This paper seeks to uncover dominant configurations of inter-organizational relationships across the USA and Japan in the automotive industry. We integrate relevant theoretical concepts from transaction cost economics, organization theory and political economy to develop a conceptual model of inter-organizational relationships based on the fit between information processing needs and information processing capabilities. This model is employed to collect data on 447 buyer-supplier relationships in these two countries. We empirically uncover a set of five naturally occurring patterns of inter-organizational relationships. These configurations provide rich explanations of the complexity of interorganizational relationships as well as offer differential insights across US and Japan. We discuss implications for further research pertaining to the logic and development of configurations.

The notion that effective relationships between groups improve coordination, cooperation and consequently performance has considerable appeal in a broad range of contexts. In particular, partnerships are viewed as critical organizational mechanisms enabling information systems groups and their clients within organizations to utilize existing information technology investments already in place and to tap the potential offered by information technologies. This paper proposes a theoretical model drawing from socio-cognitive theory, highlighting a convergence in perspectives on key issues between the groups as the mechanism underlying partnerships. Data from a survey of 671 managers on both sides of IS-User relationships in multiple firms provides support for the model and the hypothesized relationship between convergence in perspectives and the performance of IS groups. In particular, the results suggest that a convergent assessment of the perspectives of IS groups by Users significantly enhances the performance of IS groups. This paper is among the first efforts in the IS literature to use dyadic data provided by both IS and User groups to understand IS-User relationships. Keywords: IS-User Partnerships, Social Cognition Theory, Perspective Taking, IS Performance

This paper reports on a study exploring the cognition of executives regarding business-IT alignment. The project uses a cognitive mapping technique, known as the repertory grid, to explore the nature of the social dimension of alignment and its relationship to the intellectual dimension. The primary aims of this paper are to discuss the application and the contributions of the repertory grid to the study of business-IT alignment.

In this paper, we take an interdisciplinary approach to examining communication and teamworking. We have done this by comparing three discipline-based approaches to understanding the effectiveness of organisational groups, and then show how their interrelationship may provide a single approach to understanding communication and teamworking in organisational groups. Our work may benefit researchers in the field of organisational teamworking in that utilising this single approach takes account of important conceptual interrelationships, and may identify new and valuable areas of further research. It may also benefit practitioners in that they may understand better the importance and impact of communication within business networks, and its influence upon marketplace success. This single approach, which we term a market-based approach, highlights the importance of considering networked environments and social systems in conducting marketing research. Our market-based approach rests upon three main principles: (1) to understand communication and teamworking one must adopt a networked perspective; (2) that internal communications (those between employees) are closely linked and have an important influence upon external communications (with business partners, suppliers, and customers); and (3) that

Abstract. Business-to-business electronic commerce is about bringing about mutual improvements for both trading partners. Far from all of the Internet-based e-Commerce endeavours are successful, due to the fact that many organisations overlook the fact that moving to the Internet is not just a matter of creating a Web presence, but that their business processes and organisational infrastructures have to be modified and adopted appropriately. Since many stakeholders – with various goals – are involved, system analysis and integration is extremely difficult. Given this, it is perceived to be interesting to explore and study how, so called, Enterprise Models can be used for modelling inter-organisational aspects of e-Commerce system integration. Change management is identified as particularly important for successful e-Commerce implementation. In order to understand a specific change it is necessary to understand the desire for (driving forces), and resistance to (impeding forces), the specific change. Based on previous research on e-Commerce use, a simplified and tentative model of driving and impeding forces for successful e-Commerce use is therefore suggested in this Research in Progress Paper. Two business process modelling examples, based on the Enterprise Modelling approach, are also illustrated and described in the paper. 1

research and the organizations participating in the research effort that chose to remain anonymous for their assistance in collecting the data. The first author also wishes to thank Gordon Davis, N. Venkatraman, Stephanie Watts and Weidong Xia for their helpful comments and Mark Bergen for his encouraging persistence that helped bring closure to the final draft! Linking IS-User Partnerships … 2Linking IS-User Partnerships to IS Performance: A Socio-Cognitive Perspective The notion that effective relationships between groups improve coordination, cooperation and consequently performance has considerable appeal in a broad range of contexts. In particular, partnerships are suggested as critical organizational mechanisms enabling information systems groups and their clients within organizations to utilize existing information technology investments already in place and to tap the potential offered by information technologies. This paper proposes a theoretical model drawing from socio-cognitive theory, highlighting a convergence in perspectives on key issues between the groups as the central mechanism underlying partnerships. Data from a survey of managers on both sides of 95 IS-User relationships in multiple firms provides support for the model and the hypothesized relationship between convergence in perspectives and the

Proceedings. Paper 50.