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Research Note--The Impact of Information Technology Investments and Diversification Strategies on Firm Performance

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  • Murali D. R. Chari

    (School of Business and Economics, Indiana University South Bend, South Bend, Indiana 46634)

  • Sarv Devaraj

    (Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556)

  • Parthiban David

    (Division of Management, Price College of Business, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019)

Abstract

As companies continue to make large investments in information technology (IT), questions about how and in what contexts such investments pay off have gained importance. We develop a theoretical framework to explain how IT investments could pay off in the economically significant context of corporate diversification, and empirically find that the performance pay off to IT investments is greater for firms with greater levels of diversification. We also find that the performance payoff to IT investments is greater in related diversification than in unrelated diversification.

Suggested Citation

  • Murali D. R. Chari & Sarv Devaraj & Parthiban David, 2008. "Research Note--The Impact of Information Technology Investments and Diversification Strategies on Firm Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(1), pages 224-234, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:54:y:2008:i:1:p:224-234
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.1070.0743
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Gunasekaran, Angappa & Subramanian, Nachiappan & Papadopoulos, Thanos, 2017. "Information technology for competitive advantage within logistics and supply chains: A review," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 14-33.
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    4. Dmitry Sharapov & Paul Kattuman & Diego Rodriguez & F. Javier Velazquez, 2021. "Using the SHAPLEY value approach to variance decomposition in strategy research: Diversification, internationalization, and corporate group effects on affiliate profitability," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3), pages 608-623, March.
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    6. Guido Schryen, 2010. "Preserving Knowledge on IS Business Value," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 2(4), pages 233-244, August.
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    9. Chari, Murali D.R., 2013. "Business groups and foreign direct investments by developing country firms: An empirical test in India," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 349-359.
    10. Jian Xu & Jae-Woo Sim, 2018. "Characteristics of Corporate R&D Investment in Emerging Markets: Evidence from Manufacturing Industry in China and South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-18, August.
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    12. Ali Tafti & Sunil Mithas & M. S. Krishnan, 2013. "The Effect of Information Technology-Enabled Flexibility on Formation and Market Value of Alliances," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(1), pages 207-225, June.
    13. Chun, Hyunbae & Kim, Jung-Wook & Lee, Jason, 2015. "How does information technology improve aggregate productivity? A new channel of productivity dispersion and reallocation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 999-1016.
    14. Wang, Qian & Shen, Jianghua & Ngai, Eric W.T., 2023. "Does corporate diversification strategy affect stock price crash risk?," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    15. Sunil Mithas & M. S. Krishnan & Claes Fornell, 2016. "Research Note—Information Technology, Customer Satisfaction, and Profit: Theory and Evidence," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 27(1), pages 166-181, March.
    16. Zachary R. Steelman & Taha Havakhor & Rajiv Sabherwal & Sanjiv Sabherwal, 2019. "Performance Consequences of Information Technology Investments: Implications of Emphasizing New or Current Information Technologies," Service Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(1), pages 204-218, March.
    17. Chihyoun Ahn & Mi-Ok Kim & Hyung-Rok Jung, 2017. "The Effects of Operational Structure Change on Performance after Seasoned Equity Offerings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    18. León, Omar, 2018. "Relación directa y mediadora de las TIC sobre el rendimiento de la diversificación empresarial || Direct and Mediating Relationship of ICT on the Performance Diversification," Revista de Métodos Cuantitativos para la Economía y la Empresa = Journal of Quantitative Methods for Economics and Business Administration, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Quantitative Methods for Economics and Business Administration, vol. 25(1), pages 93-110, Junio.
    19. Youngho Kang & Jeongmeen Suh, 2022. "Information technology and the spatial reorganization of firms," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 674-692, August.
    20. León, Omar & Igartua, Juan Ignacio & Ganzarain, Jaione, 2018. "Performance and internationalization effects of the use of ICT in diversified companies," Small Business International Review, Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas - AECA, vol. 2(1), pages 16-28, January.
    21. Fuentelsaz, Lucio & Gómez, Jaime & Palomas, Sergio, 2012. "Production technologies and financial performance: The effect of uneven diffusion among competitors," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 401-413.
    22. Sunghun Chung & Animesh Animesh & Kunsoo Han & Alain Pinsonneault, 2019. "Software Patents and Firm Value: A Real Options Perspective on the Role of Innovation Orientation and Environmental Uncertainty," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 30(3), pages 1073-1097, September.
    23. Winarno, Wahyu Agus & Tjahjadi, Bambang & Irwanto, Andry, 2021. "Time Lag Effects of IT Investment on Firm Performance: Evidence from Indonesia," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 55(3), pages 89-101.
    24. Katerina Lyroudi & Thomas Chatzigagios, 2021. "Does Innovation Lead to Growth? An SDG for Companies in the Black Sea Markets Before and After COVID-19," South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics, Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region, vol. 19(2), pages 151-179.
    25. Sanjeev Dewan & Fei Ren, 2011. "Information Technology and Firm Boundaries: Impact on Firm Risk and Return Performance," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 22(2), pages 369-388, June.

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