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Executive involvement and participation in the management of information technology

Authors:

Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,

Blake IvesAuthors Info & Claims

MIS Quarterly, Volume 15, Issue 2

Pages 205 - 227

https://doi.org/10.2307/249382

Published: 01 June 1991 Publication History

Abstract

Executive support is often prescribed as critical for fully tapping the benefits of information technology (IT). However, few investigations have attempted to determine what type of executive support is likely or organizationally appropriate. This article puts forward alternative models of executive support. The models are tested by examining chief executive officers' behaviors in and perceptions of IT activities. CEOs and information systems executives are surveyed and further data collected from industry handbooks and from chairmen's annual letters to shareholders. The results suggest that executive involvement (a psychological state) is more strongly associated with the firm's progressive use of IT than executive participation (actual behaviors) in IT activities. Executive involvement is influenced by a CEO's participation, prevailing organizational conditions, and the executive's functional background. CEO's perceptions about the importance of IT in their firms were generally positive, although they participated in IT activities rather infrequently.

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Executive involvement and participation in the management of information technology

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Information & Contributors

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Published In

cover image MIS Quarterly

MIS Quarterly Volume 15, Issue 2

June 1991

100 pages

ISSN:0276-7783

Editor:
James C. Emery
Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

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Society for Information Management and The Management Information Systems Research Center

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 June 1991

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https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/isre.2023.1216
Haislip JLim JPinsker R(2021)The Impact of Executives’ IT Expertise on Reported Data Security BreachesInformation Systems Research10.1287/isre.2020.098632:2(318-334)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1287/isre.2020.0986
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