Motivators for Adoption of Interorganizational Information Systems

Why are some organizations adopting a technological innovation that is announced to yield both operational and strategic benefits while others hesitate, or decide not to adopt for the time being? This question is highly relevant especially in the case of interorganizational information systems (IOS) exemplified by EDI (electronic data interchange), due to the earnest attention this particular technology had received throughout the 1990s from academia, practitioners, and governments all over the world. Surprisingly few Danish organizations have adopted EDI. If their technical capabilities and their high degree of computerization are considered then the organizations' reluctance to adopt EDI appears to be even more irrational and incomprehensible. The phenomenon of organizations lagging behind adoption of IT regardless of their opportunities to do so is well known. What is missing so far are factors explaining the reason for this situation.

Throughout the history of IS research a num...