Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) Implementation and Use in a Developing Economy

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the nature of SISP implementation and also determine the factors that influence as enablers or inhibitors to the implementation and use of SISP in Ghanaian organizations. The methodology adopted was the qualitative method and underpinned by Earl and Lederer and Sethi's approaches to SISP development. The results indicated that many firms have applied Earl's approaches in their SISP implementation. The findings also revealed that factors such as IS alignment, awareness, environmental assessment, budget, and top management involvement are the critical success factors enabling the use of SISP in the organizations studied. Inhibitors to SISP implementation include budget constraint, regulatory requirements, absence of IT/IS steering committee, among others. The study highly recommends that the inhibiting factors are given the necessary attention by the government to enable firms to implement SISP with ease. The originality of this study lies in the dearth of literature about SISP implementation in sub-Saharan economies.