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Does IT Outsourcing Increase Firm Success? An Empirical Assessment using Firm-Level Data

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  • Ohnemus, Jörg

Abstract

Using German firm-level data, an endogenous switching regression model within a production function framework is estimated in order to explore differences in labor productivity between IT outsourcing and non-IT outsourcing firms. This approach takes possible complementarities between IT outsourcing and production input factors into account and further allows IT outsourcing to affect any factor of the production function. Estimation results show that IT outsourcing firms produce more efficiently than non-IT outsourcing firms. Furthermore, they have a significantly larger output elasticity with respect to computer workers. Therefore computer workers and IT outsourcing can be interpreted as complementary factors positively affecting firms? labor productivity. An additional analysis indicates that IT outsourcing, in the medium-term, has a positive effect on firms? employment growth rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Ohnemus, Jörg, 2007. "Does IT Outsourcing Increase Firm Success? An Empirical Assessment using Firm-Level Data," ZEW Discussion Papers 07-087, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:7011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Armbruster, Kathrin & Beckmann, Michael & Kuhn, Dieter, 2012. "Task Allocation and Corporate Performance : is There a First-Mover Advantage?," Working papers 2012/07, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    2. Irene Bertschek & Daniel Erdsiek & Manuel Trenz, 2017. "IT Outsourcing—A Source of Innovation? Microeconometric Evidence for Germany," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 38(7), pages 941-954, October.
    3. Breunig, Christoph & Kummer, Michael & Ohnemus, Jörg & Viete, Steffen, 2016. "IT outsourcing and firm productivity: Eliminating bias from selective missingness in the dependent variable," ZEW Discussion Papers 16-092, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    4. Burcu Fazlıoğlu & Başak Dalgıç & Ahmet Burçin Yereli, 2019. "The effect of innovation on productivity: evidence from Turkish manufacturing firms," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 439-460, April.
    5. Ohnemus, Jörg, 2009. "Productivity effects of business process outsourcing: a firm-level investigation based on panel data," ZEW Discussion Papers 09-088, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    6. Frank Crowley & Philip McCann, 2015. "Innovation and Productivity in Irish Firms," Spatial Economic Analysis, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 181-204, June.
    7. Christian Peukert, 2012. "External Technology Supply and Client-Side Innovation," International Studies in Entrepreneurship, in: David B. Audretsch & Erik E. Lehmann & Albert N. Link & Alexander Starnecker (ed.), Technology Transfer in a Global Economy, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 161-184, Springer.
    8. Engelstätter, Benjamin, 2009. "Enterprise systems and labor productivity: disentangling combination effects," ZEW Discussion Papers 09-040, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    9. Bertschek, Irene, 2008. "Wissensvermittlung versus Legitimationsfunktion: Warum engagieren Unternehmen IT-Berater?," ZEW Discussion Papers 08-083, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    IT Outsourcing; Productivity; Endogenous Switching Regression; Employment Growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure

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