|
Archive@NYU >
Stern School of Business >
IOMS: Information Systems Working Papers >
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/2451/14487
|
| Title: | AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CONTINGENCY THEORY OF MIS |
| Authors: | Weill, Peter
Olson, Margrethe H. |
| Issue Date: | Apr-1987 |
| Publisher: | Stern School of Business, New York University |
| Series/Report no.: | IS-87-31 |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to define and critique the use of
contingency theory in the field of Management Information Systems (MIS).
The existence of such a theory is demonstrated through a detailed review
of the MIS literature. The development of contingency theory in MIS is
compared to the development of Organization Theory. The developments in
the two fields have been remarkably similar and the field of MIS can
benefit from the experiences of organization theorists. We argue that
since MIS is at an early stage of development, it is now repeating some
of the unproductive assumptions and lines of development of contingency
theory. The conclusion from this analysis is that the contingency theory
implicit in MIS research is inadequate. Progress in the field has been
hampered by the adoption of a naive meta-theory and a narrow research
perspective. This has resulted in highly mixed empirical results, a
premature quantification strategy, and ill-defined concepts of
performance and fit. A series of recommendations for improving the
theoretical basis of MIS are given. These recommendations include
relaxing the assumptions that constitute the naive meta-theory of a
contingency theory in MIS. A more subjectivist, less functional, less
unreflexive and less deterministic approach is advocated. In addition,
changes in research methodologies are recommended. An increased emphasis
on training in case study methodologies, longitudinal research and
ethnographic approaches is suggested. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2451/14487 |
| Appears in Collections: | IOMS: Information Systems Working Papers
|
All items in Faculty Digital Archive are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved.
|
