Chenghong Zhang

Exploring IT Adoption Process in Shanghai Firms: An Empirical Study

The study develops an integrated model to examine factors, particularly government factors, which influence IT adoption in Chinese firms. By analyzing the survey data from 1540 firms across 14 industries and across various ownerships in Shanghai, the study contributes several insights into firms’ IT usage. First of all, this study sheds light on the IT adoption in Chinese firms and validates the general route from IT infrastructure construction to value realization. Second, the findings suggest that government actions influence firms’ IT infrastructure development and IT management decision. However, there is no evidence showing the government impact on firms’ IT usage. The study also provides valuable IT adoption implications to firms in China, particularly to those in the modern cities like Shanghai.

Information Seeking in an Information Systems Project Team

Why does a team member prefer some colleagues to others in information seeking? Past literature suggests that the physical accessibility of a knowledge source, the information quality of the source, and relational concerns influence such a choice. This study extends past literature by suggesting that formal structural factors are also important. Particularly, job interdependence, competition, and supervisory relationships are hypothesized to affect information-sourcing frequency. Our social-network analysis of an information systems project team indicates that formal structural factors are important to the development of informal networks and the perception of the information quality of a source. They have direct and indirect impacts on sourcing behavior. Implications for information systems project management are discussed.

Exploring the Role of Government in Information Technology Diffusion

By analyzing survey data from 1,211 firms across 14 industries in Shanghai, this study examines factors that influence information technology usage in Chinese firms applying a technology-organization-environment framework and institutional theory. This study provides an in-depth examination of governmental impact on Chinese firms’ IT adoption. Although government cannot directly influence firms’ IT adoption, it does so indirectly by influencing firms’ IT infrastructure construction and management. Firms’ IT infrastructure development and IT management decisions act as a mediator between government policies and firms’ IT adoption. Furthermore, firms adapt to governmental impact in distinct ways. The findings suggest that e-government approaches and government promotion policies have a significant impact on IT usage in manufacturing firms, in local firms, and in national-background firms.