A Framework for the Strategic Management of Information Technology

Abstract

The complementary between IT as a competitive factor and strategic management is very important for gaining competitive advantages. This paper explores factors related to strategy and IT that should be considered for the strategic analysis of IT as a competitive factor, and proposes a framework for Strategic Technology Management (STM). The research is conducted by means of quantitative and qualitative analysis of data. The framework is expanded and validated through inference to findings of large and small to medium-sized enterprises through interviews, finally ending on theory matching.  The results of the analysis show that the strategic management of information technology is a continuous process of evaluation and change and that the alignment between factors such as competitive environment, competitive strategies (business and IT strategies), competitive outcome, and competitive factors gain competitive advantages for industrial companies.