Successful IT systems

Information technology (IT) systems are a critical part of our world, in business and the public and voluntary sectors. They are often highly complex and interconnected combinations of technology, organisations and people. Success and failure of IT systems can be seen in many different settings. Many are highly successful; others fail, sometimes spectacularly. This free course focuses on success, to help you understand what is meant by a successful IT system.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Success and failure in IT systems
• 1 Success and failure in IT systems
• 1.1 A successful system
• 1.2 A failed system
• 1.3 Reflecting on success and failure
• 2 The sociotechnical nature of IT systems
• 2 The sociotechnical nature of IT systems
• 2.1 Approaches to systems thinking
• 2.2 Components of an IT system
• 3 Understanding success in IT systems
• 3 Understanding success in IT systems
• 3.1 What is a successful system?
• 3.2 Criteria for judging success
• 3.2.1 Surveys of IT success
• 4 Stakeholders in systems success
• 4 Stakeholders in systems success
• 4.1 Stakeholder analysis
• 4.2 Identifying stakeholder groups
• 4.3 From stakeholder identification to analysis
• 4.4 Power versus interest
• 5 Power and success in IT systems
• 5 Power and success in IT systems
• 5.1 Politics and rationality
• 5.2 Identifying conflict
• 5.3 Politics of stakeholder identification
• 5.4 Stakeholder legitimacy and conflict
• 5.5 Expert stakeholder power
• 5.6 Power and system success
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements