Accounting for Stability and Path Dependency in Inter-Organisational Information Systems (IOIS)

Abstract

Interorganizational Information Systems (IOIS) which are based on common message standards regularly show a high level of stability over time in an environment of frequent technical changes. Path dependency theory has been applied to explain technical stability and hence might be useful to explain the stability of IOIS. While we have used path dependency theory as a framework of analysis for a specific IOIS, we have encountered theoretical voids. In particular we have elaborated on the unit and scope of analysis. Furthermore we discuss path creation and constitution as ways to theorize about actor constellations and strategic behaviour in order to explain path stability.

Keywords: path dependency, inter-organizational information system (IOIS), pharmaceutical industry