Determinants of IT Usage and New Product Performance*

Information technology (IT) users with intellectual disabilities (ID) are likely to experience online privacy violations without adequate support from their caregivers. Given that aging users face additional challenges when using IT than their younger counterparts, the goal of this exploratory study is to investigate caregivers' strategies and barriers for helping to protect the privacy of aging IT users with ID. Six caregivers (four paid caregivers, two family members) of aging users with ID completed a series of six focus groups about their experiences assisting the people they support with using IT, including their strategies and barriers for helping to protect these users' privacy. Participants were also asked about their own attitudes and experiences related to online privacy and information security. Based on our inductive thematic analysis of the qualitative data, participants used three main strategies to help protect the privacy of aging users with ID: (1) restricting access to personal information, (2) limiting disclosure of personal details, and (3) providing just-in-time instruction and feedback. We also identified four key barriers to privacy protection: (1) limited awareness and knowledge about information security, (2) balancing privacy and autonomy, (3) maintaining professional boundaries, and (4) residential care services' policies. Inclusive and transdisciplinary research is needed to address the elevated privacy and security risks for aging IT users with ID, and provide caregivers with training on how to support this population to use IT safely. Technology developers should create solutions to decrease aging users with ID's dependence on caregivers for privacy protection.

The individual sense of gendered identity and location are embedded within information technology (IT) usage (Meyrowitz, 1985). Exploring gender in relation to place and IT assists to reveal the impact that cultural knowledge has upon IT usage. This article illustrates the intertwined complex of issues that associate gender and place with IT by examining the currently dominant approaches to research conducted around this topic. The article begins with a presentation of the founding concepts regarding location and the construction of the gendered self, and then discusses investigations of gender, place and IT usage that utilize geographical and bounded constructs and, alternatively the concept of socially occupied space.

The effective integration of research and development (R&D) and marketing contributes to the development of successful new products. Barriers such as physical separation of R&D and marketing, goal incongruity, and cultural differences hamper the cross-functional cooperation. However, it may not be either possible or desirable to eliminate the cross-functional integration barriers in practice. Previous research findings suggest that information technology (IT) can be used to reduce the negative impact of the barriers. This paper examines the moderating role of communication technologies (ITc) and decision-aiding technologies (ITd) in improving the R&D–marketing integration in new product development. The empirical findings from analyzing data on 171 new product development projects suggest that both IT systems can be used to reduce the negative impact of physical separation, goal incongruity, and cultural differences on R&D–marketing integration. However, effectiveness of the two types of IT differs. While ITc appears to be more effective than ITd in overcoming the constraint of physical separation, ITd is more effective than ITc in reducing the negative impact of goal incongruity and cultural differences. ITc is found to have the strongest effect on reducing the negative relationship of physical separation and integration, a less strong effect on cultural differences, and a weak effect on goal incongruity. Conversely, ITd is found to have a strong effect on goal incongruity. These empirical findings provide guidelines for project managers using a specific IT to address a specific integration barrier. If the major barrier is physical separation, ITc is the best solution. On the other hand, if the major barrier is goal incongruity, ITd is the best solution. In addition, it is important for management to note that IT requires more than simply installing computer hardware and software. In addition to investing in those “hard” improvements, project managers should strive to create a supportive “soft” environment by consistently improving members' IT experiences and familiarity. In the process of the continuous development of IT, state-of-the-art technologies should be introduced in a timely manner and be made accessible to all team members. Finally, project managers should frequently observe their industry peers' IT usage to keep up with advances.

Background -This study explores the utilization of information technology (IT) tools among healthcare professionals at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, focusing on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system and associated challenges. Objective -The objective was to assess the extent of IT tool utilization, identify specific EMR modules utilized, and explore challenges encountered by healthcare personnel.Methods -This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design.Semi-structured questionnaires were distributed to a sample of healthcare professionals at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, selected to ensure representativeness.Cochran's formula was used for sample size determination.The questionnaires gathered data on demographics, patterns of IT tool utilization, and perceived challenges.Data analysis employed descriptive statistics to summarize demographic information, as well as to explore IT tool usage and challenges faced by healthcare professionals.Thematic analysis was applied specifically to examine the types of different modules used within the IT system.Results -Results indicated that the majority of respondents were female (62.4%) and employed as civilians on a locum basis (68.8%).The primary IT tool utilized was the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, with modules such as patient information systems, laboratory management, and financial reporting.High utilization rates of IT tools were reported (72.8%), despite challenges including user resistance (47.99%) and increased workload (46.89%).These findings reveal the importance of addressing user concerns and optimizing IT infrastructure to enhance healthcare delivery. Conclusion -The study underscores the significant role of IT in enhancing healthcare processes at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital and challenges that need to be addressed, such as improving technical support and infrastructure to optimize IT tool effectiveness.

An empirical model of IT usage in the Malaysian public sector

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show if the use of information technology (IT) strengthens the growth and development of insular firms. It investigates IT usage in an ultra‐peripheral territory of the Economic Union and aims to gain a better understand between the use of the IT and the growth and development of insular firms.Design/methodology/approachThis research examines 118 of the largest Réunionese firms and several interesting factors are identified. Certain characteristics such as size, age, diversification of activities or lack of diversification, status as a subsidiary of a larger firm, degree of computerization and if electronic communications influence IT use were specifically examined. Also looked at were certain factors that could illustrate the relationship between IT use and firm growth and development.FindingsThis paper presents findings and discusses these in terms of the degree of utilization of IT by insular firms, the development of external relationships and the importance of developing IT investment to reduce transaction costs within Réunionese enterprises. From this research, there is an assumption that the use of IT may have an impact on the growth and development of insular firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis research reported in this paper focused only on Réunion Island and not on other insular contexts. Further European ultra peripheral regions must be investigated to support the findings.Practical implicationsThe findings can help governments, public and private actors to increase the ICT investments of insular firms in order to reduce costs and improve the growth and development of local firms.Originality/valueThe originality of this paper is the focus on the role of IT on the growth and development of insular firms.

With an estimated investment of over 1 trillion dollars to date on information technology (IT) products and applications, one would hope that there exists a corresponding improvement in organizational performance and productivity. The level of IT usage has widely been accepted as an important indicator of IT success within organizations. This research synthesizes and validates the construct of IT usage using a meta-analysis. It accomplishes that by analyzing the empirical results of various studies over a period of time covering a broad scope of characteristics of both users and information systems (IS), and it examines the relation between these characteristics and the level of IT usage within organizations. In general, the results of this meta-analysis lead to the conclusion that there exists a strong and significant positive relation between the perception of ease of use and the perceived usefulness of an IT system to the actual amount of usage. Another factor that indicates a high level of IT usage is the organizational support of IT within an enterprise. Although the factors of education level, training level, and professional level were found to have a substantial effect on IT usage, the magnitude of these effects were lower than those of the perceptions of the user and organizational support. Managers and IT professionals may have a better chance of avoiding IT system ineffectiveness and even failure by paying attention to the results of this research, especially in view of the fact that it synthesized and validated the results of a significant number of empirical studies published in some of the best IS journals. Rarely do single research experiments provide definitive answers on which to base policy decisions.

The role of perceived organizational support, distributive justice and motivation in reactions to new information technology

This educational study determines the availability and effectiveness of IT (Information Technology) infrastructure in RYK Secondary Schools. In this article, challenges faced by teachers and students in the usage of IT will be discussed, as well as the use of IT infrastructure in education and its accessibility and efficacy in teaching and learning are addressed. This study will be beneficial for the teachers and higher authorities in understanding the availability of IT infrastructure in Secondary Schools. All the students (girls and boys) from the Public Secondary Schools of RYK were considered as the population. The descriptive survey design and random sampling technique were employed to accomplish the goal. A 50-item self-structured questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale was utilized to collect the data from a sample of study i.e. 500 male and female students. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS with descriptive statistics (mean, percentage, and frequency value). The findings are intended to support the hypothesis that teachers and students face significant challenges in RYK Secondary Schools due to the lack of facilities. Therefore, it is necessary to work for improvement so that the students can learn in a better way. To conclude, using technology effectively in the teaching-learning process, improving the quality and accessibility of technology, and motivating the learning environment plays a vital role in education. As a result, with the use of IT, slow learners might also take an active role, and students’ attitudes can be positively affected, and learning can be enhanced.

The management of technology within the organization is critical in taking full advantage of the benefits provided by the technology. In order to achieve the greatest return on information technology (IT) investment, the diffusion process of IT within the organization should be examined carefully. This paper aims to explore users' behavior in the exploitation of IT, regarding different stages of the managerial decision making process in different business functional areas, and by means of different tools. For attaining this purpose, a survey has been applied on 30 employees in a large manufacturing company which is about to transfer its operations to a complex ERP system

Prior research suggests the need to incorporate the information technology (IT) artifact within extant theories of IT usage, yet little progress has been made to that end. This study addresses this gap by incorporating the nature and purpose of the IT artifact in terms of four characteristics: utilitarian value, hedonic value, communication value, and technical complexity. The moderating effects of these characteristics on individual-level IT usage were tested using a meta-analysis method. Our findings demonstrate how incorporating such variables can provide a richer and more nuanced understanding of IT usage than that offered by generic models of IT usage.

This instructional case, based on an actual firm’s experience (name changed), is intended to challenge student thinking with regard to the extent to which information technology (IT) can demonstrably contribute to organizational performance and productivity and to which users of IT can relate their investment decisions to measurable outcomes. Relationships between an organization’s investment in IT and the effect of such investments on the organization’s performance and productivity have long been the subject of discussion and research. Managers, interested in knowing the “payoff” of such investments, are continually seeking answers to this question. A failure to understand the benefits of IT investment, or an over- or under-estimation of the benefits of a planned investment in IT relative to the costs, will likely result in less than optimal investment decisions.

PurposeWhile trade shows remain an important customer relationship management (CRM) tool, recent advancements in information technology (IT) have raised concerns about the future of trade shows. This study aims to examine the antecedents and consequences of IT integration into trade shows.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a questionnaire-based survey with senior and middle managers in the aviation services, resulting in 135 valid responses from industry professionals. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.FindingsThe findings demonstrate differential but significant impact of perceptions toward website design and firm motivations toward the integration IT in the three stages of trade shows marketing. The results also show significant impact of IT usage on the perceptions toward the accomplishment of trade show objectives. Further, the results vary according to the levels of experience of the professionals.Research limitations/implicationsThis study did not account for the differences in perceptions toward IT implementation across personnel from different departments, such as IT, finance and operations management. In addition, it did not examine situational factors and individual characteristics as additional antecedents of IT usage in trade shows, including pricing, return on investment, convenience and the social media.Practical implicationsExhibitors are advised to integrate IT in supporting pre-trade show activities to approach potential customers. Exhibitors should integrate electronic interactions and personal communications during the show to reduce the amount of unanswered customer queries, focusing on timeliness and accuracy of information content, ease of navigation and graphic attractiveness of corporate websites, as effective CRM tools.Originality/valueThis paper offers novel insights into hitherto unknown aspects of trade show performance. The results have managerial implications for adopting IT as a CRM tool for effective trade show management.

Technology investments in the form of ERP systems tend to align the company's information technology (IT) asset portfolio with two main performance results are efficiency and innovation. This study examines the influence of industrial environment on the relationship between IT asset portfolio with efficiency and innovation. The research model is tested using data from 104 observations gathered from 26 companies for 4 years (2009-2012), and data analysis is conducted using a moderated regression analysis.
\nThe results show that increase in value of IT assets portfolio will improve operational efficiency, and innovation companies. Furthermore, we find that the industry environment is not moderate the relationship between the of IT asset's portfolio with operational efficiency.
\nOn the other hand, industrial environments statistically significant affect the relationship between the IT asset portfolios with innovations. The results imply that the company has implemented an ERP system, investment in IT is not oriented towards the exploitation of IT, but tends to increase the exploration process to the form of innovation.

This study focuses on understanding how investments in information technology are reflected in the income statements and balance sheets of firms. Today, little doubt exists that information technology is being used by organizations in a wide variety of settings and ways and that information technology is critical for the smooth operation of many organizations. Further, a strong body of research exists showing that information technology usage is positively correlated with organizational productivity. However, empirical evidence of information technology contributing to corporate profitability has not been forthcoming. Although the income statements, balance sheets, and cash‐flow statements all together summarize the financial structure, health and profitability of firms but still much doubt and confusion exists over the impacts of information technology usage on a firm's “hard” numbers such as revenues, cost, profit margins, or financial ratios and structure. So far, only a few studies have found a significant positive relationship between information technology and some aspect of corporate profitability. The present research argues that the inability of earlier studies to identify the relationship between information technology investments and bottom‐line performance is in part because of methodological reasons. This study first defines and develops risk‐adjusted measures of corporate profitability. Then, it examines the income statements and balance sheets of more than 500 firms that are leading users of information technology for the period 1988‐98. Finally, the study shows that the relationship between information technology investments and corporate profitability is much better explained by using risk‐adjusted measures of corporate profitability than using the same measures of corporate profitability but unadjusted for risk.