Software reusability as synchronous innovation: A test of four theoretical models

Information systems departments are being challenged to improve systems delivery performance. Software reuse is a potential strategy to address recurring systems development problems such as high development cost, low programmer productivity and long systems delivery lead time. However, the barriers associated with reuse implementation are significant. A better understanding of the administrative changes that facilitate reuse implementation is required to further research and practice in this area. We conceptualise reusability as a software process innovation that constitutes administrative and technological dimensions. Drawing from the synchronous innovation concepts, four theoretical models of the interrelationships between these dimensions of reusability and systems delivery performance are developed. Using the data collected through a postal survey these models are empirically evaluated. The results strongly suggest that administrative innovations intervene in the relationship between technological innovations and systems delivery performance and vice versa. This implies that synergies exist between administrative and technological dimensions of reusability which are more important in explaining variance in systems delivery performance than these dimensions individually. Implications of the study for IS theory, future research and practice are identified and discussed.