Applied Research on Legitimation Todel and Strategies for Smartcard System Project

This research aims to examine the legitimation process that gains stakeholder support for information system projects. A qualitative case study approach was employed to investigate a smartcard system project at a regional university in China, with semi-structured interview as the main data collection method. This case study revealed that the legitimation process consisted of four main project phases and identified nine legitimation strategies that were carried out by in the project. This research concludes that legitimation should be considered a key resource that needs to be strategically managed and controlled. Practitioners should strategically involve stakeholders in IS projects and appropriately present an image in which the system is seen as meeting stakeholders needs and wants.