Chapter List

Philip Powell

This part is concerned with managing information systems. Information systems are difficult to manage both as projects and as a function. While planning can assist in reducing the chances of project failure, management of the IS function entails all the problems of managing a fast changing service organization. These problems are not helped by the poor perception of the IS function in many organizations and senior management's inability to understand its role. Key to improving this is learning lessons from one's own and other organizations.

The chapter by Greenwood and Grimshaw focuses on the role of implementation. Too often implementing - getting the new systems into the organization and making sure they are used effectively - is ignored by developers. Developers concentrate on the system and not its impacts, and the users who are often only tangentially involved in producing the systems and have unrealistic expectations, both good and bad, of what the outcome may be. An implementation driven strategy, as advocated here, is one way forward. The chapter also highlights some of the additional differences that arise in smaller firms. Resource constraints especially of specialist personnel can endanger small firms' efforts. Getting...