The Antecedents and Outcomes of the Internet of Things Use in Food Firms: The Moderating Role of Firm Size

Yuanyuandang Yuanyuandang,Xiuhe Yu,Fanbo Meng,Xiaoyang Zhang,Yuqiang Feng

doi:10.19026/ajfst.10.2284

Abstract

This study examines the antecedents and outcomes of the use of Internet of Things (IoT) in firms and the moderating role of firm size. Drawing on institutional theory, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and IoT use in firms, we propose a model that is empirically tested by survey data from 352 enabled food firms in Heilongjiang provice. The results show that institutional theory factors and corporate social responsibility determine firms’ IoT use behavior. The results further indicate that IoT use positively infuences firms’ quality and operational performance. The moderating effect of firm size on the relationship between IoT use and operational performance is negative, indicating that IoT can play a more positive role on opertation management in small firms. These findings contribute to the literature on IoT in food safety and are the basis for recommendations for advancing IoT.

Highlights

As a Chinese old saying says, “As food comes first to humans, so does safety to food.” The importance of food safety cannot be ignored
Corporate social responsibility and Internet of Things (IoT) use in firms, this study proposes a model to explain why firms use IoT and the impact it has on their performance
The results show that Coecive Pressure (β = 0.260, t = 3.3733), Normative Pressure (β = 0.174, t = 2.394) and Corporate Social Responsibility significantly affect IoT use in firms, which supports H1, H3 and H4.IoTuse was found to significantly affect Quality Performance (β = 0.706, t = 17.38) and Operational Performance (β = 0.716, t = 17.036), which supports H5 and H6

Summary

Introduction

As a Chinese old saying says, “As food comes first to humans, so does safety to food.” The importance of food safety cannot be ignored. In 2006, the world famous British chocolate maker, Cadbury food, produced chocolate using seriously polluted water, resulting in 42 people being poisoned These events point to the importance of food safety management, a value that is highly supported by the public. Applying IoT technology in food safety process management could track events from top to bottom and vice versa and achieve the whole process management of information (Yuan, 2011). This would contribute to improved capacity and efficiency of food traceability and recall, effectively eliminating food safety hazards and food safety risks and resulting in improved food safety

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion