Antecedents and consequences of Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) success: a South Korean perspective

This thesis explores antecedents of Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP), successful outcomes of SISP and the organisational impact of successful SISP in the South Korean context. Since information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) are now an essential requirement supporting all aspects of business operations, the need for SISP is important for achieving success with IT investments and implementation. SISP helps identify organisational resources as well as considers the environmental, economic and organisational requirements for successful IT investment and implementation.<br><br>SISP was introduced by Lederer and Sethi (1988), Lederer and Salmela (1996) and Salmela et al. (2000) as planning for the selection and implemention of IT in organisations, with the aim of achieving alignment of IS objectives with business objectives to sustain a competitive advantage from IT investments. Earlier studies on SISP have individually explored management issues, participation and communication of business and IT stakeholders, impact of environmental factors and SISP resources in relation to SISP success. However, to date, there has been a dearth of research that has explored SISP success factors for improving successful outcomes and the impact of SISP success in organisations. Further, earlier studies on SISP are generally from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and Taiwan. Although the penetration of IT in South Korean organisations is high, to date there is no study on SISP in the South Korean context. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between SISP success factors for successful outcomes and the impact of SISP success in South Korean organisations.<br><br>Since none of the earlier studies on SISP were undertaken in the context of South Korea, a qualitative research via interviews, with four business managers and four IT managers in South Korean organisations, was undertaken to establish if success factors of SISP identified from literature, were applicable in the South Korean context prior to the development of hypotheses and the conceptual model. The research model was constructed based on a literature analysis, interview findings and resulting hypotheses. A survey of 317 large organisations in South Korea that used SISP for IT investment and implementation was undertaken to understand SISP success factors, outcomes and the organisational impact of SISP in this context. The survey data was analysed utilising a Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique, and the analysis of data confirmed 15 of 19 hypotheses.<br><br>Research findings suggest that SISP success factors in the South Korean context include top management participation and support, effective communication and knowledge sharing between business and IT stakeholders, the impact of internal and external environment, adequate resources for SISP and inclusion of IS vendors in the SISP process. Successful outcomes of SISP from this study are IS planning effectiveness and business and IT alignment. The impact of SISP successful outcomes includes the following: organisational capabilities of recombining and reconfiguring overall business and IT processes, resources and structures; IS competencies for improving the ability and role of IS function and the potential impact of IT; and IT infrastructure flexibility in responding to internal and external changes, situations and trends.<br><br><br>This study makes an original contribution to theory and practice through its development and validation of a research model for measuring the relationship between antecedents and the impact of SISP success on organisational outcomes. It adds to SISP literature by showing the relationship between SISP success factors, successful outcomes of SISP and the impact of SISP outcomes in organisations. Furthermore, practitioners will be able to use the findings from this study to successfully implement SISP for positive organisational impact. This study is from large organisations in the South Korean context. It offers a basis for researchers to explore further the relationship between SISP success factors, outcomes and impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and in other contexts. It also provides a starting point for practitioners including IT vendors to explore further the reason at the SISP level in South Korean organisations.