IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v139y2022icp804-818.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Board engagement with digital technologies: A resource dependence framework

Author

Listed:
  • Oliveira, Fabio
  • Kakabadse, Nada
  • Khan, Nadeem

Abstract

This exploratory qualitative inquiry examines the perspectives of 26 board members in medium-sized, privately held companies operating in the United Kingdom. The study question investigates how digital technologies (DT)11Digital technologies (DT); Resource Dependence Theory (RDT); board of directors (BDs); strategic firm decision-making (SDM); top management team (TMT). are impacting on board director capabilities. Different board members’ experiences from their own perspectives are examined, with attention on capturing the influence of digital technologies on the way that board directors work. Thematic analysis offers a rigorous approach to analysis and enables articulating deeper and meaningful understandings of individual director experiences. Findings presented as a framework, indicate that DT impacts all board directors’ capabilities as four major aspects: gathering, interpreting and sharing information; board stewardship; blue-sky strategizing; and scoping predictive strategic priorities. Theoretical contribution is to Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) as an outcome-focused lens, which best explains a firm’s interest in digital technological advantage through board contribution and outcomes. In conclusion, practical insights for board members and regulators are highlighted.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliveira, Fabio & Kakabadse, Nada & Khan, Nadeem, 2022. "Board engagement with digital technologies: A resource dependence framework," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 804-818.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:139:y:2022:i:c:p:804-818
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.10.010
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296321007360
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.10.010?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas Bolander, 2019. "What do we loose when machines take the decisions?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(4), pages 849-867, December.
    2. Wieringa, Jaap & Kannan, P.K. & Ma, Xiao & Reutterer, Thomas & Risselada, Hans & Skiera, Bernd, 2021. "Data analytics in a privacy-concerned world," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 915-925.
    3. Amy J. Hillman & Albert A. Cannella & Ramona L. Paetzold, 2000. "The Resource Dependence Role of Corporate Directors: Strategic Adaptation of Board Composition in Response to Environmental Change," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(2), pages 235-256, March.
    4. Ulf H. Richter & Felix F. Arndt, 2018. "Cognitive Processes in the CSR Decision-Making Process: A Sensemaking Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 587-602, March.
    5. Hamsa Bastani & Mohsen Bayati, 2020. "Online Decision Making with High-Dimensional Covariates," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 68(1), pages 276-294, January.
    6. Weiwen Li & Ryan Krause & Xin Qin & Junsheng Zhang & Hang Zhu & Shanshan Lin & Yuehua Xu, 2018. "Under the microscope: An experimental look at board transparency and director monitoring behavior," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(4), pages 1216-1236, April.
    7. Walid Cheffi & Sonia Abdennadher, 2019. "Executives’ Behaviour and Innovation in Corporate Governance: The Case of Internet Voting at Shareholders’ General Meetings in French Listed Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 156(3), pages 775-798, May.
    8. Michael Hilb, 2020. "Toward artificial governance? The role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of corporate governance," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 24(4), pages 851-870, December.
    9. Kalin D. Kolev & David B. Wangrow & Vincent L. Barker & Donald J. Schepker, 2019. "Board Committees in Corporate Governance: A Cross‐Disciplinary Review and Agenda for the Future," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(6), pages 1138-1193, September.
    10. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    11. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    12. Veland Ramadani & Esra Memili & Ramo Palalić & Erick P. C. Chang, 2020. "Governance in the Family Businesses," Springer Texts in Business and Economics, in: Entrepreneurial Family Businesses, chapter 2, pages 29-41, Springer.
    13. Carl ?berg & Niloofar Kazemargi & Max Bankewitz, 2017. "Strategists on the Board in a Digital Era," Business and Management Research, Business and Management Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 6(2), pages 40-51, June.
    14. Kathleen R. Conner & C. K. Prahalad, 1996. "A Resource-Based Theory of the Firm: Knowledge Versus Opportunism," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 7(5), pages 477-501, October.
    15. Yar Hamidi, Daniel & Machold, Silke, 2020. "Governance, boards and value co-creation: Changing perspectives towards a service dominant logic," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 956-966.
    16. Shrestha, Yash Raj & Krishna, Vaibhav & von Krogh, Georg, 2021. "Augmenting organizational decision-making with deep learning algorithms: Principles, promises, and challenges," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 588-603.
    17. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    18. Shamim, Saqib & Zeng, Jing & Khan, Zaheer & Zia, Najam Ul, 2020. "Big data analytics capability and decision making performance in emerging market firms: The role of contractual and relational governance mechanisms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    19. James J. Chrisman, 2019. "Stewardship Theory: Realism, Relevance, and Family Firm Governance," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(6), pages 1051-1066, November.
    20. Melinda Muth & Lex Donaldson, 1998. "Stewardship Theory and Board Structure: a contingency approach," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(1), pages 5-28, January.
    21. Sophie Le Bris & Antonia Madrid-Guijarro & Dominique Philippe Martin, 2019. "Decision-making in complex environments under time pressure and risk of critical irreversibility: The role of meta rules," Post-Print halshs-02497641, HAL.
    22. James G. March, 1978. "Bounded Rationality, Ambiguity, and the Engineering of Choice," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 9(2), pages 587-608, Autumn.
    23. Sabrina Schneider & Michael Leyer, 2019. "Me or information technology? Adoption of artificial intelligence in the delegation of personal strategic decisions," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 223-231, April.
    24. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    25. Max Bankewitz & Carl Aberg & Christine Teuchert, 2016. "Digitalization and Boards of Directors: A New Era of Corporate Governance?," Business and Management Research, Business and Management Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 5(2), pages 58-69, June.
    26. Steve Jones & Zahir Irani & Uthayasankar Sivarajah & Peter E. D. Love, 2019. "Risks and rewards of cloud computing in the UK public sector: A reflection on three Organisational case studies," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 359-382, April.
    27. Merendino, Alessandro & Dibb, Sally & Meadows, Maureen & Quinn, Lee & Wilson, David & Simkin, Lyndon & Canhoto, Ana, 2018. "Big data, big decisions: The impact of big data on board level decision-making," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 67-78.
    28. Manita, Riadh & Elommal, Najoua & Baudier, Patricia & Hikkerova, Lubica, 2020. "The digital transformation of external audit and its impact on corporate governance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    29. William S. Schulze & Michael H. Lubatkin & Richard N. Dino & Ann K. Buchholtz, 2001. "Agency Relationships in Family Firms: Theory and Evidence," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(2), pages 99-116, April.
    30. Matarazzo, Michela & Penco, Lara & Profumo, Giorgia & Quaglia, Roberto, 2021. "Digital transformation and customer value creation in Made in Italy SMEs: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 642-656.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bag, Surajit & Rahman, Muhammad Sabbir & Srivastava, Gautam & Giannakis, Mihalis & Foropon, Cyril, 2023. "Data-driven digital transformation and the implications for antifragility in the humanitarian supply chain," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    2. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    3. Ponzoa, José M. & Gómez, Andrés & Mas, José M., 2023. "EU27 and USA institutions in the digital ecosystem: Proposal for a digital presence measurement index," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    4. Agbodoh-Falschau, Kouassi Raymond & Ravaonorohanta, Bako Harinivo, 2023. "Investigating the influence of governance determinants on reporting cybersecurity incidents to police: Evidence from Canadian organizations’ perspectives," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Jing Ma & Young-Gyun Ahn & Min-Kyu Lee, 2022. "The Interactive Influence of Institutional Quality and Resource Dependence on Regional Economic Growth: Evidence from China’s Resource-Based Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, May.
    6. Yang Yang & Jinmian Han, 2023. "Digital transformation, financing constraints, and corporate environmental, social, and governance performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3189-3202, November.
    7. Yunsi Chen & Sumin Hu & Haoqiang Wu, 2023. "The Digital Economy, Green Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.
    8. Ahmed, Mohamed Shaker & Elnahass, Marwa, 2024. "Being famous matters: Evidence from cash flow volatility," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Brewis, Claire & Dibb, Sally & Meadows, Maureen, 2023. "Leveraging big data for strategic marketing: A dynamic capabilities model for incumbent firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    2. Shao, Yanmin & Xu, Kunliang & Shan, Yuan George, 2024. "Leveraging corporate digitalization for green technology innovation: The mediating role of resource endowments," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. Peter Wirtz, 2011. "Beyond Agency Theory: Value Creation and the Role of Cognition in the Relationship Between Entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists," Springer Books, in: Advances in Entrepreneurial Finance, chapter 0, pages 31-43, Springer.
    4. Xiaoyan Teng & Zhong Wu & Feng Yang, 2022. "Research on the Relationship between Digital Transformation and Performance of SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Nigel Driffield & Jun Du & Jan Godsell & Mark Hart & Katiuscia Lavoratori & Steven Roper & Irina Surdu & Wanrong Zhang, 2021. "Understanding productivity:Organisational Capital perspectives," Working Papers 013, The Productivity Institute.
    6. Dominik van Aaken & Maximilian Göbel & Daniel Meindl, 2020. "Monitor or Advise? How Family Involvement Affects Supervisory Board Roles in Family Firms," Schmalenbach Business Review, Springer;Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft, vol. 72(2), pages 193-224, April.
    7. Peter Wirtz, 2015. "Entrepreneurial Finance and the Creation of Value: Agency Costs vs. Cognitive Value," Post-Print hal-01178314, HAL.
    8. David G. Sirmon & Michael A. Hitt, 2003. "Managing Resources: Linking Unique Resources, Management, and Wealth Creation in Family Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 27(4), pages 339-358, October.
    9. Isabelle Le Breton–Miller & Danny Miller, 2006. "Why Do Some Family Businesses Out–Compete? Governance, Long–Term Orientations, and Sustainable Capability," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(6), pages 731-746, November.
    10. López Zapata, Esteban & García Muiña, Fernando Enrique & García, Susana María, 2019. "Analysing the relationship between diversification strategy and firm performance: the role of the economic cycle," Cuadernos de Gestión, Universidad del País Vasco - Instituto de Economía Aplicada a la Empresa (IEAE).
    11. Zhou, Zhongsheng & Li, Zhuo, 2023. "Corporate digital transformation and trade credit financing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    12. Cyrille Sardais & Martin Blom & Josée Lortie, 2021. "Exit, voice, loyalty, and … disobedience: When a CEO opposes his principal," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 188-207, March.
    13. Oesterreich, Thuy Duong & Anton, Eduard & Teuteberg, Frank & Dwivedi, Yogesh K, 2022. "The role of the social and technical factors in creating business value from big data analytics: A meta-analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 128-149.
    14. Cricelli, Livio & Mauriello, Roberto & Strazzullo, Serena, 2023. "Preventing open innovation failures: A managerial framework," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    15. Victoria Antin Yates & James M. Vardaman & James J. Chrisman, 2023. "Social network research in the family business literature: a review and integration," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1323-1345, April.
    16. Dunning, John H., 2000. "The eclectic paradigm as an envelope for economic and business theories of MNE activity," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 163-190, April.
    17. Nguyen, Thi Tuyet Mai, 2017. "An examination of independent directors in Vietnam," OSF Preprints ay6dv, Center for Open Science.
    18. Jiang, Kangqi & Du, Xinyi & Chen, Zhongfei, 2022. "Firms' digitalization and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    19. Naeem Tabassum & Satwinder Singh, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Organisational Performance," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-48527-6, December.
    20. Schmutz, Iris & Reinecke, Sven & Manole, Anne-Marie, 2020. "Allocating resources in pricing – which capabilities are worth fostering in the face of AI?," Die Unternehmung - Swiss Journal of Business Research and Practice, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 74(4), pages 349-364.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:139:y:2022:i:c:p:804-818. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.