An Empirical Test for the Expansion-Control Model for Managing End-User Computing

The purpose of this research is to determine if the expansion-control model as proposed, adapted, and refined (Munro and Huff 1985; Munro, Huff and Moore 1987) is useful for understanding and predicting changes in EUC management strategy over time. The long-term interest is not so much in understanding the specific problem of managing end-user computing as in understanding the general problem of managing new information technology in organizations. A field study was conducted with eighteen large firms in manufacturing and services to review their experience with EUC management over a nine year period. As predicted, most firms took a hands-off approach to EUC management during the initiation phase and evolved toward a balance between control and slack by 1987. However, changes in firms' EUC management strategy over time were more complex than predicted. In addition, the expansion and control constructs were not as independent as previously thought. The interaction between the two variables appears to be related, at least in part, to time and the stage of diffusion. The research suggests that current models of EUC management (and thus organizational learning about information technology) may be too simplistic. Suggestions for developing more general models of the process are offered.