Developing and implementing IS: a case study analysis in social services

Abstract

Many organizations fail to implement or reap the benefits of information systems (IS) projects. The social care sector is not yet a great user of information technology (IT) and the thinking about IS is generally less well-developed than, for instance, in the health care sector. Research in health informatics indicates that there are special problems in creating integrated solutions and achieving the uptake of systems. This project was therefore undertaken with the benefit of experience of previous projects in health and social services and in the expectation that attention to participative design and people factors would be the key determinants of success. The paper describes the outcomes and draws conclusions about the special characteristics of IS projects in social services.