组织冗余与诺兰模型修正——中国银行的案例研究

Organization Slack and Modification of Nolan Model:A Case Study of Bank of China

从20世纪70年代以来,诺兰模型一直是企业信息系统发展的重要理论依据。随着理论的发展和实践的深入,Nolan提出的信息系统发展六阶段模型表现出一定的局限性。本研究将组织冗余引入数字化基础设施演化的社会-技术理论框架,重新整合诺兰模型,将信息系统发展总结为三个过程:情境过程、行动-形成过程、转换过程。以中国银行从1974年到2013年的信息系统发展历程为例,对本文提出的理论模型进行验证。案例研究发现:本文提出的三个过程可以描述企业信息系统发展的阶段,由于组织惯性的作用,组织冗余与诺兰模型描述并不完全一致,它随着信息系统发展遵循"低-高-低"的变化规律。这个发现可以解释现有文献中对IT生产力悖论的争论,信息系统商业价值潜藏于组织冗余之中而造成了滞后。中国银行的"引进→外包→自主"的信息化之路,对规模庞大、业务复杂的中国企业提供了经验。在企业信息化实践中,不仅要进行合理的信息系统规划,同时要密切关注组织冗余的变化。

Nolan model has always been an important theory underpinning the development of business information system since the 1970 s.With progress in theory and practice,the model of six development stages of information system proposed by Nolan shows some limitations.This paper introduces organizational slack into the socio-technical framework of digital infrastructural evolution,and summarizes the development of information system into three processes by reintegrating the Nolan model：Contextual process,action-formation process,and transformation process.Then it uses the progress of information system in Bank of China from 1974 to 2013as a case to test the proposed theoretical model.The case study has some findings.The three processes can describe the development stages of information system.Organizational slack is not the same as described in the Nolan model due to organization routine,and it follows the variation rule of＂low-high-low＂in accordance with the development of information system.This helps to understand the debate over information technology productivity paradox.The business value of information system is hidden in organizational slack and thus lags behind.The road of＂introduction,outsourcing and autonomy＂from Bank of China offers experience for large-size and complex business firms.The firms should pay attention to information system planning as well as variation in organizational slack in enterprise informatization.