Results of studies of the organizational impact of computer-based information systems (CBIS) are contradictory and uncertain. One reason is that what is meant by a CBIS differs from one study to another. In an effort to clarify linkages among CBIS designs and organizational contexts of use, a number of CBIS organization matches or "fits" are suggested based upon a four-part categorization of CBIS, consisting of centralized systems, distributed systems, decentralized systems, and stand-alone systems. Appropriate OBIS are then determined for different organizational configurations. The impact of CBIS on organization structure will depend on whether a CBIS structure fit exists. This approach should provide guidance for researchers in discussing CBIS-organization linkages as well as provide practitioners an additional criteria for ensuring CBIS success.
This research article reports on those factors project team members perceive as leading to systems development success. The amount of perceived impact of environmental variables, task variables and personal characteristics of project team members on systems success was explored. Results demonstrate that project team members are concerned with group process issues as well as with technical issues within the ranks of the project team. The sobering finding in their responses was that information systems personnel perceive neither management support nor user involvement as critical to the successful development of systems.