Mechanisms of Management Support and its Effect on Successful IS Implementation: The Case of Ethiopian Customs Authority

The successful implementation of information systems innovations remains a theoretical as well as a managerial challenge. In particular, the role of management support has been identified as a critical factor. Sharma and Yetton (2003) have stated that the absence of a main effect of management support on implementation success raises important research questions regarding the mechanisms through which management support contribute to implementation success. This work in progress research is a continuation of Sharma and Yetton’s recommendation. This study will extend the stream of research model by Sharma and Yetton identifying the role of an important moderator—mechanism of management support—for the successful implementation of IS innovations. The research question for this study is: What is the impact of mechanisms of support on management to successfully implement information systems in an organization? We evaluate this research question in a global context using the successful IS implementation at the Ethiopian Customs Authority.