The History of Texaco's Corporate Information Technology Function: A General Systems Theoretical Interpretation.

Author List: Porra, Jaana; Hirschheim, Rudy; Parks, Michael S.;
MIS Quarterly, 2005, Volume 29, Issue 4, Page 721-746.
We attempt to use general systems theory (GST) to understand why the resources of Texaco's corporate information technology function consistently did not match its task during its 40-year lifetime. Our interpretation uses mechanistic, organic, and colonial systems metaphors, each with three components. The first is an analysis of a management action system made up of organizational indicators such as Texaco's revenues, profits, employee numbers, IT budgets, and IT personnel numbers. The second is a narrative of performance versus resource needs, which shows a gap between the resources and expanding responsibilities of Texaco's IT function. The third is a management perception system, which offers reasons why top management continually misinterpreted IT's performance as inferior. Our results show that the mechanistic, organic, and colonial interpretations converge. In addition, our GST-based interpretations show how top management might have remedied the situation.
Keywords: colonial systems; historical research; interpretive research; IT function failure; IT function success factors; longitudinal study; mechanistic systems; organic systems; organizational alignment; organizational change; punctuated equilibrium; radical change
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#240 0.211 systems information management development presented function article discussed model personnel general organization described presents finally computer-based role examined functional components
#175 0.171 taxonomy systems different concept isd alternative generalization mechanistic distinction types generalizability theoretical speech richer induction original form inductive empirical organic
#185 0.155 change organizational implementation case study changes management organizations technology organization analysis successful success equilibrium radical efforts initiatives managing resistance individuals
#3 0.089 problems issues major involved legal future technological impact dealing efforts current lack challenges subsystem related highly present addressing likely recommendations
#282 0.064 power perspective process study rational political perspectives politics theoretical longitudinal case social rationality formation construction shows multiple instead understanding fact
#295 0.050 task fit tasks performance cognitive theory using support type comprehension tools tool effects effect matching types theories modification working time