@article{10.

2307/40398271,
ISSN = {07421222},
URL = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/40398271},
abstract = {An increasing number of organizations are recognizing the strategic
significance of their information technology (IT) resources. A process by which
emerging information technologies may be effectively identified and evaluated is
rapidly becoming a necessity. This process may be accomplished through scanning the
external IT environment. Based on the strategic emphasis given to IT resources,
organizations may be classified as exploiter/innovator (El), competitor/early
adopter (CEA), or participant/effective efficient follower (PEEF). This study uses
data from 131 top information systems managers to examine differences in the three
types of organizations across a number of issues concerning the process of scanning
the external IT environment. These issues include: (1 ) the objectives of scanning
the external IT environment; (2) the methods of scanning the external IT
environment; (3) the existence of separate units dedicated to IT scanning; (4) the
level of IT scanning intensity; (5) the sources of information used for IT
scanning; and (6) the level of top management involvement with IT scanning.},
author = {Jerry L. Maier and R. Kelly Rainer and Charles A. Snyder},
journal = {Journal of Management Information Systems},
number = {2},
pages = {177--200},
publisher = {Taylor & Francis, Ltd.},
title = {Environmental Scanning for Information Technology: An Empirical
Investigation},
volume = {14},
year = {1997}
}