Beyond the IT Productivity Paradox (John Wiley Series in Information Systems) [Hardcover]

Leslie P. Willcocks (Editor), Stephanie Lester (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471986925 | ISBN-13: 978-0471986928 | Publication Date: March 22, 1999 | Edition: 1

The 'IT Productivity Paradox' is the concept that, despite massive investment and resourcing by companies and organizations worldwide in their IT systems, there still seems to be little pay-off. Information systems can no longer be viewed as a support service for a business - information technology now has a lead role to play in the strategic planning processes of any organization. As we move further and further into a technology-based working environment, a critical question is how the value of IT can be measured and evaluated. This book brings together a group of the most eminent academic and practitioner thinkers in the area, to consolidate what we know about best IT evaluation practice in a comprehensive and integrated manner, and also provide new ways forward. The key to understanding the productivity paradox is the methods of IT measurement used. Improved measurement can not only reveal that IT has often been more productive than is believed, but can also focus in on ways in which benefits can be improved across the IT systems life-cycle. Critical areas where improved assessment is essential include development, and better risk analysis; sourcing, including IT outsourcing; and infrastructure, including transforming an organization's IT architecture. The authors also take a look at stakeholder interests as a part of the overall evaluation process. Contributors to this volume have been selected not only for their status in the IS field generally, but also for their reputation in the IT evaluation area. As this topic gains increasing prominence as IT expenditure continues to increase, this book will be an invaluable reference for academics and practitioners alike in the areas of information systems, IT evaluation and assessment and IT management.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The 'IT Productivity Paradox' is the concept that, despite massive investment and resourcing by companies and organizations worldwide in their IT systems, there still seems to be little pay-off. Information systems can no longer be viewed as a support service for a business - information technology now has a lead role to play in the strategic planning processes of any organization. As we move further and further into a technology-based working environment, a critical question is how the value of IT can be measured and evaluated. This book brings together a group of the most eminent academic and practitioner thinkers in the area, to consolidate what we know about best IT evaluation practice in a comprehensive and integrated manner, and also provide new ways forward. The key to understanding the productivity paradox is the methods of IT measurement used. Improved measurement can not only reveal that IT has often been more productive than is believed, but can also focus in on ways in which benefits can be improved across the IT systems life-cycle. Critical areas where improved assessment is essential include development, and better risk analysis; sourcing, including IT outsourcing; and infrastructure, including transforming an organization's IT architecture. The authors also take a look at stakeholder interests as a part of the overall evaluation process. Contributors to this volume have been selected not only for their status in the IS field generally, but also for their reputation in the IT evaluation area. As this topic gains increasing prominence as IT expenditure continues to increase, this book will be an invaluable reference for academics and practitioners alike in the areas of information systems, IT evaluation and assessment and IT management.

About the Author

Leslie P. Willcocks is a Fellow in the Oxford Institute of Information Management, Templeton College, Oxford and Visiting Professor, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Information Technology and has an international reputation for his work in IT evaluation, outsourcing and information management. He is author of 12 books and over 120 refereed papers for journals including HBR, Sloan Management Review and Long Range Planning and was co-editor of Strategic Sourcing of Information Systems (1997), Wiley.
Stephen Lester is Principal Consultant with Lucidus Management Technologies and a Research Affiliate of the Oxford Institute of Information Management. Previously she worked as Technology Change Director for Lloyds Register, London, and Change Manager for Information Technology and Engineering at Cellnet, UK. Her specialist areas are service management and IT measurement issues.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471986925
• ISBN-13: 978-0471986928
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.2 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,285,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read to understand current IT investment strategies, August 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond the IT Productivity Paradox (John Wiley Series in Information Systems) (Hardcover)

This excellent compendium of current thought on the topic of information technology (IT) investment justification from recognized experts in the field, edited by well regarded researchers on the topic, is a must read for any academic or executive trying to understand the intricacies and nuances of the payback of using IT. While the book is primarily academic in nature, it will enlighten anyone grappling with the multiple dimensions of understanding the challenge of IT investment. The editors bring a blend of academic rigor from Oxford University, and practical aspects from Lucidius Management Technologies to the writing. The readership level is appropriate for graduate students, researchers and faculty, but may be a bit dense for practitioners without a background in formal research methodologies. The bibliographies at the end of each chapter are excellent sources of information. The studies presented are global in scope, and range from case studies to research evaluation conducted in the 1990's. Highly recommended for an update or an introduction to a thorny issue that will only continue to exacerbate as the price tags and organizational dependency on computers grow.

5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied!!, October 23, 2009

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