Title: The non-investment decision in information systems

Authors: Luiz Fernando Albertin Bono Milan; Fernando S. Meirelles; Maria Alexandra Cunha

Addresses: FGV – EAESP, São Paulo, Brazil ' FGV – EAESP, São Paulo, Brazil ' FGV – EAESP, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: Owing to the complex nature of information system investment decisions, the present study presents an interpretative framework for addressing the postponement of decisions to invest in this kind of technology. An instrumental case study is used to conduct an analysis based on the proposed framework. The case in question is a legal firm in São Paulo, Brazil. Data was collected in 2014 and 2017. The non-investment behaviour of the managers concerning IS can change if they are given information that strengthens their cognitive dissonance, resulting in their becoming sufficiently uncomfortable to change this behaviour. The practical contribution of the study is a new way of viewing the psychological consequences of information system investment decisions, enabling managers to identify ways of arguing more convincingly in favour of IS investments. The contribution of the study is a new form of interpreting the postponement of information system investment decisions.

Keywords: cognitive dissonance; investment decisions; illusion of explanatory depth; cognitive miser.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2022.122902

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2022 Vol.40 No.1, pp.24 - 38

Received: 01 Dec 2018
Accepted: 08 Jun 2019
Published online: 16 May 2022 *

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