An empirical investigation of the formation and management of strategic partnerships in IS
Abstract
Organizations are changing in response to a global information-based economy, renewed focus on quality, and increasing pressure to manage costs. In response to these changes, information systems (IS) organizations exhibit an increased willingness to seek cooperative solutions for IS problems. While internal partnerships have always been important, IS organizations increasingly look outside their boundaries to form alliances with suppliers, customers, and even competitors. A major responsibility of IS management is the development, management and coordination of cooperative arrangements outside the organization. The focus of the study was the formation and management of strategic partnerships for information system development projects. Based on two separate models, the research investigated the factors important in the selection of the partner and the management of the partnership. Using a literal replication strategy, two case studies were conducted. In each case, a strategic system had been developed and implemented cooperatively by a focal organization (client) and one or more vendor organizations. A total of 37 in-depth interviews were conducted to evaluate the presence of five factors during the selection of the partner and six factors during the operation of the partnership. Results provide mixed support for the model. The five factors themselves did not offer an adequate explanation of how organizations select partners. A more complete explanation was afforded by an examination of the contexts in which the decision was made. In terms of the management of such partnerships, it was important to examine the fluctuation in intensity of the factors at different stages in the partnership. Additionally, two factors not in the model were identified.
Subject Area
Computer science|Management
Recommended Citation
Lash, Patricia Bursley, "An empirical investigation of the formation and management of strategic partnerships in IS" (1995). ProQuest ETD Collection for FIU. AAI9531645.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/dissertations/AAI9531645