Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 7. Comparison of risks
Risks
Web Development
Spreadsheet Development
Sign.
Mean Impt.
SD
Mean Impt.
SD
Unreliable systems
4.24
1.03
3.61
1.21
<0.001***
Lack of data security
4.19
1.10
3.84
1.36
0.057
m
Incompatible end-user tools preventing sharing of
applications and information
4.19
0.93
3.93
1.14
0.332
Inability to identify correct and complete information
requirements
4.00
1.08
4.02
0.94
0.371
Lack of testing
3.96
1.04
3.77
1.13
0.455
Lack of documentation for applications
3.93
1.11
3.86
1.16
0.672
Mismatch between development tools and applications
3.87
1.10
3.68
1.18
0.667
Use of private systems when organizational systems
would be more appropriate
3.83
1.10
3.60
1.12
0.411
Failure to backup data
3.81
1.16
4.16
1.15
<0.001***
Inefficient use of personnel time
3.79
1.04
3.44
1.16
0.225
Solving the wrong problem
3.51
1.28
3.68
1.09
0.044*
Redundant development effort
3.41
1.17
3.70
1.08
0.014*
*** < 0.01
* < 0.05
m
< 0.1
Incompatible end-user tools preventing sharing
was ranked equal second in terms of importance
as a risk of Web development. The last decade
has been marked by great improvements in the
compatibility of end-user software; hence this
result was unanticipated and requires further
research.
The midranked group of risks all focus on the
ability of the end-user developer to undertake
specific necessary development tasks such as
identifying requirements, testing, documenting,
and choosing appropriate development tools. The
respondents appeared to recognise the importance
of each of the activities and the risks that can result
from lack of skills in these areas. No significant
differences were found between the perceived
importance of these risks between Web develop-
ment and spreadsheet development.
Use of private systems when organizational
systems would be more appropriate was ranked
as the eighth most important risk of Web devel-
opment, and failure to backup data as the ninth.
Both of these risks normally relate to use of user
developed Web applications rather than the actual
development process and their lower ranking
suggests that the respondents recognise that the
major risks result from development practices
rather than from use of applications. Failure
to back up data was rated as significantly less
important a risk for Web development than for
spreadsheet development (t(52) = 4.43, p < 0.001).
In fact, failure to backup data was perceived as
the most important of all the potential risks of
spreadsheet development. This may be because
the types of Web applications developed by end
users are likely to involve static data, whereas
the data in end-user developed spreadsheet ap-
plications is likely to be updated more often, and
hence is more vulnerable and reliant on regular
backup in case of problems. Further research on
the types of Web applications developed by end
users is required to understand the perceptions
of these risks.
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