Information systems strategy and law
Michael S.H. Heng · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · 2000
It is even more difficult to write intelligibly about drafting than to draft intelligibly.- quoted in Namasivayam (1967) Abstract: There are some parallels between the world of law and the world of information systems practice. This paper draws on some insights from the former to discuss some issues in the formulation and implementation of information systems (IS) strategy. The crafting of laws of a country is a process that entails argumentation, negotiation, compromise and exercise of power in the societal context of ideology, power structure, culture and historical legacy. Once formulated, the law goes through a process of interpretation by the key players and other stakeholders. While laws are intended to forbid certain practice, society and economy can sometimes profit by ignoring them. Finally laws are also enacted in a move to provide legitimisation for certain activity. All these features can be found in the formulation IS strategy and its implementation. These features in the law-related phenomena are not exhaustive. They are meant to stimulate further studies to draw upon insights from the rich activity of legal practice to help us inform and reflect on IS strategy formulation and implementation. Key words: legal practice, information systems strategy, formulation, implementation. 1