The relationship between information technology and small and medium-size firm performance in the manufacturing sector [Ressource électronique] : case of the Tunisian textile industry / Kameleddine Benameur

Doctor o f Philosophy : Drexel University : 1999

Bibliogr. p. 146-167

Restricted budgets, limited resources and budget cuts are the trademark o f the new business environment. Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) are not an exception. Thus, it is crucial to study the efficiency and effectiveness o f investing in Information technologies (IT). Our study is the more important that it detected two phenomena that may appear as contradictory: (1) Some SMEs continue to invest in IT in the hope that a positive impact will follow on their performance (growth and increase in the rate o f return), (2) others, to the contrary, are cautious and restrain themselves to more 'traditional' approach. In order, to elucidate these phenomena, we surveyed 255 Tunisian SMEs in the textile-manufacturing sector. The proposed research model is based on the longitudinal analysis o f the relationship between IT variables, including investment in IT, and company's performance. The main research hypotheses stipulate that the investment in IT will have a direct impact on the company's performance, that certain organizational and personal factors will interact to affect the overall performance. The dependent variable being the company's performance, the impact o f the Information Systems (IS) variables on performance was to be assessed. Users satisfaction with IS with relation to the IS Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. usage perceived ease o f use and usefulness. Will IS success affect the overall performance? The results o f our study, besides testing the instrument for assessing IS variables in the context o f a developing economy, land support to prior research findings. Users satisfaction with IS had a significant impact on performance. The direct impact o f IT investment on performance was not detected. We did find an indirect effect of investment in IT on performance. Many other IS variables did affect performance. Tunisian companies facing a more competitive environment have no choice but to rely more on IT to improve the quality o f their products and management practices. Many adopted ISO 9002 quality standard to improve their operations, processes and quality control. The IT will play a crucial role in the development o f new opportunities including e-commerce. The growth in IT investment indicates an increased awareness o f the importance o f adopting new technologies to remain competitive and take new challenges.