Effect of ITC on the international competitiveness of firms

• Published in: Management decision Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 1045 - 1061
• Main Authors: Peña-Vinces, Jesús C, Cepeda-Carrión, Gabriel, Chin, Wynne W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Emerald Group Publishing Limited 22-06-2012
• Subjects: Collaboration; Competitive advantage; Developing countries; Electronic commerce; Exports; Human resources; Information systems; Information technology; International; LDCs; R&D; Research & development; Small & medium sized enterprises-SME; Studies; Exporting; Information technologies and communications; Competitive strategy; Globalization; Developing countries; International competitiveness; Competitive advantage; Internationalization; Industrial sectors; Peru
• ISSN: 0025-1747; 1758-6070
• DOI: 10.1108/00251741211238328

Purpose - This paper's aim is to evaluate the effect of the use of information technology and communications (ITC) on the international competitiveness of firms in developing countries. The study also seeks to evaluate other factors that allow or condition the use of ITC such as: human resources, collaboration of the industrial sector, and local environment.Design methodology approach - These effects are examined through an empirical research of 100 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from a developing country - Peru.Findings - SMEs from developing countries follow an isomorphic approach. This is because they tend to imitate or copy the better practices from developed countries. The results have shown that ITCs have a positive effect on the international competitiveness of firms.Research limitations implications - A limitation is the cross-sectional character of this research.Practical implications - Firms use ITC to manage their inventory, for the communication between manufacturers and offices, and suppliers, for bill payments, and for the management of sales and marketing, and for the management of their networks.Originality value - According to the literature reviewed, this study is one of the pioneers in contrasting empirically whether the use of ITC contributes positively to the international competitiveness of firms in the developing countries of Latin America.