THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FROM A COMPLEX SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE Jesús Marcelo Ramírez Arias Programa de Posgrado en Ingeniería Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Jaime Jiménez Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y Sistemas Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico June 23rd 2008

Content Introduction SMEs as CAS Method Results Discussion Conclusions

Introduction

SMEs as CAS

Method

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Introduction IT use in the world Source: S urvey to IT executives, The Business Performance Management Institute (Wood 2006, p:2)

IT use in the world

Introduction IT projects in the word Source: Standish Group (Chaos Report) (Rubinstein 2007, p:1)

IT projects in the word

Introduction México and the use of IT Source: Visión México 2020 (AMITI, CANIETI, FMD 2006, p:76)

México and the use of IT

Introduction ¿What is IT? Source: Chaffey y Wood 2005, p:42 Software Tele communications Hardware Information Technologies IT

¿What is IT?

SMEs as CAS IT projects developed in organizations are, in most of the cases, related to the implementation of information systems. The problem is the sorted data provision, which has to be reliable and according to the always changing activities performed by the organization and/or its members.

IT projects developed in organizations are, in most of the cases, related to the implementation of information systems.

The problem is the sorted data provision, which has to be reliable and according to the always changing activities performed by the organization and/or its members.

SMEs as CAS If the information managed is always changing, it results paradoxical that the design, implementation, and use of IT in organizations (in particular information systems) are practices widely founded in notions of rationality and method. The organizational context is a critical success factor when we try to get the advantages related to IT implementation.

If the information managed is always changing, it results paradoxical that the design, implementation, and use of IT in organizations (in particular information systems) are practices widely founded in notions of rationality and method.

The organizational context is a critical success factor when we try to get the advantages related to IT implementation.

SMEs as CAS If information provision in the organization produces a disadvantageous change, it will try to adapt to this change, in order to get back its earlier status. Fuller and Morán (2001), suggest that the enterprise can be understood as existing in different layers, possibly unconnected and with different meaning and characteristics.

If information provision in the organization produces a disadvantageous change, it will try to adapt to this change, in order to get back its earlier status.

Fuller and Morán (2001), suggest that the enterprise can be understood as existing in different layers, possibly unconnected and with different meaning and characteristics.

SMEs as CAS Posited ontological layers in the small firm domain

Posited ontological layers in the small firm domain

SMEs as CAS Carlisle and McMillan (2006), place organizations along a spectrum, ranging from random, unorganized and highly chaotic to highly ordered and mechanistic. In the middle lies the complex adaptive system behaviors .

Carlisle and McMillan (2006), place organizations along a spectrum, ranging from random, unorganized and highly chaotic to highly ordered and mechanistic.

In the middle lies the complex adaptive system behaviors .

Las PyME como SAC Types of system and degrees of order and stability

Types of system and degrees of order and stability

Method Information gathering Two levels of analysis were performed, organization's mechanics and dynamics. Mechanics analysis, allows to know were the organization is going to and which are the available resources (human and material). Dynamics analysis, studies the way people interact and the means or tools utilized to develop their functions.

Information gathering

Two levels of analysis were performed, organization's mechanics and dynamics.

Mechanics analysis, allows to know were the organization is going to and which are the available resources (human and material).

Dynamics analysis, studies the way people interact and the means or tools utilized to develop their functions.

Method Diagnosis The diagnosis was applied to a SME performing work supervision and control in construction and remodelling projects for banks and stores. 15 members of the staff were interviewed. Interviews were oriented to discover the information requirements of each one of the members in the organization.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis was applied to a SME performing work supervision and control in construction and remodelling projects for banks and stores.

15 members of the staff were interviewed.

Interviews were oriented to discover the information requirements of each one of the members in the organization.

Method Constraints. Low knowledge level about work processes and procedures. The organization members were not able to establish a solid relationship between the results generated and their information needs.

Constraints.

Low knowledge level about work processes and procedures.

The organization members were not able to establish a solid relationship between the results generated and their information needs.

Results Original organizational structure. General Director General Coordinator Work Coordinator Work Supervisor Assistant Project Manager Work Supervisor Work Supervisor Organization Project Project Director Work Supervisor

Original organizational structure.

Results New organizational structure General Director Executive Director Operations Finance and Accounting Planning and Systems Project Manager Technical Coordinator Administrative Coordinator Assistant Project Manager Technical Coordinator Administrative Coordinator Organization Project

New organizational structure

Results Environment and Projects Information Management Process. Projects Software Administrative Software Operations Finance and Accounting Planning and Systems Information Information Information

Environment and Projects Information Management Process.

Discussion This work hypothesis is: an SME can be understood as a CAS in order to perform a better selection of IT. The survival of SMEs is similar to CAS. It is not certain, but in rapidly changing environments it will try to increase its chances by seeking to operate primarily at ‘the edge of chaos’.

This work hypothesis is: an SME can be understood as a CAS in order to perform a better selection of IT.

The survival of SMEs is similar to CAS. It is not certain, but in rapidly changing environments it will try to increase its chances by seeking to operate primarily at ‘the edge of chaos’.

Conclusions There is evidence that SMEs can be classified as loosely coupled systems. In organizations the actors are complex, teleological and if the environment is appropriate they become autonomous. This is why IT implementation in organizations and specially SMEs has high failure probability.

There is evidence that SMEs can be classified as loosely coupled systems.

In organizations the actors are complex, teleological and if the environment is appropriate they become autonomous. This is why IT implementation in organizations and specially SMEs has high failure probability.

Conclusions The loosely coupling and ‘the edge of chaos’ operation must not be understood as synonym of low performance or informal organizations. It is necessary to focus the initial diagnosis in discovering the relationship between the organization members rather than in its goals and objectives. This will conduce to the definition of the “instability – stability” position.

The loosely coupling and ‘the edge of chaos’ operation must not be understood as synonym of low performance or informal organizations.

It is necessary to focus the initial diagnosis in discovering the relationship between the organization members rather than in its goals and objectives. This will conduce to the definition of the “instability – stability” position.

THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FROM A COMPLEX SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE Jesús Marcelo Ramírez Arias [email_address] www.applicar.com Jaime Jiménez [email_address] www.iimas.unam.mx