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A Risk Assessment of Two Interorganizational Clinical Information Systems

^a Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal, Montreal (Quebec), Canada
^b HEC Montreal, Canada
^c Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal, Montreal (Quebec), Canada
^d Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal, Montreal (Quebec), Canada

^_* Correspondence and reprints: Claude Sicotte, P.O. Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal (Quebec), Canada H3C 3J7. (Email: claude.sicotte{at}umontreal.ca).

Received for publication: 11/08/05; accepted for publication: 06/06/06.

A risk analysis framework was used to examine the implementation barriers that may hamper the successful implementation of interorganizational clinical information systems (ICIS). In terms of study design, an extensive literature review was first performed in order to elaborate a comprehensive model of project risk factors. To test the applicability of the model, we next conducted a longitudinal multiple-case study of two large-scale ICIS demonstration projects carried out in Quebec, Canada. Variations in the levels of several risk dimensions measured throughout the duration of the projects were analyzed to determine their impact on successful implementation. The analysis shows that the proposed framework, composed of five risk dimensions, was very robust, and suitable for conducting a thorough risk analysis. The results also show that there are links between the quality of the risk management and the level of project outcomes. To be successful, it is important that the implementation efforts be distributed proportionally according to the importance of each of the risk factors. Furthermore, because the risks evolve dynamically, there is a need for high responsiveness to emerging implementation problems. Thus, implementation success lies in the ability of the project management team to be aware of and to manage several risk threats simultaneously and coherently since they evolve dynamically through time and interact with one another.