IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/infotm/v22y2021i1d10.1007_s10799-021-00322-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A new look at returns of information technology: firms’ diversification to IT service market and firm value

Author

Listed:
  • Wenbin Sun

    (Rockhurst University)

  • Zhihua Ding

    (China University of Mining and Technology)

  • Xiaobo Xu

    (Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University)

Abstract

Firms that are traditionally not in the scope of IT increasingly develop IT services as new business lines to create better customer offering portfolios. The current research takes the first step to theoretically explore and empirically examine how these firms’ diversification to IT services may affect their performance as reflected in firm value. Furthermore, these relationships are modeled into three key interactions with firm size, firm age, and firm service intensity, to decode the differential roles of this diversification strategy on firm shareholder welfare in the varying scenarios along with the moderators. This research generates implications for theories such as IT and knowledge management, resource-based theories, and it provides practical implications for business managers.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenbin Sun & Zhihua Ding & Xiaobo Xu, 2021. "A new look at returns of information technology: firms’ diversification to IT service market and firm value," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 13-31, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infotm:v:22:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10799-021-00322-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10799-021-00322-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10799-021-00322-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10799-021-00322-y?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. Xueling Li & Jia Shen & Wenjie Ma & Weiyong Zhang, 2016. "The effect of business ties and government ties on new IT venture growth: an empirical examination in China," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 245-261, September.
    2. Baltagi, Badi H. & Demetriades, Panicos O. & Law, Siong Hook, 2009. "Financial development and openness: Evidence from panel data," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(2), pages 285-296, July.
    3. Hund, John & Monk, Donald & Tice, Sheri, 2010. "Uncertainty about average profitability and the diversification discount," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(3), pages 463-484, June.
    4. Kyle J. Mayer & Jack A. Nickerson, 2005. "Antecedents and Performance Implications of Contracting for Knowledge Workers: Evidence from Information Technology Services," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 225-242, June.
    5. Mark C. Anderson & Rajiv D. Banker & Sury Ravindran, 2006. "Value Implications of Investments in Information Technology," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(9), pages 1359-1376, September.
    6. Leal-Rodríguez, Antonio Luis & Eldridge, Stephen & Roldán, José Luis & Leal-Millán, Antonio Genaro & Ortega-Gutiérrez, Jaime, 2015. "Organizational unlearning, innovation outcomes, and performance: The moderating effect of firm size," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 803-809.
    7. Chang, Shao-Chi & Wang, Chi-Feng, 2007. "The effect of product diversification strategies on the relationship between international diversification and firm performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 61-79, March.
    8. Yongqiang Sun & Yulin Fang & Kai H. Lim & Detmar Straub, 2012. "User Satisfaction with Information Technology Service Delivery: A Social Capital Perspective," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(4), pages 1195-1211, December.
    9. Lenn Gomes & Kannan Ramaswamy, 1999. "An Empirical Examination of the Form of the Relationship Between Multinationality and Performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 30(1), pages 173-187, March.
    10. Annette Ptok & Rupinder P. Jindal & Werner J. Reinartz, 2018. "Selling, general, and administrative expense (SGA)-based metrics in marketing: conceptual and measurement challenges," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 987-1011, November.
    11. Akbar Zaheer & Geoffrey G. Bell, 2005. "Benefiting from network position: firm capabilities, structural holes, and performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(9), pages 809-825, September.
    12. Henri Servaes & Ane Tamayo, 2013. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Firm Value: The Role of Customer Awareness," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(5), pages 1045-1061, May.
    13. Gayle Delong & Robert Deyoung, 2007. "Learning by Observing: Information Spillovers in the Execution and Valuation of Commercial Bank M&As," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 62(1), pages 181-216, February.
    14. White, Halbert, 1980. "A Heteroskedasticity-Consistent Covariance Matrix Estimator and a Direct Test for Heteroskedasticity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 48(4), pages 817-838, May.
    15. Nicole Darnall & Irene Henriques & Perry Sadorsky, 2010. "Adopting Proactive Environmental Strategy: The Influence of Stakeholders and Firm Size," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(6), pages 1072-1094, September.
    16. Pichaphop Chalermchatvichien & Seksak Jumreornvong & Pornsit Jiraporn & Manohar Singh, 2014. "The Effect of Bank Ownership Concentration on Capital Adequacy, Liquidity, and Capital Stability," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 45(2), pages 219-240, April.
    17. Erik Brynjolfsson & Lorin M. Hitt, 2000. "Beyond Computation: Information Technology, Organizational Transformation and Business Performance," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 23-48, Fall.
    18. Mark P. Sharfman & Chitru S. Fernando, 2008. "Environmental risk management and the cost of capital," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 569-592, June.
    19. Yanbo Jin & Philippe Jorion, 2006. "Firm Value and Hedging: Evidence from U.S. Oil and Gas Producers," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 61(2), pages 893-919, April.
    20. von Zedtwitz, Maximilian & Gassmann, Oliver, 2002. "Market versus technology drive in R&D internationalization: four different patterns of managing research and development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 569-588, May.
    21. Helena Yli‐Renko & Erkko Autio & Harry J. Sapienza, 2001. "Social capital, knowledge acquisition, and knowledge exploitation in young technology‐based firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 587-613, June.
    22. Rebecca N. Hann & Maria Ogneva & Oguzhan Ozbas, 2013. "Corporate Diversification and the Cost of Capital," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 68(5), pages 1961-1999, October.
    23. Gary A Knight & S Tamar Cavusgil, 2004. "Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(2), pages 124-141, March.
    24. Jason K. Deane & David M. Goldberg & Terry R. Rakes & Loren P. Rees, 2019. "The effect of information security certification announcements on the market value of the firm," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 107-121, September.
    25. Seung Ho Park & Yadong Luo, 2001. "Guanxi and organizational dynamics: organizational networking in Chinese firms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(5), pages 455-477, May.
    26. Meuleman, Miguel & De Maeseneire, Wouter, 2012. "Do R&D subsidies affect SMEs’ access to external financing?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 580-591.
    27. Thornhill, Stewart, 2006. "Knowledge, innovation and firm performance in high- and low-technology regimes," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 687-703, September.
    28. Desmond W. Ng, 2007. "A Modern Resource Based Approach to Unrelated Diversification," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 1481-1502, December.
    29. Sattar A. Mansi & David M. Reeb, 2002. "Corporate Diversification: What Gets Discounted?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 57(5), pages 2167-2183, October.
    30. Glover, Brent & Levine, Oliver, 2017. "Idiosyncratic risk and the manager," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(2), pages 320-341.
    31. Prajogo, Daniel & Olhager, Jan, 2012. "Supply chain integration and performance: The effects of long-term relationships, information technology and sharing, and logistics integration," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(1), pages 514-522.
    32. J.P. Coen Rigtering & Sascha Kraus & Fabian Eggers & Søren H. Jensen, 2014. "A comparative analysis of the entrepreneurial orientation/growth relationship in service firms and manufacturing firms," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(4), pages 275-294, February.
    33. Gary A Knight & S Tamer Cavusgil, 2004. "Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 35(4), pages 334-334, July.
    34. Aivazian, Varouj A. & Ge, Ying & Qiu, Jiaping, 2005. "The impact of leverage on firm investment: Canadian evidence," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 11(1-2), pages 277-291, March.
    35. Fang, Vivian W. & Noe, Thomas H. & Tice, Sheri, 2009. "Stock market liquidity and firm value," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 150-169, October.
    36. Caroline Flammer, 2015. "Does product market competition foster corporate social responsibility? Evidence from trade liberalization," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(10), pages 1469-1485, October.
    37. Giudici, Giancarlo & Paleari, Stefano, 2000. "The Provision of Finance to Innovation: A Survey Conducted among Italian Technology-Based Small Firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 37-53, February.
    38. Gerard Hoberg & Gordon Phillips, 2016. "Text-Based Network Industries and Endogenous Product Differentiation," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 124(5), pages 1423-1465.
    39. Annette Ptok & Rupinder P. Jindal & Werner J. Reinartz, 2018. "Correction to: selling, general, and administrative expense (SGA)-based metrics in marketing: conceptual and measurement challenges," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 1012-1013, November.
    40. Chari, Murali D.R. & Devaraj, Sarv & David, Parthiban, 2007. "International diversification and firm performance: Role of information technology investments," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 184-197, June.
    41. Michael J. Cooper & Huseyin Gulen & Michael J. Schill, 2008. "Asset Growth and the Cross‐Section of Stock Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 63(4), pages 1609-1651, August.
    42. Mani, Sudha & Luo, Xueming, 2015. "Product alliances, alliance networks, and shareholder value: Evidence from the biopharmaceutical industry," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 9-22.
    43. Adam, Tim R. & Fernando, Chitru S., 2006. "Hedging, speculation, and shareholder value," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(2), pages 283-309, August.
    44. Leslie E. Palich & Laura B. Cardinal & C. Chet Miller, 2000. "Curvilinearity in the diversification–performance linkage: an examination of over three decades of research," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(2), pages 155-174, February.
    45. Dushnitsky, Gary & Lenox, Michael J., 2006. "When does corporate venture capital investment create firm value?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 21(6), pages 753-772, November.
    46. John A Doukas & Ozgur B Kan, 2006. "Does global diversification destroy firm value?," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(3), pages 352-371, May.
    47. Constance E. Helfat & Margaret A. Peteraf, 2003. "The dynamic resource‐based view: capability lifecycles," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(10), pages 997-1010, October.
    48. Stewart Thornhill & Raphael Amit, 2003. "Learning About Failure: Bankruptcy, Firm Age, and the Resource-Based View," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(5), pages 497-509, October.
    49. S Tamer Cavusgil & Gary Knight, 2015. "The born global firm: An entrepreneurial and capabilities perspective on early and rapid internationalization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 46(1), pages 3-16, January.
    50. Santoro, Michael D. & Chakrabarti, Alok K., 2002. "Firm size and technology centrality in industry-university interactions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 1163-1180, September.
    51. Doyle, Jeffrey & Ge, Weili & McVay, Sarah, 2007. "Determinants of weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(1-2), pages 193-223, September.
    52. Kang, Hyung Cheol & Anderson, Robert M. & Eom, Kyong Shik & Kang, Sang Koo, 2017. "Controlling shareholders' value, long-run firm value and short-term performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 340-353.
    53. Yuangao Chen & Shuiqing Yang & Zhoujing Wang, 2016. "Service cooperation and marketing strategies of infomediary and online retailer with eWOM effect," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 109-118, June.
    54. Harry P. Bowen & Margarethe F. Wiersema, 2005. "Foreign‐based competition and corporate diversification strategy," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(12), pages 1153-1171, December.
    55. M. S. Krishnan & Venkatram Ramaswamy & Mary C. Meyer & Paul Damien, 1999. "Customer Satisfaction for Financial Services: The Role of Products, Services, and Information Technology," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 45(9), pages 1194-1209, September.
    56. Arnd Vomberg & Christian Homburg & Torsten Bornemann, 2015. "Talented people and strong brands: The contribution of human capital and brand equity to firm value," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(13), pages 2122-2131, December.
    57. Amy J. Hillman & Gerald D. Keim, 2001. "Shareholder value, stakeholder management, and social issues: what's the bottom line?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(2), pages 125-139, February.
    58. Youngjin Yoo & Ola Henfridsson & Kalle Lyytinen, 2010. "Research Commentary ---The New Organizing Logic of Digital Innovation: An Agenda for Information Systems Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 724-735, December.
    59. Todd M. Alessandri & Anju Seth, 2014. "The effects of managerial ownership on international and business diversification: Balancing incentives and risks," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(13), pages 2064-2075, December.
    60. Ron Adner & Rahul Kapoor, 2010. "Value creation in innovation ecosystems: how the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 306-333, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Mushtaq Hussain Khan & Hina Yaqub Bhatti & Arshad Hassan & Ahmad Fraz, 2021. "The diversification–performance nexus: mediating role of information asymmetry," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(3), pages 787-810, September.
    2. Chang, Ching-Hung & Chen, Sheng-Syan & Chen, Yan-Shing & Peng, Shu-Cing, 2019. "Commitment to build trust by socially responsible firms: Evidence from cash holdings," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 364-387.
    3. Shaheer, Noman Ahmed & Li, Sali, 2020. "The CAGE around cyberspace? How digital innovations internationalize in a virtual world," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(1).
    4. Quan Anh Nguyen & Gillian Sullivan Mort, 0. "Conceptualising organisational-level and microfoundational capabilities: an integrated view of born-globals’ internationalisation," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-23.
    5. Maria Rumyantseva & Catherine Welch, 2023. "The born global and international new venture revisited: An alternative explanation for early and rapid internationalization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(7), pages 1193-1221, September.
    6. Boubaker, Sabri & Chebbi, Kaouther & Grira, Jocelyn, 2020. "Top management inside debt and corporate social responsibility? Evidence from the US," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 98-115.
    7. Shaheer, Noman & Kim, Kijong & Li, Sali, 2022. "Internationalization of Digital Innovations: A Rapidly Evolving Research Stream," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    8. Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2020. "Do foreign investments increase firm value and firm performance? Evidence from Japan," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    9. Park, Sarah & LiPuma, Joseph A., 2020. "New venture internationalization: The role of venture capital types and reputation," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(1).
    10. Sascha Kraus & Christine Mitter & Felix Eggers & Philipp Stieg, 2017. "Drivers of internationalization success: a conjoint choice experiment on German SME managers," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 691-716, July.
    11. Hashai, Niron & Zahra, Shaker A., 2022. "A double-edged sword? Founder Teams' Prior International Experience and INV International Scale-up," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(2).
    12. Anna Vuorio & Lasse Torkkeli & Liisa-Maija Sainio, 2020. "Service innovation and internationalization in SMEs: antecedents and profitability outcomes," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 92-123, March.
    13. Onali, Enrico & Mascia, Danilo V., 2022. "Corporate diversification and stock risk: Evidence from a global shock," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    14. Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2017. "Capital investment and internationalization," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 31-48.
    15. Martin, Silvia L. & Javalgi, Rajshekhar (Raj) G., 2016. "Entrepreneurial orientation, marketing capabilities and performance: The Moderating role of Competitive Intensity on Latin American International New Ventures," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 2040-2051.
    16. Darshana Mudalige & Noor Azizi Ismail & Marlin Abdul Malek, 2019. "Exploring the Role of Individual Level and Firm Level Dynamic Capabilities in SMEs’ Internationalization," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 41-74, March.
    17. Nuno Calheiros-Lobo & José Vasconcelos Ferreira & Manuel Au-Yong-Oliveira, 2023. "SME Internationalization and Export Performance: A Systematic Review with Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-36, May.
    18. Buccieri, Dominic & Javalgi, Raj G. & Cavusgil, Erin, 2020. "International new venture performance: Role of international entrepreneurial culture, ambidextrous innovation, and dynamic marketing capabilities," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    19. Jaeyoung Cho & Jangwoo Lee, 2018. "Internationalization and performance of Korean SMEs: the moderating role of competitive strategy," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 17(2), pages 140-166, April.
    20. Gripsrud, Geir & Hunneman, Auke & Solberg, Carl Arthur, 2023. "Speed of internationalization of new ventures and survival in export markets," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).

    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:spr:infotm:v:22:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s10799-021-00322-y. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.