A comparative analysis of critical issues facing Canadian information systems personnel: a national and global perspective

A survey was conducted of 157 Canadian Information Systems (IS) personnel in organizations throughout Canada using a modified Delphi technique and follow-up interviews to identify the perceived critical issues in IS during the following 5 years. The important issues included: (1) building a responsive IT infrastructure; (2) improving IS project management practices and (3) planning and managing communication networks. Significant differences in the rating of the importance of these issues were reported between IS executives and non-management IS personnel. Qualitative data collected in 35 follow-up interviews provided some interesting insights into the rationale behind the ratings. The top 10 issues were compared to rankings previously reported in Canada and to data collected internationally in a comparable time period. The trend in Canada has been towards technological issues. From a global perspective, Canada currently appears to lead in management issues and lag in technological issues.