Inter-organizational systems (IOS) have traditionally been characterized as EDI-based
‘hub and spoke’ models such as those connecting grocery retailers or large manufacturers with their suppliers. Such systems were seen to positively affect inter-organizational transactions by reducing costs and improving efficiency.
In sectors such as telecommunications, news media, and financial services, increasing environmental complexity and technological innovation have led some organizational networks to explore more dynamic IOS models such as those using XML(Extensible Markup Language.) Traditional EDI-based systems implement linkages between purchasing and sales in independent organizations. More recent IOS focus on a broader range of value chain activities such as R&D, marketing etc.
Emerging technologies are seen as changing the nature of inter-organizational systems. In particular, the international data format standard, XML, is seen as having huge potential in facilitating the exchange of information in inter-organizational environments. XML has already changes the way we view technology in at least three key areas; EDI, Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) and content management. XML requires organizations to develop specific vocabularies in order to exchange information. Such vocabularies tend to be industry specific, and their development must deal with complex inter-organizational dynamics. Sometimes complexities can arise when activities cross organizational boundaries such as: changes in business competencies and priorities, an increased need for co-operative effort for establishing targets, the synchronization of differing accounting systems, and the establishment of trust.
Emergent technology such as XML presents a potential solution to the dynamic communication and collaboration needs of more complex business webs. However, the use of XML to support new inter-organizational business models has received little empirical attention. For example in 2002 Nelson did a study on influencing coadoption; however, the development and use of emerging XML-based IOS has not been extensively studied.
In conclusion XML-based IOS operating would be best used in a dynamic environment where things are always changing. This is a much more cooperative approach to IOS implementation than was evident with earlier IOS thus allowing more complex systems to be adopted.
As the years go on you will soon see that IOS is not longer a competitive weapon, but instead it will be a competitive necessity.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Data integration and data exchange is one of the key features in XML that will have wide usage in the future which means that applications would be able to exchange data. But I feel there is a drawback in XML that has hindered it from gaining widespread use. For example XML requires a processing application.In the case of an HTML document, any one in the world, could read your document. But in the case of XML there are no browsers with XML support in the market yet. As a result, when you receive XML information via your browser, the screen may be blank or you may actually see the tags themselves.
Post a Comment