External Information Technology Research Articles

The impact of IT use on supply chain coordination: the moderating role of environmental uncertainty

Purpose This study aims to empirically test the direct effects of three types of information technology (IT) use on three dimensions of supply chain coordination (SCC). It further explores the spillover effects of IT use on coordination beyond its domain across the SC. Besides, this study probes into the moderating effects of environmental uncertainty (EU). Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modelling (SEM) is used to examine data collected from 202 firms in Hong Kong. Furthermore, multi-group SEM analysis with a series of invariance tests was used to test the moderating effects of EU. Findings Internal, supplier and customer IT use have direct effects on internal, supplier and customer coordination, respectively. Besides, IT use generates forward spillover effects beyond its domain along the forward physical flow in an SC. EU positively moderates the relationships between external IT use and SCC but does not shape the effectiveness of internal IT use in enhancing SCC. Moreover, under a high EU, the spillover effects of IT use on coordination can be intensified. Besides, the spillover effects further expand to benefit coordination on a larger scale of the SC under a high EU. Originality/value This study contributes by revealing that in addition to direct effects, IT use in a specific domain could generate spillover effects on coordination beyond its domain throughout an SC. More importantly, it contributes by explaining the difference in the effectiveness of IT use under different levels of EU using multi-group SEM analysis.

Can information construction promote the digital transformation of enterprises? Evidence from the 'Pilot Zone for the Integration of Informatization and Industrialization’

The convergence of the digital economy and the physical economy is a global trend, with enterprises undergoing digital transformation not only for more online orders but also for smarter ways to produce. While existing literature has focused on reasons for digital transformation within enterprises, it has often overlooked the impact of external information technology infrastructure on business digital transformation. This study uses data from Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2003 to 2021 and employs text-mining techniques to create firm-level variables related to digital transformation. The ‘Pilot Zone for the Integration of Informatization and Industrialization’ policy serves as an indicator of information technology development. By utilizing the difference-in-differences method, the study examines the influence of information technology development on corporate digital transformation. The results indicate that information technology development significantly aids corporate digital transformation by reducing operational risks and boosting innovation capabilities. These findings provide valuable micro-level evidence on how information technology infrastructure supports corporate digital transformation, offering fresh insights into the mechanisms driving this process.

Nonmarket strategy and innovation performance in pharmaceutical industry: the moderating effect of internal capability and external IT environment

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between nonmarket strategy and innovation performance, as well as the boundary factors that influence this relationship in the context of the pharmaceutical industry in emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzed matched data of 227 Chinese pharmaceutical firms and two secondary databases with SPSS to examine the hypotheses. Findings Nonmarket strategy promotes the innovation performance. High level of firm internal knowledge utilization ability and strategic flexibility strengthens the effect of nonmarket strategy in promoting innovation performance, while information technology (IT) environment weakens the effect of nonmarket strategy in promoting innovation performance. Originality/value The research studies the positive impact of nonmarket strategy on innovation performance in the specific context of Chinese pharmaceutical industry, and it introduces the internal capabilities and external IT environment of the firm as moderators of the relationship between nonmarket strategy and innovation performance. More importantly, this research echoes the call for research on moderator of nonmarket strategy and identifies important boundary conditions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it also explores the impact of the IT environment on the implementation of nonmarket strategy for the first time, which deepens the research on nonmarket strategy’s effect on innovation.

The roles of JIT supply chain practices in new product ramp-up: the moderating effects of IT integration

ABSTRACT Supply chain practices in mature production are widely investigated but little is known about their roles in new product ramp-up. To address this gap, this study specifically investigates the impact of two just-in-time (JIT) supply chain practices (i.e. JIT delivery by suppliers and JIT link with customers) on new product cost and speed-to-market performance. Moreover, the moderating effects of information technology (IT) integration are examined according to organisational information processing theory. After regression analysis with a survey data of 193 firms, the study finds that JIT delivery by suppliers improves cost performance while JIT link with customers increases speed-to-market performance. Moreover, the positive performance effects of JIT delivery by suppliers on cost performance is enhanced by both internal and external IT integration while that of JIT link with customers on speed-to-market performance can only be enhanced by internal IT integration. The theoretical and managerial implications of this study are discussed.

Lessons learned on the experienced facilitators and barriers of implementing a tailored VBHC model in a Dutch university hospital from a perspective of physicians and nurses

ObjectiveThis study aims to obtain insight into experienced facilitators and barriers of implementing a tailored value-based healthcare (VBHC) model in a Dutch university hospital from a perspective of physicians and...

When Blockchain Creates Shareholder Value: Empirical Evidence from International Firm Announcements

Blockchain is a prominently discussed technology in operations and supply chain management and firms increasingly engage in blockchain initiatives. Yet, an understanding of the technology's financial value remains elusive. Based on 175 firm announcements between 2015 and 2019, we conduct an international event study to estimate the impact of blockchain initiatives on the market value of the firm. We empirically demonstrate that blockchain announcements are associated with a significant average abnormal return of 0.30% on the announcement day, and that there are indications of positive long‐term effects on shareholder value. We further demonstrate how blockchain use case, project, and firm characteristics affect the stock market reaction. Specifically, we find that the stock market reaction to blockchain announcements is less positive when blockchain is used to trace physical objects or to share sensitive data, providing empirical evidence for the risk associated with current challenges in the design of blockchain use cases. Our results also suggest that the involvement of an external information technology service provider in a blockchain project attenuates the positive stock market reaction. Interestingly, more innovative firms do not experience a stronger stock market reaction to blockchain announcements. Leveraging the international scope of our sample, we further shed light on how the firm's competitive (i.e., industry factors) and macro environment (i.e., country factors) affect the stock market reaction. Our findings indicate that the industry's R&D intensity and the country's data restriction level play a crucial role in driving the value attributed to blockchain initiatives.

Challenges to implementing electronic trial data collection in primary care: a qualitative study

BackgroundWithin-consultation recruitment to primary care trials is challenging. Ensuring procedures are efficient and self-explanatory is the key to optimising recruitment. Trial recruitment software that integrates with the electronic health record to support and partially automate procedures is becoming more common. If it works well, such software can support greater participation and more efficient trial designs. An innovative electronic trial recruitment and outcomes software was designed to support recruitment to the Runny Ear randomised controlled trial, comparing topical, oral and delayed antibiotic treatment for acute otitis media with discharge in children. A qualitative evaluation investigated the views and experiences of primary care staff using this trial software.MethodsStaff were purposively sampled in relation to site, role and whether the practice successfully recruited patients. In-depth interviews were conducted using a flexible topic guide, audio recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsSixteen staff were interviewed, including GPs, practice managers, information technology (IT) leads and research staff. GPs wanted trial software that automatically captures patient data. However, the experience of getting the software to work within the limited and complex IT infrastructure of primary care was frustrating and time consuming. Installation was reliant on practice level IT expertise, which varied between practices. Although most had external IT support, this rarely included supported for research IT. Arrangements for approving new software varied across practices and often, but not always, required authorisation from Clinical Commissioning Groups.ConclusionsPrimary care IT systems are not solely under the control of individual practices or CCGs or the National Health Service. Rather they are part of a complex system that spans all three and is influenced by semi-autonomous stakeholders operating at different levels. This led to time consuming and sometimes insurmountable barriers to installation at the practice level. These need to be addressed if software supporting efficient research in primary care is to become a reality.

Unpacking the relationship between external IT capability and open innovation performance: evidence from China

PurposeInformation technology plays a critical role in the open innovation process. The purpose of this study is to explore the inner mechanism of external information technology (IT) capability that affects open innovation performance.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, responses to 232 questionnaires from different firms were collected in China. Then, the proposed hypotheses were tested using regression analysis by statistical product and service solutions (SPSS).FindingsThe results indicate that external knowledge integration plays a mediating role in the relationship between external IT capability and open innovation performance, openness breadth positively moderates the influence of external IT capability on external knowledge integration and openness depth negatively moderates the relationship between external IT capability and external knowledge integration.Practical implicationsThe results, which are based on Chinese responses, provide useful suggestions for firms in China. To use external IT capability to improve open innovation performance, firms should not only stress the role of external knowledge integration but also consider their search strategy.Originality/valueBoth researchers and practitioners are interested in the relationship between information technology and open innovation. However, the way in which the inner mechanism of external IT capability affects open innovation performance has not been thoroughly researched. Based on knowledge integration theory, the authors construct a model that includes external IT capability, external knowledge integration, search strategy and open innovation performance. The results of this paper confirm the mediating and moderating roles of external knowledge integration and search strategy, respectively.

How does IT capability affect open innovation performance? The mediating effect of absorptive capacity

PurposeOpen innovation and information systems have been key topics in the theoretical domain, but little empirical research thoroughly examines how information technology (IT) capability affects open innovation performance. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between IT capability and open innovation performance and to expose the inner mechanism at the firm level.Design/methodology/approachThis paper collected firm-level data in China; 232 usable questionnaires from different firms were collected. Then, the study used a structural equation model by AMOS for hypothesis testing.FindingsThe results indicate that both internal IT capability and external IT capability have positive impacts on open innovation performance; potential absorptive capacity and realized absorptive capacity mediate the relationship between external IT capability and open innovation performance. Additionally, realized absorptive capacity plays a mediating role in the relationship between internal IT capability and open innovation performance.Practical implicationsThese findings indicate that practitioners should pay attention to the important relationship between absorptive capacity and IT capability and open innovation performance in Chinese businesses.Originality/valueExisting research has emphasized the influence of IT on open innovation, but empirical studies have not thoroughly focused on the inner mechanisms of the effect of IT capability on open innovation performance. Drawing on firm capability theory, this paper classifies IT capability as internal and external IT capability and absorptive capacity as potential and realized absorptive capacity. Then, this paper confirms the mediating role of absorptive capacity between IT capability and open innovation performance.

Key Factors Affecting Ambulatory Care Providers' Electronic Exchange of Health Information With Affiliated and Unaffiliated Partners: Web-Based Survey Study.

BackgroundDespite the potential benefits of electronic health information exchange (HIE) to improve the quality and efficiency of care, HIE use by ambulatory providers remains low. Ambulatory providers can greatly improve the quality of care by electronically exchanging health information with affiliated providers within their health care network as well as with unaffiliated, external providers.ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the extent of electronic HIE use by ambulatory clinics with affiliated providers within their health system and with external providers, as well as the key technological, organizational, and environmental factors affecting the extent of HIE use within and outside the health system.MethodsA Web-based survey of 320 ambulatory care providers was conducted in the state of Illinois. The study examined the extent of HIE usage by ambulatory providers with hospitals, clinics, and other facilities within and outside their health care system–encompassing seven kinds of health care data. Ten factors pertaining to technology (IT [information technology] Compatibility, External IT Support, Security & Privacy Safeguards), organization (Workflow Adaptability, Senior Leadership Support, Clinicians Health-IT Knowledge, Staff Health-IT Knowledge), and environment (Government Efforts & Incentives, Partner Readiness, Competitors and Peers) were assessed. A series of multivariate regressions were used to examine predictor effects.ResultsThe 6 regressions produced adjusted R-squared values ranging from 0.44 to 0.63. We found that ambulatory clinics exchanged more health information electronically with affiliated entities within their health system as compared with those outside their health system. Partner readiness emerged as the most significant predictor of HIE usage with all entities. Governmental initiatives for HIE, clinicians’ prior familiarity and knowledge of health IT systems, implementation of appropriate security, and privacy safeguards were also significant predictors. External information technology support and workflow adaptability emerged as key predictors for HIE use outside a clinic’s health system. Differences based on clinic size, ownership, and specialty were also observed.ConclusionsThis study provides exploratory insights into HIE use by ambulatory providers within and outside their health care system and differential predictors that impact HIE use. HIE use can be further improved by encouraging large-scale interoperability efforts, improving external IT support, and redesigning adaptable workflows.

Knowledge Sharing Motivation Among External and Internal IT Workers

This paper extends a previous study that proposed an integrated model to test knowledge sharing (KS) motivation among information technology (IT) workers. While the previous study focussed on the differences in KS between internal and external IT workers, the perspective of the current paper is broader; it proposes additional hypotheses, and uses both inferential statistics and data mining techniques to detect further practical aspects of the integrated model findings. Because data mining techniques are useful in extracting patterns and gaining insights from data, they are implemented here alongside inferential statistics. The present study also looks into the employment-contract factor, to better capture the differences between internal and external IT workers. The study reveals that external workers score significantly lower than internal workers in almost every component of the integrated KS model. This gives rise to five practical implications of knowledge management (KM) and employment policies, including factors and practises that should be taken into consideration while employing external workers, to help motivate collaborative behaviour in IT departments.

Drivers of ICT acceptance and implementation in micro-firms in the estate agent sector: influence on organizational performance

ABSTRACTFrom the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study aims to identify the drivers of successful implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) in micro-firms and their impact on organizational performance. To this end, a quantitative study was undertaken, where the data-collecting instrument was an online questionnaire administered to a sample of micro-firms belonging to the Portuguese estate agent sector. Based on the results obtained from 102 valid responses, among the drivers identified, internal factors, more precisely, organizational aspects were found to allow successful implementation of ICT in the firms studied here and to be the ones with the greatest influence on their organizational performance. However, external factors, such as external information technology consultants and networking, did not show a statistically significant influence on organizational performance in estate agent micro-firms. The study also presents some implications for theory and practice in this field of research.

Knowledge Sharing Analytics: The Case of IT Workers

ABSTRACTThe current study proposes a new framework for knowledge sharing (KS) analytics among information technology (IT) workers, based on an electronic source of collaborative software used by IT developers. It attempts to formulate a new objective way to measure actual KS. The findings confirm previous reports of differences in KS motivation between internal and external IT workers. The metrics of electronic source footprints proposed in this study have confirmed that the KS level of external IT workers is significantly lower than that of internal IT workers. Several practical implications for better knowledge management (KM) are discussed, including the measuring of KS levels on an ongoing basis, and practices that should be considered when employing external IT workers, in order to motivate collaborative behaviors and team work in IT departments.

Alignment Between Internal and External IT Governance and Its Effects on Distinctive Firm Performance: An Extended Resource-Based View

Only a few firms possess all of the information technology (IT) resources required to compete effectively in today's dynamic business environment. Consequently, firms face critical challenges in developing their IT governance by integrating, building, and reconfiguring IT resources available internally and externally to achieve a competitive advantage. However, prior studies have mostly examined IT governance only from an internal (e.g., IT organization design) or external (e.g., IT outsourcing) perspective. Therefore, how the internal and external IT governance of firms simultaneously lead to firm performance remains unclear. To address this research gap, we conceptualize internal and external IT governance from the extended resource-based view, propose three alignments between both types of governance, and hypothesize their effects on distinctive firm performance. We then empirically test these hypotheses using 213 Korean firms that have implemented IT outsourcing. Results show that a hierarchy-based alignment (i.e., between internal and external hierarchy governance) optimizes the operational efficiency of firms, a market-based alignment (i.e., between internal and external market governance) offers the greatest advantage in terms of market growth, and a network-based alignment (i.e., between internal and external network governance) leads to the best innovation performance. Furthermore, our post hoc test also reveals some unexpected alignments (e.g., between internal market and external hierarchy governance) that positively influence firm performance, which call for new areas of discussion with alternative theoretical perspectives. This study guides practitioners in choosing outsourcing alignments by comprehensively analyzing the effects of various alignments on distinctive outcomes.

Method for risk evaluation of functional instability of hardware and software systems under external information technology interference

The aim of the article is to develop a method that would allow for a quantitative evaluation of stability risks of hardware and software systems under simulated information technology interference and simulation of real management process cycle. The article shows the relevance and importance of the methods for risk evaluation of hardware and software systems stability in the context of targeted and coordinated information technology interference. Information technology interference is understood as targeted and coordinated hardware and software, as well as software actions aimed at temporary disruption of operation or logical defeat of hardware and software systems. Successful information technology interference is conditioned by the presence of vulnerabilities in the hardware and software systems that include IP and MAC addresses and communication equipment ports available to the intruder. The method presented in the article is based on the following: risk evaluation is performed using a test bed or active facilities with the involvement of respectively a fixed and portable information technology measures simulation system. The risk of destabilization of hardware and software systems is evaluated experimentally as the combination of frequency and consequences of successful information technology interference. The preliminary risk evaluation allows choosing the solution for information protection in order to eliminate potential vulnerabilities. The residual risk is evaluated based on the ability of hardware and software systems to eliminate the consequences of information technology interference through various inbuilt resilience features. The research resulted in the proposed method of evaluation hardware and software system security risks under information technology interference as a logical sequence of steps: risk analysis of information technology interference; identification of vulnerabilities, simulation of system operation processes under information technology interference at the trial facility; selection of the best information protection and system fault tolerance facilities; preliminary an final evaluation of system stability risks. As part of the method, probability and temporal indicators of hardware and software systems stability risk evaluation were developed that enable analysis of recovery from threats of combined information technology interference, selection of rational information protection and fault tolerance measures. As part of the method, it is proposed to use a cubic analysis scheme of elimination of vulnerabilities of critical elements of hardware and software systems that allows identifying the levels of tolerable risk and levels of reference model of interaction of open systems required for elimination of vulnerability subject to the frequency of information technology interference. Additionally, a certificate of evaluation of stability risks of hardware and software systems subject to the frequency of successful interferences was developed. In the conclusion it is noted that the developed method allows using the knowledge regarding potential vulnerabilities and experimental studies to identify the probabilistic values of security risks in order to determine the most hazardous threats and adoption of respective information protection measures.

The Extroverted Firm: How External Information Practices Affect Innovation and Productivity

We gather detailed data on organizational practices and information technology (IT) use at 253 firms to examine the hypothesis that external focus—the ability of a firm to detect and therefore respond to changes in its external operating environment—increases returns to IT, especially when combined with decentralized decision making. First, using survey-based measures, we find that external focus is correlated with both organizational decentralization, and IT investment. Second, we find that a cluster of practices including external focus, decentralization, and IT is associated with improved product innovation capabilities. Third, we develop and test a three-way complementarities model that indicates that the combination of external focus, decentralization, and IT is associated with significantly higher productivity in our sample. We also introduce a new set of instrumental variables representing barriers to IT-related organizational change and find that our results are robust when we account for the potential endogeneity of organizational investments. Our results may help explain why firms that operate in information-rich environments such as high-technology clusters or areas with high worker mobility have experienced especially high returns to IT investment and suggest a set of practices that some managers may be able to use to increase their returns from IT investments. This paper was accepted by Sandra Slaughter, information systems.

El papel de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) en la búsqueda de la eficiencia: un análisis desde Lean Production y la integración electrónica de la cadena de suministro

In this paper an analysis is made of the existing inter-relationships between Information Technology (IT), the implementation of Lean Production, and the electronic integration of the supply chain. To analyse these relationships, an investigation was made on the impact of two different kinds of technologies, intra-organizational or internal IT and inter-organizational or external IT. The results from a sample of 84 first-tier suppliers of the automotive industry showed that the impact of internal IT on the implementation of Lean Production is greater, and the same for external IT on the electronic integration of the supply chain. Moreover, it showed how the relationship between internal IT and the implementation of Lean Production is stronger when it is controlled by the presence of external IT. In this case, a negative relationship was observed between external IT and the implementation of Lean Production. Finally, the results show how internal IT has no influence on the electronic integration with suppliers.

ISO/IEC 15504 measurement applied to COBIT process maturity

PurposeThe assessment of COBIT process maturity levels is fraught with a number of problems regarding the objectivity of the assessment results. Unlike ISO/IEC 15504, COBIT does not define an assessment model. The purpose of this paper is to align the behavioural aspects of the six COBIT process attributes with achievement results defined for the nine process attributes associated with the ISO/IEC 15504‐2 measurement scale. The authors believe that this alignment permits a translation of the ISO/IEC 15504 assessment data into an objective COBIT process maturity rating.Design/methodology/approachThe tables presented in the paper identify the COBIT process attributes, the applicable ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results and the aggregated rating that pertains to the selected achievement results. A final table lists the derived COBIT process maturity level in terms of the ratings for the ISO/IEC 15504 process attribute achievement results for an assessed process.FindingsThe objectivity of the aggregated result (COBIT process maturity level) appeals strongly to end‐users of this measurement result, particularly where contractual obligations must be satisfied.Practical implicationsThe method is useful where measurement rigour must be demonstrated in the computation of the COBIT process maturity levels.Originality/valueThis assessment and computational method was developed and trialled in the second half of 2010 in the context of the assessment of 13 information technology (IT) service management processes at two different customer sites. The material is of special value to service managers in companies that have outsourced IT service management processes to external IT service providers.

Impact of use of information technology on lean production adoption: evidence from the automotive industry

In this paper we analyse the existing interrelationships between information technology (IT) and the adoption of lean production. More specifically, the level of adoption of lean production is studied in accordance with the degree of use and the kind of IT used (internal and external IT). The results of the study show how companies need to augment the degree of use of internal or intra-organisational IT in order to increase the level of implementation of lean production and therefore improve efficiency. Results also show that external or inter-organisational IT only has a significant negative influence on the level of adoption of lean production when internal IT is controlled. These findings provide managers with empirical evidence and a theoretical framework on the balance between internal and external IT in order to increase lean production adoption, thus offering practical guidance on how to manage IT and lean production adoption.

Cross-organizational service security

Challenging market dynamics and the rise of complex value networks require organizations to adjust their processes rapidly in order to stay competitive. Because many organizational processes are directly supported or even enabled by Information Technology (IT), a process is only as flexible as its underlying technological representation. The Service-oriented Architecture paradigm (SOA) offers means on both a technological and organizational level for the flexible integration of internal and external IT systems. Thus, services are used to assemble processes through service compositions, as well as across enterprise boundaries. Such cross-organizational service-based workflows lead to a global SOA which is often referred to as the "Internet of Services".