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contribute to business processing in a wide
range of tasks (Downey, 2004). Increasingly,
the ability to develop small applications forms
part of the job requirements for many positions
(Jawahar & Elango, 2001). The study reported on
in this chapter explores the expansion end-user
developers are experiencing as they add the role
of Web page developer to their repertoire of end-
user development skills, and investigates end-user
perceptions of the benefits and risks of end-user
Web development relative to those of end-user
spreadsheet development.
Although a wide range of tools is available
for use by end-user developers, the most com-
monly used software tools have been spreadsheets
(United States Bureau of the Census, 2003). The
majority (88%) of the 34 organizations partici-
pating in Taylor, Moynihan, and Wood-Harper's
(1998) study used spreadsheets for end-user
development whereas only 35% used query lan-
guages and 12% used databases. Recently Web
development tools have started to be used by end-
user developers (Govindarajulu, 2003; Nelson &
Todd, 1999; O'Brien, 2002; Ouellette, 1999), and it
is anticipated that this use will increase rapidly in
years to come (Goupil, 2000). Very little is known,
however, about how end users acquire the skills
necessary for successful development or about
how and why they develop Web applications.
A substantial body of research has investigated
the benefits and risks of development by end
users and explored the factors that influence them
(e.g., Alavi & Weiss, 1985-1986; e.g. Amoroso
& Cheney, 1992; Benson, 1983; Brancheau &
Brown, 1993; Davis, 1988; O'Donnell & March,
1987; Rivard & Huff, 1984, 1985). The benefits
that have been claimed include improved decision
making, improved productivity, and increased
satisfaction of end users (Amoroso & Cheney,
1992). The risks that have been identified include
mismatches between tools and applications (Alavi
& Weiss, 1985-1986; Davis, 1988; O'Donnell &
March, 1987), lack of testing (Alavi & Weiss,
1985-1986; Davis, 1988; O'Donnell & March,
1987; Panko, 2007), inability to identify correct
and complete information requirements (Davis,
1988) and failure to back up data (Benson, 1983).
The proposed benefits of user development of
applications can be attributed to users having a
better understanding of the problem to be solved
by the application, and the proposed risks to users
having less understanding of the process of system
development than do information technology
professionals.
Whilst problems with traditional end-user
developed applications can have a large impact
on organizational decision making, it has
largely been believed that the possible negative
impacts are limited to local effects, for example,
workgroup or department (Nelson & Todd,
1999). Web development tools, however, are now
enabling end users to develop applications that
are accessible to vast numbers of people from all
over the world (Ferneley, 2007; Nelson & Todd,
1999). This brings with it greater potential benefits
and risks. These benefits and risks may affect
business processes, customers, suppliers, and
other organizations more than ever before. The
study reported on in this chapter considers end-
user perceptions of both the benefits and risks of
end-user Web development and compares them to
their perceptions of the benefits and risks of end-
user spreadsheet development. This comparison
will provide insight into areas where end-user
developers are gaining new advantages due to
their Web development practices, and into areas of
risk that may require future attention from those
responsible for end-user Web development.
Strategies for reducing the risks associated
with end-user development have been presented in
the literature and there is some evidence to suggest
that employing them is effective. For example,
Alavi, Nelson, and Weiss (1987-1988) presented a
comprehensive framework of controls for address-
ing risks at different stages of the application life
cycle, and several studies have demonstrated the
value of introducing controls during the design
and development of spreadsheets (Alavi, Phil-
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