Strategic advantage and the exploitability of information technology. An empirical study of the effects of IT on supplier-distributor relationships in the US airline industry.

The traditional view of the business organization as having clear boundaries, limited relationships with other organizations, and a focus on internal efficiency and effectiveness, is no longer adequate. Inter-organizational information systems are proliferating as companies become aware of these systems' potential to extend and transform organizational boundaries. How can Information Technology (IT) be used to extend firm boundaries and influence distribution channel behavior? This book examines how information technology can be exploited in inter-company settings. It argues that information technology by itself can only be viewed to a certain extent as a competitive tool, but that successful organizations begin to see information as a valuable strategic asset in inter-company competition. Based on empirical evidence, this book provides insight into how information has become one of the most valuable assets in marketing and inter-firm competition in the US airline industry.