Interorganizational Information Systems for the Efficient Utilization of Renewable Resources. Insights from Networks in the Wood Industry

Systems of production today face an increasing need to respond to diverse societal challenges. This development has resulted in the need for a transition from a fossil- and mineral resource-dependent paradigm towards a path that takes advantage of bio-based resources. In this context, wood is going to be an important feedstock and an essential enabler towards the transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based society. However, wood is not available infinitely. Hence, increasing the efficiency of the processing and utilization of wood is an imperative. In this context, interorganizational IT plays a decisive role. Therefore, this cumulative dissertation sets out to offer insights into the circumstances and causal mechanisms of IT usage behaviors in the wood industry. Encompassing rich empirical data, the thesis provides answers to research questions surrounding the fields of interorganizational IT adoption and interorganizational IT value. The insights provide implications for practitioners in the wood industry on how to promote the adoption of interorganizational IT and how to design structures and processes to effectively profit from investments in IT. In addition, the thesis also provides guidance for academics studying the phenomena of IT adoption and IT value with regard to sector-specific characteristics.