Effective Organizational Improvision in Information Systems Development: insights from Tencent messaging system development

Abstract

Organizational improvisation has been increasingly observed in information systems development (ISD), which leads to both positive and negative results. Extant studies have examined how to conduct effective improvisation, but findings are mainly based on variancebased models; a process model is missing. Our study fills this gap by conducting an in-depth case study of the Tencent messaging system development. Our study identifies a four-phase process model featuring a continuous iteration between improvisational search and build. Our findings make important contributions to organizational improvisation literature in ISD and general management and provide a step-by-step guide for ISD managers to conduct effective improvisation.