A process model for analyzing and managing flexibility in information systems

Competitive pressures are forcing organizations to be flexible. Being responsive to changing environmental conditions is an important factor in determining corporate performance. Earlier research, focusing primarily on IT infrastructure, has shown that organizational flexibility is closely related to IT infrastructure flexibility. Using real-world cases, this paper explores flexibility in the broader context of the IS function. An empirically derived framework for better understanding and managing IS flexibility is developed using grounded theory and content analysis. A process model for managing flexibility is presented; it includes steps for understanding contextual factors, recognizing reasons why flexibility is important, evaluating what needs to be flexible, identifying flexibility categories and stakeholders, diagnosing types of flexibility needed, understanding synergies and tradeoffs between them, and prescribing strategies for proactively managing IS flexibility. Three major flexibility categories, flexibility in IS operations, flexibility in IS systems & services development and deployment, and flexibility in IS management, containing 10 IS flexibility types are identified and described.

[1]  Franz Schober,et al.  Information System Flexibility and the Cost Efficiency of Business Processes , 2006, J. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[2]  Eileen M. Trauth,et al.  Critical Skills and Knowledge Requirements of IS Professionals: A Joint Academic/Industry Investigation , 1995, MIS Q..

[3]  Nigel Slack,et al.  The Flexibility of Manufacturing Systems , 1987 .

[4]  Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,et al.  Information technology alignment or “fit” in highly turbulent environments: the concept of flexibility , 1994, SIGCPR '94.

[5]  Karen Locke.  Grounded Theory in Management Research , 2000 .

[6]  G. Piccoli,et al.  Degrees of Agility: Implications for Information Systems Design and Firm Strategy , 2007 .

[7]  George P. Huber,et al.  The Decision-Making Paradigm of Organizational Design , 1986 .

[8]  Richard D. Hackathorn.  Data delivery when you want it , 1997 .

[9]  Melanie Hunter.  Fast track to success , 2007 .

[10]  C. Saunders,et al.  Achieving Success in Information Systems Outsourcing , 1997 .

[11]  Jahangir Karimi,et al.  An asset-based systems development approach to software reusability , 1990 .

[12]  Kevin C. Desouza.  Agile Information Systems , 2006 .

[13]  B. Wernerfelt,et al.  Competitive strategy under uncertainty , 1987 .

[14]  Philip Powell,et al.  Towards a definition of flexibility: in search of the Holy Grail? , 2000 .

[15]  K. Eisenhardt.  Building theories from case study research , 1989, STUDI ORGANIZZATIVI.

[16]  D. Eppink.  Planning for strategic flexibility , 1978 .

[17]  Margaret J. Davis.  Adaptable, reusable code , 1995, SSR '95.

[18]  Dennis R. Wixon,et al.  Managing the information technology infrastructure: HCI design for network and system management applications , 1997, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[19]  Eric Overby,et al.  Enterprise agility and the enabling role of information technology , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[20]  H. James Nelson,et al.  Technology flexibility: conceptualization, validation, and measurement , 1997, Proceedings of the Thirtieth Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[21]  Weidong Xia,et al.  The ability of information systems development project teams to respond to business and technology changes: a study of flexibility measures , 2005, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[22]  Peter Weill,et al.  The Implications of Information Technology Infrastructure for Business Process Redesign , 1999, MIS Q..

[23]  Wanda J. Orlikowski,et al.  CASE Tools as Organizational Change: Investigating Incremental and Radical Changes in Systems Development , 1993, MIS Q..

[24]  Leslie P. Willcocks,et al.  Application Service Provision: Risk Assessment and Mitigation , 2002, MIS Q. Executive.

[25]  P. Weill,et al.  Building IT Infrastructure for Strategic Agility , 2002 .

[26]  P. Weill,et al.  Management by Maxim: How Business and IT Managers Can Create IT Infrastructures , 1997 .

[27]  Anna Börjesson Sandberg,et al.  Agile improvement practices in software organizations , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[28]  Lawrence B. Mohr,et al.  Explaining organizational behavior , 1982 .

[29]  Guy Fitzgerald.  Achieving flexible information systems: the case for improved analysis , 1990, J. Inf. Technol..

[30]  E. Waarts,et al.  Business agility: need, readiness and alignment with IT-strategies , 2006 .

[31]  Karen Locke,et al.  Constructing Opportunities for Contribution: Structuring Intertextual Coherence and “Problematizing” in Organizational Studies , 1997 .

[32]  Kalle Lyytinen,et al.  Information system development agility as organizational learning , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[33]  D. Gerwin.  Manufacturing flexibility: a strategic perspective , 1993 .

[34]  Christine Nadel,et al.  Case Study Research Design And Methods , 2016 .

[35]  Mohsen Attaran,et al.  Exploring the relationship between information technology and business process reengineering , 2004, Inf. Manag..

[36]  W. A. Scott,et al.  Flexibility, Rigidity, and Adaptation: Toward Clarification of Concepts , 1966 .

[37]  G. Longworth.  Designing Systems for Change , 1990 .

[38]  Alan Eardley,et al.  Developing Information Systems to Support Flexible Strategy , 1997, J. Organ. Comput. Electron. Commer..

[39]  Eric K. Clemons,et al.  Segmentation, Differentiation, and Flexible Pricing: Experiences with Information Technology and Segment-Tailored Strategies , 1994, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[40]  Fatemeh Zahedi,et al.  Agile IT Staffing Strategies: Determinants and Impacts , 1999 .

[41]  Asu Aksoy.  The search for flexibility , 1989 .

[42]  D. Aaker,et al.  THE NEED FOR STRATEGIC FLEXIBILITY , 1984 .

[43]  Charles H. Fine,et al.  An Empirical Study of Flexibility in Manufacturing , 1995 .

[44]  R. Nolan,et al.  How to Manage an IT Outsourcing Alliance , 1995 .

[45]  William N. Dunn,et al.  Planned Organizational Change: Toward Grounded Theory , 1977 .

[46]  Margrethe H. Olson,et al.  The Impact of Information Technology on Organizational Flexibility , 1992 .

[47]  Karsten Schwan,et al.  Flexible software development for multiple computer systems , 1986, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering.

[48]  Daniel Robey,et al.  A Social Process Model of User-Analyst Relationships , 1992, MIS Q..

[49]  Terry Anthony Byrd,et al.  Measuring the Flexibility of Information Technology Infrastructure: Exploratory Analysis of a Construct , 2000, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[50]  Dailun Shi,et al.  A survey of manufacturing flexibility: Implications for e-business flexibility , 2003, IBM Syst. J..

[51]  Suresh P. Sethi,et al.  Flexibility in manufacturing: A survey , 1990 .

[52]  Andrew C. Boynton,et al.  Achieving Dynamic Stability through Information Technology , 1993 .

[53]  B. Glaser.  Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis: Emergence Vs. Forcing , 1992 .

[54]  Ram L. Kumar,et al.  Managing Flexibility in Distributed Information Systems Architectures , 1995, ICIS.

[55]  Sia Siew Kien,et al.  Managing Flexibility in Outsourcing , 2006, J. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[56]  Nancy Bogucki Duncan,et al.  Capturing Flexibility of Information Technology Infrastructure: A Study of Resource Characteristics and their Measure , 1995, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[57]  Brian Fitzgerald,et al.  Customising agile methods to software practices at Intel Shannon , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[58]  Leslie P. Willcocks,et al.  Global Information Technology Outsourcing: In Search of Business Advantage , 2001 .

[59]  A. Strauss,et al.  Grounded theory , 2017 .

[60]  J. Oktay.  Grounded Theory , 2012 .

[61]  Henry Mintzberg.  An Emerging Strategy of "Direct" Research , 1979 .

[62]  M. Deutsch,et al.  Research Methods in Social Relations , 1952 .

[63]  A. Strauss,et al.  The Discovery of Grounded Theory , 1967 .

[64]  Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,et al.  Process models in information systems , 1997 .

[65]  John C. Henderson,et al.  Strategic alignment: a model for organizational transformation via information technology , 2011 .

[66]  Ram L. Kumar,et al.  Electronic data interchange: a multi-industry investigation using grounded theory , 1998, Inf. Manag..

[67]  H. James Nelson,et al.  FRAMEWORK FOR MEASURING E-BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE FLEXIBILITY , 2001 .

[68]  J. S. Evans.  STRATEGIC FLEXIBILITY FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY MANOEUVRES: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK , 1991 .

[69]  Robert D. Galliers,et al.  Strategizing for Agility: Confronting Information Systems Inflexibility in Dynamic Environments , 2006, The Transfer and Diffusion of Information Technology for Organizational Resilience.

[70]  Andrew C. Boynton,et al.  Information Architecture: In Search of Efficient Flexibility , 1991, MIS Q..

[71]  Jos van Hillegersberg,et al.  Change factors requiring agility and implications for IT , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[72]  G. Hult,et al.  Impact of Organizational and Contract Flexibility on Outsourcing Contracts , 1998 .

[73]  Kalevi Pessi,et al.  Agility through scenario development and continuous implementation: a global aftermarket logistics case , 2006, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[74]  K. Nelson,et al.  Measuring technology flexibility , 1998 .

[75]  A. Strauss,et al.  Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. , 1992 .

[76]  T. Das.  Managing Strategic Flexibility: Key to Effective Performance , 1995 .

[77]  Jay G. Cooprider,et al.  The Relationship of Software System Flexibility to Software System and Team Performance , 2001, ICIS.

[78]  Frank F. Land,et al.  Adapting to changing user requirements , 1982, Inf. Manag..