Background: Information technology (IT) has drastically changed the traditional way to do business. In theory,
coordinating information sharing among organisational partners offers notable advantages through cost savings,
productivity, improved decision making, and better customer service. Supported by modern information technology,
business processes can change and be developed into new more effective forms, both internally and externally.
However, as IT facilitates new business opportunities, it requires a steady flow of information and information
exchange, both within intra- and inter-organisational contexts where a consensus on terms and definitions
coordinating the uniform communication is vital.
Purpose: With the focal point on inter-organisational information exchange, the purpose of the thesis is to define
a set of guidelines for AI that can be used and adjusted according to the needs of a specific situation or context.
Method: The thesis was carried out with a Multi Grounded Theory approach. Interviews were conducted at a local
IT-company and with an associate professor of Informatics at Jönköping International Business School.
Results: Five categories were discovered which impact AI: integration governance, project management, context, integration
content, and testing. The result also implied the importance to distinguish between an operational and strategic level
when working with Application Integration.
2005. , p. 40