How Different Types of IS Assets Account for Synergy-Enabled Value in Multi-Unit Firms: Mapping of Critical Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators

Rooted in a longstanding tradition, research and practice strives to determine how to derive business value from IT investments. This applies particularly to the neglected research area of multi-unit firms, where there is still a high potential to enhance IT synergies. Our study addresses important research gaps in IT business value research. First, we investigate how different of types of IS assets, i.e., infrastructural, transactional, and strategic IS, account for cross-unit synergies to create business value. Second, we map critical success factors and key performance indicators of this value creation process in order to open the “grey box” in IT business value research. An explorative multiple-case study methodology with five case sites is applied. Our results reveal that these different types of IS assets account for a different degree of cost and value synergies, support diverse critical success factors, and require distinct measurement approaches in the form of KPIs

SYNTHESIZING AND INTEGRATING RESEARCH ON IT-BASED VALUE CO-CREATION: A META-ANALYSIS

Recently, competition has shifted from the firm to the network level. Following this path, a growing stream in IT value research has emerged, aiming to understand how multiple firms create value through joint IT resources and capabilities. Despite the efforts made thus far, there are inconsistencies regarding construct definitions and divergent empirical findings. In this paper, we synthesize and integrate the body of knowledge on IT-based value co-creation. Drawing on the relational view, we first synthesize the existing empirical findings. The results of a meta-analysis of 72 studies encompassing 33,732 observations underline the importance of four sources of IT value: IT-based inter-organizational assets, IT-based knowledge sharing, IT-based complementary capabilities, and IT-based governance. A further moderator meta-analysis integrates divergent empirical findings in the literature. We find that objective measures dampen the relationship between inter-organizational IT and business value, while process-level measures and IT capabilities strengthen it. Moreover, we find evidence for higher value impacts in developing countries and an influence of inter-organizational relationship types. This study contributes by clarifying the IT-business value relationship and offers insights into sources of inconsistencies in IT-based value co-creation studies. By doing so, this paper lays a foundation for future research and theory development

Influence of Network Characteristics on Inter-Organizational IT Integration: The Role of Commitment and Trust

Research on inter-organizational relationships has become prominent in business and IS research and over the past two decades networks in particular have been widely recognized by both academics and practitioners as an important form of multi-organizational governance. Those networks rely heavily on information systems, and the integration of IS across partnering organizations has become the backbone of collaboration. In this context, the importance of organizational attributes has been highlighted by various studies, but antecedents of integration have primary been derived from IT related factors and do not consider network characteristics. This study sets out to expand the understanding of how network organizations can effectively develop and manage IT integration in order to co-create relational value. By drawing on the commitment-trust theory we develop and test a theoretical model based on data gathered from 228 network organizations to explain how network attributes facilitate IT integration

Synthesizing and Integrating Research on IT-Based Value Cocreation: A Meta-Analysis

IT value research has witnessed growing interest in the use of joint IT resources and capabilities following recent shifts in market competition from the firm to the network level. Despite research efforts in this domain, there remain substantial inconsistencies in the IT value cocreation literature regarding the effect of interorganizational IT on business value and the role of methodological and contextual factors. Drawing on the resource-based view and the relational view of the firm, we conducted a meta-analysis to synthesize and integrate the body of knowledge of IT-based value cocreation. Our analysis of 80 studies, encompassing 21,843 observations, highlights the value-generating effect of four interorganizational IT capabilities: IT-based relation-specific assets, IT-based knowledge sharing, IT-based complementary capabilities, and IT-based governance. Insights from our preliminary meta-analysis reveal that contradictory findings are driven by the conceptualization of IT variables as interorganizational IT resources. A further moderator meta-analysis explains divergent empirical findings in the literature. We find that the use of relational-level value and perceptual measures, use of single respondents, and the context of developing countries and supply chain and networked interdependencies result in larger estimates of business value. In contrast, the use of network-level, firm-level, and objective measures; use of matched-pair approaches; and the context of developed countries and pooled interdependencies result in smaller estimates. Overall, this paper provides clarity and structure to the current understanding of the research field by providing explanations for inconsistent findings as well as a foundation for future research and theory development

ANTECEDENTS AND OUTCOMES OF OPERATIONAL ALIGNMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS

The paper examines the topic of operational alignment in the context of academic institutions. It aims to contribute to the understanding of mechanisms constituting operational alignment and the effects of operational alignment. Operational alignment is conceptualized as the adequateness of IT function’s support for the research department’s goals and priorities. A research model, including social and structural aspects and consequences of operational alignment, is derived and tested in a sample of 162 German research departments. Questionnaire-based analysis using partial least squares highlights the positive influences of shared understanding, IT flexibility, and IT service on operational alignment, whereas communication, trust and respect, and participation are not found to directly improve operational alignment. Our results show that operational alignment significantly enhances performance in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Post-hoc analysis further suggests that social antecedents largely contribute to operational alignment by a background mechanism, whereas structural antecedents in terms of IT flexibility and IT service are directly linked to operational alignment. Opportunities for further research are outlined

Value Co-Creation in Supply Chains through IT Integration: The Role of Collaborative Network Structure

Firms today are increasingly dependent on external resources, and the need for collaboration across organizational boundaries continues to grow. Therefore, research has highlighted the importance of IT capabilities that integrate an organization with its network of partner organizations. However, antecedents of IT integration have been primarily derived from technology-driven contexts. In contrast, the role of organizational attributes remains largely unexplored. We therefore develop and test a theoretical model to examine collaborative network structure as an antecedent to IT integration. Based on this particular form of supply chain governance, we go on to explore how IT integration in conjunction with other capabilities leads to supply chain integration, thereby enabling the creation of value. Based on data gathered from 150 supply chain executives, the study provides evidence on the important role of organizational attributes and contributes to the stream of research that examines the role of interorganizational IT capabilities in co-creating value

Value Co-creation through Network IT Alignment: An Empirical Examination in Regional Networks

IT alignment in intra-organizational contexts has been recognized as an important factor of organizational performance. This paper takes up this stance and translates it to the network level. In order to explain the role of IT in value co-creation, a theoretical model investigating the interconnection between IT alignment in inter-organizational networks and collaboration success is being developed. Moreover, the mode of governance is identified as an important antecedent to network IT alignment. An empirical study is conducted including answers from 165 regional network organizations in Germany. The results give support for the assumption that network IT alignment, first, contributes to the value co-creation in inter-organizational collaboration, and second, can be better achieved by networks with a centralized governance mode. In doing so, this study contributes to the emerging field that tries to understand the role of IT in the functioning of inter-organizational networks

Integrating Industry Characteristics in Inter-Organizational IS Adoption Models: A Mixed Method Approach

There are a number of benefits that can be achieved if information is shared automatically between partner organizations. While inter-organizational systems (IOS) are considered to be well adopted, a number of industries, amongst others the wood industry, lag far behind. This study aims to explain how industry characteristics can contribute to the explanation of this low adoption phenomenon. Based on eleven case studies and 204 survey responses, this mixed method study identifies five industry characteristics and their influence on adoption factors. The identified industry characteristics are organizational size, aged staff, low diffusion of IS, low government support, and heterogeneity in IT infrastructures. A theoretical model is developed integrating the industry characteristics and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework constructs. This study demonstrates that partner pressure, relative advantage, regulatory environment, and technological readiness significantly influence the adoption of IOS. Thus, this research provides valuable insights and offers guidance for policymakers and practice on factors leading to an improved adoption. As well, we conduct a new research design to identify industry-specific actions to help improve the adoption of IOS

Information Systems in the Context of Sustainable Mobility Services: A Literature Review and Directions for Future Research

The sustainability of mobility services, such as car sharing, is undeniable. Therefore, it is important to research and improve mobility services, thereby revealing their full environmental potential. As modern mobility services rely on sophisticated IS and modern technology, research on IS in the context of sustainable mobility services should be an important focus in the field. Accordingly, this systematic literature review provides an overview of current research regarding mobility services and the IS employed therein. We analyze 58 publications using a concept matrix and develop a research framework. The framework builds on the IS success model by DeLone and McLean (2003) as we argue that IS quality and usage should be considered to unfold sustainable impacts as net benefits. We further outline three major research fields for future IS research in the context of sustainable mobility services: IS solutions, IS qualities and usage, and sustainable benefits

Diving into the Relationship of Information Technology and Organizational Agility: A Meta-Analysis

Organizational agility is perceived as a key capability for a quick adaptation to environmental changes caused by ongoing digitization. A large stream of IS research has dealt with the relationship of IT and organizational agility, but lacks a synthesis regarding construct definitions and conflicting arguments. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis including 41 empirical studies that analyzed an IT – organizational agility relationship. First of all, the analysis identified a positive relation between all dimensions of IT and organizational agility. Drawing on the resource based view of the firm, we found that IT capabilities have a stronger influence on agility outcomes than IT resources. Moreover, we collected evidence revealing a higher impact from dynamic capabilities compared to operational IT variables. This study contributes to theory by synthesizing research on IT-enabled organizational agility. By doing so, the relationship between IT and organizational agility is clarified, and possibilities for further research are derived