180
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Subservient to the upper echelon: how information systems managers practice strategic alignment in the public higher education sector

&

References

  • Aguinis, H., & Vandenberg, R. J. (2014). An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: Improving research quality before data collection. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1(1), 569–595. doi:10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091231
  • Andrade, A. D. (2009). Interpretive research aiming at theory building: Adopting and adapting the case study design. The Qualitative Report, 14(1), 42–60.
  • Avison, D., Jones, J., Powell, P., & Wilson, D. (2004). Using and validating the strategic alignment model. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 13(3), 223–246. doi:10.1016/j.jsis.2004.08.002
  • Balogun, J., Best, K., & Lê, J. (2015). Selling the object of strategy: How frontline workers realize strategy through their daily work. Organization Studies, 36(10), 1285–1313. doi:10.1177/0170840615590282
  • Balogun, J., Huff, A. S., & Johnson, P. (2003). Three responses to the methodological challenges of studying strategizing. Journal of Management Studies, 40(1), 197–224. doi:10.1111/1467-6486.t01-1-00009
  • Banker, R. D., Hu, N., Pavlou, P. A., & Luftman, J. (2011). CIO reporting structure, strategic positioning, and firm performance. MIS Quarterly, 35(2), 487–504. doi:10.2307/23044053
  • Benbya, H., & McKelvey, B. (2006). Using co-evolutionary and complexity theories to improve is alignment: A multi-level approach. Journal of Information Technology, 21(4), 284–298. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jit.2000080
  • Campbell, B. (2007). Strategic alignment: a dynamic process. 18th Australasian Conference on Information Systems (pp. 27–37). Toowoomba, Australia.
  • Case, X. (2018). Strategic plan 2018-2022.
  • Case, Y. (2019). Strategic plan 2019-2023.
  • Charmaz, K. (1996). Grounded theory. In J. Smith, R. Harre, & L. Langenhove (Eds.), Rethinking methods in psychology (pp. 27–49). London: Sage.
  • Charmaz, K. (2008). Constructionism and the grounded theory method. In J. Holstein & J. Gubrium (Eds.), Handbook of constructionist research (pp. 397–412). New York: The Guilford Press.
  • Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Chen, D., Mocker, M., Preston, D., & Teubner, A. (2010). Information systems strategy: Reconceptualization, measurement, and implications. MIS Quarterly, 34(2), 233–259. doi:10.2307/20721426
  • Chen, L. (2010). Business-IT alignment maturity of companies in China. Information and Management, 47(1), 9–16. doi:10.1016/j.im.2009.09.003
  • Ciborra, C. (1997). De profundis? Deconstructing the concept of strategic alignment. Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, 9(1), 67–82.
  • Coltman, T., Tallon, P., Sharma, R., & Queiroz, M. (2015). Strategic IT alignment: Twenty-five years on. Journal of Information Technology, 30(2), 91–100. doi:10.1057/jit.2014.35
  • Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. L. (2008). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Crowe, S., Cresswell, K., Robertson, A., Huby, G., Avery, A., & Aziz, S. (2011). The case study approach. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 11(1).
  • Denstad, H., & Bygstad, B. (2012). Managing the IT alignment gap in turbulent times — an inside view. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research, 14(2), 28–46. doi:10.1080/15228053.2012.10845700
  • Department of Education and Skills. (2015). Higher Education. Retrieved June 02, 2015, from http://www.education.ie/en/the-education-system/higher-education/
  • Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case study research. The Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532–550. doi:10.5465/amr.1989.4308385
  • Eisenhardt, K. M., & Graebner, M. E. (2007). Theory building from cases: Opportunities and challenges. Academy of Management Journal, 50(1), 25–32. doi:10.5465/amj.2007.24160888
  • Fernández, W. D. (2004). The grounded theory method and case study data in is research: Issues and design. Canberra, Australia: ANU EPress.
  • Fernández, W. D., & Lehmann, H. (2011). Case studies and grounded theory method in information systems research: Issues and use. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research, 13(1), 4–15. doi:10.1080/15228053.2011.10856199
  • Gable, G. G. (2010). Strategic information systems research: An archival analysis. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 19(1), 3–16. doi:10.1016/j.jsis.2010.02.003
  • Galliers, R. D. (2007). Strategizing for agility: Confronting information systems inflexibility in dynamic environments. Oxford, England: Butterworth-Heinmann.
  • Gartlan, J., & Shanks, G. (2007). The alignment of business and information technology strategy in Australia. Australian Journal of Information Systems, 14(2), 113–139.
  • Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
  • Halaweh, M. (2012). Integration of grounded theory and case study: An exemplary application from e-commerce security perception research. JITTA: Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application, 13(1), 31–50.
  • Hassan, N., & Lowry, P. (2015). Seeking middle-range theories in information systems research. 36th International Conference on Information Systems, Forth Worth, Texas.
  • HEAnet. (2015, November 6). Heanet ireland’s national education and research network. Retrieved from http://www.heanaet.ie
  • Heico van der, B. (2003). Writing case studies in information systems research. Journal of Information Technology, 18(1), 45–52. doi:10.1080/0268396031000077440
  • Hendry, J., & Seidl, D. (2003). The structure and significance of strategic episodes: Social systems theory and the routine practices of strategic change. Journal of Management Studies, 40(1), 175–196. doi:10.1111/1467-6486.00008
  • Henfridsson, O., & Lind, M. (2014). Information systems strategizing, organizational sub-communities, and the emergence of a sustainability strategy. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 23(1), 11–28. doi:10.1016/j.jsis.2013.11.001
  • Hiekkanen, K., Helenius, M., Korhonen, J., & Patricio, E. (2013). Aligning alignment with strategic context: a literature review. In 1st International Conference on Digital Enterprise Design and Management 2013, P.-J. Benghozi, D. Krob, & F. Rowe (eds.), Paris, France: Springer Berlin Heidelberg (pp. 81–98).
  • Holohan, J., & McDonagh, J. (2014). Towards a systematic approach to reviewing the strategic alignment literature. In 19th UKAIS Conference on Information Systems, St. Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, England.
  • Holohan, J., & McDonagh, J. (2017). How information systems managers align business and information systems strategies in public service organisations: A practice-based taxonomy. 17th European Academy of Management Conference, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.
  • Hooper, V., & Bunker, B. (2013). The role and requisite competencies of the public sector CIO: A two-sided perspective. The Electronic Journal Information Systems Evaluation, 16(3), 189–200.
  • Hughes, J., & Jones, S. (2003). Reflections on the use of grounded theory in interpretive information systems research. 11th European Conference on Information Systems, Naples, Italy.
  • Hunt, C. (2011). National strategy for higher education to 2030 - report of the strategy group. Dublin, Ireland: Department of Education and Skills.
  • Hutchison, A. J., Johnston, L. H., & Breckon, J. D. (2010). Using Qsr-Nvivo to facilitate the development of a grounded theory project: An account of a worked example. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 13(4), 283-302. doi:10.1080/13645570902996301
  • Institute of Technology Ireland. (2015, June 10). Institute of Technology Ireland. Retrieved from http://www.ioti.ie
  • Jarzabkowski, P. (2004). Strategy as practice: Recursiveness, adaptation, and practices-in-use. Organization Studies, 25(4), 529–560. doi:10.1177/0170840604040675
  • Jarzabkowski, P., Balogun, J., & Seidl, D. (2007). Strategizing: The challenges of a practice perspective. Human Relations, 60(1), 5–27. doi:10.1177/0018726707075703
  • Jarzabkowski, P., & Spee, A. (2009). Strategy-as-practice: A review and future directions for the field. International Journal of Management Reviews, 11(1), 69–95. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2008.00250.x
  • Jarzabkowski, P., & Wilson, D. C. (2006). Actionable strategy knowledge: A practice perspective. European Management Journal, 24(5), 348–367. doi:10.1016/j.emj.2006.05.009
  • Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. (2008). Exploring Corporate Strategy (8th ed.). Harlow, Essex, England: Prentice Hall.
  • Jonathon, G., Rusu, L., & Perjons, E. (2020). “Business-IT alignment in the era of digital transformation: Quo Vadis?. 53rd Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences, Maui, Hawaii.
  • Kappelman, L., Johnson, V., Maurer, C., McLean, E., Torres, R., David, A., & Quynh, N. (2018). The 2017 sim it issues and trends study. MIS Quarterly Executive, 17(1), 53–88.
  • Karpovsky, A., & Galliers, R. D. (2015). Aligning in practice: From current cases to a new agenda. Journal of Information Technology, 30(2), 136–160. doi:10.1057/jit.2014.34
  • Karpovsky, A., & Galliers, R. D. (2018). Aligning in practice. In R. D. Galliers & M. K. Stein (Eds.), The Routledge companion to management information systems. pp. 341-359. London, England: Routledge.
  • Karpovsky, A., & Galliers, R. D. (2020). Aligning in practices: From current cases to a new agenda. In R. D. Galliers, D. E. Leidner, & B. Simeonova (Eds.), Strategic information management: theory and practice. 5th Edition, Chapter 5. Abingdon, England: Routledge.
  • Kawulich, B. (2004). Data analysis techniques in qualitative research. Journal of Research in Education, 14(1), 96–113.
  • Klag, M., & Langley, A. (2013). Approaching the conceptual leap in qualitative research. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(2), 149–166. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2012.00349.x
  • Lederer, A. L., & Mendelow, A. L. (1989). Co-ordination of information systems plans with business plans. Journal of Management Information Systems, 6(2), 5–19. doi:10.1080/07421222.1989.11517854
  • Leech, N. L., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2011). Beyond constant comparison qualitative data analysis: using Nvivo. School Psychology Quarterly, 26(1), 70–84. doi:10.1037/a0022711
  • Luftman, J., & Brier, T. (1999). Achieving and sustaining business-IT alignment. California Management Review, 42(1), 109–122. doi:10.2307/41166021
  • Maimbo, H., & Pervan, G. (2005). Designing a case study protocol for application in IS research. 9th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems, Bangkok, Thailand (pp. 1281–1292).
  • Marabelli, M., & Galliers, R. D. (2017). A reflection on information systems strategizing: The role of power and everyday practices. Information Systems Journal, 27(3), 347–366. doi:10.1111/isj.12110
  • Matavire, R., & Brown, I. (2013). Profiling grounded theory approaches in information systems research. European Journal of Information Systems, 22(1), 119–129. doi:10.1057/ejis.2011.35
  • Merali, Y., Papadopoulos, T., & Nadkarni, T. (2012). Information systems strategy: Past, present, future? Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 21(2), 125–153. doi:10.1016/j.jsis.2012.04.002
  • Merton, R. K. (1949). On sociological theories of the middle range. In Social theory and social structure (pp. 39–53). New York, NY: The Free Press.
  • Merton, R. K. (2017). Social theory and social structure, (revised and enlarged edition). New Delhi, India: Rawat Publications.
  • Meyfroidt, P., Roy Chowdhury, R., de Bremond, A., Ellis, E. C., Erb, K. H., Filatova, T., … Verburg, P. H. (2018). Middle-range theories of land system change. Global Environmental Change, 53(53), 52–67. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.08.006
  • Miles, M. B., Huberman, M., & Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Mills, J., Bonner, A., & Francis, K. (2006). Adopting a constructivist approach to grounded theory: Implications for research design [Corrected] [Published Erratum Appears in International Journal of Nursing Practice 2006 Apr; 12(2): 119]. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 12(1), 8–13. doi:10.1111/j.1440-172X.2006.00543.x
  • Niederman, F., Brancheau, J. C., & Wetherbe, J. C. (1991). Information systems Issues for the 1990s. MIS Quarterly, 15(4), 475–500. doi:10.2307/249452
  • Nieto Morales, F., Wittek, R., & Heyse, L. (2013). After the reform: Change in Dutch public and private organizations. Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory, 23(3), 735–754. doi:10.1093/jopart/mus006
  • Peak, D. A., Guynes, C. S., Prybutok, V. R., & Xu, C. (2011). Aligning information technology with business strategy: An action research approach. Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research, 13(1), 16–42. doi:10.1080/15228053.2011.10856200
  • Preston, D., & Karahanna, E. (2005). The development of a shared Cio/executive management understanding and its impact on informations systems strategic alignment. Journal Online - Information Systems Audit and Control Association Inc). www.isaca.org
  • Pyburn, P. J. (1983). Linking the MIS plan with corporate strategy: An exploratory study. MIS Quarterly, 7(2), 1–14. doi:10.2307/248909
  • Reckwitz, A. (2002). Toward a theory of social practices: A development in culturalist theorizing. European Journal of Social Theory, 5(2), 243–263. doi:10.1177/13684310222225432
  • Regnér, P. (2008). Strategy-as-practice and dynamic capabilities: Steps towards a dynamic view of strategy. Human Relations, 61(4), 565–588. doi:10.1177/0018726708091020
  • Renaud, A., & Walsh, I. (2010). The lost dimension of strategic alignment. 5th Mediterannean Conference on Information Systems, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • Sabherwal, R., Sabherwal, S., Havakhor, T., & Steelman, Z. (2019). How does strategic alignment affect firm performance? The roles of information technology investment and environmental uncertainty. MIS Quarterly, 43(2), 453–474. doi:10.25300/MISQ/2019/13626
  • Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2015). Research methods for business students (7th ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education.
  • Schlosser, F., Beimborn, D., Weitzel, T., & Wagner, H.-T. (2015). Achieving social alignment between business and IT  - an empirical evaluation of the efficacy of IT governance mechanisms. Journal of Information Technology, 30(2), 119–135. doi:10.1057/jit.2015.2
  • Schultze, U. (2000). A confessional account of an ethnography about knowledge work. MIS Quarterly, 24(1), 3–41. doi:10.2307/3250978
  • Seidel, S., & Urquhart, C. (2013). On emergence and forcing in information systems grounded theory studies: The case of Strauss and Corbin. Journal of Information Technology, 28(3), 237–260. doi:10.1057/jit.2013.17
  • Stephens, C. S., Ledbetter, W. N., Mitra, A., & Ford, F. N. (1992). Executive or functional manager? The nature of the Clo’s job. MIS Quarterly, 16(4), 449–467. doi:10.2307/249731
  • Storey, J. (2005). What next for strategic-level leadership research? Leadership, 1(1), 89–104. doi:10.1177/1742715005049353
  • Suddaby, R., Seidl, D., & Lê, J. K. (2013). Strategy-as-practice meets neo-institutional theory. Strategic Organization, 11(3), 329–344. doi:10.1177/1476127013497618
  • Sutton, R., & Staw, B. (1995). What theory is not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371–384. doi:10.2307/2393788
  • Talbot, C. (2009). Realism in public services reform - the case of the Irish Republic. Administration, 57(1), 31–68.
  • Tavakolian, H. (1989). Linking the information technology structure with organizational competitive strategy: A survey. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 309–317. doi:10.2307/249006
  • Tsang, E. W. K. (2014). Generalizing from research findings: The merits of case studies. International Journal of Management Reviews, 16(4), 369–383. doi:10.1111/ijmr.12024
  • Vaara, E., & Whittington, R. (2012). Strategy-as-practice: Taking social practices seriously. Academy of Management Annals, 6(1), 285–336. doi:10.5465/19416520.2012.672039
  • Venkatraman, N., & Camillus, J. (1984). Exploring the concept of “fit” in strategic management. The Academy of Management Review, 9(3), 513–525.
  • Wagner, H. T. (2014). Evolvement of business-IT alignment over time: A situated change perspective. 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA.
  • Walsham, G. (1995a). The emergence of interpretivism in is research. Information Systems Research, 6(4), 376–394. doi:10.1287/isre.6.4.376
  • Walsham, G. (1995b). Interpretive case studies in is research: Nature and method. European Journal of Information Systems, 4(2), 74–81. doi:10.1057/ejis.1995.9
  • Ward, J. M. (2012). Information systems strategy: Quo Vadis? Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 21(2), 165–171. doi:10.1016/j.jsis.2012.05.002
  • Weiss, J. W., & Thorogood, A. (2011). Information technology (IT)/business alignment as a strategic weapon: A diagnostic tool. Engineering Management Journal, 23(2), 30–41. doi:10.1080/10429247.2011.11431893
  • Whittington, R. (2006a). Learning More from Failure: Practice and Process. Organization Studies, 27(12), 1903–1906. doi:10.1177/0170840606071945
  • Whittington, R. (2006b). Completing the practice turn in strategy research. Organization Studies, 27(5), 613–634. doi:10.1177/0170840606064101
  • Whittington, R. (2007). Strategy practice and strategy process: Family differences and the sociological eye. Organization Studies, 28(10), 1575–1586. doi:10.1177/0170840607081557
  • Yin, R. K. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
  • Zviran, M. (1990). Relationships between organisational and information systems objectives: Some empirical evidence. Journal of Management Information Systems, 7(1), 65–84. doi:10.1080/07421222.1990.11517881

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.