Norbert Frick

Assessment Methodology for a Maturity Model for Interorganizational Systems -- The Search for an Assessment Procedure

The benefits of interorganizational systems (IOS) can often not be realized due to unknown or undiscovered impediments, technical deficiencies or lacking organizational capabilities. Maturity models are prominent examples for the assessment of organizations and their capabilities for interoperability. Nevertheless, they are often subject to critiques with respect to their purpose of use, model evaluation, general structure and assessment methodology. This research paper analyses 43 existing maturity models in the domain of IOS with a special focus on the assessment methodology. The goal is to find existing assessment methodologies that can be adapted to a new maturity model for IOS. The findings indicate that there is no common or established assessment methodology present but several assessment types. We propose an assessment method matrix for classification and allocation of assessment methods and types according to Model Complexity and Subject Complexity to determine an assessment methodology.

Benefits Identification in Inter-organizational Information System Implementation Projects: A Multi-case Study Approach

Businesses are increasingly engaging in inter-organizational collaboration. At the same time, assessing the benefits and the success of an inter-organizational system is still a challenge. Academia and businesses alike struggle with insufficient assessment methods and benefits measurement processes. Our research applies and extends a recently developed framework for the assessment of expected and realized benefits in IS implementation projects (expectations-benefits framework). The framework was developed using an established case study methodology (experience methodology) including more than 140 case studies of real-world IS projects. In this paper we selected a sample of 16 suitable cases for the study of inter-organizational information systems and found 190 realized and 59 unexpected benefits in the described implementation projects. The findings show several patterns in the benefits in relation to the existing integration scenarios and the benefits categories.