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Improving competitive positioning through complementary organisational resources

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journal contribution
posted on 2013-10-23, 13:55 authored by Neil Doherty, Mark J. Terry
Purpose - In this paper we draw upon resource-based theory to explore the role of existing, complementary organisational resources, in leveraging sustainable improvements in competitive positioning, resulting from information systems initiatives. Design/Methodology/Approach – A research model has been derived from the literature, which is then used to guide the conduct of a major, integrated quantitative and qualitative survey of managers. Findings – In this paper, it is shown that improvements in competitive positioning are likely to be more significant and sustainable when a new IS initiative makes an indirect contribution, through the leveraging of complementary organisational resources, rather than stemming directly from the functionality of the IT asset. Research limitations / implications – The main limitations of this study relate to its use of a ‘convenience’ sample and a ‘single-informant’. However, both these comprises were viewed as being worthwhile, as it gave us the opportunity to conduct a study that was both broad and deep, in terms of the data collected. Practical implications - We draw out the implications of our empirical study for the management of IT projects, to improve their ability to deliver sustainable improvements in competitive positioning. Originality / value - This research makes a significant departure from the aggregated, enterprise-level orientation of prior studies, by focusing upon the process-level impacts of individual IS initiatives.

History

School

  • Business and Economics

Department

  • Business

Citation

DOHERTY, N.F. and TERRY, M., 2013. Improving competitive positioning through complementary organisational resources. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 113 (5), pp.697-711.

Publisher

© Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2013

Notes

This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02635571311324151. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

ISSN

0263-5577

Language

  • en