Information and business performance: a study of information systems and services in high-performing companies

Abstract

Reports results of research into the relationship between effective information systems and business performance. The project involved a case study of 12 companies, selected as being ‘high performing’ according to specified criteria (profitability, productivity, quality, peer evaluation, and export success) and an interview and questionnaire survey technique which investigated: use of information technology to deliver information services, coverage of both internal and external information and data; constitution of the knowledge base; risks to the knowledge base caused by dependency on individuals rather than systems; value of key company staff to the value of information as a contributor to performance; and how far the company can be described as having an information ethos, through which the value of information is conveyed to all workers. Results were used to construct a Research Model of information flows within companies using the variables identified. Findings proved the legitimacy of the research model and validated the interconnected variables studied. Additional variables identified, including environmental factors and internal organizational factors led to the design of an Expanded Research Model.