In a field survey of information systems professionals, Phan et al. In looking at factors that impact project success, Saarinen found that in instances where project success was considered low, internal integration was low. Thus an effective systems integrator must possess the abilities to decompose a problem into several dimensions, and subsequently integrate the dimensions for a total solution. Cognitive complexity is a well-known theory for studying humans as information processors.
Cognitive differentiation is the individual's ability to dissect information into smaller units.
Integration is the ability to combine smaller units of information into a whole unit. He argues for the development and encouragement of more 'complex' thinking in managers in order to ensure the very survival of organizations. Bartunek et al. Effective managers were described as those with more accurate perceptions and more complete syntheses of information. Cognitive complexity theory would appear to sufficiently describe the mental processes required for successful systems integration capabilities.