Information Systems Strategy Development at Sainsbury's Supermarkets Using “Soft” OR

Richard J. Ormerod
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Richard J. Ormerod: Warwick Business School, Warwick University, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

Interfaces, 1996, vol. 26, issue 1, 102-130

Abstract: In 1989, Sainsbury's, the largest UK supermarket chain, developed a new information systems (IS) strategy. To obtain management ownership of the strategy and commitment to implementation, it adopted a participative approach using “soft” OR methods. The resulting strategy was projected to cost $73 million and give annual benefits of $64 million. Five years into the strategy the outcome can be evaluated. Inevitably the strategy has evolved. Implementation has taken longer and costs are more than estimated; but benefits are exceeding expectations. The results indicate the effectiveness of the decision-making process used, showing that qualitative OR approaches can be used to good effect and can sometimes be subjected to quantitative assessment.

Keywords: industries: agriculture/food; decision analysis: applications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1996
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:orinte:v:26:y:1996:i:1:p:102-130

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