Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value

In recent years, firms' investments in information systems have escalated. Many firms started to discover that their IT applications can no longer offer competitive advantage as more and more firms possess them. IT Research reveals that a well built IT infrastructure provides flexibility in op...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lam, Kuo Yung
Other Authors: Nanyang Business School
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42707
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author Lam, Kuo Yung
author2 Nanyang Business School
author_facet Nanyang Business School
Lam, Kuo Yung
author_sort Lam, Kuo Yung
collection NTU
description In recent years, firms' investments in information systems have escalated. Many firms started to discover that their IT applications can no longer offer competitive advantage as more and more firms possess them. IT Research reveals that a well built IT infrastructure provides flexibility in operations and long-term competitiveness for the firm. This is because IT infrastructure is difficult to built, and once in place, is difficult for competitors to imitate. In this study, one measure of IT infrastructure capabilities, Reach and Range (R&R) is being examined. R&R refers to the communication and coordination capabilities of the firm brought about by IT infrastructure. R&R measures where the IT infrastructure can be linked to, and what kind of transactions can be executed. This study proposed two conceptual frameworks using transaction cost economics. The first framework analyzed the relationship between R&R and firm performance. The second framework attempted to identify any distinct R&R configurations using firm uncertainty as the independent variable. Utilizing a sample of 54 business units that participated in the 1996 international study of IT infrastructure, we tested the propositions of the frameworks using analytical approaches like cluster analysis, analysis of variance, and chi-square test of independence. This study found evidences that the level of R&R is positively related to the intermediate level performance of the firm, like systems development efficiency. It is also found that there are certain R&R configurations that is characteristic to different levels of perceived need for new products, number of countries of operation, and number of industries involved in.
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spelling ntu-10356/427072024-01-12T10:28:58Z Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value Lam, Kuo Yung Nanyang Business School Christina Soh DRNTU::Business::Information technology In recent years, firms' investments in information systems have escalated. Many firms started to discover that their IT applications can no longer offer competitive advantage as more and more firms possess them. IT Research reveals that a well built IT infrastructure provides flexibility in operations and long-term competitiveness for the firm. This is because IT infrastructure is difficult to built, and once in place, is difficult for competitors to imitate. In this study, one measure of IT infrastructure capabilities, Reach and Range (R&R) is being examined. R&R refers to the communication and coordination capabilities of the firm brought about by IT infrastructure. R&R measures where the IT infrastructure can be linked to, and what kind of transactions can be executed. This study proposed two conceptual frameworks using transaction cost economics. The first framework analyzed the relationship between R&R and firm performance. The second framework attempted to identify any distinct R&R configurations using firm uncertainty as the independent variable. Utilizing a sample of 54 business units that participated in the 1996 international study of IT infrastructure, we tested the propositions of the frameworks using analytical approaches like cluster analysis, analysis of variance, and chi-square test of independence. This study found evidences that the level of R&R is positively related to the intermediate level performance of the firm, like systems development efficiency. It is also found that there are certain R&R configurations that is characteristic to different levels of perceived need for new products, number of countries of operation, and number of industries involved in. Master of Business 2011-01-07T03:31:18Z 2011-01-07T03:31:18Z 1998 1998 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42707 en 119 p. application/pdf
spellingShingle DRNTU::Business::Information technology
Lam, Kuo Yung
Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value
title Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value
title_full Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value
title_fullStr Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value
title_full_unstemmed Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value
title_short Study of IT infrastructure capabilities : reach and range and business value
title_sort study of it infrastructure capabilities reach and range and business value
topic DRNTU::Business::Information technology
url http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42707
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