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The Strategic Role of IT: An Empirical Study of its Impact on IT Performance in Manufacturing SMEs

Authors:
Louis Raymond
Anne-Marie Croteau
François Bergeron

Keywords: IT sophistication; IT performance; SME; strategic alignment; strategic role; e-business applications

Abstract:
The business value of Internet and Web applications for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is dependent upon how such applications “fit” with the strategic orientation of these firms. Based on the strategic alignment of information technology (IT), this study uses a systemic approach to test the contribution of three predictors of IT performance in an organization: the strategic role of IT as well as the sophistication of the management and the use of IT. A multivariate mediation perspective is used to conceptualize alignment. The results of an empirical investigation of 44 manufacturing SMEs establish an important mediator effect of IT management and IT usage sophistication between the strategic role of IT and IT performance.

Pages: 89 to 97

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2011

Publication date: March 20, 2011

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-3972

ISBN: 978-1-61208-124-3

Location: St. Maarten, The Netherlands Antilles

Dates: from March 20, 2011 to March 25, 2011