Publications
With our publications we cover the most diverse research areas that arise in the field of man, task and technology. In addition to traditional Business Information Systems topics such as knowledge management and business process management, you will also find articles on current topics such as blended learning, cloud computing or smart grids. Use this overview to get an impression of the range and possibilities of research in Business Information Systems at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
Type of Publication: Article in Collected Edition
Shadow IT systems: Discerning the good and the evil
- Author(s):
- Furstenau, Daniel; Rothe, Hannes
- Title of Anthology:
- Proceedings of the 22nd European Conference on Information Systems
- pages:
- 1-14
- Location(s):
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Publication Date:
- 2014
- ISBN:
- 978-0-9915567-0-0
- Keywords:
- Centrality measures;Design science research;IS architectures;Network analysis;Shadow IT systems
- Citation:
- Download BibTeX
Abstract
Shadow IT is becoming increasingly important as digital work practices make it easier than ever for business units crafting their own IT solutions. Prior research on shadow IT systems has often used fixed accounts of good or evil: They have been celebrated as powerful drivers of innovation or demonized as lacking central governance. We introduce a method to IT managers and architects enabling a more nuanced understanding of shadow IT systems with respect to their architectural embeddedness. Drawing on centrality measures from network analysis, the method portrays shadow IT systems as most critical if they hold a central position in a network of applications and information flows. We use enterprise architecture data from a recycling company to demonstrate and evaluate the method in a real project context. In the example, several critical and yet disregarded shadow IT systems have been identified and measures were taken to govern them decently.