IT Operating Models: A Systematic Review of Academic and Practitioner Literature

Abstract

Digital transformation puts new demands to the companies’ information technology (IT) functions as traditional systems delivery approaches are no longer appropriate. The firms are thus also transforming their IT functions to new Operating Models (OMs; ITOMs). Despite the wide adoption of different ITOMs for various transformation initiatives and strategy execution, they have not been thoroughly studied in the information system literature. For example, there is no consensus on the ITOM definition, and little is known why and how the ITOMs are designed, how they execute IT/ digital strategy, and what are the ITOM core components. In this paper, we systematically review both academic and practitioner literature to understand the discourses on ITOMs. Our findings show 5 ITOM themes and 13 components that foster the IT function transformation. The ITOM definition and the themes help researchers and practitioners to understand ITOM patterns and develop their own contextualized ITOM. We also propose that the ITOM design and implementa- tion process, ITOM renewal challenges, or the management role in ITOM renewal need more research.