Building the Conceptual Model

It is difficult to isolate the business contribution of IT investments, and investments related to IT standardization are no exception, as discussed in the previous chapter. In Chapter 2 literature on standard setting processes and standards was described and in Chapter 3 literature was reviewed on the impact of IT on the process performance of a firm. In this chapter the choice for the research method, as part of the research approach depicted in Chapter 1, Figure 3, will be clarified and an initial conceptual model will be composed. The research method chosen comprises both exploratory and explanatory case study research as this was considered the best way to complement theory in this underdeveloped domain of IS literature (Yin, 1994). The conceptual model integrates aspects of standardization, standards application and standards control, and relates those to the impact of IT standards used in an organization on business process performance.