Abstract

The current study represents an exploratory research in the area of strategic alignment of information technology. It attempts to explore whether there is a link between an organization's strategic type and its level of information technology (IT) outsourcing. More specifically, it investigates how strategic types in Miles and Snow's typology can be related to the level of IT outsourcing activities deployed by an organization. It also takes a qualitative approach in the measurement of strategy. Secondary data such as annual reports, rather than mailed questionnaires, are used to analyze the strategy. The results indicate that in terms of Miles and Snow's strategic typology, prospectors are the highest user of IT outsourcing. Defenders are more cautious to outsource their IT. Analyzers, having both characteristics of prospectors and defenders, are between the two groups in IT outsourcing activities.