Information Technology Investment Research Articles

Information technology investment and rural bank performance in Ghana: the moderating role of ICT diffusion and financial development

PurposeThis study sought to examine the interaction between rural bank performance, information and communication technology (ICT) investment, ICT diffusion and financial development.Design/methodology/approachData were sourced from the Association of Rural Banks (ARB) Apex and World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period 2014–2020. A total of 122 rural banks were used for this study. The study adopted the two-step system generalized method of moments (SGMM) estimation technique in assessing the interactions among variables.FindingsThis study found compelling evidence to support the positive effect of ICT investment on banks’ performance (return on asset and net interest margin). Further, ICT diffusion and financial development positively influence banks’ performance. The results show a positive moderating effect exerted by ICT diffusion and financial development on the impact of bank risk (bank stability) and ICT investment on all three performance measures.Originality/valueThe study focuses on the rural banking sector in the Ghanaian economy, compared to related studies that examine the subject matter for commercial banks. The moderating effects of ICT diffusion and financial development are assessed to guide policy on rural banking development in Ghana.

Research on the Model of Public Physical Teaching in Universities in the Context of Modern Information Technology

With the advent of the information and network era, new opportunities have emerged for the development of educational and teaching work. In the context of public physical teaching in universities, the rational application of modern information technology based on actual development situations plays a significant role. It can enrich teaching methods, improve teaching efficiency, meet students' diverse learning experiences, and ensure the quality and efficiency of teaching. However, due to objective factors, there are still some problems in the actual application process, such as the limited ability of some teachers to use information technology and the lack of investment in teaching resources, which directly limit the advantages of information technology and even affect the final teaching effectiveness, leading to counterproductive effects. Therefore, in the future development, it is necessary to strengthen the information technology training for teachers, improve their application ability and information literacy, so that they can better integrate modern information technology with physical teaching. When conditions permit, increase the investment in information technology, improve infrastructure construction, and provide necessary hardware support for public physical teaching in universities.

Unveiling the Power of Education, Political Stability and ICT in Shaping Technological Innovation in BRI nations

Technological innovation is a critical element of economic and environmental sustainability; thus, the promotion of technological innovation in the economy has gained an apex among policy makers. The study's impetus is to measure the effect of investments in information and communication technology (ICT), education, and political stability on technical innovation in BRI countries for 2004-2020. In the process of documenting the empirical nexus through the implementation of novel panel techniques commonly known as Dynamic Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR), continuously updated fully modified" (Cup-FM) and continuously updated bias-corrected (Cup-BC). The results of the slope of heterogeneity, cross-sectional dependency test, and panel cointegration test have revealed the presence of heterogeneity, all the research variables possessed certain common dynamics, and, most importantly presence of long-run association. The study documented the coefficients of ICT, education and Political stability are positive and statistically significant, indicating a contributory effect in fostering technological innovation in BRI nations. The findings emphasize the importance of upholding political stability, directing resources toward education, and fostering an environment that encourages innovation through the integration of information and communication technology (ICT). The study also highlights how critical it is to bring in FDI and use it to your advantage in order to boost tech development and the economy.

The moderating role of information technology infrastructure in the relationship between fintech adoption and organizational competitiveness

The rapid advancement and adoption of fintech have significantly influenced the banking sector worldwide. This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of information technology infrastructure on the link between fintech adoption and organizational competitiveness in Jordanian commercial banks. The study chose a quantitative research methodology to conduct this study, based on a survey of 12 Jordanian commercial banks, chose a quantitative research methodology. The study distributed a structured questionnaire, which was filled out by managerial-level employees at the banks. From the 400 questionnaires distributed to the respondents, 215 returned valid responses, allowing further analysis. The study carried out the data analysis using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results suggested that the adoption of fintech had a significant, positive direct impact on organizational competitiveness (H1: β = 0.409, t = 5.204, p = 0.001). Additionally, the study identified that IT infrastructure significantly moderates the relationships between fintech adoption and organizational competitiveness (H2: β = 0.257, t = 4.102, p = 0.000). This means, indeed, that fintech adoption independently augments the competitiveness of Jordanian commercial banks. Moreover, a solid presence in IT infrastructure further strengthens the positive effect. Such insights are highly valuable for bank managers and policymakers looking to improve organizational performance while incorporating strategic IT investments in the fintech domain.

The Influence of Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility and Information Technology Investment on Company Value with Corporate Innovation as a Moderation

This research aims to determine the influence of several variables, namely (1) CSER and (2) IT investment, on company value, which is moderated by the company innovation variable in mining sector companies listed on the BEI in 2018 - 2022. The population in this study is all mining companies, as many as 76 companies. Sampling used purposive sampling with certain criteria and obtained a sample of 9 companies multiplied by five years of observation to become 45 financial reports. The data collection technique used is a documentation study that analyses the financial reports of mining companies that meet the sample criteria according to the needs of the data to be processed. Data were analysed using the STATA application. The research results found that CSER and IT investment had no effect on company value; company innovation was not able to strengthen the influence of CSER on company value, while company innovation was able to strengthen the effect of IT investment on company value. This research was also conducted on mining companies, considering that the mining sector is closely related to the environment. According to the data previously presented, the value of companies in the mining sector experiences fluctuations, which decrease more frequently each year.  

Sensemaking of social media management: Seizing affordances in a dynamic complex environment

Background: Social Media (SM) growth and its acceptance at various economic levels are making it obligatory to make sense of its management in different business environments. A business environment can be volatile, uncertain, ambiguous, static-complex, simple-dynamic with a few similar, continuously changing factors, or simple-static with a few similar, unchanging factors. The environment is exemplified by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, regional war, globalisation, the fourth industrial revolution and disruptive technology. Regulatory focus theory was used to examine whether managers adopt a prevention or promotion focus to SM use, shed light on employees’ attitudes and whether regulatory focus affected the measures taken toward SM management.Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to explore how designed SM platforms can be managed in the face of dynamic and complex environments.Method: Experts’ interviews from various organisations were selected using snowball sampling to gather qualitatively rich data. The data were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti software.Results: Prevention through reengineering processes, increased use of algorithms, information technology (IT) investments and restricting SM to private use only were observed among experts. Additionally, promotion-focus managers allow employees to use SM for work-related tasks and use monitoring software.Conclusion: Information technology investments, sizing SM affordances and sensemaking SM management is becoming mandatory given the dynamic nature or pace at which the environment is changing.Contribution: The study contributed practical, social mediations, generated and qualitative method choice in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data.

The Readiness of the Malaysian Construction Industry for E-tendering After COVID-19 Pandemic

E-tendering implementation can bring significant benefits such as cost savings, transparency in contract and maximize the efficiency and resources to the construction industry. E-tendering also allows users to participate through internet where this increases the competition, lower down transaction cost and minimize the time consumption and errors in the bidding processes. This study determines the readiness level of E-tendering to the Malaysian construction industry so that the construction industries are capable to overcome the possible issues and enhance their implementation of E-tendering in Malaysia. The research applied mixed methodology. 89 respondents have participated in the questionnaire while five respondents were interviewed in the interview sessions. The results showed that E-tendering organization’s attitudinal readiness has several factors such as foresee the construction tendering practice trends, aware if the introduction of E-tendering is by the government, interested in E-tendering, foresee the increasingly importance of E-tendering to company and good knowledge of IT. The organization’s physical readiness has factors such as software facilities, network access, investment in IT, computer infrastructure and technical staff. The results can be used by policies makers to promote the adoption of E-tendering among the potential practitioners in Malaysia where this can improve the efficiency in construction projects tendering process.

The Determinants of Success in the Implementation of Information Technology in Moroccan Companies: Exploratory Case Study

The study, which is being conducted in the context of the widespread use of information technology in Moroccan companies, focuses on examining the success factors of IT implementation. This is a crucial step in maximizing the value of information technology investments. The goal is to address concerns regarding the delay in digital transformation and the role of information technology in establishing a sustainable and irreplaceable competitive advantage. The research methodology utilizes a qualitative approach, specifically a single case study with semi-structured interviews for data collection. The theoretical framework incorporates the resource-based view (RBV) and contingency theories. The key findings of the study emphasize the challenges encountered during information technology implementation, especially concerning the complementarity of organizational and human resources with information technology resources. Based on these challenges, the factors contributing to successful information technology implementation are categorized into three groups: pre-implementation phase, alignment of information technology strategy, and collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders involved in the implementation process.

Factors affecting the adoption of ATM Cash Deposit Services. A case study of ABSA Zambia, Lusaka

Commercial banks' investments in information technology (IT) have helped streamline operations, increase competitiveness and expand the number and quality of services offered. The automated teller machine (ATM) is arguably the world's most groundbreaking electronic innovation. ATMs according to Mwiya et al. (2017) are the most commonly used electronic delivery method for banks in Zambia. Research has indicated that investment potential, cost savings, customer satisfaction and competitiveness are the reasons for installing and expanding the existing ATM network. Despite the availability of good ATMs for depositing money, there are still long queues in front of banks during business hours as customers deposit their money at the bank counter. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the factors affecting the adoption of cash deposit services at ATMs. The objectives of the study were to determine the effects of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, effects of facilitation conditions, and effects of social influence on consumers' intentions to use cash deposit services at ATMs. To achieve the objectives, the study conducted a survey of 397 ABSA bank customers. The study used a mixed research method and employed descriptive and causal research designs. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and Fisher's exact test were used for data analysis. From the findings, the study revealed that: Lack of knowledge, lack of awareness, ATM usability, trust in ATMs, ATM security and ATM errors are significant factors that influence customers' use of ATMs to deposit money. Additionally, the study found that friends using the ATM to deposit money had a statistically significant effect on the use of the ATM to deposit money. Age and gender were also found to have a significant impact on the use of ATMs to deposit money. The results were statistically significant with a P value of 0.05. The study therefore recommended that: Banks should provide their customers with adequate knowledge on how to use ATMs to deposit money; Ensuring and ensuring the safety of customers when depositing funds; and to adequately inform customers about the security and reliability of ATMs when depositing money.

A Contemporary Approach to Designing and Implementing Electronic Voting Systems (EVS)

This study delves into the potential of Electronic Voting Systems (EVS) in Ghana, to enhance transparent and trustworthy electoral processes. We presented a comprehensive framework highlighting trust, diaspora engagement, and human factors in voting. The study proposes a robust EVS framework for Ghana, emphasizing trust and accountability, preventing electoral fraud, and encouraging African governments to invest in IT and collaborate with experts in e-government and e-voting systems. We commence with a detailed systems analysis, identifying specific electoral challenges in Ghana. An artifact is designed and developed, and the artifact's effectiveness is demonstrated through Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM). We evaluated its alignment with the desired solution for Ghana's electoral issues. We emphasize the potential of EVS to address electoral challenges in Ghana and underscore the importance of proactive government policies, IT investments, and collaboration with IT experts. User acceptance testing achieved a remarkable 98% approval rate, showcasing the feasibility of implementing EVS at the national level. This research underlines the pivotal role of EVS in Ghana and advocates for visionary government policies and investments in IT. These measures can modernize electoral systems, align them with international standards, and promote democratic progress while preventing electoral fraud in Ghana and other African nations to avoid condemnation and punishment of unconstitutional transfers of power that are being challenged by meticulously planned takeovers. 

The Determinants of Success in the Implementation of Information Technology in Moroccan Companies: Exploratory Case Study

The study, which is being conducted in the context of the widespread use of information technology in Moroccan companies, focuses on examining the success factors of IT implementation. This is a crucial step in maximizing the value of information technology investments. The goal is to address concerns regarding the delay in digital transformation and the role of information technology in establishing a sustainable and irreplaceable competitive advantage. The research methodology utilizes a qualitative approach, specifically a single case study with semi-structured interviews for data collection. The theoretical framework incorporates the resource-based view (RBV) and contingency theories. The key findings of the study emphasize the challenges encountered during information technology implementation, especially concerning the complementarity of organizational and human resources with information technology resources. Based on these challenges, the factors contributing to successful information technology implementation are categorized into three groups: preimplementation phase, alignment of information technology strategy, and collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders involved in the implementation process.

A systematic literature review on the effect of information systems on the performance of government officials

A systematic literature review on the effect of information systems on the performance of government officials

Impact of Principals' Informatization Leadership Practices to Advancement in a China Vocational School

This study aims to explore teachers’ evaluations of principals’ information leadership and the relationship between evaluation factors. Through questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with teacher respondents, their views and opinions on principals’ information-based leadership practices were collected. First, principals’ information leadership practices were assessed through the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Educational Leaders, including Equity and Citizenship Advocate, Visionary Planner, Empowering Leader, Systems Designer, and Connected Learning or other aspects. Secondly, statistical analysis methods were used to compare whether there were significant differences in the average scores of different teacher respondents' evaluation of principals' information leadership, and to explore the relationship between evaluation factors. The results show that there are certain differences in teachers' evaluations of principals' information leadership, with factors such as leadership style and vision, IT investment and resource allocation, IT governance practices and policies receiving focus. In addition, the study found that there is a certain correlation between teachers' evaluation of their supervisor's information leadership practices and influencing factors. Finally, based on the research results, recommendations for management development plans are put forward to further improve the school's informatization level and leadership. This study can provide useful reference for school administrators and promote the development and practice of information leadership.

Measuring the impact of information and communication technology investment on the profitability of Indian manufacturing MSME

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) investment on the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) profitability in the Indian context.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a framework based on the ICT investment and firm size, measuring the impact on profit before depreciation, interest, tax and amortisation of MSME by taking a random sampling of 300 Indian MSME manufacturing firm’s secondary data from the Prowess database. This framework was analysed using the design of experiment (DoE) technique.FindingsThe study showed that ICT investment has a significant positive relationship with profitability. This study examines the different ICT investment levels to predict investment strategies and fine-tune profit targets. The critical finding is that ICT investment maximises profit at one million rupees. This discovery aids MSME leaders’ sustainable business decision-making.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has an explicit limit to the Indian context, where the firm requirements of countries are different, and these findings need to be validated with many operating variables and applied to more firms with more data. Even so, as a theoretical implication, this study took a novel approach to ICT adoption (through ICT investment) in the Indian MSME sector with guiding levels of ICT investment for each type of firm (i.e. micro, small and medium). This study opens new avenues for investigating researchers and stakeholders by exploring other factors responsible for ICT adoption.Practical implicationsThis study uniquely provides practitioners with the functional level of ICT investment for MSMEs in the Indian context. These finding guides top management to make strategic ICT adoption decisions with information symmetry. At the same time, these findings suggest financial institutions astern their credit programme to provide credit for ICT investment in MSMEs.Social implicationsThis study highlights the value of ICT as a practical resource for business owners that significantly makes MSMEs more informed and profitable, thus creating more jobs and incrementing the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).Originality/valueThis study offers unique empirical findings on how decision makers in MSMEs maximise profits through optimal ICT investment levels depending upon the firm size in an emerging economy like India. There is evidence in the study to conclude that ICT is a need of MSME and has implications for firm performance.

E-procurement Adoption Barriers encountered by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Republic of South Sudan

E-procurement adoption is not without its challenges despite facilitating the purchasing process. Hence, this quantitative cross-sectional survey study aimed to examine the e-procurement adoption barriers encountered by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Republic of South Sudan. The 300 SMEs selected out of 1215 SMEs through systematic sampling methods resulted in 213 valid responses with a 71% response rate. Empirical data were derived from the survey questionnaires distributed through Google Forms and Portable Document Format (PDF) via email and evaluated with descriptive and principal component analysis (PCA), relative importance index (RII), and analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Resultantly, multiple national e-procurement implementation methods and incorrect reassembly of data transmitted were ranked the highest barrier among the technological factors, followed by delays in the transmission of data and information, and the technology immaturity due to political and legal factors, lack of widely acceptable e-procurement software solutions and flexibility for management factors, company culture and cost of IT investment for organizational factors. Future works could compare the e-procurement adoption barriers perceived by SMEs in emerging and developed nations and ascertain their e-procurement acceptance. Meanwhile, stakeholders could attract more IT firms in the current market through adequate training, a unified platform, holistic e-procurement adoption techniques, high public awareness, employment of IT experts, forums to exchange ideas on e-procurement, and utilization of passwords, information encryptions, or data. This study proposed employing mixed-method techniques to examine and alleviate SMEs' e-procurement adoption barriers.

Does institutional investor influence information technology investment decisions and corporate performance?

Does institutional investor influence information technology investment decisions and corporate performance?

Financial Analysis of Information Technology Investments: “Assessing Benefits through Cost-Benefit Analysis and Ranti's Generic IS/IT Business Value Approach"

Technology drives economic growth and increases industrial competitiveness and has long been recognized for its dominance of industrial productivity. PT XYZ is a company engaged in the transportation services sector in Indonesia; from 2012 to 2017, PT XYZ carried out a massive digital transformation process by investing in information technology to improve its quality. This investment includes ERP, SAP implementation and improvement, RTS implementation and improvement, web-based information technology platforms, and mobile applications. This study aims to analyze the benefits of information technology investment made in PT XYZ using secondary data from the Company's annual financial statements accessed through the Company's website. The results of this study were conducted by analyzing financial statements from 2012 to 2020 using the Cost Benefit Analysis method and Ranti's Generic IS / IT Business Value method. Based on the Analysis, investment in information technology benefits the Company without distinguishing between tangible and intangible benefits identified in the form of 8 sub-categories in 5 categories based on Ranti's Generic IS/IT Business Value.

Navigating the double-edged sword: how does big data affect firm innovation under different investment combinations?

ABSTRACT Although big data has been claimed to revolutionise the way firms innovate, there is still a lack of knowledge about how big data affects firm innovation under different investment combinations. Drawing on the resource-based view, organisation learning theory, and organisation change theory, we introduce big data into a Kline-Rosenberg chain-linked model to propose that firms harness information value from big data to improve innovation output while organisation-wide adjustments increase innovation risk. Based on the data collected from Chinese listed firms, our empirical results reveal that combining big data and R&D investment can improve innovation output and reduce innovation risk. In contrast, combining big data and IT investment significantly increases innovation risk. The finding that overinvesting in IT enhances firm innovation risk contributes novel insights to the literature by contradicting the belief that investment is beneficial to innovation.

The role of national information technology investments in inventory efficiency and financial performance: evidence from manufacturing industry in Germany

ABSTRACT This study investigates the role of national information technology (IT) investments in inventory efficiency and financial performance. A total of 153 publicly listed manufacturing firms in Germany are examined for the years 2010 through 2019. The findings show that national IT investments do not considerably impact firm-level financial performance and inventory efficiency. Firm-level inventory efficiency exerts a considerable impact on profitability. Furthermore, market concentration and firms’ financial leverage are driving forces behind financial performance of firms. Also, market concentration moderates the proposed relationships on firms’ profit margins.

Industrial robots, and information and communication technology: the employment effects in EU labour markets

ABSTRACT This paper explores the effects of industrial robots and information and communication technology (ICT) on regional employment in European Union countries. The empirical analysis relies on a harmonised comprehensive regional dataset that combines business statistics and national and regional accounts data. This rich dataset enables us to provide detailed insights into the employment effects of automation and computerisation in EU regions for the period 2001–16. The results suggest relatively weak effects on regional total employment dynamics. However, industrial robots show negative employment effects in local manufacturing industries and positive employment effects in local non-manufacturing industries. While the negative effect is concentrated in particular local manufacturing industries, the positive effect has operated in local service industries. Information technology investments show positive employment effects in local manufacturing industries and some individual local service industries, while communication technology investments are shown to be irrelevant for employment dynamics. In contrast, software and database investments have had a predominantly negative association with local employment.