) propose four approaches to achieve IS integration, including Data warehousing, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Enterprise Application Integration re-architected systems, and application programming interface. The degree of linkage can be differentiated between loose and tight integration (Themistocleous & Irani, 2002).…”

“…This strategy requires some form of technical linkage between the acquirer's IS and the target's IS. This can be realized in through several approaches as outlined by Bidan et al (2012). The third proposed strategy is IS renewal.…”

CHOOSE: Towards a metamodel for enterprise architecture in small and medium-sized enterprises

“…As some research has already focused on how to bring EA to SMEs in general (Bernaert et al 2013b;Bidan et al 2012;Wißotzki and Sonnenberger 2012;Aarabi et al 2011;Bernaert and Poels 2011;Jacobs et al 2011), the value of the current research lies in the fact that, to our knowledge, CHOOSE is the first effort to actually develop an EA approach specifically adapted to the SME context. The present paper will elaborate on the design of the CHOOSE metamodel.…”

“…Due to their resource poverty, SMEs experience even more difficulties than larger enterprises in employing EA experts or hiring external consultants (Kroon et al 2012). Yet, as some studies have confirmed, they may encounter several problems if they fail to implement EA (Bidan et al 2012;Bhagwat and Sharma 2007). Bernaert et al (2013b) did an extensive problem analysis of EA and SMEs and proposed the concept of EA as a good solution to be used for SMEs to solve problems related to a lack of structure and overview.…”