Affiliated Organization

University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The central aim of this paper is to instigate the construction of a theory of informationstrategy based on the Resource-based View (RBV) of the firm (Barney, 1986, 1991; Penrose, 1959;Wernerfelt, 1984). Therefore, an initial theoretical framework is proposed within which such a theorycould be developed further. In essence, this theoretical framework sheds light on how organizations canrealize and sustain above-normal returns by either maintaining or solving information imperfections infactor and product markets. This explicit focus on information as a source of above-normal returns isreflected in a new type of rent, called InfoRent. Hence, information strategy can be conceived as acontinuous search for InfoRent, analogous to the notion of strategy within the RBV (cf. Mahoney et al.,1992, p.364). First, the urge for constructing a theory of information strategy will be clarified.Subsequently, the appropriateness of the RBV as theoretical foundation for constructing such a theorywill be discussed. Finally, the initial outline of a theoretical framework will be explained and empiricalwork that exemplifies the relevance and explanatory power of the theory are described shortly.

Volume

2

Issue

5

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