Friday, July 11, 2008

Why Information Systems Fail


There are many reasons why IS/IT systems fails that caused so much trouble in any business. Based on the studies that were conducted, such failure is not caused by technological difficulties alone. We should also have to consider the problems regarding human resources and the functionality within a business.

As what I have studied, we could say that an IS fails when it does not meet its design objectives, excessive costs, missed deadlines, the users cannot interact well with the IS, and unable to meet the clients expectations. These are only some of the facts that correspond with the other observations. Though fail may occur, the work on the system should not stop. According to Sauer, actual failure finally and irreversibly occurs when a project organization is unable to sustain sufficient support to continue work on the system, including development, maintenance, and operation; and the cessation of work leaves users dissatisfied with what the system has done for them.

Other contributions why IS fails because it is not well planned, a study is not implemented, there are no specific goals, and inattention to the contribution of the staff’s character, coordination, knowledge, and performance in which they could have a good plan, and could come up with one great idea.

“You stop working because you fail… but you fail because you stop working.”