Global comparisons of key issues in IS management: extending key issues selection procedure and survey approach

Information systems (IS) departments face many challenges in today's rapidly changing environment. One approach to understanding these challenges is to survey IS managers to elicit what they consider are key issues. Studies of key IS management issues have been conducted for some years in many nations and regions. However, most of these surveys lack a theoretical basis for the selection of key issues. Furthermore, most studies have used a single-round or a multi-round Delphi method. This paper provides an overview of research approaches to key issues studies combined with key issues results from previous research. The paper presents methodological issues and choices for a survey on key issues in IS management which was conducted in Norway in 1998. A three step procedure for key issues selection is introduced, and a Q-method analysis is adopted. The paper presents results from the Q-sort survey and analysis. The highest ranked key issue in Norway, according to the survey, is concerned with improving links between information systems strategy and business strategy. Global comparisons of key issues in information systems management confirm this top ranked issue. Also, the issue of planning information technology projects for competitive advantage is a high ranking issue in Norway and most other countries. Improving interorganizational information systems planning was the third highest ranked issue in Norway, but it is non-existent in other survey lists. This can be partly explained by the lack of theoretical framework when issues were selected in other studies and by the small organizational sizes in Norway.