Factors affecting information system volatility

The objective of this research is to investigate the effect that various factors have on an information system’s life span by understanding how the factors affect an information system’s stability. The research builds on a previously developed two-stage model of information system change whereby an information system is either in a stable state of evolution in which the information system’s functionality is evolving, or in a state of revolution, in which the information system is being replaced because it is not providing the functionality expected by its users. A case study surveyed a number of systems within one organization. The aim was to test whether a relationship existed between the base value of the volatility index and certain system characteristics. Data relating to some 3,000 user change requests covering 40 systems over a 10-year period were obtained. The following factors were hypothesized to have significant associations with the base value of the volatility index: semantic relativism (generation of language of construction), system size, system age, and the timing of changes applied to a system. Significant associations were found in the hypothesized directions except the timing of user changes was not associated with any change in the value of the volatility index.