The business is well supported with information systems for a range of business processes. There is a co-operative structure of management which helps build consensus amongst user groups and helps to support applications which users both need and want. Organisations with these kinds of characteristics are the ones who will most likely adopt GIS for strategic business support. Strategic applications of GIS are most likely to happen in organisations with a mature IT base. This can be measured in terms of the staff, skills and strategy of the stages of growth model.
Strategic systems are the exciting end of the business.
The survival of the business depends on them. With that excitement comes risk, the risk of trying something new and failing is ever present and most people will not need reminding of the tremendous costs of failure of information systems. The company operates in a niche market with competence in diesel engines and sport utility 4 wheel drive vehicles. There is a long tradition of using technology in the business and this is also true of information technology. The company has a fairly sophisticated computer network operating world-wide.