IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New Perspective

Existing studies on the information technology (IT) usage of firms are constrained within the perspective of “IT tool” or “IT investment.” Few studies have analyzed the IT usage of firms from a new perspective. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the impact of IT usage on the innovation pe...

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Main Authors: Shilei Hu, Xiaohong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5512933
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author Shilei Hu
Xiaohong Wang
author_facet Shilei Hu
Xiaohong Wang
author_sort Shilei Hu
collection DOAJ
description Existing studies on the information technology (IT) usage of firms are constrained within the perspective of “IT tool” or “IT investment.” Few studies have analyzed the IT usage of firms from a new perspective. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the impact of IT usage on the innovation performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the perspective of the product value chain (PVC). A research model integrating IT usage width, IT usage frequency, manufacturing flexibility, human capital quality, and firm innovation performance was proposed for this analysis. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis was performed on a sample of more than 1300 Chinese manufacturing firms using the newest data provided by the World Bank. Results validate that IT usage width and IT usage frequency have a significantly positive impact on the innovation performance of SMEs. Manufacturing flexibility plays a partially mediating role between IT usage frequency and the innovation performance of SMEs. Moreover, human capital quality has a significantly positive moderating effect on IT usage width and the innovation performance of SMEs. IT usage width and IT usage frequency appear to be important predictors of the innovation performance of SMEs, whereas there are substantial differences in the influencing mechanism of IT usage width and IT usage frequency on the innovation performance of SMEs.
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spelling doaj-art-439e5e28bc4c40c2b71101310522310e2025-02-03T01:27:01ZengWileyDiscrete Dynamics in Nature and Society1026-02261607-887X2021-01-01202110.1155/2021/55129335512933IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New PerspectiveShilei Hu0Xiaohong Wang1School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaSchool of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaExisting studies on the information technology (IT) usage of firms are constrained within the perspective of “IT tool” or “IT investment.” Few studies have analyzed the IT usage of firms from a new perspective. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the impact of IT usage on the innovation performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the perspective of the product value chain (PVC). A research model integrating IT usage width, IT usage frequency, manufacturing flexibility, human capital quality, and firm innovation performance was proposed for this analysis. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis was performed on a sample of more than 1300 Chinese manufacturing firms using the newest data provided by the World Bank. Results validate that IT usage width and IT usage frequency have a significantly positive impact on the innovation performance of SMEs. Manufacturing flexibility plays a partially mediating role between IT usage frequency and the innovation performance of SMEs. Moreover, human capital quality has a significantly positive moderating effect on IT usage width and the innovation performance of SMEs. IT usage width and IT usage frequency appear to be important predictors of the innovation performance of SMEs, whereas there are substantial differences in the influencing mechanism of IT usage width and IT usage frequency on the innovation performance of SMEs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5512933
spellingShingle Shilei Hu
Xiaohong Wang
IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New Perspective
Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society
title IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New Perspective
title_full IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New Perspective
title_fullStr IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New Perspective
title_full_unstemmed IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New Perspective
title_short IT Usage and Innovation Performance of SMEs in China: A New Perspective
title_sort it usage and innovation performance of smes in china a new perspective
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5512933
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AT xiaohongwang itusageandinnovationperformanceofsmesinchinaanewperspective