An empirical study of relationship between IT investment and firm performance: A resource-based perspective

The resource-based view of the enterprises generally attributes superior financial performance to organizational resources and capabilities. Firm-specific IT resources are classified as IT infrastructure, human-IT resources, and IT-enabled intangibles. This paper empirically examines the association between IT investment and firm performance. Results indicate that firms with high levels of IT infrastructure and human-IT resources have a strong positive relationship with IT-enabled intangibles, but not with firm performance. In addition, IT-enabled intangibles are strongly positively correlated with firm performance. The relationships between IT investment and corporate IT capability are also examined. The results suggest that IT investments have begun to show results, indicating that they can make a positive contribution to firm IT infrastructure. However, the various measures of IT investment do not appear to have a positive relationship with human-IT resources, and IT-enabled intangibles. Although IT investment is likely to improve organizational IT infrastructure, but the IT-enabled intangibles is the key factor to effect the business performance, and the human-IT resource is a driving force for the IT-enabled intangibles.     

Productivity breakdown of the information and computing technology industries across countries

In this paper, we measure productivity growth of the information and computing technology (ICT) industries in 14 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries over the 13-year period of 1978–1990. The ICT industries are the providers of essential information technology (IT) capital goods. This macro-level analysis seeks to find out how productively such IT capital goods are provided. The basic unit of analysis employed is the Malmquist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) index. The Malmquist TFP index is then decomposed into three constituent elements accounting for different sources of productivity growth: technological progress, efficiency change, and change in economies of scale. The approach of measurement is based on the concept of distance functions and employs the non-parametric frontier method of data envelopment analysis. Our results indicate that each country's ICT industry manifests its own particular patterns in various performance measures. Among the 14 countries examined, 10 had witnessed productivity growth in their ICT industries. Overall, these ICT industries are found more productive than other industries when compared with previous research. Further analyses reveal that (1) most of the productivity growth measured is due to technological progress; (2) efficiency change exerts a relatively small positive effect on productivity growth; and (3) the change in scale economies unfavourably affects productivity for most countries. Finally, practical implications for formulating IT policy are drawn from our results, and topics are identified for future research.     

中国产业IT能力与产业绩效的耦合协调度研究——基于微观数据的产业分类测度

随着互联网+战略的深入推进,了解不同产业内信息技术能力与产业绩效之间的协调发展情况,对于系统把握我国的信息化发展水平,分类制定有效产业政策具有重要意义。有别于以往采用宏观产业数据,重点评价工业化与信息化融合度,本文主要基于2008~2015年的上市公司的微观数据,采用耦合协调模型,分类测度四大类产业的IT能力与产业绩效的耦合协调度。研究发现:总体上看我国的产业IT能力与产业绩效之间存在中高度耦合关系,但耦合质量不高,耦合协调度处于中低水平,呈现逐渐上升趋势;此外,我国的不同的产业之间的耦合协调度发展趋势存在差异性,本文进一步分析了该差异的存在的原因,并提出政策建议。     

关于我国产业结构调整与经济周期波动的实证研究

本文对我国产业结构调整与经济周期之间的相互关系进行了实证分析.首先分析了我国GDP增长与三次产业的增长之间的关系,进而对我国的经济周期和三次产业的经济周期进行了分析和对比,最后利用ADF检验,VAR模型和脉冲响应函数,对我国经济周期波动成分,三次产业比重之间的影响关系,及影响程度进行了分析和研究.     

基于生产结构视角的高新技术产业技术扩散影响研究

基于奥地利学派生产结构视角探讨高新技术产业外部技术扩散的影响路径,提出技术扩散通过生产结构的迂回性作用于技术创新,进而影响产出绩效。基于2005~2014年我国四个高新技术产业的面板数据,利用stata14软件进行数据分析,并对所提假设进行检验。结果表明:外部技术扩散对生产结构迂回性具有正向影响,但迂回性负向影响企业技术自主创新能力。研究结论对企业提升产业竞争力、增强技术创新和创新扩散效率具有重要的理论和实践启示。     

Investigating and comparing the dynamic patterns of the business value of information technology over time

The long-debated issue of the business value of information technology (IT) to the firm (country) has received a great deal of attention in the literature. But the studies have rarely examined the dynamic patterns of the IT value as measured by the firm’s productive efficiency over time. The objective of this paper is to apply the three-factor constant elasticity of substitution (CES) time-varying stochastic production frontier models and use the same data set as used in several previous studies to investigate the dynamic patterns of IT value over time in connection with the issues of inputs substitution and complement and the productivity paradox. This paper adopts two analytical skills, collective and individual, to analyze the empirical results. Collectively, we find that the dynamic patterns of IT value are closely related to the substitution and complement of three inputs and the IT productivity paradox. Individually, we identify five common dynamic patterns of the IT value measured by productive efficiency and interpret their implications for the productivity paradox as summarized in a two by two matrix of practical applications and strategies. This matrix accounts for four different scenarios of the relationship between the average productive efficiency and the IT productivity paradox, illustrates some practical applications by the analytical results, and provides some business insights and managerial strategies for IT decision makers and PO/IS managers. This represents a new contribution to the understanding of the dynamic influence of IT investments upon the value of IT over time.     

In search of information technology productivity: Assessment issues

Despite the massive investments in Information Technology (IT) in the developed economies, the IT impact on productivity and business performance continues to be questioned. The paper critically reviews this ‘IT productivity paradox’ debate. It suggests that important elements in the uncertainty about the IT payoff relate to deficiencies in measurement at the macroeconomic level, but also to weaknesses in organisational evaluation practice. The paper reports evidence from a 1996 UK survey pointing to such weaknesses. Focusing at the more meaningful organisational level, an integrated systems lifecycle approach is put forward as a long term way of strengthening evaluation practice. This incorporates a cultural change in evaluation from ‘control through numbers’ to a focus on quality improvement. The approach is compared against 1995–96 research findings in a multinational insurance company, where senior managers in a newly created business division consciously sought related improvements in evaluation practice, and IT productivity.     

A technological,organisational, and environmental analysis of decision making methodologies and satisfaction in the context of IT induced business transformations

Although Operational Research (OR) has successfully provided many methodologies to address complex decision problems, in particular based on the rationality principle, there has been too little discussion regarding their limited consideration in IT evaluation practice and associated decision making satisfaction levels in an organisational context. The aim of this paper is to address these issues through providing a current account of diffusion and infusion of OR methodologies in IT decision making practice, and by analysing factors affecting decision making satisfaction from a Technological, Organisational, and Environmental (TOE) framework in the context of IT induced business transformations. We developed a structural equation model and conducted an empirical survey, which supported four out of five developed research hypotheses. Our results show that while Decision Support Systems (DSSs), holistic IT evaluation methods, and management support seem to positively affect individual satisfaction, legislative regulation has an adverse effect. Results also revealed a persistent methodology diffusion and infusion gap. The paper discusses implications in each of these aspects and presents opportunities for future work.     

成本不确定时企业技术创新联盟中的策略承诺分析

技术创新日益受到重视,特别是跨产业合作已成为企业突破自身资源困境的有效途径之一。为了避免可能的投机行为,成员企业往往做出事前承诺。然而如何承诺才能有效避免伙伴投机,进而提高合作绩效？本文将据此考察上游成本和联合创新水平不确定时的策略承诺,并分析承诺对合作创新行动的影响。本文提出状态依赖承诺的概念,并通过研究发现策略承诺能够降低不确定性所带来不利影响,刺激创新投入,并提高合作绩效——特别是对上游的激励作用更强。本文从理论上指出策略承诺在合作创新中的积极作用,特别是对供应商参与新产品研发的重要激励作用。     

Information technology and systems justification: A review for research and applications

Information technology (IT) such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Radio Frequency Identification Technology (RFID), wireless, the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW), and Information Systems (IS) such as Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) systems and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have had tremendous impact in education, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, retailing, pure services, and even war. Many organizations turned to IT/IS to help them achieve their goals; however, many failed to achieve the full potential of IT/IS. These failures can be attributed at least in part to a weak link in the planning process. That weak link is the IT/IS justification process. The decision-making process has only grown more difficult in recent years with the increased complexity of business brought about by the rapid growth of supply chain management, the virtual enterprise and E-business. These are but three of the many changes in the business environment over the past 10–12 years. The complexities of this dynamic new business environment should be taken into account in IT/IS justification. We conducted a review of the current literature on IT/IS justification. The purpose of the literature review was to assemble meaningful information for the development of a framework for IT/IS evaluation that better reflects the new business environment. A suitable classification scheme has been proposed for organizing the literature reviewed. Directions for future research are indicated.     

Developing mathematical competence: From the intended to the enacted curriculum

This study investigates the impact of a national reform in Sweden introducing mathematical competency goals. Data were gathered through interviews, classroom observations, and online surveys with nearly 200 teachers. Contrasting to most studies of this size, qualitative analyses were conducted. The results show that teachers are positive to the message, but the combination of using national curriculum documents and national tests to convey the reform message has not been sufficient for teachers to identify the meaning of the message. Thus, the teachers have not acquired the functional knowledge of the competence message required to modify their teaching in alignment with the reform. The results indicate that for complex reform messages, such as the competency message, to have intended impact on classroom practice, special attention needs to be put on the clarity of the message. To have high-stakes tests, for example, does not alone seem to be sufficient.     

创始人控制、控制链长度与真实盈余管理

从控制链长度的视角出发,去探寻金字塔结构对于家族企业真实盈余管理的影响,有助于进一步丰富对于金字塔结构的认识,具有重要的研究价值。本文利用2012~2016年我国A股市场金字塔持股结构的家族上市公司数据,对控制链长度变化与家族真实盈余管理的关系进行实证检验。研究结论表明:家族企业的控制链长度与真实盈余管理程度显著正相关;而依据最终控制人是否为公司创立者的分组检验结果显示,控制链长度与真实盈余管理的正相关关系,仅在非创始人控制的家族企业样本中成立。在采用倾向得分匹配(PSM)方法,进一步分析发现:与非创始人控制家族企业相比,创始人控制的家族企业的盈余管理程度明显更低。     

风险投资对中小企业经营绩效的影响——基于区分风险投资机构事前效应与事后效应的视角

基于风险投资与企业绩效的内生性关系视角,即是风险投资事前选择了业绩更优的项目,还是其事后监督辅助提升了参与企业的绩效,本文对深圳创业板与中小板上市企业进行PSM配对,并对配对样本在2001至2014年的面板数据进行回归分析,研究发现与同质非风投支持企业相比,风投支持的企业总体上表现出了显著的绩效优势,但这种绩效优势仅仅源自于企业的自身发展能力。风险投资机构在投资前对优质项目具备积极的筛选能力;但在控制了风险投资的筛选效应后,风险投资机构的事后介入对受资企业的绩效甚至起到一定程度的抑制作用。在Heckman两阶段模型结合内生转置回归模型检验中同样证明了风险投资机构具有积极的事前筛选效应;但其事后介入对受资企业的经营绩效产生负向处理效应。此外,风险投资的特征因素对其事后处理效应具有显著的调节作用:相比成熟的风投机构,年轻风投对企业的经营绩效表现出更大的负面事后处理效应;而相比在企业初创阶段介入的风投机构,在企业后期发展阶段介入的风投对参与企业经营绩效表现出更大的负面事后处理效应;相比新兴产业,在传统产业中风投对企业经营绩效表现出更大的负面事后处理效应。     

Impact of information technology on the performance of logistics industry: the case of Hong Kong and Pearl Delta region

Over the last decade, a number of research studies have advocated the use of information technology (IT) in different aspects of logistics and distribution operations. This study examines the current state of the use of IT and its impact on logistics service performance through a survey of 210 logistics companies in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region. A hypothetical model is also proposed in which the theories of the market-based view and the resource-based view are applied to link up the implications of IT capabilities with logistic performance. The model was tested using structural equation modelling. The findings suggested that (i) IT implementation directly enhances the service quality of the logistics companies; (ii) the impact of IT implementation improves service quality thereby creating competitiveness.     

New formulations and solution procedures for the hop constrained network design problem

Optical fiber provides tremendous advantages in being able to carry a wide range of services including video on demand, video conferencing, distance learning, remote medical imaging, and telecommuting. The high capacities encourage carriers to create networks that are substantially sparser than previous copper based networks. A recent publication by the Telecommunications Industry Association indicated that investment in fiber optics is projected to reach $35 billion in the year 2003. Given the magnitude of investments, the design of networks becomes a very important issue. Most telecommunication companies (telcos), IT consulting companies, network equipment manufacturers and network service providers have extensive network design groups. The primary function of these groups is to design the most efficient networks both in terms of costs and performance and maintain them. These designers need flexible tools to support topological network design decisions. These decisions involve significant levels of investments in transmissions and switching facilities, and impact the resulting networks’ performance fundamentally.In this paper we study a special type of a network design problem called the hop constrained backbone network design problem. We present new mathematical programming formulations of the problem and develop an efficient solution procedure based on the linear programming relaxation. Extensive computational results across a number of networks are reported.     

互联网发展与创新效率提升——来自中国高技术产业的经验证据

如何提升产业创新效率是学界关注的热点问题, 选取2009~2018年中国省际面板数据, 从直接影响和间接影响双视角探讨了互联网对高技术产业创新效率的影响机理。研究发现:互联网显著促进高技术产业创新效率提升, 在考虑内生性问题后结论依然稳健, 同时这种影响具有明显的滞后效应与区域差异, 有助于缩小落后地区与发达地区间的创新效率差距; 基于中介效应模型的检验结果表明, 互联网可以通过提升技术研发能力与成果转化能力对高技术产业创新效率产生促进作用。本研究可为有效推进“互联网+”战略与“创新驱动发展”战略提供启示。     

Enterprise resource planning: A taxonomy of critical factors

This paper presents a novel taxonomy of the critical success factors in enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation process. ERP benefits cannot be fully realised unless a strong alignment and reconciliation mechanism is established between technical and organisational imperatives based on the principles of process orientation. It is suggested in the taxonomy that measurement takes place in a balanced perspective, and for the purpose of providing useful information that can enable the decision making process and, which can help deliver the corporate objectives and therefore lead the business competitively forward. Upon this premise, the taxonomy is based on a comprehensive analysis of ERP literature combining research studies and organisational experiences. The taxonomy reflects the essential features of ERP systems, as being built based on the principles of business process management. Furthermore, it illustrates that ERP benefits are realised when a tight link is established between implementation approach and business process performance measures.     

The impact of information technology on the banking industry

This paper analyses the effects of investment in information technologies (IT) in the banking sector using bank-level data from a panel of 68 US banks over the period 1986–2005. Although IT can improve bank's performance by reducing operational cost (supply side), it can bring in competition among banks in order to embrace new technology (demand side). Since most empirical studies have adopted the production function approach, it is difficult to identify which effect has dominated. In a differentiated model with network effects, this paper characterizes the conditions to identify these two effects. The results suggest that (at individual firm levels) the bank profits can decline due to adoption and diffusion of IT investment, reflecting negative network competition effects in this industry. Using panel cointegration tests, we confirm that the estimated profit equation is indeed a long-run equilibrium relation.     

Integration of business function models into an aggregate enterprise systems model

Introduced are methods that combine models of distinct business functions into an aggregate model of an enterprise system to assist management’s strategic decision making. Models of individual business functions are reviewed, and equations quantifying relationships presented. Using methods of system theory, including block diagrams, non-dimensionalization, and state equation methods, these business function sub-models were assembled into a composite enterprise systems model. The formulated aggregate model is illustrated with industry examples for tire companies; nonetheless the aggregate model can be used to assess other industries. Values of parameters for the system model were determined from data obtained from annual reports of publicly owned companies. Simulations closely matched the companies’ published performance over ensuing years. The developed aggregate enterprise model has significant predictive capabilities for modern corporations.     

银行间债券市场的外部效率:基于商业银行的视角

以参与我国银行间债券市场的商业银行为研究对象,运用面板数据模型检验银行间债券市场的外部效率对于商业银行经营绩效的影响.实证结果表明:我国银行间债券市场的发展对于商业银行的盈利能力和流动性管理水平均有较强的外部正效率,而对于商业银行传统盈利模式和风险管理则具有负面影响.建议商业银行应利用银行间债券市场的外部正效率提高其资产负债管理水平,通过提升自身经营管理水平来降低银行间债券市场外部负效率对自身的影响;此外监管当局还应该降低小型金融机构进入银行间债券市场的门槛,以发挥该市场外部正效率对化解区域金融风险的作用.