Journal article
Issues that support the creation of ICTworkarounds: towards a theoreticalunderstanding of feral information systems
Information Systems Journal, Vol.27(6), pp.775-794
2017
Abstract
ENTERPRISE SYSTEM (ES) software is often supplemented indepen-dently by end users who develop personal solutions that establish connections be-tween the required business practices and the ES. One solution is a type ofinformation and communications technology workaro und, a feral information sys-tem (FIS) - defined as a workaround designed to achieve certain requirementsby using any information technology tool that an end user uses in conjunction with,or instead of, the mandated information system. To explore this, we conducted acase study at a large utility company. We conclude that feral information systemsare not a behavioural deviance. FISs are by-products of end users seeking opera-tional efï¬ciency, namely, to nullify additional transactional costs imposed by the ES.Our ï¬ndings suggest that end users of ES will fall into one of four modes of opera-tion: mode 1, where end users submit to the ES; mode 2, where they dismiss theES; mode 3, where they develop an FIS that remains hidden from the ES propo-nents; and mode 4, where they operate the FIS in open deï¬ance of the ES propo-nents. In this research, we deliberately take the practitioner view and, therefore,outline how different pressures help to create an FIS as a response to a poorlymandated ES. We also make a theoretical contribution by exploring issues thatlead to workarounds and suggest that future research into these modes of opera-tion can be theorized in future proposed studies.
Details
- Title
- Issues that support the creation of ICTworkarounds: towards a theoreticalunderstanding of feral information systems
- Authors
- Anthony Spierings (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawDon Kerr (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawLuke Houghton (Author) - Griffith University
- Publication details
- Information Systems Journal, Vol.27(6), pp.775-794
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1111/isj.12123
- ISSN
- 1350-1917
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; USC Business School - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450329602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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