Although much research has been carried out to examine various contextual issues and moderating factors for successful R&D investments, very little research has been conducted to explore the role of a firm's operational and process characteristics. In this study, we explore how firms could possibly enhance the financial returns of R&D investments through quality management, using Six Sigma implementation as an example, and efficiency improvement, using the stochastic frontier estimation of relative efficiency as a proxy. Based on data from 468 manufacturing firms in the U.S. over the period 2007-2014, we construct a dynamic panel data model to capture the effects of R&D investments on firms' financial returns in terms of Tobin's q. Using the system generalized method of moments estimator, our results indicate that the financial returns of R&D investments are significantly enhanced when firms adopt Six Sigma and improve efficiency in operations. Our additional analyses further suggest that such an enhancement effect through quality and efficiency improvements is more pronounced under high operational complexity as approximated by labor intensity and geographical diversity. Instead of considering innovation activities and process management as contradictory functions, we show that quality and efficiency improvements indeed support firms' R&D investments, leading to higher financial returns.

Researchers in the field of operations management (OM) have long advocated fact-based decisionmaking. The use of business intelligence (BI) systems represents a great opportunity for manufacturers to improve profitability and reduce firm risks. However, the actual business value of BI systems has remained highly controversial because integrating BI systems into production and manufacturing operations is difficult. In particular, the informational sources and operational use of BI systems require substantial internal support from employees and institutionalized incorporation of BI into operations. Using a sample of 278 manufacturing firms in the US that had used BI systems from 2005 to 2014, we examine the impact of BI systems on firms' profitability and risks. We show that firms improve their profitability and reduce risks in profit returns directly after the operational use of BI systems. Firms with superior employee relationships and higher process institutionalization (i.e., firms that are ISO 9000 certified) benefit more from the operational use of BI systems. We provide a resource orchestration perspective (ROP) of the resource-based view (RBV) of firms for the competitive advantage derived from the operational use of BI systems; and we ascertain the circumstances in which manufacturers are more likely to benefit from BI systems.

PurposeIn this research, we empirically examine the impact of Business Intelligence (BI) systems on operational capability in high-tech sectors. We also seek to understand the contextual factors that facilitate the adoption of BI systems.Design/methodology/approachWe adopt Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and event study methodology, and analyze the financial data for a sample of 144 US firms which adopted BI systems from 2005–2014, and compare them to control firms without BI systems.FindingsWe find that the implementation of BI systems leads to higher operational capability, particularly for large high-tech firms with high technology intensity. We further show that technology intensity and firm size are important contextual factors for firms to reap the benefits of BI systems.Practical implicationsWe demonstrate how benefits from the adoption of BI systems are likely to be strengthened. The benefits of BI systems depend on firms' technology intensity and firm size of high-tech firms. Accessing relevant and timely reports for decision-making is particularly important in the highly dynamic, volatile and competitive high-tech sectors.Originality/valueWe contribute to the literature by providing empirical evidence that the adoption of BI systems can improve firms' operational capability and show that technology intensity and firm size are important contextual factors for firms to reap the benefits of BI systems. We advance the understanding regarding the contextual factors in which firms are more likely to gain additional benefits from their adoptions of BI systems.

and Cambridge, respectively. He has previously taught in Canada, England, and Singapore. With expertise in operations research and operations management, he has published over 800 papers in SCI/SSCI journals, including Management Science and Operations Research, and co-authored 15 books.

and Cambridge, respectively. He has previously taught in Canada, England, and Singapore. With expertise in operations research and operations management, he has published over 800 papers in SCI/SSCI journals, including Management Science and Operations Research, and co-authored 15 books.