Toward a Strategic Perspective of Information Technology

Abstract

This chapter explores theoretical conceptualizations of IT beyond current common resource-based perspectives, in the hopes that MIS research may benefit from an improved understanding of the role, use, application and alignment of IT with the full spectrum of strategic management’s core theoretical perspectives. We argue that research in both fields needs to look at the fundamental value (profit) assumptions, as grounded in strategic management theory, to provide insights into the true role of IT in a firm and its performance. This chapter offers an integrative solution framework to attempt to position IT in the context of some common strategic management theoretical perspectives, which may serve as a basis to assess the validity of future MIS research.