SYSTEMS-DEVELOPMENT RISKS IN STRATEGIC INFORMATION-SYSTEMS

Business executives and systems professionals are frequently confronted with suggestions to use information technology (IT) strategically. While this advice has had a number of positive effects, including broadening the thinking about how IT can be used, it has at the same time failed to suggest the significant difficulties in actually implementing these systems. The paper highlights a dozen significant barriers to the successful definition, development, and maintenance of strategic information systems (SISs). These problems are illustrated with actual examples gleaned from an extensive review of the business literature and from confidential interviews with managers who have attempted to develop SISs. A risk matrix is provided to assist managers in determining their relative exposure to these pitfalls.