IS decision-making: a study in information-intensive firms

Abstract

This paper looks at IS decisions within small professional organizations. The study investigates three aspects of IS decision processes drawn from the literature. These focus upon organizational approaches to planning, risk management and product selection, and the factors that impact upon each process. The results of an exploratory survey undertaken in nine ® rms are presented and compared with the ® ndings of existing research. One expectation is supported; two prove unsupported.

ERP System Adoption - Does the Size Matter?

“…Also, the management skills needed for information systems planning and organization have been found to be limited in SMEs [20,22,23]. In addition to hindering IT/IS planning [24], the resource constraints faced by SMEs may hinder their ability to maintain technology up to date, while at the same time forcing them to consider their investments in IT as something that should last for a long time [22]. The constraints may also force SMEs to assume an incremental approach to IT investments, which, in turn, may result in isolated and incompatible systems [25], as well as decreased flexibility [22].…”

“…In particular, the impartial advice and opinions given by parties other than vendors have been found to play an important role [23,33]. Correspondingly, gaining information regarding the experiences of the current users of the vendor's product [34], the influence of family members, and the recommendations of others in the same business have been found to play a significant role in the IT/IS acquisition in small companies [24,35].…”

“…SMEs, in general, have been found to be characterized more by a focus on day-to-day survival than long-range strategic thinking [22,24]. This is partly due to resource poverty and vulnerability to external effects typically exhibited by these companies.…”