scholarly journals IT and Fast Growth Small-to-Medium Enterprise Performance: An Empirical Study in Australia

Author(s):  
Rui Bi ◽  
Robert M Davison ◽  
Kosmas X Smyrnios

Information technology (IT) is regarded as a facilitator for both small and large firms to speed up transactions between firms and their suppliers and customers, achieve real-time communication, lower transaction costs, and enhance speed and flexibility. However, understanding whether and how IT helps small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) to create business value still remains unclear. Drawing upon resource-based view theory, source-positional advantage-performance framework, we develop and test a theoretical model to explore the interrelationships between IT resources (IT expertise, IT infrastructure), IT capability (IT integration), IT-enabled inter-firm partnership processes (activity integration, coordination, partnership enhancement), and organizational performance in the fast growth SME context. We propose that IT business value depends on how firms employ IT resources to develop IT capability which facilitates inter-firm partnership processes along value chains. Structural equation modeling is employed to test our theoretical conceptualization of 310 Australian fast-growth SMEs across different industrial sectors. Results show that IT contributes to fast growth SME performance through the development of IT capability and enhancement of inter-firm partnership activities. This research highlights the role of IT in business value creation and the ways in which IT is used by fast growth SMEs to foster core business competencies.

Author(s):  
Rui Bi ◽  
Robert M. Davison ◽  
Booi H. Kam ◽  
Kosmas X. Smyrnios

Organizational agility is regarded as a strategic capability, helping firms to compete, survive, and succeed in fast changing environments. Companies with greater IT investments are expected to be more agile. However, the issue of whether IT is an enabler or impeder of agility still remains unresolved. Drawing upon resource-based view theory, the authors test a theoretical model that integrates IT capability, supply chain capability and organizational agility. The authors propose that IT capability enables the development of a higher level of supply chain capability which is embedded within inter-firm processes and in turn enhances agility. Structural equation modeling is employed to test their theoretical conceptualization of 310 Australian fast-growth small-to-medium enterprises across different industrial sectors. The results show that IT capability does contribute to firm agility through enhancing inter-firm supply chain processes. This research highlights the role of IT-enabled intermediated processes and the ways in which IT is used by firms to enhance core business processes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 38-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Bi ◽  
Robert Davidson ◽  
Booi Kam ◽  
Kosmas Smyrnios

Organizations have increasingly invested money in information technology (IT) in order to improve their agility. It is generally believed that organizations with greater IT investment tend to be more agile to response to environmental changes. However, the issue of whether IT is an enabler or impeder of organizational agility still remains unresolved. Drawing upon resource-based view theory and the literatures of information systems and supply chain management, the authors develop and test a theoretical model that integrates IT capability, supply chain capability and organizational agility. The authors propose that IT capability enables the development of a higher level of supply chain capability which is embedded within inter-firm processes and in turn enhances organizational agility. Structural equation modelling is employed to test their theoretical conceptualization of 310 Australian fast-growth small-to-medium enterprises across different industrial sectors. The results show that IT capability does contribute to firm agility through enhancing inter-firm supply chain processes such as integration, information sharing and coordination. This research highlights the role of IT-enabled intermediated processes and the ways in which IT is used by firms to enhance core business processes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1709-1730
Author(s):  
Dalia Suša Vugec ◽  
Vesna Bosilj Vukšić ◽  
Mirjana Pejić Bach ◽  
Jurij Jaklič ◽  
Mojca Indihar Štemberger

PurposeOrganizations introduce business intelligence (BI) to increase their performance, but often, this initiative is not aligned with the business process management (BPM) initiative, which also aims to improve organizational performance. Although some findings from the literature indicate that BI implementation has a positive impact on organizational performance, the impact seems to be indirect. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of how BI maturity is translated into organizational performance. Alignment of BI and BPM initiatives seems one possible way for creating business value with BI, particularly because BI enables process performance measurement and management, which allows the BI initiative to become more business focused.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was prepared and used to collect data in Croatian and Slovenian organizations with more than 50 employees. A BI–BPM alignment measurement instrument was developed for the purpose of this study using the recommended process of scale development and validation. A total of 185 responses were analyzed by the structural equation modeling technique.FindingsOur results provide evidence that the effect of BI on organizational performance is fully mediated by alignment of BI and BPM initiatives, and therefore, BI business value can be generated through the use of common terminology and methodologies, as well as a strong communication between BI and BPM experts, managers and teams in order to coordinate the two initiatives.Originality/valueThis study has responded to the call for better understanding of how the impact of BI on organization performance is realized. It confirmed that BI and BPM initiatives should be aligned in order to give BI a business value.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 81-99
Author(s):  
AKRAM Abdulsamad ◽  
Noor Azman Ali ◽  
Anuar Shah Bali Mahomed ◽  
Haslinda Hashim ◽  
Abdulwahab Jandab ◽  
...  

The study is attempted to examine and analyze the important influence of entrepreneurial orientation components - risk-taking, innovativeness, and proactiveness- on the organizational performance of Yemeni Small and Medium Enterprises within the food and beverage industry. The model of study is tested on 459 owners/Managers of SMEs by employing the analysis of Partial Least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), as well as Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA). After utilizing the cross-sectional approach, the results illustrated that the innovativeness and risk-taking have a significant and positive impact on organizational performance, but their effect was less than proactiveness. Moreover, the analysis of importance-performance pointed out that proactiveness more important than innovativeness and risk-taking in determining organizational performance. The model of study expounded 34% of the whole variance in SME's performance. Moreover, it provided the implications of practical and theoretical.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 16-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nir Yogev ◽  
Adir Even ◽  
Lior Fink

This study examines the business value associated with business intelligence (BI) systems, based on the premise that business value is largely contingent on system type and its unique contribution. The study adopts a process-oriented approach to evaluating the value contribution of BI, arguing that it stems from improvements in business processes. The study develops and tests a research model that explains the unique mechanisms through which BI creates business value. The model draws on the resource-based view to identify key assets and capabilities that determine the impact of BI on business processes and, consequently, on organizational performance. Analysis of data collected from 159 managers and IT/BI experts, using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, shows that BI largely contributes to business value by improving both operational and strategic business processes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-349
Author(s):  
Witchulada Vetchagool ◽  
Marcjanna M. Augustyn ◽  
Mike Tayles

PurposeTo extend the limited yet conflicting results of prior studies, this paper hypothesizes and statistically tests alternative, structurally different models of likely positive impacts of activity-based costing (ABC) on organizational performance (OP). It also tests moderating effects of business type and business size.Design/methodology/approachTo test the models' abilities to explain the data, this comparative study uses survey data from 191 Thai firms, measures validated in the study and structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsExtensive use of ABC for cost analysis, cost strategy and cost evaluation directly improves operational performance (OPP); it also indirectly improves financial performance (FP) through improving OPP. The results are similar for manufacturing and non-manufacturing firms and for large firms and small-medium enterprises (SMEs).Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies could test the alternative models in other geographical and industrial contexts and could widen the range of control variables.Practical implicationsMonitoring of the effects of ABC use on OPP is crucial to achieving positive financial outcomes. The cross-functional nature of ABC is apparent; for it to be effective managers must ensure cooperation from departments and employees involved in the design and implementation of ABC systems.Originality/valueThis research arbitrates prior inconsistent findings by adopting an original approach of testing structurally different models in a single comparative study, using measures validated in the study. It provides new evidence that extends knowledge about impacts of ABC on OP. Further, it demonstrates its applicability in the context of developing economies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 893-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mírian Oliveira ◽  
Carla Curado ◽  
Andrea Raymundo Balle ◽  
Aino Kianto

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the relations among knowledge sharing (KS), intellectual capital (IC), absorptive capacity (AC), innovation (IN) and organizational performance (OP).Design/methodology/approachThis paper empirically tests a model that uses structural equation modeling (SEM) based on a partial least squares (PLS). The sample is composed of 351 Brazilian and 135 Portuguese enterprises. They are micro, small and medium enterprises.FindingsThe results show that: the relation between KS and AC is partially mediated by IC; the relation between IC and IN is partially mediated by AC and the relation between KS and IN is mediated by AC and IC or both. There are relations among KS, IC, AC, IN and OP.Research limitations/implicationsThe study does not control for industry effects and technological differences among the firms.Practical implicationsThe use of KS mitigates the loss of knowledge associated to employees' retirement or job changes. The knowledge appropriation by the organization (turning human capital (HC) into structural capital (SC)), the knowledge achieved from connections (relational capital, RC) and the trust embedded in an organization's relation with employees are important for AC and IN. Moreover, KS can positively influence all elements of IC. OP depends directly on IN and indirectly on the others constructs.Originality/valueThis study is relevant because it explores the relations among KS, IC, AC, IN and OP in one model. Moreover, it focuses on small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) with data from two countries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3816 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Akram ◽  
M. Goraya ◽  
Aneela Malik ◽  
Amer Aljarallah

This study explores the effects of organizational information technology (IT) capability in determining organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage. Building on the resource-based and knowledge-based views of a firm, the study proposes a theoretical framework. In this framework, organizational IT capability is theorized to strengthen organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage, directly and indirectly, through organizational knowledge management capabilities. Data collected from the middle and senior managers of diverse organizations in an emerging economy have been used to test the relationships in the framework. To estimate the proposed relationships in the conceptual model, we use structural equation modeling through SmartPLS 3.2. The results confirm that organizational IT capability significantly impacts organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage. Additionally, organizational knowledge management capabilities partially mediate the relationship between IT capability and the outcomes (i.e., organizational performance and sustainable competitive advantage). The study concludes with a discussion of the implications for academicians and managers.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-116
Author(s):  
Mauled Moelyono

The aim of this research is to analyze the role of intangible asset in improving organizational performance of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in manufacture sector in Palu. This research was designed as explanatory research. The sample was determined using stratified proportional random sampling and consists of 175 units of SMEs. The data collected by questionnaire to the directors of the SMEs were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). This research has successfully proved the role of intangible asset in improving organizational performance through the role of socialcapital; it is by moderating the influence of business networking and organizational learning to the organizational performance of SME's.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-209
Author(s):  
Ali Junaid Khan ◽  
Sajid Tufail ◽  
Asad Ali

Entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial innovation, and knowledge management all play critical roles in improving the performance of Pakistan's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Pakistan's business index score decreased from 137th to 138th due to the country's low performance in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector. Small and medium-sized firms must overcome several obstacles in order for the country's economy to thrive. This study will address this issue. We used a cross-sectional design and a quantitative technique in our research. Data were acquired via an email questionnaire and analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique and SmartPls. The findings suggested that entrepreneur orientation and innovation are critical factors in enhancing the success of SMEs. Additionally, knowledge management acts as a buffer between entrepreneurial attitude and organizational performance, as well as between entrepreneurial innovation and organizational performance. The study's findings have a number of implications for SME management and policymakers, including the importance of innovation and knowledge management in achieving better performance standards.


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