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Cargo Cults in Information Systems Development: A Definition and an Analytical Framework

In: Advances in Information Systems Development

Author

Listed:
  • Tanja Elina Mäki-Runsas

    (CERIS, Örebro University)

  • Kai Wistrand

    (CERIS, Örebro University)

  • Fredrik Karlsson

    (CERIS, Örebro University)

Abstract

Organizations today adopt agile information systems development methods (ISDM), but many do not succeed with the adoption process and in achieving desired results. Systems developers sometimes fail in efficient use of ISDM, often due to a lack of understanding the fundamental intentions of the chosen method. In many cases organizations simply imitate the behavior of others without really understanding why. This conceptual paper defines this phenomenon as an ISDM cargo cult behavior and proposes an analytical framework to identify such situations. The concept of cargo cults originally comes from the field of social anthropology and has been used to explain irrational, ritualistic imitation of certain behavior. By defining and introducing the concept in the field of information systems development we provide a potential diagnostic tool to improve the understanding of one of the reasons why ISDM adoption sometimes fail.

Suggested Citation

  • Tanja Elina Mäki-Runsas & Kai Wistrand & Fredrik Karlsson, 2019. "Cargo Cults in Information Systems Development: A Definition and an Analytical Framework," Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organization, in: Bo Andersson & Björn Johansson & Chris Barry & Michael Lang & Henry Linger & Christoph Schneider (ed.), Advances in Information Systems Development, pages 35-53, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:lnichp:978-3-030-22993-1_3
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-22993-1_3
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