The Effects of Standardization on IS Architecture Complexity

Erik Jochemsen; Bart van den Hooff; Marijn Plomp; Mohammad Rezazade Mehrizi

The Effects of Standardization on IS Architecture Complexity

Erik Jochemsen^*, Bart van den Hooff, Marijn Plomp, Mohammad Rezazade Mehrizi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Organizations face increasing complexity in their Information Systems (IS), which have many different components and interactions. Standardization of IS seeks to reduce the variety of components and is expected to reduce IS complexity. From a static and structural perspective, this seems logical, but what are the effects of IS standardization if we consider the dynamic character of IS complexity? We analyze two comparable cas es to examine the effects of IS standardization in reducing IS complexity. Our study shows that standardization within the infrastructure of the technology layer can be an effective intervention to reduce IS complexity. Yet, it can also cause new types of complexity. The findings suggest that the level of decoupling between the components of the system is important and that an incremental standardization approach supports the process of understanding the emergent behavior of (complex) systems during standar dization.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ECIS 2021 - 29TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEM
Subtitle of host publication	[Proceedings]
Publication status	Published - 2021
Event	ECIS 2021 Marrakech - 29th European Conference on Information Systems - Duration: 14 Jun 2021 → 16 Jun 2021

Publication series

Name	ECIS Research Papers
Volume	102

Conference

Conference	ECIS 2021 Marrakech - 29th European Conference on Information Systems
Period	14/06/21 → 16/06/21

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https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2021_rp/102

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@inproceedings{07b3fa0ff4ec4638a613e7497dff20d4,

title = "The Effects of Standardization on IS Architecture Complexity",

abstract = "Organizations face increasing complexity in their Information Systems (IS), which have many different components and interactions. Standardization of IS seeks to reduce the variety of components and is expected to reduce IS complexity. From a static and structural perspective, this seems logical, but what are the effects of IS standardization if we consider the dynamic character of IS complexity? We analyze two comparable cas es to examine the effects of IS standardization in reducing IS complexity. Our study shows that standardization within the infrastructure of the technology layer can be an effective intervention to reduce IS complexity. Yet, it can also cause new types of complexity. The findings suggest that the level of decoupling between the components of the system is important and that an incremental standardization approach supports the process of understanding the emergent behavior of (complex) systems during standar dization.",

author = "Erik Jochemsen and {van den Hooff}, Bart and Marijn Plomp and {Rezazade Mehrizi}, Mohammad",

year = "2021",

language = "English",

series = "ECIS Research Papers",

booktitle = "ECIS 2021 - 29TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEM",

note = "ECIS 2021 Marrakech - 29th European Conference on Information Systems ; Conference date: 14-06-2021 Through 16-06-2021",

}

Jochemsen, E, van den Hooff, B , Plomp, M & Rezazade Mehrizi, M 2021, The Effects of Standardization on IS Architecture Complexity. in ECIS 2021 - 29TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEM: [Proceedings]., 1541, ECIS Research Papers, vol. 102, ECIS 2021 Marrakech - 29th European Conference on Information Systems, 14/06/21. <https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2021_rp/102>

TY - GEN

T1 - The Effects of Standardization on IS Architecture Complexity

AU - Jochemsen, Erik

AU - van den Hooff, Bart

AU - Plomp, Marijn

AU - Rezazade Mehrizi, Mohammad

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Organizations face increasing complexity in their Information Systems (IS), which have many different components and interactions. Standardization of IS seeks to reduce the variety of components and is expected to reduce IS complexity. From a static and structural perspective, this seems logical, but what are the effects of IS standardization if we consider the dynamic character of IS complexity? We analyze two comparable cas es to examine the effects of IS standardization in reducing IS complexity. Our study shows that standardization within the infrastructure of the technology layer can be an effective intervention to reduce IS complexity. Yet, it can also cause new types of complexity. The findings suggest that the level of decoupling between the components of the system is important and that an incremental standardization approach supports the process of understanding the emergent behavior of (complex) systems during standar dization.

AB - Organizations face increasing complexity in their Information Systems (IS), which have many different components and interactions. Standardization of IS seeks to reduce the variety of components and is expected to reduce IS complexity. From a static and structural perspective, this seems logical, but what are the effects of IS standardization if we consider the dynamic character of IS complexity? We analyze two comparable cas es to examine the effects of IS standardization in reducing IS complexity. Our study shows that standardization within the infrastructure of the technology layer can be an effective intervention to reduce IS complexity. Yet, it can also cause new types of complexity. The findings suggest that the level of decoupling between the components of the system is important and that an incremental standardization approach supports the process of understanding the emergent behavior of (complex) systems during standar dization.

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - ECIS Research Papers

BT - ECIS 2021 - 29TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEM

T2 - ECIS 2021 Marrakech - 29th European Conference on Information Systems

Y2 - 14 June 2021 through 16 June 2021

ER -

The Effects of Standardization on IS Architecture Complexity

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