Redefining organizational information technology-based capabilities with an integrative framework for multiple levels of analysis

In the literature, the different ways of representing the capabilities initiated by organizational information technologies (IT) have been provided by IS researchers. Since they were developed for specific purposes, most of them are not likely to illustrate the multifarious values of organizational IT-based capabilities. To provide a comprehensive approach for defining IT-based capabilities, this study suggests taxonomy to describe multiple levels in IT-based capability analyses, including technology functionality level and IT strategic capability level for low and high levels of analysis. The two levels are combined through our integrative framework. For this integration, we selected and modified an existing IT typology from each level. Our integrative framework provides a comprehensive understanding of organizational IT-based capabilities by helping people simultaneously take into account IT-based capabilities at multiple levels. In addition, the suggested framework can serve as basis for further discussion on how and why specific IT resources produce certain organizational outcomes.