Exploring the Perceptions of Information Technology Support for Road Haulage Companies: A Qualitative Interview Study

Carl Magnus Olsson Viktoria Institute 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden Phone +46 31-773 55 37, Fax +46 31-773 55 30 www.viktoria.se/~cmo [email protected] Abstract This paper outlines the results from qualitative interviews with twenty road haulage companies, as a part of the diagnosing phase of an ongoing action research study exploring systems support needed by road haulage companies. The empirical data is placed in the theoretical framework presented by Orlikowski & Gash (1994). This has provided a focus on three aspects – (1) road haulage companies are concerned about investing in inadequate technological solutions, even though they realise the potential benefits that success could bring, (2) road haulage companies see strategic advantages with solutions that have been invested in, and (3) they are optimistic about the future use of the systems as well as the benefits granted. Still, most road haulage companies are found pondering the nature of technology rather than trying to gain strategical advantages through technology and thus only a few reap any profits of successful implementation and useage that strengthen their position in the value chain. It is further speculated that this “better-safe-than-sorry” approach might give a “safe-and-sorry” result for overly cautious road haulage companies.