Information Systems planning within medium environments: A critique of Information Systems growth models

Nolan’s and Galliers’ stages-of-IS-growth models have been applied to companies of various sizes, styles and structures. The case studies in this paper have revealed some problems and difficulties related to the applicability of these models. It is suggested that the causes are rooted in the different organisational cultures found in various businesses. This paper focuses on medium-sized entrepreneurial firms and argues that these models are inadequate to deal with the managerial practices and organisational structures found in these specific cultural contexts. Some considerations of the reasons behind these peculiarities and on the direction to broaden the scope of such models are set forth. The upshot is that the concept of organisational culture should become central in the study of Information Systems growth.