Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.)

School

Information Systems and Technology

Advisor

Gary L. Griffith

Abstract

Middle-level information systems managers (ISMs) in small-scale organizations often have challenges in determining the most appropriate strategy for adopting open-source software (OSS) in their organizations. The ISMs need to determine the right strategy for adopting OSS to protect the organizations’ information technology infrastructure. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory, the objective of this multiple case study was to explore strategies middle-level ISMs used to adopt OSS in their small-scale organizations. Six middle-level ISMs from three small-scale organizations with experience of not less than six years in OSS adoption strategy in the city of Frederick, Maryland, shared their strategies during semistructured online interviews. Data from archival documents augmented data collection. Thematic analysis yielded four themes: Relative advantage, cost control, support services, and staff knowledge. The study’s findings revealed that ISMs employ different strategies when adopting OSS in their small-scale organizations. These strategies seek to ensure the small-scale organizations gain a relative advantage, incur minimal costs, are guaranteed support and services, and enjoy staff knowledge. The implications for positive social change include the potential for organization leaders to provide customers affordable products and services and gain a competitive advantage in improved services.

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