A new framework for interorganizational systems based on the linkage of participants’ roles

This paper addresses the need to incorporate the increasing trend of partnership formation into a framework for business-to-business interorganizational systems. The existing frameworks for classifying interorganizational systems (IOS) are either conceptually too complex to be readily applicable to IOS planning or too outdated to explain numerous forms of emerging communication networks. Based upon two dimensions, role linkage and system support level, we propose a new framework that classifies IOS into four basic types: (1) resource pooling; (2) operational cooperation; (3) operational coordination; and (4) complementary cooperation. The framework conceptually draws upon the linkage of roles played by business organizations joining the IOS. We review select cases that fit into each category and consider the characteristics of systems in each category. It is argued that each category of IOS needs to be linked with a specific business strategy, although they employ a common technical infrastructure.