How to act strategically in a turbulent e-business environment - an eclectic approach to strategic inter-organisational systems (IOS) management

Abstract

This paper presents an eclectic inter-organisational -oriented approach to so called strategic IOS management as an alternative to the more single organisation-oriented, linear approach of strategic information system planning (SISP). This approach is termed eclectic because it is based on a toolbox of mini-theories integrating existing strategic (IS) planning a n d management theories. The core component of this approach is an IOS scenario and strategic option generator" based on forcing relationships between interactive IT capabilities and so-called business impact areas in an inside-out analysis on the intra-organisational company level, and an outside-in analysis on inter-organisational company network level. These impact areas embrace, on a company level, (i) the internal IT service chain structure (IT chain. focus), (ii) the value chain structure ( value chain focus), and (iii) the competitive industry structure (value system focus). n company network level they embrace, (iv) the intermediating support chain structure !support chain focus), (v) the inter- organisational supply chain structure (supply chain focus) and (vi) the customer cummunity structure (demand chain focus)'