Abstract

The reaurn on investment for Information Systems Developmentprojects takes place during the period of stability following the system's implementation. This return on investment can be leveraged by extending the period of stability or reducing the ongoing costs of maintenance and enhancement. Since the usefulness of information systems is dependent on their alignment with the organization's goalsandobjectives,theabilityofasystemtoabsorbchangedirectlyaffectsitslifespan. Givenalsotheriskoffailureassociatedwith systems development projects (Gladden 1982; Turner 1982; Hammer 1990; Lyytinen 1990), risk averse organizations are keen to delay such risky expenditure by extending an information system's life span.

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