The Effect of the Fit between Perceived Environmental Uncertainty and Strategic Applications of Information Systems on the Firm’s Performance

초록

[Purpose]This study empirically investigated the fit relationships among perceived environmental uncertainty(PEUN), strategic applications levels of information systems(IS), and facilitators of IS strategic alignment. We also examined the differences in organizational performance according to the degrees of fit. We demonstrate the appropriate levels or degrees of the strategic applications of IS and the conditions of alignment facilitators under the high or low states of PEUN. [Methodology]For the study, 105 sample firms’ data were collected form Korean manufacturing firms listed on the stock market. Cluster analysis was employed as the main analytical tool. [Findings]According to the results of this study, PEUN has an indirect relationships with the strategic applications level of IS through the facilitators of alignment. The results showed that under uncertain environment, the high level of strategic applications with the well－arranged facilitators of alignment can contribute more to the improvement of performance than in the less uncertain or stable environment. Therefore, the benefits of the high level of strategic applications can be realized in the competitive and uncertain environment. The empirical results also suggested that the high levels of strategic applications of IS is combined with the high degrees of the facilitators of IS strategic alignment. [Implications]The results of this study present that the competitive advantages of the strategic IS applications are realized under the uncertain and competitive environments. However, though the environment is stable(low PEUN), the excessively low level of strategic applications may decrease the firm’s performance. Accordingly, a firm must recognize the states of external environments, and develop and obtain the appropriate degrees of the strategic applications of IS.

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