Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa and Blake Ives, "Executive Involvement and Participation in the Management of Information Technology ", MIS Quarterly, Jun, 1991, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp 205-227.
INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATION
The "executive involvement" construct is measured by items indicated by
an "I".
The "executive participation" construct is measured by items indicated
by a "P".
"Progressive use of IT in the firm" was measured by the single item
indicated by a "U"
IT MANAGER QUESTIONNAIRE
ID Number ____________________________
This questionnaire is intended for the most senior information systems
executive within your firm. If you are not that individual please
forward the entire packet to him or her.
1. Please provide the title of the person you report to: _________________
(P) 2. How many levels are you from the Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation?
1 2 3 4 5 6
3. How many years have you held your current position?
1 2 3 4 5 more than 5
4. To the best of your knowledge, how many years has your firm's Chief
Executive Officer been in his or her current position?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
more than 10
(I) 5. Which of the following statements best describes the importance that
your CEO perceives IT to be for your firm?
6 5 4 3 2
Considers IT Considers IT Considers IT Considers IT Considers IT
as the single as one of the to be vital for to be one of to be the
most critical vital parts of smooth func- many ways to concern of
factor for the the competi- tioning of cut costs in technologists
firm. tive strategy operations. the firm. not managers
but sup-
portive of IT.
1
Has little
concern for
the potential
utility of IT.
Optional comment _________________________________________________
(P) 6. How often does the CEO get personally involved in matters related to
the use of IT within the firm?
5 4 3 2 1
daily weekly monthly few times less than
a year once a year
Optional comment ____________________________________________________
(P) 7. How frequent are informal contacts between the CEO and the firm's
senior IT management?
5 4 3 2 1
daily weekly monthly few times less than
a year once a year
Optional comment ____________________________________________________
(P) 8. How knowledgeable is the CEO about IT opportunities and
possibilities for your firm?
5 4 3 2 1
extremely very well somewhat weakly
knowledgeable informed informed informed informed
Optional comment ___________________________________________________
(P) 9. How knowledgeable is the CEO about IT innovations that have been
developed by major competitors?
5 4 3 2 1
extremely very well somewhat weakly
knowledgeable informed informed informed informed
Optional comment: ______________________________________________________
(U) 10. How would you describe your firm's use of information technology?
5 4 3 2 1
industry close middle somewhat laggard
leader follower of the pack behind
Optional comment ______________________________________________________
11. Is there a research and development (R & D) budget for investments
in IT?
1 2 3 4
no yes, but Yes, we have yes, we are probably
inadequate for a modest budget an industry leader in
for our needs for piloting discretionary funding
new technologies. for investments in
emerging information
technologies.
Optional comment ______________________________________________________
(I) 12. Which of the following best describes the CEO's prevailing thinking
about funds the firm spend on IT?
1 2 3
Views IT as an Views IT as a resource Views IT as a
expense to be to be allocated fairly strategic investment.
controlled across organizational units.
Optional comment _______________________________________________________
(I) 13. How often does your CEO endorse major IT investments that have not
been endorsed by traditional justification criteria and procedures?
1 3 5
rarely occasionally frequently Optional comment ______________
(P) 14. Which of the following best describes the CEO's role in the
corporate IT steering committee?
5 4 3 2 1
is the defacto chairs an IT is a member IT committee no
steering committee of the IT exists, but with committee
committee and actively steering minimal CEO exists.
participates committee. input or
in meetings. awareness.
Optional comment ____________________________________________________
(I) 15. What is the CEO's vision for IT?
4 3 2
a strong but a technical vision a functional vision
generic vision, of how the firm will of how the firm will
use IT use IT
('we will be the ('we will ('95% of
industry leader in install a worldwide customer calls will
the use of advanced communications be handled with no
information network') call back.')
technology.')
1
no stated vision
expressed for IT.
16. Does the CEO personally use information technology?
4 3 2 1
CEO makes heavy CEO makes CEO is not a CEO has no
use of IT via symbolic use of user of IT but personal
electronic mail, with IT (e.g. PC in the insists that involvement
personal computer, office, but only his or her with
executive information occasional use.) office make computers.
system. use of IT.
17. What firm do you consider to be the information technology leader
in your industry?
_________________________________________________________
Would you like a copy of the paper we referred to in the cover letter?
No Yes (if new address please specify) Thank you very much for your
assistance.