Production of Collective Action in Alliance-Based Interorganizational Communication and Information Systems

Peter R. Monge, Janet Fulk, Michael E. Kalman, Andrew J. Flanagin, Claire Parnassa and Suzanne Rumsey
Additional contact information
Peter R. Monge: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles, California 90089-0281
Janet Fulk: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles, California 90089-0281
Michael E. Kalman: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, California 92152
Andrew J. Flanagin: Department of Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
Claire Parnassa: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles, California 90089-0281
Suzanne Rumsey: Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California, 3502 Watt Way, Los Angeles, California 90089-0281

Organization Science, 1998, vol. 9, issue 3, 411-433

Abstract: This article presents a public goods-based theory that describes the process of producing multifirm, alliance-based, interorganizational communication and information public goods. These goods offer participants in alliances collective benefits that are (a) nonexcludable , in that they are available to all alliance partners whether or not they have contributed, and (b) jointly supplied , in that partners' uses of the good are noncompeting. Two generic types of goods produced are connectivity , the ability of partners to directly communicate with each other through the information and communication system, and communality , the availability of a commonly accessible pool of information to alliance partners. Four types of alliances that can produce these goods are identified: (a) precompetitive, (b) competitive, (c) joint value creation, and (d) value chain. The article examines a variety of factors that influence the production of alliance-based connective and communal goods. Twenty-three integrated propositions are presented. The article concludes with an example of the application of the theoretical model to research on connectivity and communality provided through an alliance-based interorganizational communication and information system linking more than 50 alliance partners.

Keywords: Alliances; Communality; Communication; Connectivity; Information Systems; Interorganizational Communication; Public Goods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1998
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:9:y:1998:i:3:p:411-433

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