The effect of information technology on IT-facilitated coordination,IT-facilitated autonomy,and decision-makings at the individual level

The effect of information technology (IT) has been a central concern to economics of IT ever since it has been viewed as an important resource to improve firm productivity. Although significant research progress has been made on the impacts of IT use at the individual level, the mechanism of how IT use increases individual performance at work has not been fully explored. In an attempt to examine the IT effects on performance, we focus on individual work productivity gained from IT use. Following the discussion of previous works, we develop a research model, describing that the ubiquitous IT transforms the way individual employers’ work in organizations, and facilitates working processes and practices that may affect the decision-making of individual performance.

As a result of testing the research model, we found not only that IT use does have a direct effect on the quality of decision-making in organizations, but that this effect is partially mediated by the extent of IT-facilitated autonomy and of IT-facilitated coordination. These findings suggest that the effects of IT use on decision-makings in an organization may be attributed, in part, to its beneficial use in coordination and tendency to foster more discretion.     

Price‐level versus inflation targeting under model uncertainty

It has recently been suggested that price‐level targeting (PLT) may be a superior approach to monetary policy than inflation targeting (IT) due to its ability to automatically influence inflation expectations to stabilize the economy. In this paper, I analyze whether PLT dominates IT if the ability of the central bank to influence expectations is limited by model uncertainty. Specifically, I analyze how the characterization and performance of PLT and IT rules are impacted if private agents form expectations according to a model that deviates from the policy‐maker's reference model. Using robust control to derive robust rules in such a situation, I find that the performance of PLT rules deteriorate faster than that of IT rules as the degree of misspecification increases. Nevertheless, the absolute decline in performance of the PLT rules is relatively small across alternative models that are statistically plausible.     

Managing Large-scale IT Projects: The Case of National Air Traffic Services' New En Route Centre at Swanwick

UK experience with implementation of high-profile IT projects has been rather unhappy, with projects tending to be severely delayed, to operate poorly and to be prone to escalating costs. There is therefore a need to understand better and to improve the management of such investments. This paper adopts a synthetic approach to analysing large-scale IT projects, drawing upon research on managing inflexible technology, project management and information technology implementation. The paper combines findings from these literatures to produce a detailed set of factors that are known to adversely affect ambitious software and other large-scale development projects. It employs a case study of software development at National Air Traffic Services' NERC project at Swanwick potentially to illustrate these. The paper finds that experience at Swanwick does indeed mirror many of the pitfalls predicted but also that the synthesis of approaches attempted enhances our understanding of the difficulties involved in managing large-scale IT projects perhaps rather better than univocal approaches.     

Information technology and firm performance: mediation role of absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship in manufacturing SMEs

ABSTRACT

The success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) depends on dynamic capabilities, as it provides opportunities to remain competitive and perform well in the dynamic business environment. Although several studies show the significant positive impacts of dynamic capabilities on firm performance, our knowledge of the underlying mechanism through which IT capabilities affect the firm performance is not yet clear. Applying the dynamic capability view, this study investigates the intervening role of absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship. The data of 417 respondents is collected from medium-sized manufacturing sector SMEs in Punjab, Pakistan. The research hypotheses have been analysed through the structural equation modelling method by using the Smart-PLS software. The research findings show that absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship partially mediates the relationship between IT capabilities and firm performance. Furthermore, the sequential path of IT technical skills, absorptive capacity, corporate entrepreneurship, and firm performance is highly significant as compared to other paths.     

The effects of Information Technology on absorptive capacity and organisational performance

Information Technology (IT) offers many opportunities for firms to succeed. The aim of this paper is to present a model to reflect how technical IT skills and the use of IT in interdependent tasks may influence the development of organisational absorptive capacity, both potential and realised, which also affects organisational performance. Since knowledge constitutes one of the main resources for organisations to gain competitive advantages and helps firms to improve their organisational performance, absorptive capacity is a key factor in success. This model was tested empirically using a sample of 160 European technological firms. The results of our analysis suggest that the mastery of technical IT skills and the use of IT in interdependent tasks positively affect potential and realised absorptive capacities, which in turn enhances organisational performance. The study concludes by presenting some theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future research lines.     

Exploring the application of the Delphi method as a forecasting tool in Information Systems and Technologies research

The Delphi method has been used widely in clarifying decision-making based on the opinions of experts in all research areas. This study focuses on Information Systems and Information Technology (IS/IT) research area. Its aim is to explore the use of the Delphi method in topics related to IS/IT as a forecasting tool. A sizeable amount of research has been examined about IS/IT using the Delphi method. This work proposes a guideline for applying the Delphi method in IS/IT studies based on a literature review of high impact IS/IT papers that apply Delphi with a view to answering forecasting questions. This guideline defines the most relevant aspects which should be considered when applying this method. Previously, the authors conducted a literature review of 2502 articles from different research topics to obtain evidence about the diffusion of the Delphi method in IS/IT compared to other areas.     

Complementarities of human capital and information technology: small businesses,emerging economy context and the strategic role of firm resources

How information technology (IT) may complement other key firm resources such as human capital is a question that has drawn increasing attention from scholars and practitioners. Answers to this question are crucial for small businesses in today’s environment. These businesses face a growing demand for IT usage at the same time that they typically can count only on limited resources. This has become a common situation that is particularly critical for small businesses operating in developing countries with emerging economies. We develop propositions and test them with a dataset of service small businesses in an emerging economy. We find that the use of IT services is positively related to firm productivity and that this relationship is positively moderated by entrepreneurs’ management education. Our findings indicate that firm productivity is associated with a combination of human and technology resources.     

印度IT发展的主要经验

该文首先论述了发展中国家应如何对数字鸿沟带来的挑战是摆在发展中国家面前的重要问题，作为发展中国家，印度发展IT的道路，很值得我们认真总结和借鉴，接着，该文说明了软件和网络的发展对印度经济发展的重大影响，文章还介绍了印度发展IT的主要经验，例如政府高度重视发展IT，制订适合国情的IT政策，大力培养IT人才和注意弥合国内的数字鸿沟等。     

Design and Competitive Advantage in Technology-Driven Sectors: The Role of Usability and Aesthetics in Dutch IT Companies

This exploratory study examines the relationship between design and competitive advantage in a technology-driven sector. The sector chosen as a research setting is the Dutch information technology (IT) sector. The research on managerial perceptions of the benefits and costs of design focused on the design dimensions of usability and aesthetics. Semi-structured interviews with managers from eight IT companies were conducted to collect empirical data and two feedback sessions were organized to verify the conclusions drawn. As expected, it was found that design is a relatively under-utilized strategic tool in the Dutch IT sector. Sensitivity to usability and aesthetics throughout the NPD process, however, seems necessary considering the tendency towards price competition in the IT sector as a consequence of overcapacity and standardization of IT technology and functionality, and an increasingly critical attitude of customers towards the costs of IT. The only solution to this cost trap would seem to be to add real value.     

Design and Competitive Advantage in Technology-Driven Sectors: The Role of Usability and Aesthetics in Dutch IT Companies1

This exploratory study examines the relationship between design and competitive advantage in a technology-driven sector. The sector chosen as a research setting is the Dutch information technology (IT) sector. The research on managerial perceptions of the benefits and costs of design focused on the design dimensions of usability and aesthetics. Semi-structured interviews with managers from eight IT companies were conducted to collect empirical data and two feedback sessions were organized to verify the conclusions drawn. As expected, it was found that design is a relatively under-utilized strategic tool in the Dutch IT sector. Sensitivity to usability and aesthetics throughout the NPD process, however, seems necessary considering the tendency towards price competition in the IT sector as a consequence of overcapacity and standardization of IT technology and functionality, and an increasingly critical attitude of customers towards the costs of IT. The only solution to this cost trap would seem to be to add real value.     

IT企业基于产品生命周期的研发人员人力资源配置研究

IT产业是个智力密集型的产业，企业的发展与人的创造性劳动密不可分。从IT企业的主要产品——软件产品的生命周期曲线来看，IT企业的人力资源配置在产品的各个阶段呈现出一种时序分布。建立与IT产品生命周期相匹配的研发人员配置模型，对于解决IT企业产品发展过程中人力资源投入的适时性、动态性和协调问题。具有重要的现实意义。     

The Kuznets Curve: What Happens After the Inverted-U?

Recent research has posited that, in advanced economies, there is a positive correlation between in- come inequality and development. Using a new unbalanced panel dataset for 71 countries from 1961 to 1992, we present evidence that supports this conjecture. Although many factors may be contributing to this renewed positive relationship between growth and inequality, one plausible explanation rests on the shift away from a manufacturing base towards a service base in most advanced economies.     

Market crashes,speculation and learning in financial markets

A natural conjecture is that if agents’ beliefs are almost correct then equilibrium prices should be close to rational expectations prices. Sandroni (J Econ Theory 82:1–18, 1998) gives a counterexample in an economy with sunspots and complete markets. We extend Sandroni’s result by showing that the conjecture is generically true for economies with complete markets. We consider a standard General Equilibrium model with large but finite horizon and complete markets. We show that, for almost every such economy, if conditional beliefs eventually become correct along a path of events then equilibrium prices of assets traded along this path converge to rational expectations equilibria in the sup-norm. Moreover, we establish that, generically, there exist along any such path local diffeomorphisms between individual beliefs and equilibrium prices. I would like to thank C. Ewerhart and A. Kirman for their comments, as well as the seminar participants at the University of Minho, the General Equilibrium Workshop 2005 in Zurich, and the 15th Asian General Equilibrium Conference 2007 in Singapore. An anonymous referee also provided very valuable comments.     

信息技术投入、技术创新动态能力与企业绩效关系研究

基于我国制造业上市公司2012-2017年数据,实证检验了信息技术投入、技术创新动态能力与企业绩效的关系。结果表明：信息技术投入与企业绩效呈显著U型关系,企业信息技术投入需要经历组织变革转型期,才会对企业绩效产生促进作用;信息技术投入与技术创新动态能力呈显著倒U型关系,信息技术投入能促进企业技术创新动态能力提升,但考虑到企业资源的有限性,信息技术投入与企业技术创新动态能力之间存在最佳平衡点;技术创新动态能力在信息技术投入与企业绩效之间起到显著非线性中介作用。     

信息需求与IT投资的商业价值：组织资本视角的审视

我国企业对信息技术（简称IT）的投资巨大，已成为世界各大IT厂商的主要市场之一，但国内学术界和企业对IT投资对企业绩效的作用机理研究甚少。本文认为，IT投资是为了满足企业的信息需求，而企业的信息需求充分体现在组织资本的信息本质中，因此，IT投资的商业价值在于它促进了组织资本的形成和积累，并通过组织资本对组织的价值创造和价值增长产生有力的促进作用。本文力图帮助企业理解IT投资对企业绩效的作用机理，从而能够采取合理的IT投资策略以最大化IT投资的商业价值。     

IT治理评价:在公司治理基础上的信息化水平评价

分析了现有的4种IT治理评价体系,探讨了IT治理评价的重要性和复杂性,指出了造成IT治理评价困难的5种原因。提出IT治理评价可从公司治理评价和信息化水平评价两方面入手,通过已有的成熟的衡量体系,间接地建立IT治理评价体系。     

From information technology to bioinformatics: Evolution of technological capabilities in India

This paper explores a trend in the development of innovation in emerging economies: exaptive technological capabilities. A growing proportion of innovation is originating in emerging economies that, being resource-constrained in a dynamic and uncertain environment, requires leveraging existing capabilities and recombining with new knowledge resources. An evolutionary biology model is applied to a process model whereby initial technological capabilities are renewed by the firm given an external selection event. Using a detailed case study across 6 years, this paper investigates the exaptation process of Information Technology (IT) capabilities into bioinformatics by an Indian IT firm, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Findings suggest that just leveraging existing technological capabilities alone is a model set for failure. Such a tactic ignores the environment of the new technology application area. By investing in the needed complementary resources, TCS corrected its initial path to open source their software and offer consulting services on how to utilize the software and, thus, create intellectual property. These insights are valuable not only for the innovation management of traditional IT services to life sciences, but more broadly for firms in emerging economies that hope to renew and build exaptive technological capabilities to enter unforeseen new application areas by leveraging existing technological capabilities.     

Interactive software for the capture,management, and analysis of data in Delphi inquiries

Studies utilizing the Delphi method are typically the subject of extensive research design. Such studies also have a reputation for being expensive when compared with some other forms of social research. There is a large class of research that may benefit from the use of off-the-shelf software that is used not only in data analysis but also as a medium of communication and data management.This paper focuses on one such software package that incorporates these three aspects with the aim of streamlining Delphi-based research.     

U.S. immigration regulations and India's information technology industry

The export-led growth of India's information technology (IT) industry has been nothing short of phenomenal over the past half-dozen years. Other studies have provided a number of explanations for the growth. This paper proposes that a significant factor has been overlooked or understated in prior explanations. Specifically, the Indian IT industry has utilized U.S. immigration regulations for competitive advantage to accelerate its growth. The importance of this factor is estimated through quantitative data analysis at the macro and firm levels. The analysis helps to explain why India's IT industry grew while that of other developing countries, with similar human capital resources and wage rates, did not. The U.S. Congress is currently debating U.S. immigration policies and may change them in the near future. Any changes will have significant effects on the future growth pattern of the Indian IT industry. Many developing countries have recognized India's success, and policymakers in those countries are implementing strategies to replicate it. The results from this study may help those policymakers better understand a key factor of India's success in exporting IT.     

The role of export-driven entrepreneurship in economic development: A comparison of software exports from India, China, and Taiwan

In the puzzle of economic development, there is moderate agreement around one issue: that entrepreneurial, export-led development is likely to produce higher economic growth rates than inward-looking development. This paper begins by taking an overall look at the size and competitiveness of the economies of India, China, and Taiwan, with particular reference to the software and the information technology (IT) sectors. It then focuses on the role of software export entrepreneurship in India and Taiwan as exemplars for other sectors and for formulation of government policy. In Taiwan, successful exporters constitute a model deemed worthy for other companies to emulate. In India, whether the booming software sector will prove to be a sufficient exemplar and catalyst for change throughout the economy and government remains an open question. The paper concludes by taking a look at another related export sector—IT-enabled service exports. Throughout the various sections of the paper, government policy implications remain an important backdrop.