How Consumer Technology Is Changing the IT Function: A Multi-Case Study of Three Fortune 500 Companies

ABSTRACT

This study investigates how three different IT departments responded to IT consumerization. Using dynamic capabilities theory, we classified IT departments’ responses as sensing, seizing or transforming. This research shows how IT consumerization impacts each IT department’s deep structure and how the resulting changes can move beyond the scope of consumer tools and impact IT department operations. We demonstrate how consumerization, while creating struggles, creates shared governance, power redistribution and innovation for the IT workforce.

KEYWORDS:

• IT consumerization
• IT function
• digital workplace
• deep structure
• dynamic capabilities
• case study

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hope Koch

Hope Koch is an Associate Professor in Baylor University’s IS department. Dr. Koch’s research focuses on organizational assimilation of new, innovative technologies. Dr. Koch has published in leading academic journals including MIS Quarterly, MIS Quarterly Executive and the European Journal of Information Systems. In 2013, the European Journal of Information Systems and the Operations Research Society recognized her social networking research as the best paper published in 2012. Since 2002, Hope has chaired the Callaway Foundation which grants $500,000 in college scholarship annually.

Jie (Kevin) Yan

Jie (Kevin) Yan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Supply Chain, Information Systems and Analytics at Dalton State College. Dr. Yan received his Ph.D. in Information Systems from Baylor University. Before beginning his Ph.D., Dr. Yan possessed over 6 years of work experience in the Telecom and Datacom industries. He worked for companies including Ericsson AB, Cisco Systems and General Electric (GE). His research focuses on cloud computing, IT consumerization and online user innovation communities.

Sixuan Zhang

Sixuan Zhang is an Assistant Professor at School of Economics and Management, Beihang University. Dr. Zhang earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Information Systems from Baylor University. He received his B.M.S. in Project Management from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Following that, he worked as an IT consultant for about 3 years. His research interests include the business use of social media, workplace cyberbullying, IT consumerization and hybrid organizations. Dr. Zhang has published in several IS journals including Information & Management, International Journal of Information Management, and the Data Base for Advances in Information Systems.

Nash Milic

Nash Milic is an Assistant Professor at School of Business Administration, American University of Sharjah. Dr. Milic has several ICIS, AMCIS and NeuroIS publications accompanied by one Information Systems and e-Business Management publication. Dr. Milic had also served on two ICIS committees as Local Review Coordinator and fulfilled multiple review services for AIS journals and conferences. His efforts toward the IS community were recognized by the AIS in the form of a Doctoral Student Service award. Before joining academia, Dr. Milic had diverse professional experiences ranging from consulting to project management and NGOs.

Pat Curry

Pat Curry is a fifth year PhD candidate in Information Systems at Baylor University. Lt. Col. Curry has more than 22 years in the Army with experience in local area networks, servers, network security, and finance operations. His research focuses on leadership and information technology as well as mobile technology.