The relationship of information usage characteristics to planning system sophistication: An empirical examination

The relationship between corporate‐level planning and information systems was examined empirically. A continuum of planning system sophistication was constructed based on the level of openness to outside influences combined with the planning horizon. Futureoriented, external and environmental types of information were found to be strongly correlated with increased planning sophistication. The impact of environmental turbulence (complexity‐volatility) on planning systems also was examined. Complexity was strongly correlated with planning sophistication, whereas no relationship was found between volatility and planning sophistication.