Information Technology Assimilation Research Articles

Assessing the Connections among Top Management Support, IT Assimilation, and the Business Value of IT: A Meta-Analysis

Scholars and practitioners have long tried to understand the antecedents and consequences of information technology (IT) assimilation. Studies suggest that top management support is an important driver of IT assimilation; however, this broad takeaway provides little substantive guidance to researchers and practitioners. We also have a limited understanding of whether and when IT assimilation creates business value. We take stock of this literature with a meta-analysis. We found that top management support is positively related to IT assimilation, and assimilation is in turn positively related to the business value of IT. We also found that explicit support does not have any special effect on IT assimilation (compared to implicit support) and may not be related to business value at all. However, our results indicate that IT assimilation has a stronger effect on business value at the process level (versus firm level) and for enterprise IT innovations (versus function IT innovations). Finally, we found that support-assimilation and assimilation-value relationships are stronger in high (versus low) power distance cultures. Our collective findings can facilitate future research and help practitioners navigate IT assimilation initiatives.

Integration of information technology capabilities in generating small and medium enterprise performance

The role of information technology (IT) during the Covid 19 pandemic has made everything in business easy. The role of technology in business during a pandemic also makes it easier for entrepreneurs to navigate buying and selling activities and services. Technology makes it easy to shorten time saving business costs, as in business financial records that make one financial report must record everything manually with technology done automatically with the help of accounting software. Research purposes to test resources-based view theory in relation to the implementation of IT to produce operational performance and financial performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The research was conducted on SMEs in Bali. The research method used to answer the research objectives uses a quantitative test approach Partial Least Square. Based on data analysis, it was found that the development of SME IT Adoption had an effect positive on IT Assimilation, but directly IT Adoption is not able to improve operational performance and financial performance. IT assimilation can improve the operational performance and financial performance of SMEs. Operational performance is not able to mediate the effect of IT adoption on the financial performance of SMEs. IT assimilation is a fully mediating variable in the relationship between IT and the operational performance and financial performance of SMEs in Bali. The results of the study show that IT resource management through a technology-based business competency model can succeed in realizing Organizational Capability that can be used to build business competitiveness if the organization or business unit that adopts it pre-determines IT integration in accordance with the vision, mission, and goals of the organization. This is very important to implement in an effort to adapt to uncertain business world conditions, such as when Covid 19 occurred.

OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

The paper analyzes the scientific literature data of recent years on the topic of the study. The study involved 8th grade students with mild intellectual disabilities. The purpose of the study: to identify the information and communication competence (ICT) of children with intellectual disabilities and selectively take measures to improve it. The ascertaining experiment included the following research directions: 1) problems and results of teachers' use of digital technologies; 2) definition of the main ICT competencies of students. A survey was conducted among students with mild mental retardation, compiled in accordance with the content of the standard curriculum on the subject "Computer Science" for the 8th grade of updated content. In accordance with the answer options, depending on the total number of points, 4 degrees of self-assessment of students' assimilation of information technology were allocated: "did not master", "mastered only initial skills", "mastered average", "mastered well", "mastered fully". The questions were grouped according to the sections titled "Information Processes", "Computer Systems" and "Health and Safety". The occurrence of the answer "mastered only basic skills" was 27% for the 1st section, 33% for the 2nd section and 52% for the 3rd section. And the answer "not mastered" was equal to 16%, 16% and 18%, respectively. In accordance with the results obtained, a formative experiment was conducted with the students, extracurricular activities were organized: quizzes, excursions, games, physical and eye exercises, thematic educational hours. Such classes were held once a week for 6 months. The effectiveness of the work carried out was noted: indicators for all sections of the curriculum were increased. The frequency of occurrence of the answer "mastered only basic skills" in the 1st part remained at the same level of 27%, but in the 2nd part it decreased to 31%, and in the 3rd part - to 43%. And the answer "not mastered", corresponding to the low level, significantly decreased in all sections and was equal to 6%. Correspondingly, the proportion of responses "mastered well", "mastered fully" increased.

Exploring relationships among IT advancement, IT assimilation, supply chain capabilities and supply chain performance

ABSTRACT Rapid advancements in information technology (IT) have created new opportunities and challenges for the manufacturer-supplier network of a supply chain to improve their synergy and performance. The study explores the impact of IT capabilities (IT advancement, IT assimilation) on the supply chain capabilities (flexibility, information exchange, and coordination); and supply chain performance. The Extended resource-based view (ERBV) was adopted as a theoretical lens for developing the conceptual framework. A survey was conducted across manufacturing industries in India for this study. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis technique was used to test a set of proposed hypotheses. Results show that IT advancements and IT assimilation were found to impact supply chain capabilities and eventually supply chain performance. The mediating role of suppliers’ flexibility, information exchange, and supply chain coordination was found to be significant. The paper is concluded with implications for practices and further research directions.

Impacts of Sustainable Information Technology Capabilities on Information Security Assimilation: The Moderating Effects of Policy—Technology Balance

Information security management (ISM) has emerged as a major challenge to sustainable management of companies that highly rely on information technology (IT). To achieve organizational sustainability for managing assets, it is critical for all members of the organization to be assimilated into ISM. An important consideration of ISM assimilation is sustainable IT capabilities. However, so far, there are limited empirical studies on ISM assimilation, particularly those focusing on importance of the organization’s sustainable IT capabilities. Therefore, this study proposes three sustainable IT capabilities (viz., IT infrastructure, IT business spanning capability, and IT proactive stance) with their antecedents based on the existing research, and attempts to empirically prove the impact of these sustainable IT capabilities on ISM assimilation for sustainable management of assets. Additionally, this study proposes policy-to-technology balance as a moderator on the relationships between the three sustainable IT capabilities and ISM assimilation to examine the impact of the non-technical aspect. Responses from 232 upper-management-level employees at various firms currently implementing ISM were collected. Structural equation analysis was run using AMOS 22.0. The results show that the three sustainable IT capabilities were found to have a positive effect on ISM. Furthermore, policy-to-technology balance was found to strengthen the relationship between two IT capabilities (IT infrastructure and IT business spanning capability) and ISM assimilation. However, it emerges that the policy-to-technology balance does not impact IT proactive stance and assimilation. The findings provide meaningful information for future research on sustainable IT capabilities and ISM along with key guidance for the organization to establish a complementary strategy for sustainable assets.

Harnessing business analytics value through organizational absorptive capacity

Business analytics (BA) is a resource-intensive, risky endeavor. However, the literature has not addressed the important question of how to assimilate BA technologies for competitive advantage. We build a research framework and outline the BA assimilation mechanisms through organizational absorptive capacity (AC). Data were collected from 600 companies across six countries and analyzed using partial least squares. The findings revealed that organizational AC plays a crucial mediating role between BA competency and BA assimilation, leading to competitive advantage. This study contributes significantly to both information technology assimilation and BA value research by incorporating the role of organizational AC.

Overcoming knowledge barriers to health care through continuous learning

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the role of continuous learning and the mitigation or elimination of knowledge barriers affecting information technology (IT) assimilation in the health-care sector. Most of the problems with IT assimilations stem from a poor understanding of the nature of suitable information, the lack of trust, cultural differences, the lack of appropriate training and hierarchical bureaucratic structures and procedures. To overcome these barriers, this study provides evidence that a continuous learning process can play a part in overcoming some of the obstacles to the assimilation of IT.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates how a continuous learning environment can counteract the presence of knowledge barriers, and, along with such an environment, can, in turn, facilitate IT assimilation. The study uses ADANCO 2.0.1 Professional for Windows and involves the collection and analysis of data provided by 210 health-care end users.FindingsThe study provides evidence in support of the proposition that continuous learning may facilitate the assimilation of IT by health-care end users through the mitigation of knowledge barriers (e.g. lack of trust or resistance to change). The mitigation of these barriers requires the gathering and utilization of new knowledge and knowledge structures. The results support the hypothesis that one way in which this can be achieved is through continuous learning (i.e. through assessing the situation, consulting experts, seeking feedback and tracking progress).Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of the study is the relatively simple statistical method that has been used for the analysis. However, the results provided here will serve as a preliminary basis for more sophisticated analysis which is currently underway.Practical implicationsThe study provides useful insights into ways of using continuous learning to facilitate IT assimilation by end users in the health-care domain. This can be of use to hospitals seeking to implement end user IT technologies and, in particular, telemedicine technologies. It can also be used to develop awareness of knowledge barriers and possible approaches to mitigate the effects of such barriers. Such an awareness can assist hospital staff in finding creative solutions for using technology tools. This potentially augments the ability of hospital staff to work with patients and carers, encouraging them to take initiative (make choices and solve problems relevant to them). This, in turn, allows hospitals to avoid negative and thus de-motivating experiences involving themselves and their end users (patients) and improving IT assimilation. This is liable to lead to improved morale and improved assimilation of IT by end users (patients).Social implicationsAs ICT systems and services should entail participation of a wide range of users, developers and stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, social workers, patients and programmers and interaction designers, the study provides useful social implication for health management and people well-being.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to a better understanding of the nature and impacts of continuous learning. Although previous studies in the field of knowledge management have shown that knowledge management procedures and routines can provide support to IT assimilation, few studies, if any, have explored the relationship between continuous learning and IT assimilation with particular emphasis on knowledge barriers in the health-care domain.

How Information Technology Assimilation Promotes Exploratory and Exploitative Innovation in the Small‐ and Medium‐Sized Firm Context: The Role of Contextual Ambidexterity and Knowledge Base

This research sheds new light on how information technology (IT) assimilation affects exploratory and exploitative innovation in the context of small‐ and medium‐sized firms (SMEs). This contextualization is important in establishing the boundary conditions for the theory, as well as generating specific managerial insights for SME managers. A sample of 248 U.K.‐based SMEs in the manufacturing industry demonstrates contextual ambidexterity (CA) mediates the relationship between IT assimilation and two types of innovation. This finding highlights that IT assimilation does not automatically promote innovation. Instead, IT assimilation represents a critical resource that enables the effective implementation of CA, which in turn affects innovation. This implies that SMEs cannot fully realize the potential of their IT assimilation and use it to enable innovation without implementing CA. Furthermore, this study differentiates between two different dimensions of knowledge base: knowledge breadth and knowledge depth. This study finds that knowledge breadth moderates the indirect IT assimilation–exploratory innovation relationship by influencing the effect of CA on exploratory innovation. Knowledge depth, on the other hand, moderates the indirect IT assimilation–exploitative innovation relationship by influencing the effect of CA on exploitative innovation. This finding implies that SMEs can benefit from their IT assimilation that enables them to engage in CA, which in turn allows them to perform innovation. However, it is apparent that the dimension of knowledge that SMEs hold internally can determine what types of innovation that they are able to perform.

The Impact of IT Capabilities on Firm Performance: The Mediating Roles of Absorptive Capacity and Supply Chain Agility

Researchers and practitioners regard information technology (IT) as a competitive tool. However, current knowledge on IT capability mechanisms that affect firm performance remains unclear. Based on the dynamic capabilities perspective and the view of a hierarchy of capabilities, this article proposes a model to examine how IT capabilities (i.e., flexible IT infrastructure and IT assimilation) affect firm performance through absorptive capacity and supply chain agility in the supply chain context. Survey data show that absorptive capacity and supply chain agility fully mediate the influences of IT capabilities on firm performance. In addition to the direct effects, absorptive capacity also has indirect effects on firm performance by shaping supply chain agility. We conclude with implications and suggestions for future research.

Interrelationships of identity and technology in IT assimilation

Even as organizational literature increasingly studies the role of identity in organizations, the interrelationships of identity and technology in the context of information technology (IT) assimilation demand greater exploration, particularly in light of limitations in prior research that have prevented a full understanding of this relationship. This article aims to deepen understanding of the processes by which technology and identity co-evolve in the IT assimilation process over time. The proposed alternative framework relies on the philosophy of Michel Foucault, applied to a longitudinal, qualitative case study of a French company involved in the deployment of a geolocation technology. The analysis reveals diverse patterns of interaction among the managerial discourses used to shape technicians' ascribed identity and the identity that technicians design for themselves, which then result in distinct IT assimilation types that contribute to the further evolution of their identity.

Создание модели пирамиды в компас-3D для решения метрических задач

In modern conditions of young professionals’ preparation the transition to traditional disciplines teaching by the way of assimilation of information technologies and computer aided design systems is on the table. The concrete steps stated in this paper can serve as a basic point to creation of original technique related to descriptive geometry teaching and will be interesting for majority of experts in the area of geometrical and graphic disciplines and computer-aided design systems.

Is it all about size? Comparing organisational and environmental antecedents of IT assimilation in small and medium-sized enterprises

Although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt different organisational models and strategy types, previous research has studied information technology (IT) adoption dynamics in these two firm types in a similar manner. This paper investigates how the influence of organisational and environmental preconditions on IT adoption varies in SMEs. Survey data from a sample of 316 Italian SMEs are used for this purpose. The study shows that industry growth and turbulence have distinct influences on the pace with which these firms develop or improve their organisational capabilities through IT use, depending on the SME’s size. In particular, medium firms are more likely to use IT to improve their product development capabilities and to scale up their business under periods of turbulence and considerable industry growth. On the other hand, small firms may benefit from pressures by strategic customers demanding more supply chain integration, which results in positive consequences for their ability to use I...

The impact of IT capabilities on firm performance: The mediating roles of absorptive capacity and supply chain agility

Researchers and practitioners regard information technology (IT) as a competitive tool. However, current knowledge on IT capability mechanisms that affect firm performance remains unclear. Based on the dynamic capabilities perspective and the view of a hierarchy of capabilities, this article proposes a model to examine how IT capabilities (i.e., flexible IT infrastructure and IT assimilation) affect firm performance through absorptive capacity and supply chain agility in the supply chain context. Survey data show that absorptive capacity and supply chain agility fully mediate the influences of IT capabilities on firm performance. In addition to the direct effects, absorptive capacity also has indirect effects on firm performance by shaping supply chain agility. We conclude with implications and suggestions for future research.

Sociomaterial actors in the assimilation gap: a case study of web service, management and IT-assimilation

This paper investigates the conditions for the assimilation of information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) in organizations and the influence of various actors in the organization and eBusiness context. To do so it draws on the literature on assimilation gap, sociomateriality and infrastructure together with a study of implementation and use of information and communication technology in and among organizations in a Swedish region. There were substantial investments in web infrastructure made on a regional level and the focus of this study is how the investments were transformed and assimilated in practices, relations and communication. Based on the empirical data from the case study, the paper extends the assimilation process into interplay among actors in organizations contexts. It describes organizations' strategies for coping with their needs for information and the actors in these processes. Two categories of actors are identified, sensemaking and sensegiving actors, as most important in assimilation of IS/IT in organizations. A sociomaterial perspective gives guidance and a better understanding of the assimilation process in terms of knowledge and interpretative frames, and how assimilation involves identity construction and negotiations among sensemaking and sensegiving actors. The contribution of this paper is a better understanding of the context of assimilation and adaptation of IT in organizations' business processes, and steps to be taken to improve readiness.

Information Technology Adoption and Assimilation : Towards a Research Framework for Service Sector SMEs

Information technologies (IT) have become one of the most important infrastructural elements for SMEs in service in-dustries. Now, these firms show specific characteristics and behaviours with regard to adopting and assimilating IT. These specificities have not been taken into account however in formulating a research framework or programme on the adoption and assimilation of IT in service SMEs. The present study thus seeks to fill this void. After reviewing the literature on IT in the services sector, the antecedents of IT adoption and assimilation in the context of service SMEs are identified and integrated within a research framework. This framework is then applied to generate a set of twenty-two salient propositions for future research on IT adoption and assimilation in service sector SMEs.

Challenges of doing research in sub-Saharan African universities: digital scholarship opportunities

Universities the world over are responsible for research, knowledge generation, scholarship and innovation. They also serve as conduits for the transfer, adaptation, and dissemination of knowledge generated across the world. Universities are expected to guarantee the most efficient utilisation of research results and their possible application to economic life. Globally, universities are facing renewed external and internal pressure as the push for them to meet the changing needs of society intensifies as a result of trends in the transition towards a knowledge-based economy; massification of higher education; and the integration and assimilation of Information Technology (IT) into the academic environment. Moreover, the emergence and use of IT in higher education has led to an increasingly virtual education system, with implications for the dynamics and conduct of university research. Universities no longer remain sole citadels of research activities, as private or government research institutes are increasingly involved in knowledge creation and dissemination. The internationalisation of higher education, coupled with growing student mobility and increased competition for funding, has recently occasioned efforts to rank universities in terms of their academic quality and productivity at national, regional and global levels. Despite the increased demands on universities, they remain constrained by declining state funding, increasing enrolments, limited physical facilities, etc. New technologies now offer lifelines for African universities to re-engineer and reposition themselves in order to meet these ever increasing societal demands effectively. This paper discusses the challenges of doing research in African universities, and assesses the opportunities digital scholarship can engender for these universities. The focus of the paper is on universities in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding North Africa and to some extent, South Africa. North African higher education is largely influenced by practices in Europe and the Middle East. South Africa has had a separate and distinct political history and governance that differs from other African countries. The country also has a fairly well developed technological and industrial economy, which is quite ahead of other African countries. Their system of higher education is older (most universities were established during the pre-World War II phase, while in most sub-Saharan countries, universities were established post-independence, beginning in the late 1950s) and their universities are well endowed with good libraries, well equipped laboratories, long traditions of scholarship based on European models, and a well established ICT infrastructure that is accessible to both faculties and students. Keywords: Research, digital scholarship, e-research, e-learning, sub-Saharan Africa, higher education

IT Organizational Transformation, Knowledge Integration, and IT Assimilation: A Case Study

This paper mainly analyzes how a firm assimilates information technology (IT) into organization work processes by restructuring the IT functions. Knowledge integration and organization coordination theory are used to build a conceptual research model to investigate the IT organizational transformation in Digital China as a case study. Then results indicate that the firm can integrate the individual knowledge of the senior executives, business managers/users, and IT professionals across the firm into the organizational knowledge through the IT organizational transformation, to effectively assimilate the information technology into the organizational business and decision-making processes.

The Business Case for RFID; Challenges and Opportunities

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Devices) are one of the next generations of technologies which could have widespread repercussions through business and society. There is a low level of RFID knowledge in business with much of the understanding and orientation currently held by technologists as they battle with both the technology itself and the standards. However as the benefits of RFID become more apparent, strategists and top management are beginning to pay attention. Although RFID has been available since the early twentieth century, most potential users of RFID and in turn the strategic decision makers with regard to RFID are not as yet familiar with the issues, opportunities and challenges of such an advanced technology. This paper explores the potential of RFID and sets it in the context of the assimilation of information technology. This approach capitalises on what we have learnt from the diffusion of other technologies into business, many of which were seen as 'magic bullets' or with the potential to provide optimum solutions but which have not lived up to expectations (Markus, 1997; Drummond, 2000; Verleye and Marez, 2005). This paper takes a uniquely strategic and business information perspective in relation to the challenges and value that RFID deployment can bring to organisations, particularly along national and international supply chains. Organisation must assess how to drive inventory and cycle time down, while managing the world-wide physical and information flows created by RFID. It is contested that unless these issues are addressed and dealt with properly, management runs the risk of letting uncertain global environment defeat the investment proposal of RFID.

An Empirical Assessment of the Assimilation Patterns and the Benefits of Collaborative Information Technologies

The increasing focus on group work and teams to accomplish tasks has resulted in a parallel increasing need to support collaboration in the modern organization. Information technologies (ITs) are often cited as potentially helpful in this regard and their benefits in supporting collaboration are likely to drive their assimilation in organizations. This study assesses the assimilation patterns of seven categories of information technologies used to support task-oriented collaboration in U.S. and Australian organizations. These include: stand-alone e-mail systems, audio teleconferencing, videoconferencing, dataconferencing, web-based tools, proprietary groupware technology, and electronic meetings systems (EMS). Based upon the availability and utilization of each of the seven collaboration ITs, an assimilation framework is presented to benchmark the current state of practice. An investigation of organization profiles for each IT between the two extreme assimilation sectors suggests that organizations with fewer resources are capable of attaining greater assimilation of certain ITs to support collaboration than their resource rich counterparts. Our findings also suggest that perceptions of benefits of ITs in supporting collaboration vary across the ITs and that perceived benefits of some ITs in supporting collaboration are positively associated with the extent of their assimilation in organizations. Implications of our framework and findings are outlined for future research and practice.

Integrating Information Technology into Marketing Practice – The IT Reality of Contemporary Marketing Practice

The continuing assimilation of Information Technology (IT) into marketing practice is an issue of our time. The aim of this paper is to highlight that, despite the current negativity in the market, it is crucial that marketing's continuing assimilation of IT, for a variety of purposes, is not impacted. It also suggests a holistic rather than individualist view of IT in marketing in order to capitalise on its benefits and to cope with the reality of IT assimilation. Following empirical research a framework is proposed, which integrates contemporary marketing practice and IT assimilation, both descriptively and prescriptively. This framework can be used academically and practically, as a guide to the marketing specific IT assimilation issues. This paper is also a rally call for marketing professionals and academics to become more IT proficient in order to capitalise on the board range of ITs which are becoming core requirements for the practice of marketing.