Key issues in information systems management in China

Purpose – To reveal and analyze the key issues concerning information systems management in Mainland China. Design/methodology/approach – Based on data collected from 286 Chinese companies, 12 top key issues in information systems management in Mainland China are ranked and compared with the results of an earlier study, as well as those from western countries. Findings – While the top three critical issues remain unchanged, largely due to the centralized decision‐making mechanism, mandatory management style, and less experience of IT/IS applications, there are distinguishable changes that took place in the past few years. Furthermore, there are different results between different sectors of companies, reflecting respective characteristics and historical development processes of the sectors. Research limitations/implications – Extended data and measures are required for in‐depth investigation in specific individual industries. Practical implications – The study could be helpful for understanding the situations and challenges in information systems management in China and planning IT/IS strategies accordingly. Originality/value – The paper offers practical help for managers to better understand the IT/IS application context in China. Meanwhile, researchers interested in IT/IS management in China can use the information provided by this paper to guide their inquiry.