A Garbage Can Model of IT Value

Portrays the factors most organizations

confront when investing in IT
Helps understand why not all IT
investments are successful

Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 7-1

Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 7-2
 Project Success and Other
Outcomes
Some unsuccessful IT investments include:
IRSs modernization project
Denver airports automated baggage handling
system
AA Sabre Technologies and Marriott Hotels
travel supermarket system
The Department of Transportations air traffic
modernization project
There are many examples of successful IT
investments as well

Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 7-3

 Conversion Effectiveness

The effectiveness with which investments in

IT are converted to useful outputs
The four components of conversion
effectiveness are:
top management commitment
experience with IT
user satisfaction
turbulence of the firms political environment

Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 7-4