Smartphone Applications - Idea sourcing, and app development: Implications for firms

Abstract

With the dramatic increase in smartphone usage and the consequent increase in applications (apps) for these smartphones, organisations are constantly looking for new apps to offer customers as well as employees.  Information Systems (IS) departments of organisations have traditionally been tasked with the acquisition and/or development of such information technologies within organisations.  This research aimed to determine from IS managers, the smartphone app usage in firms, the sources of app ideas and the locations for app development.  It also investigated various aspects of the success or otherwise of the development process.  Results indicate that while most ideas for apps currently come from IS and marketing departments within the organisation, and development of apps is also done mainly within the organisation , these development strategies are not necessarily the most effective.  Managerial implications are discussed.