Information technology support for international joint ventures

The authors investigate information technology (IT) support of international joint ventures (IJVs) which, although a potentially important factor contributing to success of an IJV, has been almost completely neglected in the literature on IJVs. Using a characterisation of IJVs in terms of goal incongruence and cultural diversity, they integrate two perspectives to identify IT support issues in IJVs: a business strategy perspective takes account of probable goal incongruence among the participants in an IJV and draws on the international management and strategic IT literature; a social information processing perspective draws on communication theory and research to identify IT support issues in a national and organizational boundary spanning setting. In identifying critical IT support issues that reflect the unique characteristics of IJVs, the authors develop practical implications for managers involved in running IJVs.<>