Sustainable Collaboration: Managing Conflict and Cooperation in Interorganizational Systems.

Author List: Kumar, Kuldeep; van Dissel, Han G.;
MIS Quarterly, 1996, Volume 20, Issue 3, Page 279-300.
Current interorganizational systems literature focuses on describing the role of information technology in enabling the transition from inter-firm competition to cooperation. This article points out that the promise of IT enabled cooperation, if not nurtured, can degenerate into conflict. The objective of this article is to identify possible risks of conflict in the IOS arena and to suggest strategies for minimizing the likelihood of such conflict. It does so by developing a typology for characterizing IOS along the dimension of interorganization interdependency interfirm relationships. This typology classifies interorganizational systems into three types: pooled information resource IOS, value/supply chain IOS and networked IOS. By examining the characteristics of these three types of IOSs the article identifies the economic, technical and socio-political arguments for potential conflict in these systems. The identification of the risks, in turn, leads to a discussion of possible strategies for containing these risks. The article finally suggests that if the intended benefits of the collaboration are to be realized and sustained, corporate "statesmen" need to nurture the cooperation by anticipating these risks and managing them proactively.
Keywords: collaborative use of IT/IS; Interorganizational systems; organizational strategies; sustainability
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#117 0.240 standards interorganizational ios standardization standard systems compatibility effects cooperation firms industry benefits open interoperability key heterogeneous vertical propose vendors collective
#65 0.102 article information author discusses comments technology paper presents states explains editor's authors issue focuses topics include suggests systems role editorial
#159 0.101 systems information objectives organization organizational development variety needs need efforts technical organizations developing suggest given effective designing lack help recent
#48 0.099 dimensions electronic multidimensional game transactions relative contrast channels theory sustained model predict dimension mixture evolutionary results unique traditional likely finite
#52 0.083 supply chain information suppliers supplier partners relationships integration use chains technology interorganizational sharing systems procurement buyer interfirm coordination enterprises flexibility
#66 0.079 conflict management resolution conflicts resolve interpersonal consensus robey strategies interdependence optimistic occur degree diversity resolving agreement 1993 1982 distributed issues
#246 0.053 strategic benefits economic benefit potential systems technology long-term applications competitive company suggest additional companies industry operating costs difficult substantial total
#82 0.051 case study studies paper use research analysis interpretive identify qualitative approach understanding critical development managerial elements exploring points positivist presents