Globalizing Information Systems Alignment : Strategic Thrust and Local Responsiveness

Abstract

Environmental differences across countries such as socio-cultural, political, economic, and technological differences require business strategies of multinational corporations to vary business practices across regions. Despite the keen awareness of the necessity for strategic adaptation to local context, IS management and strategy tend to remain similar across countries. One of the reasons is to maintain the stability and compatibility of information technology infrastructure. After a careful observation of retail business practice, this study finds IS strategy should also be highly responsive to the local context. This study shows how information resources including systems architecture, processes, human resources, and national context are interlinked together. Despite global excellence in general systems management, failure in such alignment can be a serious problem in extending competitive advantages across regions. This study aims to reveal issues to be taken care of in order to accomplish global technological alignment. Results of this study provide senior management with guidelines and a framework for aligning IT with regional strategic thrust that can improve local responsiveness of multinational companies.