Skip to main content

An Information System Check-Up Model for Small and Medium Enterprises

  • Chapter
Systems Development Methods for the Next Century

Abstract

Information Systems evaluation in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) often represents a difficult task. Because of cultural, economic, or organizational reasons, SMEs rarely make use of formal business strategies: as a consequence, the management of the Information System (IS) is often approached in a non-formalized way. Moreover, such enterprises are often characterized by a limited number of specialized staff, hence either the management or the ownership itself should be provided with a well defined, low cost, and easy to use procedure for the evaluation of the Information Technology (IT) investments and for the assessment of the existing IS. This paper presents an Information System Check-Up Model (ISCUM) which fulfills these requirements: according to the strategic importance and the current state of the IS for each functional area, the model highlights the inefficiencies of each area and identifies the strategic choices required to improve the IS performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ahituv, N. (1989), Assessing the value of information: Problems and approaches, in Proceedings of the tenth International Conference on Information Systems (pp.315-325). J.I. DeGross, J.C. Henderson, B.R. Konsynski, International Conference on Information Systems, Dec.4-6, 1989, Boston, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartolozzi, P.; Garibaldo F. et al. (1995), Lavoro creativo e impresa efficiente, ricerca sullepiccole-medie imprese Creative working and the efficient firm: a research upon small-medium enterprises’, in Italian, Ed. Ediesse, Roma, Italy, 183–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, R.; Levinson E. (1993), A Framework for Managing 1T-Enabled Change, «Sloan Management Review », Summer 1993, 23–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Borovits, I.; Giladi R. (1993), Evaluating cost/utilization of organizations’information systems and users, «Information & Management», 25, 273–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bracchi, G.; Motta G. (1985), Sistemi Informativi e imprese formation systems and firms, in Italian, Ed. Franco Angeli, Milano, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent, M.; Lofgren H. (1993), Information delivery: identifying priorities, performance and value, «Information Processing Management», Vol. 29, 6, 683–701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bums, T.; W. Hatter (1992), Attitudes to PCs — General Public and Very Small Businesses, (research study conducted for IBM UK Limited), MORI, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burk, C; Horton F.W. (1987), Infomap: a complete guide to discovering your corporate information resources, Englewood Cliffs NJ, Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns, P; Dewhurst, J. (edited by), (1996), Small Business and entrepreneurship, Second Edition, MacMillan Business.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busetti, A. (1993), Informatizzazione come progetto organizzativo (Informatisation as organisational project, in Italian, «Economia & Management», 2, 42–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chau P.Y.K. (1995), Factors used in the selection of packaged software in small business: Views of owners and maangers, «Information & Management», 29, 71–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiodaroli, A. (1992), Le strutture organizzative delle piccole-medie imprese Organisational structures of the small-medium enterprises; in Italian, Ergon Business Communication, Milano, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cragg, P.B.; Zinatelli, N. (1995), The Evolution of Information Systems in Small Firms, «Information and Management», 29, July ′95, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeLone, W.H.; McLean E.R. (1992), Information Systems Success: The Quest for the Dependent Variable, «Information Systems Research», 3(1), March 1992, 60–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DG XII’s Press Releases, A new common definition for SMEs — but not before the 5th Framework Programme Brussels, February 13, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eason, K. (1988), Information technology and organisational change, Ed. Taylor & Frances.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edoho, F. (1994), Demystifying strategic management: the need for strategic management in small business firms, Proceedings from 1994 Annual Conference of USA Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

    Google Scholar 

  • ENSR, European Network for SME Research (1996), Fourth Annual Report of the European Observatory for SMEs, project of the Directorate-General XXIII of the Commission of the European Communities, ENSR authors and publishers, The Netherlands, October 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frienklin, A.B. (ed.) (1961), Auditing Automatic Data Processing, Amsterdam, Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geishler, E. (1992), Managing information technology in small business: some practical lessons and guidelines, «Journal of General Management», Vol.18, No. 1, Autumn 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson J.C.; Venkatraman N. (1992), Strategic Alignment: A Model for Organisational Transformation Through Information Technology, in Kochan T.A. and Useem M. (eds.), Transforming Organisations, New York, Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, A. et al. (1992), The state of British Enterprise, Small Business Research Centre, University of Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ives, B.; Olson, M.; Baroudi J. (1983), The measurement of User Information Satisfaction, «Communications of the ACM», 785–793.

    Google Scholar 

  • Japan Small Business Research Institute (1995): The New Challenge, Chapter 5: Introduction of information technology for the purpose of rebuilding corporate operational management systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagan, A.; Lau K., Nusgart K.R. (1990), Information System usage within Small Business Firms, «Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice», 14(3), 25–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keen, P.G.W. (1991), Shaping the future: business design through information technology, Harvard Business School Press, Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J. (1993), Measuring and aligning information systems with the organisation. A case study, «Information & Management», 25, 217–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J.; Doyle B. (1987), Measuring the effectiveness of computer based information systems in the financial services sector, «MIS Quarterly», March 1987, 107–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monsted, M. (1993), Introduction of Information Technology to Small Firms: a Network Perspective, «Entrepreneurship and Business Development», (ed) Klandt, H. Avebury, Aldershot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montazemi, A.R. (1988), Factors affecting information satisfaction in the context of small business environment, «MIS Quarterly», June ′88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolan, R.L. (1982), Managing the data resource function, St. Paul, West Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orna, E. (1990), Practical information policies: how to manage information flow in organizations, Aldershot, Gower.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M.; Millar V. (1985), How information gives you competitive advantage, «Harvard Business Review», July-August 1985, 149–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravarini, A.; Sciuto D.; Tagliavini M. (1994), Valutazione dei sistemi informativi nellepiccole-medie imprese (Information systems evaluations in small-medium enterprises; in Italian, «Liuc Papers», 14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, L. (1985), Organizational characteristics and MIS success in the context of small businesses, «MIS Quarterly», March 1985, 37–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, L. (1992), Computerisation as a factor in the development of young entrepreneurs, «International Small Business Journal», October-December, Vol. 11, No. 1, 34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, L.; Bergeron F. (1992), Personal DSS success in Small Enterprises, «Information & Management», 22, 301–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renkema, T.J.W.; Berghout, E.W.(1997), Methodologies for information systems investment evaluation at the proposal stage: a comparative review, «Information and Software Technology», 39, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schleich, J.F.; Carney, W.J. and Boe, W.J. (1990), Pitfalls in microcomputers system implementation in small business, «Journal of System Management», Vol. 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semich, J.W. (1994), Here’s how to quantify IT investment benefits, «Datamation», January 7, 45–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soh, P.P.; Yap C.S., Raman K.S. (1992), Impact of Consultants on Computerisation success in Small Buisiness, «Information & Management», 22(5), 309–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subramanian A., Nilakanta S. (1994), Measurement. A blueprint for theory-building in MIS, «Information & Management», 26, ′94, 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, D. (1992), Reorganizing MIS: the evolution of business computing in the 1990s, Indianapolis, SAMS Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yap, C.S; Soh, P.P., Raman K. (1992), Information System Success factors in Small Firms, «Omega», 20(5/6), 597–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinatelli, N.; Cragg P.B., Cavaye A.L.M. (1996), End User Computing Sophistication and Success in Small Firms, «European Journal of Information Systems», 5, 1996, 172–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Buonanno, G., Ravarini, A., Sciuto, D., Tagliavini, M. (1997). An Information System Check-Up Model for Small and Medium Enterprises. In: Wojtkowski, W.G., Wojtkowski, W., Wrycza, S., Zupančič, J. (eds) Systems Development Methods for the Next Century. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5915-3_36

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5915-3_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7712-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5915-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics