The IT resource orchestration and performance during the pandemic: evidence from higher education institutions

Apart from bringing many social problems, the COVID-19 pandemic also possesses opportunities to increase competitive advantage for higher education institutions (HEIs). While almost all HEIs activities are required to run online, IT resource orchestration capability becomes a differentiating determinant for pursuing performance in the HEIs sector. Using a dynamic capability perspective, this study examined how the IT resource orchestration model was developed for HEIs by placing IT governance as a mediator to pursue performance amid difficult times such as a pandemic. This study employed a survey method by which a total of 129 HEIs participated. The results uncovered that IT application orchestration capability could promote business-IT alignment and process agility through effective IT governance as a mediator. Additionally, business-IT alignment was positively associated with process agility. Further, business-IT alignment and process agility were positively associated with HEIs performance. Theoretically, this study translated how dynamic capability theory is realized in applicable model. In practical speaking, the study suggested that in increasing IT capabilities to create business-IT alignment and process agility, which in turn has an impact on improving HEIs performance during the crisis, effective IT governance must be a concern for HEIs management given its role as an orchestration factor (mediator).