The benefits and determinants of success in information technology applications in a Greater China context: Exploratory evidence from Taiwanese manufacturing companies

Abstract

This study explores the benefits from, and determinants of IT application success among Taiwanese manufacturing companies. Findings from a survey with a sample of 89 firms indicate that on average, these firms had benefited from increasing their level and scope of IT applications. Multiple regressions were used to explore the potential causes of different success in IT applications. On the whole, the results provided support for the oftmade claim in the Western literature that IT applications should not be treated as mere technical changes that can be delegated to functional experts in the area. Rather, successful IT application requires cognizance of its integral link to organizational processes and systems, such that concomitant changes in the latter are required for the full benefits of IT applications to be realized. To the extent that workers in Taiwan have a Chinese‐based work‐related culture, this study’s findings can help to increase the success of IT implementations in the Greater China context.