Information system project-selection criteria variations within strategic classes

Effective information system (IS) project selection is critical to the success of organizations. Researchers have proposed that selection of projects varies by strategic orientation, but none have looked at how criteria vary within strategic classes. A survey of IS professionals, with a final respondent pool of 88, is directed at exploring these differences. Paired t-tests indicate that organizations with current strategic systems rate internal factors higher than external and project-related criteria. Organizations with an expectation of future strategic information systems rate internal concerns the highest, but they also place more emphasis on external conditions than on project-related issues. The results allow an organizational comparison to common practice for the purpose of modifying project-selection techniques or benchmarking to similar organizations.