Predictors of Effective IS Strategy Implementation: A longitudinal Study of Indian organizations

Abstract

The overall outcome of SISP (Strategic Information Systems Planning) depends on how effectively IS strategies are implemented. Several organizational and environmental variables predict effective IS strategy implementation. This empirical work investigates the impact of changes in the predictors on the effective implementation of IS strategy over two successive planning periods. Based on longitudinal case studies of three Indian organizations from diverse industries, we analyze the changes in five important predictors—top management commitment, IS plan characteristics, technological environment, user involvement and role of the IS function. The Findings are then related to implementation effectiveness measured through rate of implementation, extent of implementation, and attainment of IS objectives. Our research shows that these key predictors have undergone major changes over two planning periods and that such changes have greatly improved the effectiveness of IS strategy implementation. Based on the analysis, we present a set of implications for developing countries and directions for future research.