Description
Existing IT alignment literature argues that the potential of IT to create value for firms depends on the use of IT resources to support value chain processes. It also argues that improving IT support for operational value chain processes leads to higher IT alignment at the process-level. However, it does not explain the role of IT in enabling managerial business processes that are central for firms competing in dynamic business environments. This paper extends prior treatments of the link between IT and business processes to explicitly account for potential complementarities between IT and managerial processes. Specifically, drawing on resource-based theory and prior IT alignment literature, we develop the business process IT cospecialization construct to capture complementarities that accrue from exploiting IT resources to enable both operational and managerial processes. Propositions are developed that reveal how business process IT cospecialization creates value for firms under varying conditions of environmental dynamism.
Recommended Citation
Queiroz, Magno, "Business Process and IT Cospecialization: Conceptualization and Suggestions for Future Research" (2017). AMCIS 2017 Proceedings. 25.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2017/StrategicIT/Presentations/25
Business Process and IT Cospecialization: Conceptualization and Suggestions for Future Research
Existing IT alignment literature argues that the potential of IT to create value for firms depends on the use of IT resources to support value chain processes. It also argues that improving IT support for operational value chain processes leads to higher IT alignment at the process-level. However, it does not explain the role of IT in enabling managerial business processes that are central for firms competing in dynamic business environments. This paper extends prior treatments of the link between IT and business processes to explicitly account for potential complementarities between IT and managerial processes. Specifically, drawing on resource-based theory and prior IT alignment literature, we develop the business process IT cospecialization construct to capture complementarities that accrue from exploiting IT resources to enable both operational and managerial processes. Propositions are developed that reveal how business process IT cospecialization creates value for firms under varying conditions of environmental dynamism.