The Study On Interorganizational Information Systems Patterns

With the advance of information and communication technology and increasing interorganizational interdependence, interorganizational information system (IOIS) has been pervasive in business and academic domain. IOIS has become a common concern for both researchers and practitioners. Although the researches on IOIS have started since 1980's, the researches have not been much adequate, and are in the process of development. The dissertation thoroughly focuses on technology, organization, and power pattern for IOIS as well as business process integration pattern based on IOIS by applying multi-theories and multi-methodologies. It aims to present an analysis methodology in order to guide the analysis, design and implementation for IOIS.The dissertation is divided into eight chapters. The main contributions are as follows.1. The dissertation elaborates conceptual bases on IOIS. It first delimits IOIS definition based on reviewing the concept and definition concerning IOIS; Then, it compares the differences and similar between intraorganization information systems and IOIS and presents characteristics of IOIS; Furthermore, the relationship between IOIS and Electronic Commerce is analyzed; Finally, it presents a new classification approach and types of IOIS based on multi-levels and dimensions.2. The dissertation studies technological pattern for IOIS. First, it separately examines traditional and Internet-based IOIS technology; Then, typical Internet-based IOIS technology frameworks are analyzed; Moreover, it compares the strengths and weaknesses of traditional and Internet-based IOIS technology; Finally, it elaborates the basic principles of IOIS technology choice.3. The dissertation studies organization pattern for IOIS in terms of three unit of analysis. Firstly, in the single firm level, the dissertation analyses actor's characteristics, role's classification and position, and the relationship between actors and roles; Secondly, in the dyadic relationship level, it analyses the relationshipbetween actors from the structural and process dimensions; Thirdly, in the business network level, it presents four kinds of role network which has different implications for IOIS.4. The dissertation studies power pattern for IOIS based on social exchange theory and power dependence theory. It first delimits the significance, definition and classification of power. Secondly, it analyses power structure between actors according to a power matrix and gives a conclusion that all actors are located on a spectrum of balanced and unbalanced power structure. Thirdly, it elaborates how power influences IOIS strategy, adoption, and business changes based on IOIS in terms of two extreme situations of balanced and unbalanced power structure; Fourthly, it proposes that coercive and non-coercive strategy play a role in the process of cooperation and conflict between actors; Fifthly, it presents an IOIS role model based on two dimensions of power structure and power strategy. Finally, the dissertation takes Ford's Fordnet as an example to elaborate IOIS power patterns valid.5. The dissertation studies business process integration pattern based on IOIS. It first analyses the significance of business process integration based on IOIS. Second, a business process integration model Based on IOIS is constructed, and then the dissertation explains the relationship between elements and details the implication for the breadth and depth of business process integration; Finally, it presents an approach of business process integration implementation.6. The IOIS patterns presented in the dissertation are applied to analysis and design of a shipping portal of container shipping lines. The result shows the patterns are practical and can guide the analysis can design of IOIS.