Information systems and strategy

User imperative (add p.11)

Each information technology has dynamic properties determined by how people use it

It is people’s use of IT, and not IT itself which shapes society and organizations

Those in power can shape interpretive schemes, but not technology use directly

IT is a resource for improvisation

User imperative and tech. (add p.11)

IT designers build capabilities into their hardware and software

These capabilities are turned into features as users draw on them in their everyday work

These features are crystallized as others used the outputs of technology for their own practices

User imperative and org’s (add p.11)

IT is a resource that people use as they address the everyday challenges of organizational life

‘Consequences of IT’ is a misnomer : Instead, the focus is on the uses of IT

The same technology can be used

by the same people

in different ways

The ISS TriangleBiz strategy

IS strategyOrg’l strategy

Biz strategy

IS strategyOrg’l strategy

analysis

*What imperative is this?

6

How does IT matter?

Radical market

changes

Radical organizational

changes

IT as a core element

in strategy

7

IT is a major corporate investment

8

Growth in IT spending spans borders

9

SO... IT is an important startegic parameter

10

However, these investments have not delivered

11

Is this surprising?

!

! What strategic advantage does IT look like?

12

13

Taking advantages of infrastructural technologies

Getting there first

Factories installed next to electricity plants

Insightful early uses

Replace pulleys and steam engines

Serve emerging market needs

14

As technologies spread this advantage disappears

Strategic advantage coms from scarce, not from abundant resources

IT is increasingly ubiquitous hence it is decreasingly strategic

IT is becoming a cost that all must bear but that no one can profit from

15

If IT doesn’t matter, what are the next steps?

Minimize your IT costs

Focus on efficiency, not effectiveness

Minimize your IT risks

Focus on system continuity

The user imperative critique...

! ? ??

18

Addressing this conundrum...

IT does not provide competitive advantage directly, but it is of strategic consequence

IT matters strategically

Market pull: Punctuated change

Organizational push: Continuous change

19

IT and market pull

IT changes mean different relationships with customers

IT changes mean new and nimbler competitors

IT changes mean new production (incl strategy production) processes

20

IT and organizational push

As employees use IT in organizations...

changes to underlying structure and startegy are likely to unfold

Managers use IT to...

... As an opportunity to apply pet solutions

... As an opportunity to advance politically

IT is co-opted in strategic power struggles

The ISS Triangle, reallyBiz strategy

IS strategyOrg’l strategy

Biz strategy

IS strategyOrg’l strategy

Biz strategy

Org’l strategy IS strategy

analysis Implementation