IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/ororsc/v9y1998i2p176-194.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reconceptualizing the Context-Design Issue for the Information Systems Function

Author

Listed:
  • Carol V. Brown

    (Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-5151)

  • Sharon L. Magill

    (College of Business, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292)

Abstract

The authors develop theory for predicting the distribution of decision making between the corporate and business-unit levels of management for a subset of information systems (IS) resources referred to as systems development. Drawing on literature from the fields of MIS, strategic management, and organization theory, they first determine how potentially influential context factors are likely to affect the locus of the lead decision-making role from a multiple-contingencies perspective. Then they theorize how conflicting corporate and business-unit contingencies are likely to be resolved. They present a set of six propositions that predict a centralized, decentralized, or compromise design solution for a given business unit on the basis of (1) business-level strategy, (2) whether or not information technology (IT) plays a strategic role for the business unit, (3) the degree of line managers' IT knowledge at the business-unit level, and (4) the level at which opportunities for IT-related synergies across business units are being pursued at the corporate level.

Suggested Citation

  • Carol V. Brown & Sharon L. Magill, 1998. "Reconceptualizing the Context-Design Issue for the Information Systems Function," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(2), pages 176-194, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:9:y:1998:i:2:p:176-194
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.9.2.176
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/orsc.9.2.176
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/orsc.9.2.176?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sidney E. Harris & Joseph L. Katz, 1991. "Organizational Performance and Information Technology Investment Intensity in the Insurance Industry," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(3), pages 263-295, August.
    2. Jeffrey L Kerr & Ellen F. Jackofsky, 1989. "Aligning managers with strategies: Management development versus selection," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(S1), pages 157-170, June.
    3. N. Venkatraman & John E. Prescott, 1990. "Environment‐strategy coalignment: An empirical test of its performance implications," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(1), pages 1-23, January.
    4. Brian L. Dos Santos & Ken Peffers & David C. Mauer, 1993. "The Impact of Information Technology Investment Announcements on the Market Value of the Firm," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 4(1), pages 1-23, March.
    5. Carol V. Brown, 1997. "Examining the Emergence of Hybrid IS Governance Solutions: Evidence From a Single Case Site," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 8(1), pages 69-94, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Rajiv Sabherwal & Rudy Hirschheim & Tim Goles, 2001. "The Dynamics of Alignment: Insights from a Punctuated Equilibrium Model," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(2), pages 179-197, April.
    2. Andrea Masini & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2009. "ERP Competence-Building Mechanisms: An Exploratory Investigation of Configurations of ERP Adopters in the European and U.S. Manufacturing Sectors," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 11(2), pages 274-298, May.
    3. Amrit Tiwana & Stephen K. Kim, 2015. "Discriminating IT Governance," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 656-674, December.
    4. Peterson, R.R. & O'Callaghan, R. & Ribbers, P.M.A., 2000. "Information technology governance by design : Investigating hybrid configurations and integration mechanisms," Other publications TiSEM 80a15cf9-fb7e-4f63-946e-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    5. Brown, Carol V., 2003. "Horizontal mechanisms under differing is organization contexts," Working papers no. 303, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management.
    6. Brown, Carol V., 2003. "Linking intra-organizational stakeholders ; CIO perspectives on the use of coordination mechanisms," Working papers no. 304, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management.
    7. Artur Siurdyban, 2014. "Understanding the IT/business partnership: A business process perspective," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 16(5), pages 909-922, November.
    8. Edgar A. Maldonado & Carleen F. Maitland & Andrea H. Tapia, 2010. "Collaborative systems development in disaster relief: The impact of multi-level governance," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 9-27, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Yueh H. & Lin, Winston T., 2009. "Analyzing the relationships between information technology, inputs substitution and national characteristics based on CES stochastic frontier production models," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 552-569, August.
    2. Jonathan H. Reed, 2022. "Operational and strategic change during temporary turbulence: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 589-608, June.
    3. Carolina Rojas-Córdova & Amanda J. Williamson & Julio A. Pertuze & Gustavo Calvo, 2023. "Why one strategy does not fit all: a systematic review on exploration–exploitation in different organizational archetypes," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2251-2295, October.
    4. Hilal Atasoy & Rajiv D. Banker & Paul A. Pavlou, 2016. "On the Longitudinal Effects of IT Use on Firm-Level Employment," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 6-26, March.
    5. Byrd, T. A. & Marshall, T. E., 1997. "Relating information technology investment to organizational performance: a causal model analysis," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 43-56, February.
    6. Mandy Mok Kim Man, 2009. "The Relationship between Distinctive Capabilities, Strategy Types, Environment and the Export Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of the Malaysian Manufacturing Sector," Management, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 4(3), pages 205-223.
    7. Sang-Yong Lee & Kim Lim, 2006. "The impact of M&A and joint ventures on the value of IT and non-IT firms," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 111-123, September.
    8. Dimitrov, Kiril, 2016. "Exploring the nuances in the relationship “culture-strategy” for the business world," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 12(1).
    9. Fuentelsaz, Lucio & Garrido, Elisabet & Maicas, Juan P., 2020. "The effect of informal and formal institutions on foreign market entry selection and performance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(2).
    10. C. Ranganathan & Carol V. Brown, 2006. "ERP Investments and the Market Value of Firms: Toward an Understanding of Influential ERP Project Variables," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 17(2), pages 145-161, June.
    11. Andrew Chan & Francis Cheng & Shuk-Ling Cheng, 2023. "Post-Crisis Sustainable Performance of Manufacturing SMEs: The Roles of Positive Orientation, Financial Slack, and External Networks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-18, August.
    12. Narcyz Roztocki & Heinz Roland Weistroffer, 2015. "Investments in enterprise integration technology: An event study," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 659-672, June.
    13. Martínez-Caro, Eva & Cegarra-Navarro, Juan Gabriel & Alfonso-Ruiz, Francisco Javier, 2020. "Digital technologies and firm performance: The role of digital organisational culture," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    14. Yi-Chi Hsiao & Hsueh-Liang Wu & Chun-Ping Yeh, 2023. "An investigation of the bridging interface strategies used by Chinese MNE when undertaking FDI to Taiwan," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1485-1512, September.
    15. Singh, Inderjeet & Lila, Anshu, 2012. "Emerging Structure of Rajasthan Economy in India," MPRA Paper 43522, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 25 Dec 2012.
    16. John Oredo & Denis Dennehy, 2023. "Exploring the Role of Organizational Mindfulness on Cloud Computing and Firm Performance: The Case of Kenyan Organizations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 2029-2050, October.
    17. Paul E. Bierly III & Paula S. Daly, 2007. "Alternative Knowledge Strategies, Competitive Environment, and Organizational Performance in Small Manufacturing Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(4), pages 493-516, July.
    18. Ling Xue & Gautam Ray & Bin Gu, 2011. "Environmental Uncertainty and IT Infrastructure Governance: A Curvilinear Relationship," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 22(2), pages 389-399, June.
    19. Élisabeth Lefebvre & Louis A. Lefebvre, 1997. "Global Strategic Benchmarking, Critical Capabilities and Performance of Aerospace Subcontractors," CIRANO Working Papers 97s-10, CIRANO.
    20. David M. Goldberg & Jason K. Deane & Terry R. Rakes & Loren Paul Rees, 2022. "3D Printing Technology and the Market Value of the Firm," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1379-1392, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:9:y:1998:i:2:p:176-194. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.