Value Co-creation through Network IT Alignment: An Empirical Examination in Regional Networks

IT alignment in intra-organizational contexts has been recognized as an important factor of organizational performance. This paper takes up this stance and translates it to the network level. In order to explain the role of IT in value co-creation, a theoretical model investigating the interconnection between IT alignment in inter-organizational networks and collaboration success is being developed. Moreover, the mode of governance is identified as an important antecedent to network IT alignment. An empirical study is conducted including answers from 165 regional network organizations in Germany. The results give support for the assumption that network IT alignment, first, contribute to the value co-creation in interorganizational collaboration, and second, can be better achieved by networks with a centralized governance mode. In doing so, this study contributes to the emerging field that tries to understand the role of IT in the functioning of inter-organizational networks.