Robert W. Zmud

Information technology planning in the 1990's: directions for practice and research

Although planning is a crucial information management issue, it must be seen as only one facet of an organizations complete program for information technology management. Attention in this article is first directed toward understanding the larger management context within which planning activities are likely to transpire. The paper then describes a vew of planning appropriate for the 1990s and identifies contributions form the information technology (IT) planning literature likely to facilitate IT planning efforts.

Design alternatives for organizing information systems activities

A number of recent articles have concluded that changes must occur in the manner information systems activities are organized. This article discusses the evolving nature of information systems activities, introduces a variety of alternative designs for organizing these activities, and presents some prototypal designs. Then, the implications to information systems managers of movement toward these new organizational forms are discussed. The article concludes with a discussion of some of the critical tasks to be undertaken by information systems managers and researches in order that this transition toward and end user domination of many information systems activities can be successfully negotiated.

Report format and task complexity: Interaction in risk judgments☆

Abstract This study reports the results of an experiment to examine the effect of report format (graphic, tabular) and task complexity on the accuracy and bias of internal auditors risk judgments. Accuracy is measured as the ability to discriminate between high and low risk reports, while bias is the propensity to report observing a high risk report, apart from the frequency of high risk reports in the population. Forty-seven experienced internal auditors judged the potential for error in each of 70 hypothetical reports. After controlling for individual differences, the results show a significant interaction between report format and task complexity, for both decision accuracy and bias. Implications are discussed.

Linking mechanism supporting end-user computing

It is proposed that organizations better able to exploit information-related opportunities do so because their information systems groups provide a greater number of linking mechanisms through which end-user computing is motivated and facilitated. This study examines this notion. Interviews were held in 21 organizations to determine the extent to which 12 linking mechanisms were being used to facilitate 19 issues. An examination of the findings suggests that while the linking mechanisms are being used, this usage (1) is not yet that extensive and (2) the apparently more effective links are not always those most used.

External sources of technical knowledge

Abstract This paper explores the degree to which firms rely on external sources of technical knowledge. The empirical results suggest that larger firms in more competitive markets rely relatively more on external sources.

Technical management notes; additional evidence on the r&d/marketing interface

Factors associated with interfirm differences in the R & D/marketing interface are investigated. The analysis suggests that relationships can be improved through organizational change, but some aspects of disharmony may be inherent given the strategic mission of the group.

R&D Patterns in the Video Display Terminal Industry

A long-standing question asks whether small firms or large firms are more successful in product innovation, and the answer seems to be coming up, “It depends.” Professors Link and Zmud reveal some of the things it depends on when they describe the results of their research on the VDT industry. They see the VDT industry as a possible prototype of the several technologically progressive industries now growing toward the early stages of maturity. What we see here today may be a forerunner of what well see elsewhere in the near future.