Application of fuzzy cognitive map in simulating strategic information system planning process / Ahmad Fahmi Abu Hassan

In this day and age, more researches have been conducted in the domain of Strategic
Information System Planning (SISP). However, this is just the continuation from the
1980's where various articles began to probe the underlying causes for the relationship
between Information Technology (IT) and businesses. Since then, many academicians
and theoreticians have come out with models and approaches to analyze the use of IT
from a strategic point of view. Reflect to that, this research is to show the application
and capabilities of Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) in simulating SISP business scenarios.
This research was conducted because of the level of infancy held by FCM in the SISP
domain. Moreover, SISP environment frequently deals with uncertainties and the "whati
f circumstances. So, rather than practicing other SISP tools such as Boston Consulting
Group (BCG) Matrix, Porter's Five Forces Model and Generic Business Strategies, this
research is intended to use FCM as the technique in formulating SISP strategies. In
order to achieve the objective, two SISP business scenarios have been designed using
FCM technique before being simulated in an open-source simulation program. The
simulation program has been developed by its author and using Java programming
language. From the simulation, its ou^ut and results have been analyzed and discussed.
For the first scenario, it is found that FCM did not provide enough information in
decision making for SISP. However, the second scenario showed some promising
feature by providing meaningful and interpretable output that can offer broader view for
managers in formulating SISP. As recommendations, future researchers should run the
simulation on other programs, simulate more SISP scenarios and should also be able to
propose a more intricate and extended FCM.