Towards a Resource-based Theory of Information Strategy

Onno Truijens University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract
The central aim of this paper is to instigate the construction of a theory of information strategy based on the Resource-based View (RBV) of the firm (Barney, 1986, 1991; Penrose, 1959; Wernerfelt, 1984). Therefore, an initial theoretical framework is proposed within which such a theory could be developed further. In essence, this theoretical framework sheds light on how organizations can realize and sustain above-normal returns by either maintaining or solving information imperfections in factor and product markets. This explicit focus on information as a source of above-normal returns is reflected in a new type of rent, called InfoRent. Hence, information strategy can be conceived as a continuous search for InfoRent, analogous to the notion of strategy within the RBV (cf. Mahoney et al., 1992, p.364). First, the urge for constructing a theory of information strategy will be clarified. Subsequently, the appropriateness of the RBV as theoretical foundation for constructing such a theory will be discussed. Finally, the initial outline of a theoretical framework will be explained and empirical work that exemplifies the relevance and explanatory power of the theory are described shortly.

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Reference:	Truijens, O. (2002). "Towards a Resource-based Theory of Information Strategy," University of Amsterdam, Netherlands . Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 2(5). http://sprouts.aisnet.org/2-5
Keywords:	information strategy, resource-based view, InfoRent, information imperfections, information asymmetry
Item Type:	Article - Volume 2 Article 5 (2002)
Language:	English
Email:	Onno Truijens (o.truijens@uva.nl)

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