Processual Perspectives of IST Strategic Initiative Development and Implementation

The development and implementation of IST strategic initiatives is of paramount importance for organisations as it enables the integration of IST and business processes. However, many organisations still struggle with the development and implementation of IST strategic initiatives which can lead to large over-runs in budget & time and a technology platform not supporting the business strategy. The research presented within this paper utilises established processual models of strategic change to map and investigate the strategic development and implementation of two IST strategic initiatives over an eighteen-month period. The results of this research – which are part of a wider three year research program – illustrate that the complexities of inter-dependent levels of activity, evolutionary characteristics and various levels of appreciation all affect the ability to development and implement IST strategies.