Bruce Dehning

The value relevance of announcements of transformational information technology investments

In this paper, we examine the influence of IT strategic role to extend the findings of Im et al. (2001), Chatterjee et al. (2002) and Dos Santos et al. (1993). Specifically, we demonstrate that IT strategic role can explain how IT investments in each of the IT strategic roles might affect the firms competitive position and ultimately firm value. We find positive, abnormal returns to announcements of IT investments by firms making transformative IT investments, and with membership in industries with transform IT strategic roles. The results of previous research are not found to be significant when IT strategic role is included as an explanatory variable. These results provide support for the value of capturing the IT strategic role of a firms IT-related competitive maneuvering in studies striving to understand the conditions under which IT investments are likely to produce out-of-the-ordinary, positive returns.

Determinants of a Sustainable Competitive Advantage Due to an IT-Enabled Strategy

Information technology (IT) has been asserted to be a source of sustainable competitive advantage. Empirical evidence has shown that IT can improve a companys performance and competitive position. We examine the factors that are believed to lead to a sustainable competitive advantage due to an IT-enabled strategy, and test these factors empirically. Our findings show that managerial IT skills are positively related to sustainability, and competitors knowledge of competitive advantage is negatively related to sustainability. There was no support for technical IT skills or IT infrastructure as a source of sustainable competitive advantage.

Information technology investments and firm value

Our objective in this paper is to develop a firm value model to assist IT managers and researchers in understanding the multiple effects that IT investments have on firm value. This firm value approach adds to the process-oriented approach through simultaneous evaluation of all of the factors that affect firm value. It is crucial for IT professionals to recognize the complex and diverse implications of IT investments on firm value. The implications of the firm value approach include forcing IT managers to think in terms of both industry and company-specific effects of IT investments, to consider both the magnitude and duration of competitive advantage due to IT investments, and the implications of the effect that IT investments have on risk and its relation to firm value. We demonstrate an application of the firm value framework by evaluating a major stream of research in MIS--event studies of IT investment announcements. Appendices to this paper can be found at http://www.itandfirmvalue.com.

Dupont Analysis of an IT-Enabled Competitive Advantage

Recent research has shown that if used effectively, information technology (IT) can provide companies with superior performance relative to their direct competitors [MIS Q 24 (2000) 169; Inf Manage 38 (2000) 103]. The most common benefits from the successful use of IT are in increased profitability or efficiency. Return on assets (ROA) decomposition (DuPont analysis) allows financial statement users to examine where this IT-enabled competitive advantage shows up in accounting performance measures, whether in profitability, efficiency or both. Using a matched pair design, comparing companies with an IT-enabled competitive advantage to their direct competitors, we find that successful use of IT pays off in a combination of increased profitability and efficiency. This is different from a competitive advantage that is not IT-enabled, where the only performance advantage is in profitability. All data used in tests are available from public sources.

Reexamining the Value Relevance of E-Commerce Initiatives

This study reexamines the value relevance of e-commerce announcements using an event study methodology. Event studies have become an increasingly popular technique for information systems research by giving researchers a tool to measure the notoriously elusive value of information technology. We find evidence that the traditional event study methodology may not provide an accurate measure of abnormal returns during periods of high market volatility, and propose an alternative methodology. The alternative methodology does not use an estimation period, and takes into account extreme or unusual market movements in the period in which the e-commerce announcement was made. Using the alternative methodology, we find evidence of positive abnormal returns for e-commerce announcements made in the fourth quarter of 1998, but no abnormal returns to e-commerce announcements made in the fourth quarter of 2000. We also find significant differences in value depending on the type of e-commerce initiative. In 2000, e-commerce initiatives with a digital product were valued significantly more than e-commerce initiatives with a tangible product, while in 1998 no such difference existed. In 1998, business-to-business e-commerce initiatives, e-commerce initiatives with a tangible product, and e-commerce initiatives by pure-play Internet firms were valued more than similar initiatives in 2000. The study makes a significant contribution for understanding the value of e-commerce initiatives in highly volatile markets and demonstrates how market values of e-commerce changed from 1998 to 2000. Furthermore, this study shows the importance of carefully considering both the time frame examined and the methodology used when assessing the value relevance of e-commerce initiatives as to avoid inflating the magnitude of any observed effects.

The value impact of strategic intent on firms engaged in information systems outsourcing

While information systems outsourcing has been on the rise in recent years, empirical evidence about whether IS outsourcing is value creating for shareholders is limited. Little is known about what factors influence the relation between information systems outsourcing and firm value. This study examines the effect of information systems outsourcing announcements on firm value by analyzing whether equity market reactions are associated with the managements strategic intent for outsourcing and firm characteristics of the outsourcing firm. After examining 103 IS outsourcing announcements made during the period from 1996 to 2003, results suggest that value is created for firms outsourcing with short-term operational intent rather than for longer term strategic reasons. In addition, the increase in firm value from an IS outsourcing announcement is positively associated with the firms operating asset efficiency and the firm being in a service industry.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of IT Investment on Firm Financial Performance

ABSTRACT: We use meta-analysis techniques to examine research choices that affect findings with respect to the return on IT investment. Recent research has established that IT investment is substantially related to firm financial performance. We find, however, that the relationship between IT investment and performance varies, depending on how both financial performance and IT investment are measured. Despite criticism of accounting measures as indicators of IT payoff, we find that the relationship is often stronger in studies that employ accounting measures rather than market measures of firm performance. This difference is driven by research that focuses on the process-level impacts of IT investment. Furthermore, the relationship is also stronger when IT investment is measured as IT strategy or spending, rather than IT capability. We discuss the practical implications of the results of our meta-analysis and suggest new directions for future theory development and research.

Analysts' Forecasts and Investments in Information Technology

Previous research has shown that investments in intangible assets, especially research and development, can increase the difficulty in forecasting a companys earnings. This information risk translates into a lower market value for the firm. Because IT investments have many intangible characteristics similar to research and development expenditures, information technology investments may also increase information risk. Tests using IT spending data for over 1000 firms show that IT spending does increase earnings forecast dispersion and error. Increased dispersion and error might affect the market value of the firm. Using a residual income valuation model, results show that as IT spending increases, residual income is capitalized into market value at a decreasing amount, controlling for diminishing marginal returns to IT spending. This research highlights the importance for IT-intensive companies to find ways to decrease information risk through other forms of communication with market participants.

Does the market recognize IT-enabled competitive advantage?

There is a belief that the payoffs from investments in information technology (IT) are difficult to recognize, and therefore a sustained competitive advantage from an IT-enabled strategy is difficult to distinguish from a temporary competitive advantage. We develop a model to test whether market participants are able to recognize a sustained competitive advantage due to an IT-enabled strategy, and test the model empirically. We find that a competitive advantage due to an IT-enabled strategy is discernable by market participants, and as apparent as a competitive advantage obtained through other means.

Information technology and organizational slack

A characteristic of the information age is the dramatic increase in expenditures by organizations on information technology (IT). As a result of these investments, managers generally anticipate productivity gains, which are commensurate with the costs of IT. However, several empirical studies in the 1980s and early 1990s found no statistical association between IT spending and financial performance (the productivity paradox, PP). One possible source of this paradox was proposed by Brynjolfsson [Commun. ACM (1993)]. He proposed that during the pre-1991 period, IT might have increased slack, but neither organizational output nor profits. We test whether the relation between investment and IT in the productivity paradox era was due to increased slack. We find that overall, IT investment led to an increase in slack in the period prior to 1991, but not after. Our results are primarily driven by manufacturing companies.