Kenneth C. Laudon,Jane P. Laudon Management Information System 12th Edition pdf

Complementary assets

are those assets required to derive value from a

primary investment (Teece, 1988). For instance, to realize value from automo-

biles requires substantial complementary investments in highways, roads,

gasoline stations, repair facilities, and a legal regulatory structure to set

standards and control drivers. 

Research on business information technology investment indicates that

firms that support their technology investments with investments in

complementary assets, such as new business models, new business processes,

management behavior, organizational culture, or training, receive superior

returns, whereas those firms failing to make these complementary investments

receive less or no returns on their information technology investments

(Brynjolfsson, 2003; Brynjolfsson and Hitt, 2000; Davern and Kauffman, 2000;

Laudon, 1974). These investments in organization and management are also

known as