Theory and practice in strategic planning for health information systems

Discusses whether strategic planning frameworks developed for commercial organisations can be applied effectively to organisations within the UK National Health Service. Case study research within one Trust (10 interviews, plus questionnaire survey and documentary analysis) showed that the Galliers and Sutherland model assessed the stage of growth well, and that the Segars and Grover model illustrating the gaps in the planning process. There were some reservations on the usefulness of the ‘alignment’ category. Later developments in the Trust suggest that once a co-operative structure is in place between clinicians and IT, the balanced scorecard approach would support the planning and development of information systems.