Title: Information technology, organisational capital and firm performance

Authors: Chaur-Shiuh Young; Liu-Ching Tsai

Addresses: Department of Accountancy and Graduate Institute of Finance & Banking, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan City 701, Taiwan. ' Department of Business Administration, National Chia-Yi University, 580, Sinmin Rd., Chia-Yi City 600, Taiwan

Abstract: Our objective is to examine the mediating effect of organisational capital on the relationship between information technology and firm performance. Using the mediated regression method and a sample of Taiwan|s listed firms, an IT intensive context, empirical results provide statistical support for our argument that through organisational capital (OC), IT investments indirectly contribute to firm performance, measured by Tobin|s Q. Moreover, we also find that firms with high ratio of OC value change to IT expenditures have better future performance. This supports our argument that management should put attention on how IT investments being complementary with organisational practices to boost a firm|s organisational capital and thereby firm performance. As a whole, the results offer insights into how or why IT contributes to firm performance, and thus explain the IT productivity paradox phenomenon.

Keywords: ICT investment; information technology; communications technology; firm performance; organisational capital; intangible assets; mediating effects; mediation; mediated regression method; Taiwan; listed companies; Tobin|s quotient; James Tobin; statistical ratios; market value; replacement value; physical assets; ICT expenditure; future performance; organisational practices; productivity paradox; learning; intellectual capital; innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLIC.2012.043987

International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, 2012 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.151 - 169

Published online: 02 Sep 2014 *

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