Paradoxical Tensions in IT Renewal: A Systematic Literature Review

Organizations increasingly must modernize core information systems amid evolving technologies and strategic demands - a process known as IT renewal. Its trajectory is inherently paradoxical, requiring the simultaneous dismantling of legacy systems and development of new ones. Although recent studies acknowledge its paradoxical nature, the IS literature still treats its core tensions in a fragmented way. Based on a systematic literature review of 60 studies and guided by paradox theory, we develop an integrative framework classifying tensions into four interrelated categories: technological, behavioral, governance, and environmental. We theorize how organizational responses - ranging from either-or decisions to both-and strategies - shape IT renewal outcomes, showing that success depends on navigating interdependent tensions over time.