SESSION 7 - The past, present and future of IS success

Question 1

Whats the article about?

Answer 1

• information technology has developed since mid-1950s & information has become more voluminous, more ubiquitous & more accessible by all
• complexity of measuring IT success due to expanding of usage and users but is in its core still simple
• relevance, timeliness, accuracy of info = still key to IS success even as IS systems and its measures grow
• aim of paper: exploring history of understanding of IT success, then offering suggestions on what it means for future while presenting four themes/ ‘calls for action’

Question 2

What are the eras of IT success?

Answer 2

1. Data Processing
2. Management Reporting
3. Strategic & Personal Computing
4. Enterprise System & Networking
5. Customer-focused

Question 3

What about measuring IT success?

Answer 3

• orgas must decide what measures should be used to evaluate IS from each perspective (financial, customer, internal process, innovation)
• IS will never be recognised as primary cause of profit growth: most often able human talent, processes to perform more profitably but not provide traditional accounting success measurements of these benefits (return on investment etc)
• using IS success models & processes: practice will be easier to measure success
  –> for this: research findings must be disseminated globally

Question 4

Whats the conclusion?

Answer 4

• evaluating IS success has changed: from originally focusing on speed & accuracy (quantitative + objective evaluation) to considering social and strategic implications (qualitative + subjective evaluation)
• current era: must expand focus to other key stakeholders (customers, employees, vendors, governments, suppliers)
  –>developing frameworks that reflect current reality of ubiquitous impact of IS from personal to global level