Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Applicability of Environmental Scanning Systems: A Systematic List Approach to Requirements Criteria

  • Chapter
Business Intelligence for New-Generation Managers

  • 3018 Accesses

Abstract

The increasing volatility of their companies’ environment is a growing concern for executives. Environmental scanning systems should enable them to focus earlier on emerging threats and opportunities. A lack of applicability means that concepts often go unused in practice. But what does applicability mean for environmental scanning systems design? Adhering to the design science paradigm, this article contributes to better information systems (IS) design by developing a systematic list approach to requirements criteria that specify the applicability of environmental scanning systems. The criteria are derived from the principle of economic efficiency, use findings from the absorptive capacity theory, and can be applied to both evaluate existing environmental scanning systems and develop a new, more applicable generation. The findings should also be applicable to other IS domains.

An extended version of this article has been published as: Bischoff S, Weitzel T, Mayer JH (2012) Requirements criteria for applicable environmental scanning systems: model development and first demonstration. In: Mattfeld D, Robra-Bissantz S (eds) Proceedings der Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik 2012, Braunschweig, 29.02.2012. GITO, Berlin, pp 945–957.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aguilar FJ (1967) Scanning the business environment. Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ansoff HI (1975) Managing strategic surprise by response to weak signals. Calif Manag Rev 18(2):21–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Bischoff S, Weitzel T, Mayer JH (2012) Requirements criteria for applicable environmental scanning systems: model development and first demonstration. In: Mattfeld DC, Robra-Bissantz S (eds) Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik 2012 (MKWI 2012), Proceedings der Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik 2012. GITO Verlag, Braunschweig, pp 945–957

    Google Scholar 

  4. Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (2004) Enterprise risk management—integrated framework. COSO, New York

    Google Scholar 

  5. Davies J, Finlay M, McLenaghen T, Wilson D (2006) Key risk indicators—their role in operational risk management and measurement. In: Davis E (ed) The advanced measurement approach to operational risk. Risk Books, London, pp 215–246

    Google Scholar 

  6. Davis FD (1989) Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Q 13(3):318–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. DeLone WH, McLean ER (2003) The DeLone and McLean model of information systems success: a ten-year update. J Manag Inform Syst 19(4):9–30

    Google Scholar 

  8. Duncan RB (1972) Characteristics of organizational environments and perceived environmental uncertainty. Admin Sci Q 17(3):313–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Eisenhardt KM, Martin JA (2000) Dynamic capabilities: what are they? Strat Manag J 21(10–11):1105–1121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Elofson G, Konsynski B (1991) Delegation technologies: environmental scanning with intelligent agents. J Manag Inform Syst 8(1):37–62

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frolick MN, Parzinger MJ, Rainer RKJ, Ramarapu N (1997) Using EISs for environmental scanning. Inform Syst Manag 14(1):35–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Fuld L (2003) Be prepared. Harv Bus Rev 81(11):20–21

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gulati R, Nohria N, Zaheer A (2000) Strategic networks. Strat Manag J 21(3):203–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hevner AR, Chatterjee S (2010) Design research in information systems: theory and practice, vol 22, Integrated series in information systems. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  15. IEEE (1998) IEEE recommended practice for software requirements specifications. Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society, New York

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jansen JJP, Van Den Bosch FAJ, Volberda HW (2005) Managing potential and realized absorptive capacity: how do organizational antecedents matter? Acad Manag Rev 48(6):999–1015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jiang JJ, Muhanna WA, Klein G (2000) User resistance and strategies for promoting acceptance across system types. Inform Manag 37:25–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lenz RT, Engledow JL (1986) The applicability of current theory. Strat Manag J 7(4):329–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lipschitz R, Klein G, Orasanu J, Salas E (2001) Taking stock of naturalistic decision making. J Behav Decis Making 14:331–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Makridakis S, Hogarth RM, Gaba A (2010) Why forecasts fail. What to do instead. MIT Sloan Manag Rev 51(2):83–90

    Google Scholar 

  21. March ST, Hevner AR (2007) Integrated decision support systems: a data warehousing perspective. Decis Support Syst 43(3):1031–1043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Matek W, Muhs D, Wittel H (1987) Maschinenelemente—Normung—Berechnung—Gestaltung. Vieweg, Braunschweig

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mayer JH, Marx F (2010) Systematic development of business-driven requirements—using next-generation EIS design as an example. In: Winter R, Zhao J, Aier S (eds) Fifth international conference on design science research in information systems and technology (DESRIST), St. Gallen, 4 June 2010. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 506–521

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mayer JH, Steinecke N (2011) Quick R improving the applicability of environmental scanning systems: state of the art and future research. In: Kautz K, Gadatsch A, Nüttgens M (eds) IFIP WG 8.6 working conference, Hamburg, 22–24 Sept 2011. Springer

    Google Scholar 

  25. Niu L, Lu J, Zhang G (2008) Cognitive orientation in business intelligence systems. Stud Comput Intell 117:55–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Oh L-B (2009) Managing external information sources in digital extended enterprises: the role of IT enabled business intelligence competence and network structure strength. In: 30th international conference on information systems (ICIS), Phoenix, AZ, USA, pp 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  27. Popper KR (1982) Logik der Forschung, 7th edn. Mohr, Tübingen

    Google Scholar 

  28. Samuelson PA (1983) Foundations of economic analysis, Enlarged edition. Harvard University Press, Harvard, MA

    Google Scholar 

  29. Stair RM, Reynolds GW (2011) Principles of information systems, 10th edn. Course Technology, Boston, MA

    Google Scholar 

  30. Sutcliffe KM, Weber K (2003) The high cost of accurate knowledge. Harv Bus Rev 81(5):74–82

    Google Scholar 

  31. Teece DJ (2007) Explicating dynamic capabilities: the nature and microfoundations of (sustainable) enterprise performance. Strat Manag J 28(8):1319–1350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Urbach N, Smolnik S, Riempp G (2009) The state of research on information systems success—a review of existing multidimensional approaches. Bus Inform Syst Eng 51(4):315–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Volberda HW, Foss NJ, Lyles MA (2010) Absorbing the concept of absorptive capacity: how to realize its potential in the organizational field. Organ Sci 21(4):931–951

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Warmouth MT, Yen D (1992) A detailed analysis of executive information systems. Int J Inform Manag 12(2):192–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Zahra SA, George G (2002) Absorptive capacity: a review, reconceptualization, and extension. Acad Manag Rev 27(2):185–203

    Google Scholar 

  36. Zott C (2003) Dynamic capabilities and the emergence of intra-industry differential firm performance: insights from a simulation study. Strat Manag J 24(1):97–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Stefan Bischoff

  2. School of Management, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Jörg H. Mayer

  3. Darmstadt University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany

    Timm Weitzel & Reiner Quick

Authors
  1. Stefan Bischoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jörg H. Mayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Timm Weitzel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Reiner Quick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan Bischoff .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Jörg H. Mayer

  2. Chair of Accounting and Auditing, Darmstadt University of Technology, Darmstadt, Germany

    Reiner Quick

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bischoff, S., Mayer, J.H., Weitzel, T., Quick, R. (2015). Applicability of Environmental Scanning Systems: A Systematic List Approach to Requirements Criteria. In: Mayer, J., Quick, R. (eds) Business Intelligence for New-Generation Managers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15696-5_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation