This research seeks to reframe the discussion around information systems change by examining how particular IS change needs driven by business needs interact with particular system characteristics to enable or constrain response options for organizations. Since this reframing argues for the contextual nature of understanding the change process, a series of 26 field interviews were conducted at five different organizations in different industries. From these interviews, our findings support that the research literature in areas of IT flexibility and agility could benefit from the further refinement of concepts to understand the contextual nature of IS change. Finally, we connect our research to Adaptive Structuration Theory as a meta-theory supporting our framework.