Can intrafirm IT skills benefit interfirm integration and performance?
Authors: Wang, Eric T.G.; Chou, Frank K.Y.; Lee, Neil C.A.; Lai, S.Z.
Journal: Information & Management (2014)
This study develops a model to examine whether intra-firm IT hard and soft skills can have cross-boundary effects on inter-firm collaboration and integration, thus leading to greater supply chain performance. A model with eight hypotheses were developed and tested with data collected from 250 Taiwanese manufacturing firms, with seven hypotheses supported empirically. The results show that intra-firm IT skills indeed can benefit inter-firm collaboration and integration, and thus supply chain performance. Our findings suggest that the value of skilled IT professionals for inter-firm integration and supply chain performance and a collaborative relationship between firms is critical for realizing such value.