Title: Information systems success factors in software SMEs: a research agenda

Authors: Adarsh Garg, D.P. Goyal, Anu Singh Lather

Addresses: Raj Nagar, Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad 201001, India. ' Raj Nagar, Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad 201001, India. ' University School of Management Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110006, India

Abstract: Flexibility and the speed to respond to market changes and the ability to innovate in process and product are the main prerequisites for an organisation to survive in changing business environments. Information System (IS) is considered an important component of flexibility for any organisation. Organisations are investing extensively on IS to get the maximum benefits of IT. But looking at the other side of this scenario, ISs tend to be unsuccessful most of the time. The reasons found are lack of alignment between IS planning and business planning; huge divergence in the approaches adopted by different types of enterprises while developing ISs owing to time, cost and environmental factors and ignoring of the IS project management activity by most of the enterprises, especially SMEs. This paper thus raises the issue of non-realisation of the process of strategic planning of IS development and management in SMEs keeping in view the importance of SMEs in developed as well as developing countries.

Keywords: success factors; software SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; information systems; flexibility; strategic planning; IS management; IS planning; business planning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2008.018041

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2008 Vol.3 No.4, pp.410 - 430

Published online: 28 Apr 2008 *

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