A Framework Facilitating Ex-Ante Evaluation of Information Systems

As organizations continually implement changes to their information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure, change has become an increasing part of "business as usual". Managers are routinely requested to justify expenditure, explain business benefits, and provide ex-ante and ex-post evaluations of ICT initiatives. Ex-ante evaluation is defined as predictive evaluation, and is often based upon quantitative measures such as financial predictions. However, the perception that many organizations are underperforming with regard to the effectiveness of ICT suggests that an approach to ex-ante evaluation employing both qualitative and quantitative components is appropriate. This paper presents a framework designed to facilitate qualitative evaluation of the likely impact of an information system by analyzing a series of key themes derived from a study of the literature of change and change management. The paper concludes with an application of the framework to an ICT development, the intention being to assess the validity of the theoretical framework proposed.