Information Systems Flexibility in Organizations: Conceptual Models and Research Issues

In order to be effective and efficient, an information system (IS) needs to be flexible, that is, it must be capable of accommodating business and technological changes. Though the importance of flexibility in information systems is acknowledged by many studies, the different components of IS flexibility are not yet well understood. This paper addresses the different components for building flexibility in information systems. Based on a review of the literature, four conceptual models are presented and the different components of the models are discussed. The models will serve as a basis to: (i) assess the capability of an IS to respond to business and technological changes; (ii) identify and measure the different dimensions of IS flexibility; and (iii) develop managerial guidelines on how to manage flexibility in an information system.