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Information systems and the world-class organization: A study of information systems executives' perceptions
Abstract
This dissertation presents an exploratory study of senior information systems executives' perceptions of the current status of both their organization and information systems function with respect to selected characteristics of world-class organizations. World-class organizations are defined as those which surpass their competitors around the world in multiple areas of strategic importance. The concept of the world-class organization holds great importance for organizations as it offers a framework for enhancing competitiveness and adaptability in an era of turbulent organizational environments and a global economy. Information systems have been posited as an important component of a world-class organization. The perceptions of information systems executives offer insight into current conditions and emerging future directions in this area. A review of relevant literature was performed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior information systems executives in fifteen major organizations. A written questionnaire was then constructed, tested, and mailed to 1,098 organizations. Responses from 116 senior information systems executives were received. A diverse set of respondents from a variety of organizations participated in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and report results for all respondents. Additional analyses provided descriptions and comparisons of the responses from world-class organizations and those which were not world-class organizations. World-class organizations scored significantly higher than their non-world-class counterparts in overall score and in the constructs of customer-based focus, creative human resource management, and total quality management orientation. The IS functions in world-class organizations, however, surpassed their non-WCO counterparts on overall score and on the constructs of customer-based focus, endless improvement, virtual organization, creative human resource management, technological support, total quality management orientation, and world-class orientation. These findings have practical and theoretical importance because they identify potential opportunities and problem areas which must be addressed by managers if the information systems function is to adequately support a world-class organization. These results also have implications for future research.
Subject Area
Management|Information Systems
Recommended Citation
Garvin, Timothy Patrick, "Information systems and the world-class organization: A study of information systems executives' perceptions" (1997). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9805504.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9805504