Motives for Feral Systems in Denmark

Abstract

Feral systems have largely been regarded as the users' response to discrepancies between official IT software systems and actual business processes. Inadequacies, discrepancies, and absence of systems support to work processes might lead to users initiating systems development themselves: systems involving any combination of software and manual processes. Feral systems are unofficial and exhibit a conflict between formal and actual operational implementation. In this chapter, the use and implementation of feral systems in Denmark are analysed and discussed. It is found interesting to aim for an understanding of feral systems in a small, relatively agile economy with traditionally positive to rapid adoption of information technology in enterprises. The method being used is qualitative case studies in selected companies representing various complexities of their respective business models and industries. The case studies address both issues of organisational and technological nature of the feral systems typically with an offset in the companies' overall information systems architecture. Among findings are (1) feral systems as a known choice when reflecting business processes with open and non-routinised character, (2) a general acceptance not related to the size or industry, (3) feral systems have received attention as implementations of innovation, (4) feral systems start as opposed to formal and official systems, but during their lifetime they can drift towards a more official status, and (5) feral systems are accepted as low-cost solutions to fill gaps in business process support where ERP systems come short.

Shadow IT – Systematic Literature Review

“…[76] _ "Feral systems have largely been regarded as the users' response to discrepancies between official IT software systems and actual business processes." [81] IT workaround: _ "A workaround is a strategy of using a computer system in a manner that it was not designed to be used for or using alternative methods to accomplish a work task". [1] _ "Computer workarounds are a form of anomalous system use which refers to a variety of sociomaterial actions around IT artefacts.…”

“…Huber et al [28] add end user computing to the list of terms that indicate IT systems developed by end users, although Rentrop and Zimmermann [62] stated in the paper published in 2012 that it is necessary to distinguish shadow IT from end user computing. Similar to Retrop and Zimmerman [62], Tambo et al [81] emphasize that feral systems (shadow systems) should not be confused with end user development (EUD) because EUD is controlled and rooted in the official IT. Rentrop and Zimmermann [62] point out that EUC is officially launched and supported at the organization level.…”

“…Whether it is due to gaps in the software solutions function or other reasons, organizations provide a fertile ground for system de-Information Technology and Control 2020/1/49 velopment by end users who are not software developers by profession. The following terms are used in the literature for systems developed by end users or used without the knowledge of IT departments: shadow system(s), shadow IT, feral system(s), grey IT, hidden IT, rogue IT, workaround systems, workaround IT, unofficial IT, bolt-on [6,17,28,40,61,62,70,76,81,86,87]. Huber et al [28] state that all these terms are used to describe the shadow system phenomenon.…”

“…Therefore, this topic deserves far more attention in both organizations and scientific circles. Shadow IT usually appears as small, ad-hoc solutions for day-to-day practices [40,81,86], developed by small teams or individuals with specific IT skills [81]. These solutions over time can become organizational resources [40].…”

“…These solutions over time can become organizational resources [40]. Tambo et al [81] state that there are usually local (in terms of organizational unit) approvals for the development and use of these solutions, and the approvals usually are not in line with the official IT policy. End users who develop shadow IT in most cases do not have bad intentions [24,70] and they just want to improve or complete the job [21].…”