Problems impacting information systems (IS) projects are well recognized. However, there has been limited research on how a positive internal environment impacts successful IS planning implementation and. in tum, IS-oriented organizational success. This paper addresses these questions using structural equation modeling and data provided by 269 CIOs. A positive internal environment was represented by top management support of IS and business managers' participation in IS planning. This support was found to increase the likelihood of successful IS project implementation which also created the likelihood that IS would result in organizational success. Data were also tested for firms that used IS in an exploitative versus an explorative sense. Model fit for explorative firms was significantly higher. Results suggest that management behavior is vital to creating a positive IS environment for the successful project implementation and that exploitative firms may be less successful in creating such an environment. IS project planning and the absence of top management related implementation problems, but not the absence of other implementation problems, predicted IS-oriented organizational success.