Perceived risks and management actions: differences in end-user application development across functional groups

Essentially unaddressed in prior end-user computing (EUC) research is an important context factor: the functional department of the end-user. Just as individual employees vary in their EUC tool and management support needs, we propose that not all functional departments in the same firm will use EUC tools for the same tasks, perceive the same EUC risks, and have the same management control needs. This article reports on an exploratory study designed to investigate potential differences across functional groups in the same organization for three factors: application tasks, policies to minimize risk and perceived EUC benefits. Based on the data collected from semi-structured interviews and questionnaires from IS and IC management, functional managers, and end-users, significant differences across functional groups can exist. This suggests that the workgroup is an important contextual factor. That should be taken into account in future EUC research. A research model is provided based on the results of this exploratory study