A resource‐based perspective on information technology and firm performance: a meta analysis

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to aggregate previous research that adopts the resource‐based view (RBV) to examine whether information technology (IT) and organizational resources have significant effect on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachA framework that includes direct and indirect‐effect models is proposed. A meta‐analysis was conducted on 42 published empirical studies to examine how different factors in the RBV affect firm performance.FindingsFirst, it was found that the mediated model that includes organizational capabilities as mediators between organizational resources and firm performance can better explain the value of IT than the direct‐effect model without organizational capabilities. Second, technology resources can improve efficiency performance but may not enhance financial performance directly. Third, internal capabilities affect performance but it is external capabilities that affect financial performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of meta‐analysis is that findings are based on prior research conducted on different sources at different times. This may cause observation biases. Nonetheless, the large sample size can also increase the robust of the findings.Practical implicationsThe findings indicate that companies should focus on how IT resources can be used to enhance their capabilities, which will result in better performance.Social implicationsThe findings provide strong evidence that IT has contributed to both financial performance and organizational efficiency through strengthening organizational capabilities. The IT has been effectively used so far and the suspected productivity paradox does not exist.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to information management by increasing the theoretical and practical understanding of how IT resources affect organizational capabilities and firm performance. The findings provide valuable guidelines for future research on IT investment and firm performance.

L'innovation en PME et son accompagnement par les TIC : quels effets sur la performance ?

“…La contribution des TIC à la performance peut s'analyser comme le développement d'une capacité spécifique à la firme qui lui offre la possibilité de développer un avantage concurrentiel à l'égard de ses concurrents (Liang et al 2010). La revue de littérature proposée par Melville et al (2004) tend ainsi à montrer que les ressources TIC génèrent de la valeur au niveau des organisations, sachant que cette valeur dépendra également du niveau de ressources complémentaires, du climat concurrentiel ainsi que de la situation macroéconomique.…”

“…Donc, si ces dépenses ne sont pas réalisées pour répondre à une ambition organisationnelle spécifique, elles risquent d'induire des coûts qui ne seront pas compensés par des retombées positives suffisantes. D'une manière générale, nos résultats font donc écho aux travaux sur la valeur des technologies de l'information (Melville et al, 2004) et ses limites (Carr, 2003) en accentuant certaines conclusions : la valeur des TIC a été montrée comme d'autant plus forte qu'elle est combinée à des capacités organisationnelles (Liang et al 2010) ; notre investigation montre que la combinaison à une capacité organisationnelle comme la capacité d'innovation est une condition même de création de valeur par les technologies de l'information en PME.…”

Performance Perspectives for Small and Medium Enterprises in Cameroon: Innovation and ICTs

“…Following the paradox of the productivity ICT stated by Solow (1987), many authors (Mairesse et al, 2002;Greenan & Mairesse, 2006;Ben Aoun et al, 2010;Liang et al, 2010) study differences in the productivity gains of ICT. They show that ICTs as well as new products and services positively affect the demand for skilled workers and the labour productivity of firms.…”

Valor das capacidades de TI para o negócio: análise de desempenho multinível nas organizações brasileiras

“…Because of the mixed results of this approach (Liang et al, 2010;Wiengarten et al, 2013), a recent line of investigations have fomented the use of the concept "IT Capabilities," in place of IT individual resources (Hartono et al, 2010;Chen & Tsou, 2012). Likewise, the adoption of intermediate measures of performance at the firm level has been defended in the literature on IT value (Tallon, 2010;Kim et al, 2011).…”