The dynamics of sustainable is alignment: The case for IS adaptivity

Journal of the Association for Information Systems

Volumn 14, Issue 6, 2013, Pages 283-311

  Vessey, Iris ^a   Ward, Kerry ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND   (Australia)

^b UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA   (United States)

Author keywords

Co evolution; Complex adaptive systems; Complexity theory worldview; Emergence; Self organization; Sustainable is alignment

Indexed keywords

ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS; COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY; INFORMATION SYSTEMS; INFORMATION USE;

ADAPTIVITY; CO-EVOLUTION; COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS; COMPLEXITY THEORY; COMPLEXITY THEORY WORLDVIEW; EMERGENCE; NON-DETERMINISTIC PROCESS; PROCESS-BASED; SELF ORGANIZATIONS; SUSTAINABLE BE ALIGNMENT;

COBALT COMPOUNDS;

EID: 84879481188     PISSN: 15583457     EISSN: 15369323     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.17705/1jais.00336     Document Type: Article

References (78)

1. Ågerfalk, P. J., Fitzgerald, B., & Slaughter, S. A. (2009). Flexible and distributed information systems development: State of the art and research challenges. Information Systems Research, 20(3), 317-328.
2. Allen, P. M., & Varga, L. (2006). A co-evolutionary complex systems perspective on information systems. Journal of Information Technology, 21(4), 229-238.
3. Anderson, P. (1999). Complexity theory and organization science. Organization Science, 10(3), 216-232.
4. Ashby, W. R. (1968). Variety, constraint, and the law of requisite variety. In W. Buckley (Ed.), Modern systems research for the behavioral scientist (pp. 129-136). Chicago, IL: Aldine.
5. Axelrod, R., & Cohen, M. D. (2000). Harnessing complexity: Organizational implications of a scientific frontier. New York, NY: Basic Books.
6. Baker, J., Jones, D. R., Cao, Q., & Song, J. (2011). Conceptualizing the dynamic strategic alignment competency. Journal of the AIS, 12(4), 299.322.
7. Benbya, H., & McKelvey, B. (2006a). Using coevolutionary and complexity theories to improve IS alignment: A multi-level approach. Journal of Information Technology, 21, 284-298.
8. Benbya, H., & McKelvey, B. (2006b). Toward a complexity theory of information systems development. Information Technology and People, 19(1), 12-34.
9. Brooks, F. P. (2010). The design of design. New York, NY: Pearson Education.
10. Chan, Y. E. (2002). Why haven't we mastered alignment? The importance of the informal organizational structure. MIS Quarterly Executive, 1(2), 97-112.
11. Chen, R. -S., Sun, C. -M., Helms, M. M., & Jih, W. -J. (2008). Aligning information technology and business strategy with a dynamic capabilities perspective: A longitudinal study of a Taiwanese Semiconductor Company. International Journal of Management, 28(5), 366-378.
12. Choi, T. Y., Dooley, K. J., & Rungtusanatham, M. (2001). Supply networks and complex adaptive systems: Control versus emergence. Journal of Operations Management, 19, 351-366.
13. Ciborra, C. U. (1991). From thinking to tinkering: The grassroots of strategic information systems. Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems. New York, NY, 283-291.
14. Cilliers, P. (1998). Complexity and postmodernism: Understanding complex systems. London: Routledge.
15. Conboy, K. (2009). Agility from first principles: Reconstructing the concept of agility in information systems development. Information Systems Research, 20(3), 329-354.
16. Curşeu, P. L. (2006). Emergent states in virtual teams: A complex adaptive systems perspective. Journal of Information Technology, 21(4), 249-261.
17. Custodio, M. G., Thorogood, A., & Yetton, P. (2007). Balancing stability and flexibility: The case of the California energy commission. In K.C. De Souza (Ed.), Agile information systems: Conceptualization, construction, and management (pp. 83-96). Burlington, MA: Butterworth Heinemann.
18. Davis, J., Eisenhardt, K. M., & Bingham, C. (2009). Optimal structure, market dynamism, and the strategy of simple rules. Administrative Science Quarterly, 54, 413-452.
19. DiMaggio, P., & Powell, W. (1983). The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism, and collective rationality in organization fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147-160.
20. Dooley, K. J. (1997). A complex adaptive model of organization change. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, 2(1), 69-97.
21. Dyer, L., & Ericksen, J. (2009). Complexity-based agile enterprises: Putting self-organizing emergence to work. In A. Wilkinson, N. Bacon, T. Redman, & S, Snell (Eds.), The Sage handbook of human resource management (pp. 436-457). London: Sage.
22. Galliers, R. (2007). Strategizing for agility: Confronting information systems flexibility in dynamic environments." In K.C. De Souza (Ed.), Agile information systems: Conceptualization, construction, and management (pp. 1-15). Burlington, MA: Butterworth Heinemann.
23. Gell-Mann, M. (1997). Fundamental sources of unpredictability. Complexity, 3(1), 9-13.
24. Gregor, S. (2006). The nature of theory in information systems. MIS Quarterly, 30(3), 611-642.
25. Gronn, P. (2004). Distribution of leadership. In G. Goethals, G. Sorenson, & J. MacGregor Burns (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of leadership (Vol. 1, pp. 351-355). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
26. Guastello, S. (1995). Chaos, catastrophe, and human affairs. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
27. Hales, C. (2002). Bureaucracy-lite and continuities in managerial work. British Journal of Management, 13, 51-66.
28. Hannan, M. T., & Freeman, J. (1977). The population ecology of organizations. American Journal of Sociology, 82(5), 929-964.
29. Hannan, M. T., & Freeman, J. (1989). Organizational ecology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
30. Harris, M. L., Collins, R. W., & Hevner, A. (2009). Control of flexible software development under uncertainty. Information Systems Research, 20(3), 400-419.
31. Henderson, J. C., & Venkatraman, N. (1993). Strategic alignment: Leveraging information technology for transforming organizations. IBM Systems Journal, 32(1), 4-16.
32. Hirschheim, R., & Sabherwal, R. (2001). Detours in the path toward strategic information systems alignment. California Management Review, 44(1), 87-108.
33. Holland, J. (1995). Hidden order: How adaptation builds complexity. New York: NY: Addison-Wesley.
34. Jahnke, A. (2003). Sound off. Taking sides on critical IT issues: What is standing between you and alignment? CIO Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.cio.com/article/32322/Sound_Off_Why_Is_Business_IT_Alignment_So_Difficult
35. Jacucci, E., Hanseth, O., & Lyytinen, K. (2006). Taking complexity seriously in IS research. Information Technology and People, 19(1), 5-11.
36. Kauffman, S. (1993). The origins of order: Self-organization and selection in evolution. New York: Oxford University Press.
37. Levinthal, D. A. (1994). Surviving Schumpeterian environments: An evolutionary perspective. In J.A.C. Baum and J. Singh (Eds.), Evolutionary dynamics of organizations (pp. 167-178). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
38. Levinthal, D. A., & March, J. G. (1993). The myopia of learning. Strategic Management Journal, 14, 95-112.
39. Lewin, R. (1994). Complexity: Life at the edge of chaos. New York, NY: Macmillan.
40. Lewin, A. Y., & Volberda, H. W. (1999). Prolegomena on coevolution: A framework for research on strategy and new organizational forms. Organization Science, 10(5), 519-534.
41. Lipnack, J., & Stamps, J. (1994). The age of the network: Organizing principles for the 21st century. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
42. Lucas, C. Complex Adaptive Systems - Webs of Delight. http://www.calresco.org/lucas/cas.htm. (Last accessed: 5 December, 2010.)
43. Luftman, J., & Ben-Zvi, T. (2011). Key issues for IT executives 2011: Cautious optimism in uncertain economic times. MIS Quarterly Executive, 10(4), 1-11.
44. Lycett, M., & Paul, R. J. (1999). Information systems development: A perspective on the challenge of evolutionary complexity. European Journal of Information Systems, 8, 127-135.
45. March, J. G. (1991). Exploration and exploitation in organizational learning. Organization Science, 2(1), 71-87.
46. Maruping, L. M., Venkatesh, V., & Agarwal, R. (2009). A control theory perspective on agile methodology use and changing user requirements. Information Systems Research, 20(3), 377-399.
47. McKelvey, B. (2004). 1st principles of efficacious adaptation (Working Paper). UCLA.
48. McKelvey, B. (2003). MicroStrategy and macroLeadership: New science meets distributed intelligence. In A. Y. Lewin & H. W. Volberda (Eds.), The coevolution advantage: Moblizing the self-renewing organization. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharp.
49. Merali, Y., & McKelvey, B. (2006). Using complexity science to effect a paradigm shift in information systems for the 21st century. Journal of Information Technology, 21, 211-215.
50. Mitleton-Kelly, E. (2003). Ten principles of complexity and enabling infrastructures. In E. Mitleton-Kelly (Ed.), Complex systems and evolutionary perspectives of organisations: The application of complexity theory to organizations. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group.
51. Nerur, S. P., Mahapatra, R., & Mangalaraj, R. (2005). Challenges of migrating to agile methodologies. Communications of the ACM, 48(5), 72-78.
52. Nissen, M. E., & Jin, Y. (2007). Co-evolution and co-design of agile organizations and information systems through agent-based modeling. In K.C. De Souza (Ed.), Agile information systems: Conceptualization, construction, and management. Burlington, MA: Butterworth Heinemann.
53. Orlikowski, W. J. (1996). Improvising organizational transformation over time: A situated change perspective. Information Systems Research, 7(1), 63-92.
54. Rosemann, M., Vessey, I., & Weber, R. (2004). Alignment in enterprise systems implementations: The role of ontological distance. International Conference on Information Systems, 439-447.
55. Ross, J. W., Weill, P., & Robertson, D.C. (2006). Enterprise architecture as strategy: Creating a foundation for business execution. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
56. Rudolph, J. W., Repenning, N. P. (2002). Disaster dynamics: Understanding the role of quantity in organizational collapse. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47(1), 1-30.
57. Shaft, T., & Vessey, I. (2006). The role of cognitive fit in the relationship between software comprehension and modification. MIS Quarterly, 30(1), 29-55.
58. Simon, H. A. (1996). The sciences of the artificial (3rd ed.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
59. Simon, H. A. (1955). A behavioral model of rational choice. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 69(1), 99-118.
60. Stacey, R. D. (2003). Strategic management and organizational dynamics: The challenge of complexity (4th ed.). Prentice-Hall, UK: Financial Times.
61. Stamps, J., & Lipnack, J. (2009). Analyzing the organization as a network. Net Age Reports. Retrieved April 13, 2012, from http://www.netage.com/pub/whpapers/NAReports/NARpt02_USGov-anal.pdf
62. Stamps, J., & Lipnack, J. (2009). Organizing at the edge of chaos. NetAge Reports. Retrieved April 14, 2012, from http://www.netage.com/pub/whpapers/NAReports/NARpt04_org-at-edge.pdf
63. Travica, B. (1998). Information aspects of new organizational designs: Exploring the nontraditional organization. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 49(13), 1224-1244.
64. Tushman, M. L., & O'Reilly, C. A. (1996). Ambidextrous organizations: Managing evolutionary and revolutionary change. California Management Review, 3, 8-30.
65. Uhl-Bien, M., Marion, R., & McKelvey, B. (2007). Complexity leadership theory: shifting leadership from the Industrial Age to the knowledge era. The Leadership Quarterly, 18, 298-318.
66. Van de Ven, A. H., & Poole, M. S. (1995). Explaining development and change in organizations. Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 510-540.
67. Van Der Zee, J. T. M., & De Jong, B. (1999). Alignment is not enough: Integrating business and information technology management with the balanced business scorecard. Journal of Management Information Systems, 16(2), 137-156.
68. Vidgen, R., & Wang, X. (2009). Coevolving systems and the organization of agile development. Information Systems Research, 20(3), 355-376.
69. Vidgen, R., & Wang X. (2006). From business process management to business process ecosystem. Journal of Information Technology, 21, 262-271.
70. Vinekar, V., Slinkman, C.W., & Nerur, S. (2006). Can agile and traditional systems development approaches coexist? An ambidextrous view. Information Systems Management, 23(3), 31-42.
71. Volberda H. W. (1996). Toward the flexible form: How to remain vital in hypercompetitive environments. Organization Science, 7(4), 359-374.
72. Volberda, H. W., & Lewin, A. Y. (2003). Co-evolutionary dynamics within and between firms: From evolution to co-evolution. Journal of Management Studies, 40(8), 2111-2136.
73. Watson, R., Kelly, G. G., Galliers, R. D., & Brancheau, J. C. (1997). Key issues in information systems management: An international perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 13(4), 91-115.
74. Weber, R. (2012). Evaluating and developing theories in the information systems discipline. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 13(1), 1-30.
75. Weick, K. E. (1979). The social psychology of organizations (2nd ed.). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
76. Weick, K. E. (1993a). Organizational redesign as improvization. In G. P. Huber and W. H. Glick, (Eds.), Organizational change and redesign (pp. 346-379). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
77. Weick, K. E. (1993b). The vulnerable system: An analysis of the Tenerife air disaster. In K. H. Roberts (Ed.), New challenges to understanding organizations (pp. 173-198). New York: Macmillan.
78. Whetten, D. A. (1989). What constitutes a theoretical contribution? Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 490-495.