A Primer on Decision Rights in Information Systems: Review and Recommendations

Till J. Winkler, Michael Wessel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The decision rights construct deserves increasing attention in the Information Systems(IS) field, yet integrative knowledge is sparse. This review first establishes two keydistinctions from managerial theory regarding decision rights classes (decision input,control, and management) and manifestations (formal versus practiced) and thenanalyzes the current state of the IS literature based on 53 articles published in nineleading IS outlets between 1992 and 2018. Our review identifies six themes of IS researchthat have used the decision rights construct on various levels, with differingconceptualizations, and in different nomological roles. We find that the majority ofstudies mix decision control with decision management rights (38%) and focus on formalmanifestations only (68%). We close by putting forward five recommendations, arguingthat a more nuanced conceptualization of decision rights will aid future IS research inaddressing contemporary IS phenomena.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 39th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS)
Number of pages17
Place of PublicationAtlanta, GA
PublisherAssociation for Information Systems. AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)
Publication date2018
ISBN (Electronic)9780996683173
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Event39th International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2018: Bridging the Internet of People, Data, and Things - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 13 Dec 201816 Dec 2018
Conference number: 39
https://icis2018.aisconferences.org/

Conference

Conference39th International Conference on Information Systems, ICIS 2018
Number39
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period13/12/201816/12/2018
Internet address
SeriesProceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems
ISSN0000-0033

Keywords

  • Decision rights
  • Literature review
  • IT governance
  • IS outsourcing
  • IS development
  • IS adoption
  • Network governance

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