The relationship between organizational and national culture and the use and effectiveness of systems development methodologies

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between organizational and national culture and the use and effectiveness of systems development methodologies. Various different aspects of both culture and systems development methodologies are analysed. The first aspect studied is the state of systems development methodology use in South Africa. The results indicate that 74% of the organizations that participated in this study use a systems development methodology. Relationships between horizontal use of systems development methodologies and the success of the IS system and the success of the development process are also found. This relationship shows that when the systems development methodology knowledge is used in a bigger proportion of projects and by a bigger proportion of people, then both the development process and the IS system will be more successful. A relationship is also found that exists between organizational culture and system development methodologies. Organizations with a more hierarchical culture have been using SDMs longer than other organizational cultures. Relationships between national culture and systems development methodologies are also studied. The results show that when people prefer to work in a group (low individualism), the systems development methodology knowledge will be used more horizontally in the organization. The results also show relationships between the success of the IS system, the success of development process and the national and organizational cultures. When managers involve people at lower levels in the organizations in the decision making process, the developed IS system is more successful. The results show that organizations with a more developmental culture will have a more successful development system. The more an organization have a rational culture the more successful the IS system is perceived to be.