The evolving role of the IS planning executive: An empirical investigation

Abstract

Recent and rapid developments in IS technology, greater competitiveness of business, and related factors have brought about major shifts in the orientation of organizational Information Systems (IS). Necessary adaptations in IS management techniques have to be made to cope effectively with these changes. One area which has been the focus of much attention in the context of the growing complexity of IS environments is IS planning. This study explores the nature of the changes in emphasis in the IS planning executive's role in the context of the changes in the orientation of the organizational IS. The data for the study consist of responses of IS executives to a survey questionnaire. Descriptions of the executive's role as it existed five years earlier are compared to descriptions at the time of responding to the survey instrument. Results suggest that there have been significant changes in the IS planning executive's role over this period, adding support to current thinking that IS management techniques should be suitably adapted to cope with the emergence of changing IS environments.IS planning IS management IS executive role strategic grid