Understanding the dynamics of balancing power between end-user and information services departments can lead to the effectiveness of each subunit, and ultimately, the organization. The main objectives of this thesis are as follows:
i) how the powers of information services and end-user departments in companies change according to the evolution of MIS, ii) which variables influence power of each department, iii) which conditions of the relationship between the power of information services and MIS user departments lead to high MIS performance.
After reviewing the relevant literatures, the model specifying the relationship between the level of MIS and power is established and 14 hypotheses were derived. The data were collected from 57 companies through interviews and questionnaires.
The levels of power at each departments were measured by the degrees of participation to major decision making areas and of position to rank at formal organizational chart and of influencing the other departments.
The statistical analyses used in this study were correlation analysis, T-test, Mann-Whitney nonparametric test, and multiple descriminant analysis.
The important results of this study are as follows:
1. The power theory is partly supported, that is coping with uncertainty, low substitutability, high workflow pervasiveness, and criticalness of tasks are associated with influence and power of department in the organization.
2. The powers of information services and end-user departments are explained each other variables.
3. There are positive relationship between power and the evolution of MIS.
4. The information services department has lower levels of power than those of end-user department.
5. The need for an additional variable in the power model is presented.
