Forming Interoperability Through Interorganizational Systems Standards

Author List: Zhao, Kexin; Xia, Mu;

Journal of Management Information Systems, 2014, Volume 30, Issue 4, Page 269-298.

Interoperability is a crucial organizational capability that enables firms to manage information systems (IS) from heterogeneous trading partners in a value network. While interoperability has been discussed conceptually in the IS literature, few comprehensive empirical studies have been conducted to conceptualize this construct and examine it in depth. For instance, it is unclear how interoperability is formed and whether it can improve organizational performance. To fill the gap, we argue that interorganizational systems (IOS) standards are a key information technology infrastructure facilitating formation of interoperability. As an organizational ability to work with external trading partners, interoperability's development depends not only on capability building within firm boundaries but also on community readiness across firm boundaries. Using data collected from 194 organizations in the geospatial industry, we empirically confirm that interoperability is formed via these two different paths. Furthermore, our results show that interoperability acts as a mediator by enabling firms to achieve performance gains from IOS standards adoption. Our study sheds new light on formation mechanisms as well as the business value of interoperability.

Keywords: business value;geospatial industry;interoperability;interorganizational systems standards;IT standards;network effects;standardization;standardized data infrastructure

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List of Topics

#117	0.292	standards interorganizational ios standardization standard systems compatibility effects cooperation firms industry benefits open interoperability key heterogeneous vertical propose vendors collective
#59	0.249	capabilities capability firm firms performance resources business information technology firm's resource-based competitive it-enabled view study value infrastructure results organizational model
#154	0.103	memory support organizations information organizational requirements different complex require development provides resources organization paper transactive depth process outside difficult breadth
#101	0.093	edi electronic data interchange b2b exchange exchanges interorganizational partners adoption transaction trading supplier factors business suppliers impact network commerce efficiency
#220	0.071	research study different context findings types prior results focused studies empirical examine work previous little knowledge sources implications specifically provide