IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i5p4031-d1077254.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digitalization and Firm Financial Performance in Healthcare: The Mediating Role of Intellectual Capital Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Vincenzo Scafarto

    (Department of Human, Social and Health Sciences, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy)

  • Tamanna Dalwai

    (Department of Business and Accounting, Muscat College, Muscat 2910, Oman)

  • Federica Ricci

    (Department of Law and Economics of Productive Activities, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Gaetano della Corte

    (Department of Law and Economics of Productive Activities, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The digitalization of processes in healthcare sector firms is expected to reduce costs, improve the quality of healthcare service, customer care experience, and patient safety, and attain efficiency and efficacy in project implementation. This research investigates the impact of digitalization on the financial performance of healthcare-sector firms in the European Union. The study also examines whether a firm’s intellectual capital efficiency mediates the process of digitalization’s impact on a firm’s financial performance. Using a sample of 965 firm observations from 2017 to 2021, we find that digitalization positively affects financial performance. Further analysis suggests that capital-employed efficiency fully mediates the relationship between digitalization and firm performance. Partial mediation is also reported for intellectual capital efficiency, human capital efficiency, and structural capital efficiency in the process of digitalization impacting firm performance. These findings provide fresh insight into how digitalization impacts a firm’s financial performance, establishing intellectual capital efficiency as a mediating mechanism that may explain this impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincenzo Scafarto & Tamanna Dalwai & Federica Ricci & Gaetano della Corte, 2023. "Digitalization and Firm Financial Performance in Healthcare: The Mediating Role of Intellectual Capital Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4031-:d:1077254
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/5/4031/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/5/4031/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sotiris Blanas & Gino Gancia & Sang Yoon (Tim) Lee, 2019. "Who is afraid of machines?," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 34(100), pages 627-690.
    2. Gilbert Cette & Sandra Nevoux & Loriane Py, 2022. "The impact of ICTs and digitalization on productivity and labor share: evidence from French firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(8), pages 669-692, November.
    3. Olga Ferraro & Stefania Veltri, 2011. "The value relevance of intellectual capital on the firm's market value: an empirical survey on the Italian listed firms," International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(1), pages 66-84.
    4. Lei Guo & Luying Xu, 2021. "The Effects of Digital Transformation on Firm Performance: Evidence from China’s Manufacturing Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Romilda Mazzotta, 2018. "The communication of intellectual capital in healthcare organisations: what is disclosed and how?," International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 9(1), pages 23-48.
    6. Ribeiro-Navarrete, Samuel & Botella-Carrubi, Dolores & Palacios-Marqués, Daniel & Orero-Blat, Maria, 2021. "The effect of digitalization on business performance: An applied study of KIBS," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 319-326.
    7. Ilia M. Chernenko & Natalya R. Kelchevskaya & Irina S. Pelymskaya, 2021. "Industry 4.0-Specific Intellectual Capital and Its Impact on Human Capital and Value Added: Evidence from Russian Regions," Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organization, in: Vikas Kumar & Jafar Rezaei & Victoria Akberdina & Evgeny Kuzmin (ed.), Digital Transformation in Industry, pages 165-181, Springer.
    8. Antonella Silvestri & Stefania Veltri, 2014. "Overcoming the additive property of value added intellectual capital (VAIC™) methodology," International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 222-243.
    9. Tamer Mohamed Shahwan & Mohamed Mahmoud Fathalla, 2020. "The mediating role of intellectual capital in corporate governance and the corporate performance relationship," International Journal of Ethics and Systems, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 36(4), pages 531-561, September.
    10. Meles, Antonio & Porzio, Claudio & Sampagnaro, Gabriele & Verdoliva, Vincenzo, 2016. "The impact of the intellectual capital efficiency on commercial banks performance: Evidence from the US," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 64-74.
    11. Sriranga Vishnu & Vijay Kumar Gupta, 2015. "Performance of intellectual capital in Indian healthcare sector," International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 12(1), pages 47-60.
    12. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    13. Blichfeldt, Henrik & Faullant, Rita, 2021. "Performance effects of digital technology adoption and product & service innovation – A process-industry perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    14. Kanishka Gupta & Sweta Goel & Prakash Bhatia, 2020. "Intellectual Capital and Profitability: Evidence from Indian Pharmaceutical Sector," Vision, , vol. 24(2), pages 204-216, June.
    15. Znar Ahmed & Muhammad Rosni Amir Hussin & Kashan Pirzada, 2022. "The Impact of Intellectual Capital and Ownership Structure on Firm Performance," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, November.
    16. Kohtamäki, Marko & Parida, Vinit & Patel, Pankaj C. & Gebauer, Heiko, 2020. "The relationship between digitalization and servitization: The role of servitization in capturing the financial potential of digitalization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    17. Li, Lixu & Ye, Fei & Zhan, Yuanzhu & Kumar, Ajay & Schiavone, Francesco & Li, Yina, 2022. "Unraveling the performance puzzle of digitalization: Evidence from manufacturing firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 54-64.
    18. Zhai, Huayun & Yang, Min & Chan, Kam C., 2022. "Does digital transformation enhance a firm's performance? Evidence from China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    19. Zeng, Huixiang & Ran, Hangxin & Zhou, Qiong & Jin, Youliang & Cheng, Xu, 2022. "The financial effect of firm digitalization: Evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    20. Ryszard Borowiecki & Barbara Siuta-Tokarska & Jolanta Maroń & Marcin Suder & Agnieszka Thier & Katarzyna Żmija, 2021. "Developing Digital Economy and Society in the Light of the Issue of Digital Convergence of the Markets in the European Union Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-26, May.
    21. Jingsi Zhang & Liangqun Qi, 2021. "Crisis Preparedness of Healthcare Manufacturing Firms during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Digitalization and Servitization," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-23, May.
    22. Yang, Yefei & Yee, Rachel W.Y., 2022. "The effect of process digitalization initiative on firm performance: A dynamic capability development perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    23. Innocenti, Stefania & Golin, Marta, 2022. "Human capital investment and perceived automation risks: Evidence from 16 countries," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 27-41.
    24. Matarazzo, Michela & Penco, Lara & Profumo, Giorgia & Quaglia, Roberto, 2021. "Digital transformation and customer value creation in Made in Italy SMEs: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 642-656.
    25. Bendig, David & Schulz, Colin & Theis, Lukas & Raff, Stefan, 2023. "Digital orientation and environmental performance in times of technological change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    26. Huang, Qiubin, 2020. "Ownership concentration and bank profitability in China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    27. Lin, Xiaochi & Zhang, Yi, 2009. "Bank ownership reform and bank performance in China," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 20-29, January.
    28. Thomas Bassetti & Lorenzo Dal Maso & Giovanni Liberatore & Francesco Mazzi, 2020. "A critical validation of the value added intellectual coefficient: use in empirical research and comparison with alternative measures of intellectual capital," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(4), pages 1115-1145, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Judit Vitéz-Durgula & Anna Dunay & Gergő Thalmeiner & Balázs Vajai & László Pataki, 2023. "Financial Analysis and Survival Research of the Visegrad Countries’ Health Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-23, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Changling Sun & Ziang Lin & Marek Vochozka & Zuzana Vincúrová, 2022. "Digital transformation and corporate cash holdings in China’s A-share listed companies," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(4), pages 1081-1116, December.
    2. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and trade credit financing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Yangjun Ren & Botang Li, 2022. "Digital Transformation, Green Technology Innovation and Enterprise Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from the Textual Analysis of the Annual Reports of Listed Renewable Energy Enterprises in C," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Jiang, Kangqi & Du, Xinyi & Chen, Zhongfei, 2022. "Firms' digitalization and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Li, Min & Liu, Na & Kou, Aiju & Chen, Wenchuan, 2023. "Customer concentration and digital transformation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Vuchkovski, Davor & Zalaznik, Maja & Mitręga, Maciej & Pfajfar, Gregor, 2023. "A look at the future of work: The digital transformation of teams from conventional to virtual," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    7. Zhang, Yimeng & Ma, Xinyu & Pang, Jianing & Xing, Hailong & Wang, Jian, 2023. "The impact of digital transformation of manufacturing on corporate performance — The mediating effect of business model innovation and the moderating effect of innovation capability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    8. Maha Shehadeh & Ahmad Almohtaseb & Jehad Aldehayyat & Ibrahim A. Abu-AlSondos, 2023. "Digital Transformation and Competitive Advantage in the Service Sector: A Moderated-Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    9. Yu, Honglan & Fletcher, Margaret & Buck, Trevor, 2022. "Managing digital transformation during re-internationalization: Trajectories and implications for performance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    10. Yuming Zhang & Han Liu & Shuang Li & Chao Xing, 2023. "The Digital Transformation Effect in Trade Credit Uptake: The Buyer Perspective," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(7), pages 2056-2078, May.
    11. Lianju Ning & Dan Yao, 2023. "The Impact of Digital Transformation on Supply Chain Capabilities and Supply Chain Competitive Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    12. Bhandari, Krishna Raj & Zámborský, Peter & Ranta, Mikko & Salo, Jari, 2023. "Digitalization, internationalization, and firm performance: A resource-orchestration perspective on new OLI advantages," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    13. Zhou, Shuya & Zhou, Peiyan & Ji, Hannah, 2022. "Can digital transformation alleviate corporate tax stickiness: The mediation effect of tax avoidance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    14. Jiajia Liu & Kexin Zhou & Ye Zhang & Fangcheng Tang, 2023. "The Effect of Financial Digital Transformation on Financial Performance: The Intermediary Effect of Information Symmetry and Operating Costs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-22, March.
    15. Zhong, Xi & Ren, Ge, 2023. "Independent and joint effects of CSR and CSI on the effectiveness of digital transformation for transition economy firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    16. Hua Feng & Fengyan Wang & Guomin Song & Lanlan Liu, 2022. "Digital Transformation on Enterprise Green Innovation: Effect and Transmission Mechanism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-31, August.
    17. Chen, Zhongfei & Xiao, Yu & Jiang, Kangqi, 2023. "The impact of tax reform on firms' digitalization in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    18. Ahmed Jinjiri Bala & Aminu Hassan & Kabiru Isa Dandago & Attahir Babaji Abubakar & Zaharaddeen Salisu Maigoshi, 2021. "On the relationship between intellectual capital efficiency and firm value: evidence from the Nigerian oil and gas downstream sector," International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 18(3), pages 222-251.
    19. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    20. Ponzoa, José M. & Gómez, Andrés & Mas, José M., 2023. "EU27 and USA institutions in the digital ecosystem: Proposal for a digital presence measurement index," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4031-:d:1077254. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.