Pietro Cunha Dolci

The impact of adopting IT governance on financial performance: An empirical analysis among Brazilian firms

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest on the part of many organizations in the concept of IT governance in order to justify IT investments. Some studies have shown that companies, which have good IT governance models, generate higher returns on their IT investments than their competitors. However, there is a lack of scientific research confirming that effective IT governance leads to better financial performance. In this paper, we attempt to determine whether companies that have adopted IT governance mechanisms have improved their financial performance, by measuring pre and post adoption performance indicators. We found that companies that adopted IT governance practices improved their performance when compared to the control group, particularly in relation to profitability. Furthermore, we found that the effects of adopting IT governance mechanisms on financial performance were more pronounced in the year following adoption than in the year in which they were adopted.

Adoção de tecnologia de informação e seu impacto no desempenho organizacional: um estudo realizado com micro e pequenas empresas

RESUMO Os estudos que avaliam o impacto da tecnologia de informacao (TI) no desempenho das organizacoes tem recebido grande destaque nos ultimos anos. Entretanto, quase que sua totalidade tem observado apenas empresas de grande porte. A medida que a aquisicao da TI se torna mais acessivel financeiramente, mais rapida e a sua popularizacao, permitindo as micro e pequenas empresas (MPE) a utilizacao da TI em seus negocios. Na pesquisa aqui relatada, realizada com 123 MPE, buscou-se analisar o relacionamento existente entre a adocao da TI e o seu impacto no desempenho organizacional percebido. Os principais motivos que tem levado as MPE a adotarem TI estao relacionados principalmente as pressoes externas que a empresa enfrenta e a existencia de um ambiente organizacional favoravel. Identificou-se que o motivo que mais afeta o desempenho organizacional e a adocao de TI para atender as necessidades internas da empresa. Percebeu-se, tambem, que as empresas que investiram em TI de forma planejada apresentaram desempenho percebido superior as demais – especialmente quanto a reducao dos custos operacionais. Espera-se que este estudo possa auxiliar os micro e pequenos empresarios a planejarem de forma mais eficiente seus investimentos realizados em TI.

IT business value model for information intensive organizations

Many studies have highlighted the capacity Information Technology (IT) has for generating value for organizations. Investments in IT made by organizations have increased each year. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to analyze the IT Business Value for Information Intensive Organizations (IIO - e.g. banks, insurance companies and securities brokers). The research method consisted of a survey that used and combined the models from Weill and Broadbent (1998) and Gregor, Martin, Fernandez, Stern and Vitale (2006). Data was gathered using an adapted instrument containing 5 dimensions (Strategic, Informational, Transactional, Transformational and Infra-structure) with 27 items. The instrument was refined by employing statistical techniques such as Exploratory and Confirmatory Factorial Analysis through Structural Equations (first and second order Model Measurement). The final model is composed of four factors related to IT Business Value: Strategic, Informational, Transactional and Transformational, arranged in 15 items. The dimension Infra-structure was excluded during the model refinement process because it was discovered during interviews that managers were unable to perceive it as a distinct dimension of IT Business Value.

Adoption of information technology and its impact on organizational performance: a study of small and medium-sized enterprises

Os estudos que avaliam o impacto da tecnologia de informacao (TI) no desempenho das organizacoes tem recebido grande destaque nos ultimos anos. Entretanto, quase que sua totalidade tem observado apenas empresas de grande porte. A medida que a aquisicao da TI se torna mais acessivel financeiramente, mais rapida e a sua popularizacao, permitindo as micro e pequenas empresas (MPE) a utilizacao da TI em seus negocios. Na pesquisa aqui relatada, realizada com 123 MPE, buscou-se analisar o relacionamento existente entre a adocao da TI e o seu impacto no desempenho organizacional percebido. Os principais motivos que tem levado as MPE a adotarem TI estao relacionados principalmente as pressoes externas que a empresa enfrenta e a existencia de um ambiente organizacional favoravel. Identificou-se que o motivo que mais afeta o desempenho organizacional e a adocao de TI para atender as necessidades internas da empresa. Percebeu-se, tambem, que as empresas que investiram em TI de forma planejada apresentaram desempenho percebido superior as demais - especialmente quanto a reducao dos custos operacionais. Espera-se que este estudo possa auxiliar os micro e pequenos empresarios a planejarem de forma mais eficiente seus investimentos realizados em TI.

Models for understanding the influence of Supply Chain Governance on Supply Chain Performance

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop models and analyse the influence of supply chain governance (SCG) and its conceptions (contractual, relational and transactional) on supply chain performance (SCP). Design/methodology/approach Multiple case studies and survey methods were used. Data collection in the multiple case studies was performed by in-depth interviews with supply chain executives from top strategic levels in six companies. The research instrument was applied to 185 executives from large companies that possessed a broad, complex supply chain in Brazil. Findings It was identified that SCG, comprising contractual, relational and transactional aspects, has a positive influence on operational and financial SCP. SCG was found to be a more comprehensive view of the supply chain that focuses on more strategic aspects and long-term inter-organizational relationships. SCG affects SCP, primarily in the operational aspects with regard to global costs and in the financial aspects of investment return. Originality/value SCG is a topic that has been widely studied in recent years for analysing inter-organizational relations as a multi-dimensional phenomenon embedded in the company’s structures and processes. Studies analysing all aspects of SCG at the same time, however, have not been found. Moreover, there are a number of performance indicators, but there is a lack of consensus on what determines the performance of these supply chains. Furthermore, few studies have attempted to understand the effects of SCG on supply chain performance.

VISÃO SISTÊMICA DO PENSAMENTO SISTÊMICO: USO DE MAPAS CONCEITUAIS

Existem contribuicoes na literatura sobre Pensamento Sistemico (PS), porem apresentadas de forma dispersa impedindo a visualizacao do relacionamento entre elas e o acumulo de conhecimentos produzidos na area. Este artigo busca evidenciar as principais teorias e metodologias ligadas a estruturacao do PS e seus relacionamentos, a partir de um levantamento retrospectivo de 1960 a 2010. A Gestao do Conhecimento (GC), embora seja mais utilizada por empresas, pode ser aplicada para construcao de novos conhecimentos, atraves do uso de diferentes ferramentas. Para organizar e relacionar os diferentes conceitos e autores foi utilizada a ferramenta mapas conceituais. Esses mapas permitem representar graficamente conceitos, sendo uteis na localizacao e identificacao de relacionamentos entre teorias e conceitos, o que pode levar a formacao de novos conhecimentos. Os resultados da busca permitiram elaborar um mapa com os conhecimentos acumulados sobre o PS, o que possibilitou uma visao mais ampla sobre o tema.

The dimensions of it portfolio management (ITPM): an analysis involving it managers in Brazilian companies

The aim of this study is to explore and validate the dimensions of IT Portfolio Management (ITPM) in Brazilian companies, based on three different models. Five case studies were carried out in Brazilian companies that invest more than nine million reals per year in IT. Eight top IT executives from those organizations who had knowledge of the dimensions of ITPM were interviewed. Items were modified and new items included within the dimensions, while examples of equipment or systems applicable to each of the four dimensions were also identified. Research that helps managers to better understand and structure their IT investments by using the dimensions of ITPM is important to assist in the management of such resources.

Understanding the Influence of IT Investment on Supply Chain Governance (SCG)

The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of IT investments in supply chain governance (SCG) and its conceptions (contractual, relational and transactional). This study used qualitative and quantitative techniques to assist the researcher in obtaining a better and a more in depth understanding of the phenomenon. In the qualitative step, five items emerged that was applied to identify and measure the influence of IT investments on SCG: monitoring, products and orders tracking, information sharing, integration and cost reduction. All SCG elements were confirmed and validated by interviewees with the exception of the element cooperation and opportunism. Contracts were separated in informal/formal and opportunism was changed to transparency. In the quantitative step the model was validated and all hypotheses were confirmed. Thus, in this study we found a positive and significant influence of IT investments on SCG and its conceptions.

UTILIZAÇÃO DOS BENEFÍCIOS DAS DIMENSÕES DA GPTI E OS FATORES CRÍTICOS DE SUCESSO PARA ANALISAR IMPLEMENTAÇÕES DE SISTEMAS ERP (DOI: 10.5329/RESI.2010.0901004)

The analysis of ERP system implementation remains both, a source of great managerial interest and academic research. However, one of the challenges of these projects is to convince people of the benefits of having a unified management system, which requires efforts from various business units. Thus, the objective of this research is to understand what the IT and business managers’ perception is about the various benefits and critical success factors that integrated systems can provide to their businesses. In order to identify the benefits, the dimensions of the IT portfolio management (ITPM) were used, likewise, to identify the critical factors, Somers and Nelson’s model was used. To achieve the objective of this study, multiple cases were carried out in three organizations: a hospital complex, a network of pharmacies and a supermarket. In all examined cases, the companies had formal processes of choice and selection of potential suppliers. Regarding to the benefits that ERP systems provide, through the dimensions of ITPM, different benefits were identified within each dimension. It was identify that organizations 2 and 3 consider ERP systems more transactional, while organization 1 considers ERP systems more informational, regardless of the other dimensions. With respect to critical factors, there was also some difference in perceptions, but also some similarities: communication and interdepartmental cooperation, the support of top management, clear objectives/ goals and the supplier support.