"An information system is a set of people, data, and procedures that work together to provide useful information" (Senn, 1990, p8)

Given that information systems (IS) seem to be a useful item, which have the potential to ease peoples' working lives, why do they create so many problems? That is the topic of discussion for this paper.

At first glance the answer seems obvious, it must be due to a technical problem with the system itself. However, after researching this topic, and I hope after you have read this paper, the answer seems quite the opposite.

Although technical competence is important it is suggested that social and political situations have more to do with IS projects failure than the presence of technical ability.

The basis of my argument will come from an article found in Computer Weekly (February 2002). This article concerns itself with a recent piece of research on the topic of IS failure and its causes carried out by computer Weekly and The Coverdale Organisation, a process consultancy.

An IS project is just what it says, a project that builds and implements an information system. Today, when talking about

Team members must talk more, project managers more carefully chosen and the senior management must back the project. It all seems easy enough. But (there always has to be one), will these solutions work in all, if any IS project?

A standard transaction processing system, from a technical point of view

IS, most of us think of computerised systems. Although there are many different types of IS, I shall be concentrating on computerised information systems (CIS) for the purpose of this paper.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Coverdale Organisation, Mickey MouseSchnider, Education Department, MIS Implementation', , Stages Construction, Department Myers, Causes Failure, Education Department's, Schnider Karl, senior management, information systems, project manager, social political, computer weekly, project failure, project project, senior management project, markus 1983, education department, zealand education, politics mis implementation', schnider karl 2002, political situations projects, weekly coverdale organisation,
Approximate Word count = 2054
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)