The Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Interorganizational Coordination: Guidelines from Theory

It is widely believed that information and communication technology (ICT) enables organizations to decrease costs and increase capabilities and thus enables to shape interorganizational coordination. This paper describes guidelines with which the impact of ICT on interorganizational coordination structures can be predicted. The framework used consists of three perspectives: interorganizational coordination structures, ICT, and aspects of goods and services for the processing of which coordination is required. Interorganizational coordination structures are defined and the impact of ICT on coordination structures is indicated. So far, ICT is considered to be a driving force. There are, however, other aspects that have an influencing impact on interorganizational coordination. Those aspects are described and by combining those with the possibilities of ICT, the guidelines are presented.