Doctoral Project

Development and evaluation of a Relationship Management approach in interorganizational networks for renewable resources (Topic C.5)

– How to overcome barriers of coordination and communication in
interorganizational networks by IS/IT support? –

Currently many corporations have recognized that renewable raw materials become increasingly important as an alternative resource base for industrial production. In the information systems community sustainable issues have been widely discussed mainly under the terms of Green Information Technology (IT) and Green Information Systems (IS). Academics and practitioners already put a lot of effort to understand how IT and IS can engage in the development of environmentally sustainable business practices. However, while during the last decade the concepts of Green IT and Green IS got a lot attention in business and IS research, only little research has been done about the role of IT and IS for managing the usage of renewable resources in order to achieve environmental sustainability.
For the usage of renewable resources, the management of information as well as a holistic optimization across the entire network of utilization, is essential. Hence, appropriate information systems are required to supply relevant information on the specific material and product characteristics to satisfy the needs of all parties concerned.
This research aims to explore the specific challenges pertaining to a Relationship Management approach in interorganizational networks for renewable resources in order to provide a conceptual and technical solution. It aims to extend the current research by focusing on interorganizational networks and their structures, as well as by considering the characteristics of networks for renewable raw materials. Thus, it will be able to enhance the understanding of how different Relationship Management approaches affect resource efficiency and network performance. Further the results will enable us to provide recommendations for network structures and network governance as well as for the implementation of appropriate Information systems, in order to support Relationship Management to enhance coordination and network capabilities.
This work considers network structures and governance practices as well as information systems for the efficient utilization of renewable resources. Thus, it contributes to the body of knowledge of both the development of efficient structural patterns and the efficient IS supported management of interorganizational relations.
Since the project is conducted in a relatively new area of inquiry, the research is of an exploratory manner. In order to ensure that the research contributes to both theory and practice, we will follow a research design that comprises both Behavioral Science as well as Design Science.