Development of an Integrated IT Research Methodology

2 CIO, MIS, Hilti Inc., USA, E-mail: [email protected]; . ABSTRACT: Information technology can no longer viewed as a strictly business supportive mechanism incurring expenses to an organization. With the advent of the global economy concept, it is rather thought to be the vehicle that will carry the business into the future. The paradox lies in determining what makes technology sense in conjunction with business sense. The purpose of developing an integrated IT research methodology is to properly guide the business into the future using right technology, right strategy and right organizational behavior. The proposed methodology is divided into three sub-methodologies, e.g., mapping technology to business functions, researching new technology and measuring IT effectiveness. Implementation of these sub-methodologies in an integrated way ensures a standard uniform research approach for the evaluation and adoption of new technology as well as the alignment of technology with the business vision. Additionally, it favors the gradual transformation of IT infrastructure and competency that prepares the organization for the future, resulting in a more predictable cost and value proposition for technology.