Recently, several publications have appeared that relate to the strategic dimension of GIS: how can GIS be aligned with business strategies, what strategic opportunities does GIS offer? In the broad range of elements identified in these discussions the critical observer will find quite different connotations of the concept of 'information strategy'. This article aims to provide an integrative framework that identifies and relates the individual elements in the strategic GIS discussions. The main stages in the framework as proposed here are the identification of the GIS challenge, positioning GIS within the organization and positioning the organization in relation to GIS.