A cross-cultural study of executive information systems

The current study examines cultural differences that influence the use and impact of Executive Information Systems (EIS). This research surveys the users of EIS in Sweden and the United States to examine the following research questions: do cultural diflerences account for differences in why EIS are used, in how El.9 are used, and in the perceived impact of EIS use? The findings suggest that US executives use EIS primarily for monitoring and achieve benefits of problem identification speed and decision making speed whereas Swedish executives use EIS primarily for analysis and evaIuation and achieve benefits of a more thorough, analytic decision process. The findings confirm the notion that IT is used by executives to reinforce the decision making behaviors valued in their culture.