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Abstract

This chapter addresses the issue of flexibility of IS. More flexible and adaptable systems are required to meet the rapidly changing demands of modern organisations operating in an increasingly turbulent environment. Organisations are beginning to find that their existing IS cannot be changed quickly or cheaply enough and that information systems are becoming a barrier to change. Some of the issues are discussed in the context of findings from various research studies including a recent survey of over 300 organisations developing IS in the UK. Discussion focuses on environment of development, maintenance workloads, enhancement, types of change, and causes of change. One of the areas of particular concern is the time and resources required to effectively and quickly adapt systems to respond to the increasing change that organisations are undergoing.

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© 2000 Guy Fitzgerald

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Fitzgerald, G. (2000). Adaptability and Flexibility in ISD. In: Hackney, R., Dunn, D. (eds) Business Information Technology Management Alternative and Adaptive futures. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780333977675_2

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