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Discriminating IT Governance

Author

Listed:
  • Amrit Tiwana

    (University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602)

  • Stephen K. Kim

    (Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011)

Abstract

The information technology (IT) governance literature predominantly explains firms’ IT governance choices , but not their strategic consequences. We develop the idea that a firm’s IT governance choices induce adeptness at strategically exploiting IT only when they are discriminatingly aligned with its departments’ knowledge outside their specialty. Discriminating means that governing the two undertheorized classes of IT assets—apps and infrastructure—requires “peripheral” knowledge in different departments. Analyses of data from 105 firms support our middle-range theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Amrit Tiwana & Stephen K. Kim, 2015. "Discriminating IT Governance," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(4), pages 656-674, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:26:y:2015:i:4:p:656-674
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.2015.0591
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Syaiful Ali & Peter Green & Alastair Robb & Adi Masli, 2022. "Governing information technology (IT) investment: A contingency perspective on organization’s IT investment goals," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 47(1), pages 3-23, February.
    2. Chi, Maomao & Huang, Rui & Li, Yuanxiang John & Wang, Junjing, 2025. "The impact of cross-boundary knowledge management and platform control on sellers’ innovativeness and competitiveness," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    3. Guilherme C. Wiedenhöft & Edimara M. Luciano & Gabriela V. Pereira, 2020. "Information Technology Governance Institutionalization and the Behavior of Individuals in the Context of Public Organizations," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 1487-1504, December.
    4. Franco, Cintia Wilke & Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Sousa, Paulo Renato de & Kliemann Neto, Francisco José & Frank, Alejandro G., 2024. "Managing resources for digital transformation in supply chain integration: The role of hybrid governance structures," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    5. Ritu Agarwal & Amrit Tiwana, 2015. "Editorial—Evolvable Systems: Through the Looking Glass of IS," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 473-479, September.
    6. Sunil Mithas & Jonathan Whitaker & Ali Tafti, 2017. "Information Technology, Revenues, and Profits: Exploring the Role of Foreign and Domestic Operations," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 28(2), pages 430-444, June.
    7. Amanat Ali & Shahid Iqbal & Syed Arslan Haider & Shehnaz Tehseen & Bilal Anwar & Mariam Sohail & Khalid Rehman, 2021. "Does Governance in Information Technology Matter When It Comes to Organizational Performance in Pakistani Public Sector Organizations? Mediating Effect of Innovation," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, May.
    8. Zhen, Jie & Xie, Zongxiao & Dong, Kunxiang, 2021. "Impact of IT governance mechanisms on organizational agility and the role of top management support and IT ambidexterity," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).

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