Abstract

While several studies claim that information technology (IT) improves business performance, others claim that the impact of IT on performance remains unclear. Based on data envelopment analysis (DEA), this paper empirically examines the relationship between IT factors, intermediate performance metrics, and business outcomes. It also advances a new conceptual perspective to investigate the relationship between IT investment and performance. We propose a theoretical framework based on network DEA models, considering multiple periods, multiple inputs and outputs to study and understand the influence of IT on performance. Using a sample of 86 firms from Asia, Europe, and the US, we measure information technology performance with network DEA models, advance an explanation of the relationship between IT and performance and compare this relationship by regions and industries. By integrating DEA and a configurational analysis, we also develop a set of configurations of IT performance to understand the differences by regions and industries. Our results show that: IT performance shows little regional difference, but significant industrial diversity. We found four configurations to capture industrial differences in IT performance, and found that the efficiency of IT operations rather than IT investments, was the main reason leading to an increase in business performance.

摘要

虽然一些研究声称信息技术 (IT) 可以提高业务绩效，但其他人声称 IT 对绩效的影响仍不清楚。本文基于数据包络分析 (DEA)，实证检验了 IT 因素、中间绩效指标和业务成果之间的关系。它还提出了一个新的概念视角来研究 IT 投资和绩效之间的关系。我们提出了一个基于网络 DEA 模型的理论框架，考虑多个时期、多个输入和输出来研究和理解 IT 对性能的影响。使用来自亚洲、欧洲和美国的 86 家公司的样本，我们使用网络 DEA 模型衡量信息技术绩效，提前说明 IT 与绩效之间的关系，并按地区和行业比较这种关系。通过整合 DEA 和配置分析，我们还开发了一组 IT 性能配置，以了解不同地区和行业的差异。我们的研究结果表明：IT 性能表现出区域差异不大，但行业差异显着。我们发现了四种配置来捕捉 IT 绩效的行业差异，并发现 IT 运营效率而非 IT 投资是导致业务绩效提高的主要原因。IT 性能表现出地区差异不大，但行业差异显着。我们发现了四种配置来捕捉 IT 绩效的行业差异，并发现 IT 运营效率而非 IT 投资是导致业务绩效提高的主要原因。IT 性能表现出地区差异不大，但行业差异显着。我们发现了四种配置来捕捉 IT 绩效的行业差异，并发现 IT 运营效率而非 IT 投资是导致业务绩效提高的主要原因。