Users verses IT: Understanding prejudice in information systems development project teams

This paper investigated the phenomenon of prejudice among ISD project members. We presented a theoretical discussion followed by one qualitative and one quantitative study. In the qualitative study, we interviewed different members of the project teams to understand the different types of prejudice possessed by team members. Results of this interview study led to the development of prejudice scales for IT members and users, which was used in the quantitative study. We surveyed 128 ISD teams and found that prejudice was related task and relationship conflict, satisfaction and willingness to work together in the future. Furthermore, prejudice exerts stronger influences on users than IT members in terms of increasing task and relationship conflicts and decreasing goal commitment.

Information systems development outsourcing : the role of control configurations

The Control Theory has provided a useful theoretical foundation for Information Systems development outsourcing (ISD-outsourcing) to examine the co-ordination between the client and the vendor. Recent research identified two control mechanisms: structural (structure of the control mode) and process (the process through which the control mode is enacted). Yet, the Control Theory research to-date does not describe the ways in which the two control mechanisms can be combined to ensure project success. Grounded in case study data of eight ISD-outsourcing projects, we derive three ‘control configurations’; i) aligned, ii) negotiated, and 3) self-managed, which describe the combinative patterns of structural and process control mechanisms within and across control modes.

Information systems development contracts : An exploratory study of Australian legal pratitioners' and information systems professionals' perceptions

IS professionals are primarily concerned with the development of a project to meet the goals of a client. Unfortunately, IS professional do not always pay close attention to the contract or to its management and are often unaware of the legal implications of the contracts to which they are assenting. Legal advice can be sought during pre-contractual processes to help ensure that the contract meets the expectations of all the parties. If the project does not meet stakeholder’s expectations, thus causing a contract to come into dispute, lawyers may be called in to review the contract and to seek a settlement. This paper reports an exploratory study of the differences in perceptions of IS development contracts that exist between IS professionals and legal practitioners.

Functional group conflict in information systems development

This paper discusses how interpersonal conflict between IS developers and clients can disrupt IS projects.  It is suggested how potential problems can be avoided by getting the 'soft' factors right which can lead to improvements in information systems development (ISD) processes.  However little is being done in most organisations to review success from this perspective.  Measurement of ISD quality tends to favour the product rather than the human drivers that influence the development of the product.  Several ideas are put forward that can be used to resolve conflict and tp better involve stakeholders in the ISD process.

Critical success factors for the requirements engineering process, with reference to quality management of information systems development

Preliminary research into the critical factors associated with software development/implementation identified three dimensions for successful implementation based on alignment of the requirements engineering process with business needs, change management process and quality of the implementation process. Research results demonstrate the link between the conceptual model for process quality and the process management attributes determined during the research.

Structuration theory and information systems development - frameworks for practice

Giddens’ structuration theory (ST) offers an account of social life in terms of social practices developing and changing over time and space, which makes no attempt to directly theorize the Information Systems (IS) domain. IS researchers have long been interested in it as a way of deepening understanding; a common application is the analysis of empirical situations using Giddens’ ‘dimensions of the duality of structure’ model. Other writers, most notably Orlikowski, have used it help theorize the field. Often the mode of research employed has been the interpretative case study. However, direct attempts to influence practice (an important component of working in an applied field), perhaps through the vehicle of action research, have yet to be undertaken. There are at least three serious problems with attempting this. The first is the inaccessibility of the theory to IS researchers and practitioners. The second is the absence of specific theories of technology. The third is Giddens’ own disinterest in practical uses of his work – which leaves no obvious path to follow. This paper explores that path, in the context of information system development (ISD). Some frameworks for practice are suggested which are translated into forms of discourse that are more accessible to the IS community. In particular, we include an empirical illustration to demonstrate the potential of ISD tools based on structuration theory.

Information systems development projects as complex adaptive systems

This research considers information systems development (ISD) projects as complex adaptive systems. We investigate the question whether complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory is relevant as a theoretical foundation for understanding ISD, and if so, which kind of understanding can be achieved by utilizing the theory? We introduce key concepts of CAS theory such as interaction, emergence, interconnected autonomous agents, selforganization, co-evolution, poise at the edge of chaos, time pacing, and poise at the edge of time to analyse and understand ISD in practice. We demonstrate the strength of such a CAS approach through an empirical case study presentation and analysis. While our work contributes to a complexity theory of ISD, the case examination also provides practical advice derived from this perspective to successfully cope with complexity in ISD in an adaptive manner.

The role of management incentives in successful information systems development and implementation

Because organizations are making large investments in Information systems (IS), efficient IS project management has been found critical to success. This study examines how the use of incentives can improve the project success. Agency theory is used to: identify motivational factors of project success, help the IS owners to understand to what extent management incentives can improve IS development and implementation (ISD/I). The outcomes will help practitioners and researchers to build on theoretical model of project management elements which lead to project success. Given the principal-agent nature of most significant scale of IS development, insights that will allow for greater alignment of the agent’s goals with those of the principal through incentive contracts, will serve to make ISD/I both more efficient and more effective, leading to more successful IS projects.