Firm Size and the Characteristics of Computer Use

Although researchers have examined the differences between managing large and small businesses, few studies have explored these differences in terms of managing the use of computers. Nearly all of the important MIS research is being conducted in large organizations. The results of these research efforts may not apply to smaller firms if their MIS environments are indeed different. Thus, the present focus of most MIS research may be missing the needs and problems of thousands of small business users. Several MIS articles suggest that smal I businesses face unique problems in the management of their computer resources, but thus far the evidence cited is anecdotal. Few research efforts have studied this issue scientifically. This study tests the contention that small businesses use computers differently than large businesses by examining a sample of Los Angeles manufacturing firms of various sizes

Linking business analytics to decision making effectiveness: a path model analysis

While business analytics is being increasingly used to gain data-driven insights to support decision making, little research exists regarding the mechanism through which business analytics can be used to improve decision-making effectiveness (DME) at the organizational level. Drawing on the information processing view and contingency theory, this paper develops a research model linking business analytics to organizational DME. The research model is tested using structural equation modeling based on 740 responses collected from U.K. businesses. The key findings demonstrate that business analytics, through the mediation of a data-driven environment, positively influences information processing capability, which in turn has a positive effect on DME. The findings also demonstrate that the paths from business analytics to DME have no statistical differences between large and medium companies, but some differences between manufacturing and professional service industries. Our findings contribute to the business analytics literature by providing useful insights into business analytics applications and the facilitation of data-driven decision making. They also contribute to manager's knowledge and understanding by demonstrating how business analytics should be implemented to improve DM

Success Factors for Implementation of Electronic Commerce by Small and Medium Enterprises

Electronic commerce becomes an essential part of business processes for many business firms. Electronic commerce has a particularly important implication for small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SME\u27s) because the form of competition and business process has dramatically changed in the recent years due to the internet and on-line business activities. This paper investigates various issues about implementation of electronic commerce by surveying a group of Korean SME\u27s as a sample. This study focuses on finding out the critical factors for successful implementation of electronic commerce by SME\u27s. Our research model is more comprehensive than the ones used in the previous research by including moderating variables in the contex

Comparison of E-Commerce Practices between Large Enterprises and Small to Medium Enterprises

E-commerce becomes an important element of the business strategy for both small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises as online business and cyber market space continue to expand its size and volume. E-commerce has a particularly important implication for SMEs because it can help SMEs overcome many handicaps of the SMEs, such as the economies of scale, and compete against the large enterprises on the level ground. The two groups of business firms, large enterprises and SMEs, are often different in not only their sizes but also their business practices. This may also extend to how they use e-commerce in their business. This paper is to study whether there are differences in using e-commerce between large enterprises and SMEs, and what are the differences and why the differences are made. We compare the two groups of business firms in two aspects, format of implementation and their performance. Data used for the study is collected from a group of Korean firms

Perceptions of information systems structures\u27 impact on MIS success and effectiveness

This article provides results from a study on the perceptions of information systems structures\u27 impact on implementation of MIS success and effectiveness via organizational context variables. The focus is on the use of MIS effectiveness and success variables that are utilized in MIS research. Several hypotheses were tested to discern impact of information systems structures on MIS effectiveness and success. The results show that several of these organizational context variables are associated to various degrees, depending on the MIS structure, with MIS success and effectiveness

Assimilation of Social Media: Researching Challenges to Adoption

Social media has become an important component of corporate information technology for some organizations. The extant literature is replete with frameworks and methodologies for successful social media strategic planning. However, there is a gap in the literature in terms of making sense of the challenges to adoption and to this end the paper provides a framework for social media non-adoption. This is derived from inductive analysis of qualitative interview data with a sample of organizations in the UK financial services sector. The paper contributes the concept of “mindful non-adoption” of social media and has practical relevance for managers considering social media planning and implementation

Factors Affecting Investment in IT: A Critical Review

In this paper, we present a review of analytical and empirical research studies that analyze the factors impacting the organizational IT investment. We briefly review research studies conducted in the problem areas of justification of IT investments and contribution of IT to organizational performance. Then we develop a framework that enables us to classify the relevant research and understand the different approaches taken on the subject. Finally, we identify possible future research directions that will be of interest to researchers working in the IS field focusing on IT investment related issues

ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE, SIZE, AND THE USE OF DATA PROCESSING RESOURCES

This study addresses two issues-whether the size of an organization determines its methods of obtaining, structuring or controlling data processing resources, and whether organizational performance is influenced by how a firm makes use of these resources. Several propositions are tested using data from a sample of 58 mutual savings banks with a 10:1 range in size. The results suggest that, although no difference is found in the proportion of operating expense allocated to data processing, larger banks do tend to develop in-house computing resources while smaller banks obtain these services from other banks or service bureaus. Consequently large and small banks must resolve different kinds of managerial issues if they are to provide high quality data processing service to their organizations. Unexpectedly, no relationship is found between organizational performance and the relative proportion of resources allocated to data operating cost and the intensity of data processing use. These findings raise questions about the extent of benefits obtained from a data processing intensive strategy as well as questions about the efficiency with which firms convert capital and labor into application systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie