Evaluating Information Systems

As information systems/technologies (IS/IT) become embedded in organizations, these systems cannot be isolated from important issues such as human intellect, culture, philosophy, politics and socio-organizational changes. Limited business resources on one hand and the various concerns and demands from different stakeholders on the other hand have led to an ever-growing need to evaluate IS/IT investments. In other words, due to the heavy rise of IS/IT costs IS/IT investments must be justified. Evaluation of IS/IT investments is generally taken to mean the identification and the measurement of capital expenditures spent on and the initial anticipated revenues gained from the deployments of these systems (IS/IT). One of the main fundamental characteristics of interpretive approach (IA) is to highlight and facilitate evaluation as an interactive learning process. Interpretive approach concentrates on the lifecycle perspective of IS/IT investments argued to be a complex managerial issue. It is crucial to notice that stakeholders, their claims, concerns and issues are at the core of IEA.