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Contingent dynamics of IS strategic alignment in small and medium-sized enterprises
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Levy, Margi, Powell, Philip and Yetton, Philip (2011) Contingent dynamics of IS strategic alignment in small and medium-sized enterprises. In: 17th European Conference on Information Systems, Verona, Italy, 8-10 June, 2009. Published in: Journal of Systems and Information Technology, Vol.13 (No.2). pp. 106-124. ISSN 1328-7265. doi:10.1108/13287261111135963
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13287261111135963
Abstract
Purpose – This paper seeks to understand how strategic information systems (IS) alignment takes place in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a qualitative and quantitative analysis of data from 27 cases.
Findings – A contingent model allows re-interpretation of earlier findings that appear to be inconsistent. First, benefit realisation depends on alignment between IS and business strategies. Second, IS investment is frequently limited to supporting operations and transactions. Third, organizations with more sophisticated IS tend to perform less successfully than those with less complex systems, the greatest alignment and highest performance are reported for systems to improve efficiency, and organizations that adopt a low-cost approach are unlikely to use IS strategically.
Research limitations/implications – The paper extends understanding of the contingent nature of SMEs' investment in, and use of, IS, and of the effect of market position on IS management. It provides guidelines by describing the dominant paths to alignment. The limitations are that the SME sample is not random, the scoring protocols rely on author coding, whether the research identifies cycles of alignment, alternative interpretations of path hierarchy, and if an SME's location uniquely defines its alignment path.
Originality/value – Performance is a function of the alignment between IS strategy and other business domains. However, prior research has focused on outcomes, rather than the processes by which alignment is developed. Using multiple case data, this paper investigates alignment in SMEs, explaining why different SMEs follow different paths to alignment. Four paths are identified, with the path chosen contingent on an SME's market position.
| Item Type: | Conference Item (Paper) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HF Commerce | ||||
| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Centre for Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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| Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Systems and Information Technology | ||||
| Publisher: | Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. | ||||
| ISSN: | 1328-7265 | ||||
| Official Date: | 2011 | ||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | Vol.13 | ||||
| Number: | No.2 | ||||
| Page Range: | pp. 106-124 | ||||
| DOI: | 10.1108/13287261111135963 | ||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
| Conference Paper Type: | Paper | ||||
| Title of Event: | 17th European Conference on Information Systems | ||||
| Type of Event: | Conference | ||||
| Location of Event: | Verona, Italy | ||||
| Date(s) of Event: | 8-10 June, 2009 |
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