A framework for information technology investment process : integrating theories and practices

Abstract

IT investment has become an important issue in every organization adopting IT. Prebious research has demonstrated the inconsistency in the relationship between It investment and and organization's productivy. A lack of foresight in the IT investment decision process has been cited as one of the major factors contributing to the problem, due to the fact that the process of justifying the value of an IT investment remains unclear. In an attempt to investigate and solve this problem, this study has explored the relevant literature with a particular focus on IT investment decision-making process, to identify the typical IT investment process captured in prior research. It has sought empirical IT investment process data from selected organizations in order to make use of the contributions from the data patterns since they can theoretically enhance the IT investment process framework. Empitical IT investment process data for four organizations in Thailand were collected using an interpretive case study methodlogy. The findings from the data interpretation were used to delineate the IT investment process framework for decision makers so it could be used to both uncover gaps in their own processes and to guide them in their IT investment processes.