Interorganizational Information Systems and Interorganizational Relationships

Abstract

As the external environment and alliance partnerships become more complex, managers should consider appropriate partners to enhance the efficiency and performance of their chain, as well as to gain potential competitive advantages (Chang, et al., 2007). Additionally, due to increasing global competition many organizations are aware of the benefits of using electronic solutions to support their Business-to-Business (B2B) environment. Thus, they opt to establish an electronic infrastructure to carry out physical chain's transactions and cover potential interorganizational relations. This would explain the prevalent use of interorganizational Information Systems (IOS) over previous years. Indeed, several well-known firms such as Wal-Mart, Dell Computer, and Carrefour have attained strategic advantages by setting IOS in their chains. In regard to their incontestable success within B2B networks, the chapter first focuses on the concept of information technology and particularly “interorganizational information systems” and its theoretical approaches. Accordingly, this chapter argues as a second step the theoretical relation between information technology (or IOS) and interorganizational contexts. Some approaches are advanced to conceptualize this interaction. The socio-technical approach is largely presented due to its relevance to research propositions.