IS Scales

Customizability Overview

In recent years, the asynchronous nature of distributed systems significantly complicates application development. Distributed systems require a unique synthesis of application code to manage issues of heterogeneity, scalability, security and availability. Customization is accomplished through parameterization or by encoding functional specifications.

Based on relevant literature survey, customizability scale development is still in its infancy. Little research has been done in creating and measuring the customizability construct. Although “customization” is ubiquitous in the literature, the descriptive action of it, such as “customizability” is noticeably under-defined. An attempt, however, has been made by Nidumolu and Knotts (1998), and is summarized in the scales section.

Thus, the primary focus of this study is on defining and measuring “customizability” in the IS context.

This document starts out by introducing relevant theories on customizability. In the definitions section, Webster’s dictionary definition is proposed, then the document moves into the IS literature and computer science arena. The scale descriptions are included in the scales section. Finally, the reference section contains the selected bibliography.


		Lin Chai
	Construct: Customizability



Customizability Overview In recent years, the asynchronous nature of distributed systems significantly complicates application development. Distributed systems require a unique synthesis of application code to manage issues of heterogeneity, scalability, security and availability. Customization is accomplished through parameterization or by encoding functional specifications. Based on relevant literature survey, customizability scale development is still in its infancy. Little research has been done in creating and measuring the customizability construct. Although “customization” is ubiquitous in the literature, the descriptive action of it, such as “customizability” is noticeably under-defined. An attempt, however, has been made by Nidumolu and Knotts (1998), and is summarized in the scales section. Thus, the primary focus of this study is on defining and measuring “customizability” in the IS context. This document starts out by introducing relevant theories on customizability. In the definitions section, Webster’s dictionary definition is proposed, then the document moves into the IS literature and computer science arena. The scale descriptions are included in the scales section. Finally, the reference section contains the selected bibliography.