Summary

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Inter-organizational information systems are in a special class of business system. They allow the formation of partnerships between firms. Three types of IOISs were described in this chapter: extranets, B2B virtual markets, and EDI. Each type has specific features and characteristics that differentiate them from each other, and they have informational and network properties that distinguish them from non-IOISs, such as Internet Web sites and intranets. A typology of an IOIS was introduced to highlight commonalities and differences in terms of network structures and information exchanges. Structural characteristics include the identification of the interacting parties, which party acts as the system host, requirements for security, and the extent of information sharing. A comparison of systems based on information exchanges identified the general functions performed by each system, the format of the information that is transferred, the types of information communicated, the requirements for confidentiality of the data, and the cost and complexity of the technology. The benefits and risks of entering into an IOIS were described. Finally, new avenues of research are suggested and speculation on the future of IOISs were offered. It is hoped that the typology and ideas presented here provide new insights for academics and practitioners into the evolving landscape of e-commerce.

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