Information technology and global competition: A framework for analysis

Abstract Despite current concerns about the international dimensions of business, the strategic potential of information technology in enabling a firm to compete internationally has been ignored. This paper addresses the topic by proposing a framework for considering the strategic role of information technology in global competition. Three key issues face multinational companies: configuration, coordination and responsiveness. Information technology helps multinational companies resolve these issues by providing them with effective means to support their foreign subsidiaries, integrate their worldwide operations more efficiently, respond to local market needs more flexibly, and serve their customers innovatively. Several implementation problems are also discussed, including lack of a strategic vision, lack of infrastructure and expertise, host government intervention, and difficulty in transferring applications.

[1]  Michael E. Porter,et al.  How Global Companies Win Out , 1982 .

[2]  N. Venkatraman,et al.  Exploring the Concept of “Fit” in Strategic Management , 1984 .

[3]  William R. Fannin,et al.  National or global?—control vs flexibility , 1986 .

[4]  Y. Doz.  Strategic Management in Multinational Companies , 1986 .

[5]  Glen O. Robinson.  Communications for Tomorrow: Policy Perspectives for the 1980s , 1979 .

[6]  Kenneth Leeson.  International communications: Blueprint for policy , 1984 .

[7]  Nick Rackoff,et al.  SIM Competition Paper: Information Systems for Competitive Advantage: Implemenation of a Planning Process , 1985, MIS Q..

[8]  Louis T. Wells,et al.  Government Relations in the Global Firm , 1986 .

[9]  R. Anthony,et al.  Management Control Systems , 2020, Management Control Systems and Tools for Internationalization Success.

[10]  J. Pfeffer,et al.  The External Control of Organizations. , 1978 .

[11]  Éric Clémens,et al.  Telecom: hook up or lose out , 1986 .

[12]  Raymond Vernon,et al.  Manager in the international economy , 1972 .

[13]  JoAnne Yates,et al.  Electronic markets and electronic hierarchies , 1987, CACM.

[14]  M. Porter,et al.  How Information Gives You Competitive Advantage , 1985 .

[15]  Michael R. Vitale,et al.  The Growing Risks of Information Systems Success , 1986, MIS Q..

[16]  Bruce Kogut,et al.  Designing global strategies: profiting from operation flexibility , 1986 .

[17]  M. Porter.  Competition in Global Industries , 1986 .

[18]  James Leontiales,et al.  Going global—Global strategies vs national strategies , 1986 .

[19]  Glenn E. Mangurian,et al.  The changing value of communications technology , 1990 .

[20]  R. D. Robinson,et al.  Internationalization of business : an introduction , 1984 .

[21]  A. V. D. Ven,et al.  Alternative forms of fit in contingency theory. , 1985 .

[22]  Yves L. Doz,et al.  How MNCs cope with host-government intervention , 1980 .

[23]  James C. Grant,et al.  Electronic banking and telecommunications , 1986, Inf. Manag..