Information systems (IS) are strategic in so far as they are used to realize strategic intent.
Yet, while much has been said about aligning IS functionality with the strategic intent and
how to organizationally implement strategically aligned systems, less is known of how to
successfully implement strategic change associated with system use – a truly critical challenge within strategic IS implementation. Drawing on a strategy-as-practice perspective
we address this gap by developing a multi-dimensional view of IS strategy, conceptualizing
three key challenges in the IS strategy process, to explain how and why a paper mill,
despite successfully implementing a strategic production management system, failed to
produce intended strategic change. We call this outcome strategy blindness: organizational
incapability to realize the strategic intent of implemented, available system capabilities.
Using a longitudinal case study we investigate how cognitive rigidity of key actors and
fixed, interrelated practices shaped the implementation of the new production system.
We also identify core components and dynamics that constitute a richer multi-dimensional
view of the IS strategy implementation (alignment) process. In particular, we identify three
salient factors that contribute to strategy blindness – mistranslation of intent, flexibility of
the IT artifact and cognitive entrenchment – and discuss how they affect strategic implementation processes. We conclude by discussing implications of our findings for IS strategy
theory and practice, especially the contribution of strategy-as-practice to this stream of
research.