IT-Governance in Inter-organizational Networks for Renewable Resources

(Topic C.2)

– Does IT has any value in this context and if so, why is there so little usage thus far? –

In the last two decades inter-organizational networks got a lot of attention in the economy and science. Research showed that coordinated activities in a loose bond have the potential for huge innovative power. Recent research uses the concept of inter-organizational networks and projects this on the resource efficient use of renewable resources.
Due to limited cultivable land and competing purposes of usage the central challenge is to exploit renewable resources efficiently within the framework of cascade use. Especially the continued use of co-products is to reinforce. Successful cascade utilization requires the continuous flow of information between all participating companies. The relevant level of information can only be ensured through the coordination of information offering, information needs and information seeking. Since the information provided in particular ask for the use of information and communication technology, which go along with substantial cost, effective and efficient coordination is necessary.
The field of economical computer science, researches under the topic of "IT Governance", how to ensure that IT is aligned with the company's corporate strategy and goals. This involves the creation of structures, processes and relational mechanisms that allow IT to "behave as desired". Previous research mainly focused on the management of IT in intra-organizational or dyadic context. Whole networks have hardly been considered.
As part of this research project it is examined how in corporate networks a renewable raw materials environment can be created to allow for an efficient use of IT. On this, three questions along the IT governance framework by van Grembergen and de Haes (2009) need to be answered:
RQ1: Which relational mechanisms are responsible for IT been adapted to renewable resources in corporate networks and what are the consequences to the collaboration? (Perspective on relational mechanisms)
RQ2: What is the impact of IT processes to the success of enterprise networks? (Process-related perspective)
RQ3: How do efficient IT management structures in corporate networks look like? (Structural perspec-tive)

Contributions to science
- Summary of current research to control collaborative IT in corporate networks
- Explaining model for the adoption of (inter-organizational) information systems in enterprise networks for renewable raw materials
- Measuring instrument for measuring IT alignment in enterprise networks
- Effect model and empirical findings of inter-organizational IT resources on business success
- Identification and review of situational factors on the efficiency of inter-organizational IT-related control structures

Contributions to practice
- Representation of arrangements to increase the acceptance of (inter-organizational) information systems in the context of networks for renewable resources
- Framework for the evaluation of the value contribution of IT systems to support the inter-organizational collaboration
- Context-sensitive recommendations for effective governance structures regarding inter-organizational IT resources