Managing Step Changes in Information System Support: Lessons from an Industrial Study

In principle, information systems should be tuned to provide optimal support for the business processes of the organisation in which they are used. In particular, this means maintaining alignment between information systems and business processes as an organisation evolves. Where this strategy becomes difficult, however, is when an organisation reaches a point where a ‘step change’ in in-formation system support is required. This paper examines how such step changes can arise and considers the factors involved in realigning the organisation when encountered. The discussion is illustrated through an industrial study in KTL, an Irish telecommunications service company. The analysis of the situation uses Soft Systems Methodology.