Algorithmic Trading Systems: A Multifaceted View of Adoption

Algorithmic trading has been blamed for an increasing level of volatility in a number of financial markets. Adoption and deployment of algorithmic trading systems has increased and this is likely to continue, as regulation, competition and innovation drive the development of advanced technological tools. Expert and intelligent systems provide the mechanics for both reacting to and affecting a financial market that is now significantly faster and operating across multiple time zones and markets. Surprisingly, much of this innovation has escaped discussion within the Information Systems research community. This paper explores this growing arena by engaging with senior practitioners in the industry and using interviews and grounded theory (GT) analysis to uncover their adoption concerns. The paper generalises these issues within a framework and guidelines aimed at supporting algorithmic trading system adoption, deployment and development.