Decision archetypes in information technology governance: Reflections in small and medium-sized enterprises

Rodrigo Franklin Frogeri; Daniel Jardim Pardini; Ana Maria Pereira Cardoso; Pedro dos Santos Portugal Júnior

doi:10.14211/regepe.e1912

Authors

Rodrigo Franklin Frogeri Research Department, University Center of the South of Minas, UNIS, Varginha, MG, Brazil. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7545-7529
Daniel Jardim Pardini Graduate Program in Information Systems and Knowledge Management, FUMEC University, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0422-1639
Ana Maria Pereira Cardoso Graduate Program in Information Systems and Knowledge Management, FUMEC University, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1588-6775
Pedro dos Santos Portugal Júnior Research Department, University Center of the South of Minas, UNIS, Varginha, MG, Brazil. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2590-1959

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14211/regepe.e1912

Keywords:

Decision archetypes, Information Technology Governance, Information and Communication Technology, Small and medium-sized enterprises, Decision-making process.

Abstract

Objective: To understand and analyze the configuration of the decision archetypes proposed by Weill and Ross (2004) in the context of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The study is justified by the increased organizational dependence on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and their high costs, which requires a close alignment between business strategies and the adoption of these technologies. Methodology/Approach: Qualitative approach, under an inductive logic; and data collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews involving five owner-managers of ICT service providers and 16 directors/managers of Information Technology (IT), in SMEs. Findings: It was observed that SMEs have characteristics that facilitate the integration between business and IT, with the prevalence of the duopoly decision archetype. The greater concentration of power in the owner-manager or the absence of structural power of the key IT professional in these companies can, however, favor federalism or monarchy archetypes, influencing misaligned decisions between IT and business. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The study findings suggest that, in the organizational structures of SMEs, there are key IT professionals with decision-making power, to be backed up by metrics based on quantitative aspects, supported by business intelligence systems and the empirical knowledge of those involved in the process. Relevance/Originality: By proposing mechanisms for configuring decision archetypes in Information Technology Governance (ITG) in SMEs, this study contributes significantly to the advancement of this theme, still incipient in the literature, as well as supporting new research.

JEL CODE: M15, M10, G30, L86, D80

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Author Biographies

Rodrigo Franklin Frogeri, Research Department, University Center of the South of Minas, UNIS, Varginha, MG, Brazil.

Rodrigo Franklin Frogeri é professor do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gestão e Desenvolvimento Regional do Centro Universitário do Sul de Minas, UNIS. Possui doutorado em Sistemas de Informação e Gestão do Conhecimento, mestrado em Administração e bacharelado em Ciência da Computação. Suas áreas de interesse incluem a Governança de TI em PMEs, Ambidestria Organizacional, Adoção de TI e Gestão do Conhecimento. Seus artigos vêm sendo publicados no Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, International Journal of Human Capital and Information Technology Professionals, RISTI (PORTO), NAVUS Revista de Gestão e Tecnologia, International Journal on IT/Business Alignment and Governance, entre outras revistas.

Daniel Jardim Pardini, Graduate Program in Information Systems and Knowledge Management, FUMEC University, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Daniel Jardim Pardini é professor e membro do Colegiado dos Programas de Doutoramento e Mestrado em Administração da FACE-FUMEC e dos Programas de Doutoramento e Mestrado em Sistemas de Informação e Gestão do Conhecimento da Universidade FUMEC. Foi criador e coordenador destes dois Programas Stricto Sensu no projeto que elevou a FUMEC ao título de Universidade. É doutor em Administração pela Universidade CEPEAD-UFMG-Birmingham (doutoramento em sanduíche com bolsa CAPES, 2004), Mestre em Administração Pública pela Fundação João Pinheiro (1998), Bacharel em Administração pela Una-União de Negócios e Administração (1988). As suas áreas de interesse incluem estratégia, gestão de sistemas de informação, aprendizagem inter-organizacional, empreendedorismo, governação empresarial, fusões e aquisições, e temas de fronteira (corrupção, segurança, gestão de catástrofes, redes sociais tecnológicas, processos de decisão orçamental contemporâneos). Os seus artigos foram publicados no Social Responsibility Journal, International Journal of Human Capital and Information Technology Professionals, Revista Gestão & Tecnologia, entre outros periódicos.

Ana Maria Pereira Cardoso, Graduate Program in Information Systems and Knowledge Management, FUMEC University, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Ana Maria Pereira Cardoso is a professor and researcher in the Graduate Program in Information Systems and Knowledge Management at the University FUMEC (2014-2020) where she integrated the Laboratory of Access to Information and Knowledge - LAIC (www.laic.org.br). She has graduated in Librarianship at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1969), with a master's degree in the same area and institution (1981) and a doctorate in Sciences/Communication from the University of São Paulo (1990). His areas of interest include outcomes and influences of information and communication technologies in society, encompassing social informatics - informatics and education - digital culture and citizenship - social networks - informational literacy and inclusion. His articles have been published in Behaviour & Information Technology, Informação & Sociedade (UFPB. ONLINE), Transinformação, Datagrama Zero, among other journals.

Pedro dos Santos Portugal Júnior, Research Department, University Center of the South of Minas, UNIS, Varginha, MG, Brazil.

Pedro dos Santos Portugal Júnior is a Professor of the Graduate Program in Management and Regional Development at the Centro Universitário do Sul de Minas, UNIS. He has a Ph.D. (2016) and Master's (2012) in Economic Development from the Institute of Economics at Unicamp focusing on the line of Economics of the Environment. He has a Postdoctoral (2018) by the Postdoctoral Researcher Program (PPPD) of the Institute of Economics at Unicamp. His areas of interest include Regional Management and Economic Development, and Organizational Ambidexterity. His articles have been published in Colóquio - Revista do Desenvolvimento Regional, Revista Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Regional, RISUS - Journal on Innovation and Sustainability, NAVUS - Revista de Gestão e Tecnologia, among other journals.

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