Shedding Light on Shadow IT: Definition, Related Concepts, and Consequences

The use of Information Technology (IT) without formal approval and support of the IT department, called shadow IT, has challenged organizations to rethink ways of managing IT resources in order to cope with the use of unauthorized technologies in the workplace. We review the literature on shadow IT to shed light on this phenomenon, discussing the conceptual definition and types, the related concepts, and its consequences. This study, then, is an effort to better understand the phenomenon based on the existing literature. We provide contributions by enhancing the emerging body of knowledge on shadow IT, as well as by suggesting research gaps to be addressed in future research in order to advance on the topic.