Determinants of IS Planning Comprehensiveness

Organizations use different approaches when they plan for information systems (IS). IS planning (ISP) approaches range on a continuum with two alternative approaches as the polar ends: comprehensive to incremental. For different IS-related decisions, organizations may simultaneously use different approaches. While the heterogeneity of ISP approaches has been generally acknowledged in IS research, the contingent factors that lead organizations to choose approaches that vary in comprehensiveness are understudied. Our study explores contingent factors that influence IS planning approaches in organizations. Using interview data from six small and medium-sized organizations, we identify categories of technology- and organization-related factors that affect ISP comprehensiveness and discuss related management and research implications.