A surgical stapling instrument comprising an end effector movable between an open configuration and a clamped configuration, a closure drive configured to place said end effector in the clamped configuration, and a staple firing drive is disclosed. The stapling instrument further comprises a control system which utilizes the closure drive during a staple firing stroke of the staple firing drive to configure the end effector. The control system can also be operated to utilize the staple firing drive to close the end effector in lieu of the closure drive.