Abstract
The building of a theoretical framework may be viewed as a preliminary state of model building. It comprises statements about relations among broadly defined concepts within a set of boundary assumptions and constraints. The model building refines the theoretical framework and puts it into concrete terms, so that it can be examined empirically. Together they form what may be called a well structured theory (Bacharach, 1989; Kirsch, 1981).
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References
For an overview of the evolution of “data processing” in corporations, see Heinzl (1996, pp. 315-322).
Resource-dependence theory has been categorized as strategic by Lee et al. (2000), because it was applied in a strategic sense in the IS outsourcing literature, however, it is more rooted in the social/behavioral perspective as will be shown subsequently.
This goes back to Arrow (1969, p. 48) who stated, “(…) market failure is not absolute; it is better to consider a broader category, that of transaction costs, which, in general, impede and in particular case block the formation of markets” (cited by Williamson, 1981b, p. 676).
Prior to outsourcing research it has been used to study vertical integration and make-orbuy choices (for an overview see the reviews from Rindfleisch and Heide, 1997 as well as Shelanski and Klein, 1995).
In this realm, it may be noted that Hayek (1945) has been the more radical and consistent proponent of this view.
In addition, Nelson and Winter’s work has been illuminated by Penrose (1959), Simon (1957), and Cyert and March (1963).
That is, transaction costs do not only include direct costs, but also opportunity costs “(…) in form of time and effort that is taken away from alternative value creating usage” (Kaas, 1992, p. 10-translated from German; similar by Rindfleisch and Heide, 1997, p. 47; both cited by Jensen, 2001, p. 20).
The difference between opportunistic behavior and attitudes towards opportunism has been explicated by Ghoshal and Moran (1996).
Hypotheses 7a follows subsequently.
The increasing diffusion of internet applications, which support customer interaction paired by more advanced data mining tools may be viewed as a promising starting point to improve the transparency of the influential role of IS on sales.
A preliminary model has been developed by Grossmann and Hart, 1986.
The idea of structuring the concepts by asking different questions has been illuminated by the work from Kroeber and Kluckhohn (1963, p. 311ff.), who elaborated six major features of culture, and by Keller (1982, p. 144ff.), who identified eight characteristics of culture.
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© 2004 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Dibbern, J. (2004). Theoretical Framework on Information Systems Sourcing. In: The Sourcing of Application Software Services. Information Age Economy. Physica, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7908-2704-0_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7908-2704-0_2
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