This paper aims to analyze the potential future of the 4PL concept based on expert opinions with special regard to the influence of digitalization coming with a disruptive trans-formation of supply chains. Service arrangements, provider capabilities and benefits resulting from a 4PL partnership are compared in current and future configurations. The research follows an explorative mixed methods approach with semi structured interviews followed by an expert panel. This builds a basis for an online survey questionnaire to inquire on important future aspects for the 4PL concept by a sample of respondents from multinational companies. Our results show a clear trend away from simply organizing transportation and logistics activities towards the provision of an IT platform as well as further value-added service activities such as planning, analytics and monitoring. Along with this, IT capabilities appear to be an important differentiator for 4PL providers in the future. Moreover, relationships between 4PL providers and their clients become closer and more strategic, which leads to a customer valuing not only direct cost reductions but rather improvements resulting from optimized operations through superior analysis and planning functions.

Organizations are becoming increasingly dependent on information technology for different purposes, such as project and resource-management systems, cooperative work systems and organizational memory systems. There is a need to make a dynamic roadmap for IT capability usage to facilitate organizational performance. The aim of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of the role of IS Strategy in utilizing IT capabilities for operationalizing and integrating business process information for the purpose of organizational performance from the lens of the resource-based view (RBV). This research makes use of single case study analysis of a construction organization in the oil and gas industry in Iran. This case study is expected to fill a gap in the literature in the specific context of a strategic situation and the critical environment in Iran.

Muitos estudos científicos avaliam a influência das capacidades de TI sobre a vantagem competitiva e sobre o desempenho da firma. Entretanto, percebe-se a existência de lacunas na literatura sobre capacidades de TI atreladas a alguns temas específicos. Nesse sentido, a comunidade científica carece de estudos que analisem especificamente a relação das capacidades de TI com a qualidade da informação e com a qualidade do serviço de informação, já que as atuais publicações tangenciam, mas não resolvem este dilema. Com o propósito de atender a esta demanda, a presente pesquisa investigou, em um ambiente de negócios digitais: a) como as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade da informação; b) como as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade do serviço de informação, e c) se existem outras capacidades ou recursos que, juntamente com as capacidades de TI, influenciam a qualidade de informação e a qualidade do serviço de informação. A fim de atender a esses objetivos, empregou-se o método de estudo de casos múltiplos e a técnica de análise de conteúdo temática. Para a coleta dos dados, utilizou-se uma triangulação das técnicas de entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise documental. A análise comparativa dos quatro casos realizados permitiu concluir que as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade da informação e com a qualidade do serviço de informação no contexto de negócios digitais, e que a intensidade desse relacionamento é maior para algumas dimensões específicas das capacidades de TI. Verificou-se, ainda, que existem outras capacidades ou recursos que, juntamente com as capacidades de TI, influenciam a qualidade de informação e a qualidade do serviço de informação, no contexto de negócios digitais. / Many studies have evaluated the influence of IT capabilities on competitive advantage and on firm performance. However, there are gaps in the literature about the IT capabilities topic related to some specifics elements. Thus, the scientific community needs studies that specifically analyze the relationship between IT capabilities, information quality and information service quality, since current publications just mention it, but do not solve it’s dilemma. In order to fill this gap, this research investigates, in an environment of digital business: a) how IT capabilities are related to information quality; b) how IT capabilities are related to information service quality, and c) if other capabilities or resources, beside IT capabilities, influence information quality and information service quality. For that, this research employs the multiple case study method and the technique of content analysis. To data collection, it was used the combination of semi-structured interviews and document analysis techniques. Then, a comparative analysis of four cases was conducted. As result, it was concluded that IT capabilities are related to information quality and to information service quality in the context of digital business. However, the intensity of this relationship is higher for some specifics dimensions of IT capabilities. It was also found that, in this context, there are other capabilities or resources that influence information quality and information service quality beside IT capabilities.

Muitos estudos científicos avaliam a influência das capacidades de TI sobre a vantagem competitiva e sobre o desempenho da firma. Entretanto, percebe-se a existência de lacunas na literatura sobre capacidades de TI atreladas a alguns temas específicos. Nesse sentido, a comunidade científica carece de estudos que analisem especificamente a relação das capacidades de TI com a qualidade da informação e com a qualidade do serviço de informação, já que as atuais publicações tangenciam, mas não resolvem este dilema. Com o propósito de atender a esta demanda, a presente pesquisa investigou, em um ambiente de negócios digitais: a) como as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade da informação; b) como as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade do serviço de informação, e c) se existem outras capacidades ou recursos que, juntamente com as capacidades de TI, influenciam a qualidade de informação e a qualidade do serviço de informação. A fim de atender a esses objetivos, empregou-se o método de estudo de casos múltiplos e a técnica de análise de conteúdo temática. Para a coleta dos dados, utilizou-se uma triangulação das técnicas de entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise documental. A análise comparativa dos quatro casos realizados permitiu concluir que as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade da informação e com a qualidade do serviço de informação no contexto de negócios digitais, e que a intensidade desse relacionamento é maior para algumas dimensões específicas das capacidades de TI. Verificou-se, ainda, que existem outras capacidades ou recursos que, juntamente com as capacidades de TI, influenciam a qualidade de informação e a qualidade do serviço de informação, no contexto de negócios digitais. / Many studies have evaluated the influence of IT capabilities on competitive advantage and on firm performance. However, there are gaps in the literature about the IT capabilities topic related to some specifics elements. Thus, the scientific community needs studies that specifically analyze the relationship between IT capabilities, information quality and information service quality, since current publications just mention it, but do not solve it’s dilemma. In order to fill this gap, this research investigates, in an environment of digital business: a) how IT capabilities are related to information quality; b) how IT capabilities are related to information service quality, and c) if other capabilities or resources, beside IT capabilities, influence information quality and information service quality. For that, this research employs the multiple case study method and the technique of content analysis. To data collection, it was used the combination of semi-structured interviews and document analysis techniques. Then, a comparative analysis of four cases was conducted. As result, it was concluded that IT capabilities are related to information quality and to information service quality in the context of digital business. However, the intensity of this relationship is higher for some specifics dimensions of IT capabilities. It was also found that, in this context, there are other capabilities or resources that influence information quality and information service quality beside IT capabilities.

Muitos estudos científicos avaliam a influência das capacidades de TI sobre a vantagem competitiva e sobre o desempenho da firma. Entretanto, percebe-se a existência de lacunas na literatura sobre capacidades de TI atreladas a alguns temas específicos. Nesse sentido, a comunidade científica carece de estudos que analisem especificamente a relação das capacidades de TI com a qualidade da informação e com a qualidade do serviço de informação, já que as atuais publicações tangenciam, mas não resolvem este dilema. Com o propósito de atender a esta demanda, a presente pesquisa investigou, em um ambiente de negócios digitais: a) como as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade da informação; b) como as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade do serviço de informação, e c) se existem outras capacidades ou recursos que, juntamente com as capacidades de TI, influenciam a qualidade de informação e a qualidade do serviço de informação. A fim de atender a esses objetivos, empregou-se o método de estudo de casos múltiplos e a técnica de análise de conteúdo temática. Para a coleta dos dados, utilizou-se uma triangulação das técnicas de entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise documental. A análise comparativa dos quatro casos realizados permitiu concluir que as capacidades de TI se relacionam com a qualidade da informação e com a qualidade do serviço de informação no contexto de negócios digitais, e que a intensidade desse relacionamento é maior para algumas dimensões específicas das capacidades de TI. Verificou-se, ainda, que existem outras capacidades ou recursos que, juntamente com as capacidades de TI, influenciam a qualidade de informação e a qualidade do serviço de informação, no contexto de negócios digitais. / Many studies have evaluated the influence of IT capabilities on competitive advantage and on firm performance. However, there are gaps in the literature about the IT capabilities topic related to some specifics elements. Thus, the scientific community needs studies that specifically analyze the relationship between IT capabilities, information quality and information service quality, since current publications just mention it, but do not solve it’s dilemma. In order to fill this gap, this research investigates, in an environment of digital business: a) how IT capabilities are related to information quality; b) how IT capabilities are related to information service quality, and c) if other capabilities or resources, beside IT capabilities, influence information quality and information service quality. For that, this research employs the multiple case study method and the technique of content analysis. To data collection, it was used the combination of semi-structured interviews and document analysis techniques. Then, a comparative analysis of four cases was conducted. As result, it was concluded that IT capabilities are related to information quality and to information service quality in the context of digital business. However, the intensity of this relationship is higher for some specifics dimensions of IT capabilities. It was also found that, in this context, there are other capabilities or resources that influence information quality and information service quality beside IT capabilities.

Un enjeu important des entreprises agroalimentaires marocaines est d’optimiser leurs investissements en technologies de l’information et de la communication. Un autre enjeu concerne l’adaptation de leurs structures organisationnelles en fonction de leur orientation stratégique. En effet, la performance de ces entreprises est conditionnée par la valeur de leur système d’information c'est-à-dire sa qualité et sa contribution aux processus métiers et aux échanges électroniques avec les partenaires. Cette recherche a pour objectif de comprendre comment la capacité du système d’information logistique contribue à la performance des entreprises agroalimentaires marocaines.La démarche adoptée est fondée sur une enquête par questionnaire dans 75 entreprises. Les résultats de cette recherche permettent de comprendre le processus de conversion de ressources complémentaires (le soutien des dirigeants et les compétences du personnel informatique) en un système d’information de qualité, contribuant aux activités du processus logistique et aux échanges électroniques avec les partenaires et enfin personnalisé en fonction de l’orientation stratégique de l’entreprise. / The challenge of Moroccan Agricultural and food companies is to optimize their investments in information technologies and to adapt their organizational structures according to their environment. Indeed, the performance of these companies is conditioned by the success of their information system to determine the value in a competitive context. The purpose of this research is to understand how the capacity of logistics information systems contributes to the performance of Moroccan Agricultural and food companies.The quantative approach was used in this study through a survey with themanagers and production or logistics managers of 75 Moroccan Agricultural and foodcompanies.The results of this research explained the process of converting the information systems (IS) resources according to the strategic configuration of thecompanies.This research highlighted the importance of IS capabilities and the SI exchange value of the process of supply chain information system in the contribution to the performance.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2015-10-21T15:40:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 WESLEY LACERDA E SILVA_.pdf: 653332 bytes, checksum: 2d0fc8bce4e0c028ac9e742f61d288ca (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-21T15:40:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WESLEY LACERDA E SILVA_.pdf: 653332 bytes, checksum: 2d0fc8bce4e0c028ac9e742f61d288ca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-21 / Nenhuma / A capacidade de coprodução de serviços terceirizados de Tecnologia da Informação - TI é um tema pouco debatido de modo geral, com poucos trabalhos acadêmicos específicos e desconhecido no meio profissional. Esse estudo apresenta uma proposta de constructo sobre as capacidades dos clientes de coprodução de serviços terceirizados de manutenção de aplicativos. Esta pesquisa qualitativa foi desenvolvida a partir da análise detalhada de uma empresa multinacional brasileira reconhecida pela sua estratégia de terceirização de atividades fora do seu core business, como é o caso das atividades de TI. Utilizando a abordagem metodológica de Estudo de Caso foi feita a confirmação de um modelo de capacidades dos clientes de coprodução de serviços terceirizados de manutenção de aplicativos, definindo também as dimensões que compõem essas capacidades. Chegou-se à conclusão que existem três grandes capacidades de coprodução dos clientes para esses serviços: a capacidade de Gestão Tecnológica, a capacidade de Relacionamento Organizacional e a capacidade de Gestão e Desenvolvimento de Fornecedores. Esse estudo, a partir de uma revisão teórica dos temas envolvidos, propõe um modelo teórico que foi confirmado e refinado a partir das entrevistas de campo em profundidade, realizadas com profissionais diretamente ligados com a gestão e execução das atividades de manutenção de aplicativos desta empresa multinacional brasileira. / The IT outsourcing coproduction capability, in general, is not a well explored and studied matter, with few specific academic studies and even less efforts in the professional market. This study presents a construct proposal about the application management outsourced services coproduction capability. This qualitative research was based in a detailed analysis of a multinational Brazilian company, recognized by its outsourcing strategies. With a Case Study approach, it was confirmed the application management outsourcing services coproduction capability model, defining also this capabilities dimensions. This study concludes that there are three major customer coproduction capabilities: Technological Management capability, Organizational Relationship capability and Suppliers Management and Development capability. This study, based in theoretical references, proposes a model that was confirmed and refined through in-depth interviews with application management professionals, both managers and technicians that work directly with these activities as employees of this Brazilian multinational company.

The link between information technology (IT) and competitive advantage has been the preoccupation of many IT researchers. IT plays a key role as a necessary, but not sufficient, source of value. Prior research has in most cases investigated the direct link between IT and competitive advantage. Other researchers have examined the effect of IT on mediating factors (such as firm strategy) or applied higher order IT support for core competences in their research constructs. Only a few have recognised the potential of IT in enabling dynamic capabilities. This thesis argues that the dynamic capability perspective of strategic management provides a better insight into how IT, beyond its traditional role, needs to be converted into a higher order resource to deliver competitive advantage. The objectives of the study are therefore: (1) to apply the concept of the dynamic capability perspective to the IT-competitive advantage research in order to explicate the strategic role of IT in attaining competitive advantage; and (2) to examine the antecedent capabilities and competences that may lead towards developing adaptive IT capability. This study proposes and empirically tests a dynamic capability-based model of IT and competitive advantage. The proposed model posits adaptive IT capability as a mediating higher order resource that relies on IT capabilities (infrastructure, personnel and management) and IT support for core competences (operational and market) to influence a firm's competitive position (competitive edge in market and financial performance). The model also hypothesises that IT support for core competences can lead to competitive advantages. To test the model, data were collected from a cross- sectional sample of 203 medium- and large-sized Australian organisations. Descriptive and analytical (structural equation modelling) tools were employed to test both the measurement and structural models. The findings reveal that the developed model explained 28% of the variance in competitive advantage, 72% for adaptive IT capability, 51% for IT support for operational and market competence, demonstrating the strategic role of adaptive IT capabilities as sources of competitive advantage. This indicates that those firms that deploy IT for creating operational and market competences require a further capacity to rebuild and reconfigure their resources to improve market and financial performance. Thus, it appears that the impact of IT support for core competences on competitive advantage is not direct, but indirect through adaptive IT capability. Several IT capabilities and competences were identified as antecedents for building adaptive IT capabilities. This PhD study's main contribution lies in bridging a research gap by developing and empirically testing a model of adaptive IT capability that measures how IT can enable firms' dynamic capabilities. The model includes both the antecedent factors that build the higher order resource of adaptive IT capability (upstream factors) as well as the effect on competitive advantage (downstream factors). Practitioners can benefit from the results of this study in terms of the ramifications for investment decisions as well as to benchmark where they stand with their IT in terms of potential for value creation and business support.

O valor da Tecnologia da Informação (TI) para o negócio, na perspectiva de recursos isolados de TI, tem apresentado resultados mistos. Além disso, esse valor tem sido avaliado no nível da Firma, por meio de medidas agregadas de desempenho como rentabilidade, participação no mercado e eficiência. Como alternativa a essa abordagem, esta pesquisa adota o conceito de Capacidades de TI como um conjunto de recursos em uso pelas organizações. Também, outros construtos em níveis inferiores ao Desempenho da Firma (DF) são considerados – Qualidade da Informação (QI) e Desempenho no Nível de Processos (DP). Portanto, alternativamente às abordagens de valor da TI, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de identificar o valor das Capacidades de TI e o seu impacto sobre a Qualidade da Informação e sobre o Desempenho Organizacional nos níveis de Processos e da Firma. O teste das hipóteses de pesquisa é precedido por entrevistas com especialistas de TI (gestores), no intuito de validar o modelo proposto. Adicionalmente, procedeu-se à tradução das variáveis para a survey. Especialistas em SI (pesquisadores) também participaram da avaliação das variáveis do modelo de medida, julgando sua permanência ou exclusão. Surveys Pré-teste e de Estudo Piloto foram realizadas com vistas ao refinamento do instrumento de coleta e do modelo de medida, respectivamente. Na survey completa participaram 150 gestores de TI e de negócios ligados a grandes organizações brasileiras. Os dados foram analisados com Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, a fim de validar o modelo de medida e testar as hipóteses do modelo. Pelo teste do modelo estrutural na survey completa, constatou-se que as Capacidades de TI Internas estão associadas ao nível de Qualidade da Informação e ao Desempenho no Nível de Processos. As Capacidades de TI Externas, por outro lado, não impactam positivamente na QI nem sobre os níveis de desempenho (Processos e Firma). Um modelo de mediação do Desempenho de Processos foi testado na survey completa. Constatou-se a mediação completa, sustentando a hipótese de que as Capacidades de TI Internas exercem impacto sobre o Desempenho da Firma, mediado por processos de negócio. Os resultados são apoiados por estudos que defendem que o valor da TI é captado direta e primeiramente em nível de Processos. As contribuições, limitações e recomendações da pesquisa constam nas Considerações Finais da tese. / The value of Information Technology (IT) to business, from the perspective of individual IT resources, has shown mixed results in the literature. Furthermore, this value has been evaluated at the firm level, through aggregate measures of performance such as profitability, market share and efficiency. As an alternative to such perspective, this research adopts the concept of IT Capabilities as a set of resources in use by organizations. Likewise, other constructs at lower levels than the Firm Performance are considered – namely Information Quality (IQ) and at the Process level Performance. So, alternatively to approaches about the value of IT, this research aims to identify the value of IT Capabilities and theirs impacts on the Information Quality and on the Performance, at the Processes and the Firm levels. The test of research’s hypothesis is preceded by interviews with IT specialists (managers) in order to validate the research model. Additionally, we proceeded to the translation of the variables for the survey. Information Systems experts (researchers) also participated in the evaluation of the variables to the measurement model, judging its presence or deletion. Surveys Pre-test and Pilot Study were conducted with a view to refining the data collection instrument and the measurement model, respectively. The full survey was answered by 150 IT’s and business’s managers in large Brazilian organizations. Data were analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling in order to validate the measurement model and testing hypotheses of the research model. For the test of the structural model in the full survey, it was found that the Internal IT Capabilities are associated with the level of Quality of Information and at the Process Level Performance. The External IT Capabilities, on the other hand, do not impact positively on IQ, neither on the performance levels (Processes and Firm). One model of mediation for Process level Performance was tested in the full survey. It was found full mediation, supporting the hypothesis that Internal IT Capabilities exert impact on the performance at the Firm level, mediated by business processes. The results are supported by researches that argue value of IT is captured direct and firstly at the Processes level. The contributions, limitations and recommendations of the research are contained in the end of the thesis.

O valor da Tecnologia da Informação (TI) para o negócio, na perspectiva de recursos isolados de TI, tem apresentado resultados mistos. Além disso, esse valor tem sido avaliado no nível da Firma, por meio de medidas agregadas de desempenho como rentabilidade, participação no mercado e eficiência. Como alternativa a essa abordagem, esta pesquisa adota o conceito de Capacidades de TI como um conjunto de recursos em uso pelas organizações. Também, outros construtos em níveis inferiores ao Desempenho da Firma (DF) são considerados – Qualidade da Informação (QI) e Desempenho no Nível de Processos (DP). Portanto, alternativamente às abordagens de valor da TI, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de identificar o valor das Capacidades de TI e o seu impacto sobre a Qualidade da Informação e sobre o Desempenho Organizacional nos níveis de Processos e da Firma. O teste das hipóteses de pesquisa é precedido por entrevistas com especialistas de TI (gestores), no intuito de validar o modelo proposto. Adicionalmente, procedeu-se à tradução das variáveis para a survey. Especialistas em SI (pesquisadores) também participaram da avaliação das variáveis do modelo de medida, julgando sua permanência ou exclusão. Surveys Pré-teste e de Estudo Piloto foram realizadas com vistas ao refinamento do instrumento de coleta e do modelo de medida, respectivamente. Na survey completa participaram 150 gestores de TI e de negócios ligados a grandes organizações brasileiras. Os dados foram analisados com Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, a fim de validar o modelo de medida e testar as hipóteses do modelo. Pelo teste do modelo estrutural na survey completa, constatou-se que as Capacidades de TI Internas estão associadas ao nível de Qualidade da Informação e ao Desempenho no Nível de Processos. As Capacidades de TI Externas, por outro lado, não impactam positivamente na QI nem sobre os níveis de desempenho (Processos e Firma). Um modelo de mediação do Desempenho de Processos foi testado na survey completa. Constatou-se a mediação completa, sustentando a hipótese de que as Capacidades de TI Internas exercem impacto sobre o Desempenho da Firma, mediado por processos de negócio. Os resultados são apoiados por estudos que defendem que o valor da TI é captado direta e primeiramente em nível de Processos. As contribuições, limitações e recomendações da pesquisa constam nas Considerações Finais da tese. / The value of Information Technology (IT) to business, from the perspective of individual IT resources, has shown mixed results in the literature. Furthermore, this value has been evaluated at the firm level, through aggregate measures of performance such as profitability, market share and efficiency. As an alternative to such perspective, this research adopts the concept of IT Capabilities as a set of resources in use by organizations. Likewise, other constructs at lower levels than the Firm Performance are considered – namely Information Quality (IQ) and at the Process level Performance. So, alternatively to approaches about the value of IT, this research aims to identify the value of IT Capabilities and theirs impacts on the Information Quality and on the Performance, at the Processes and the Firm levels. The test of research’s hypothesis is preceded by interviews with IT specialists (managers) in order to validate the research model. Additionally, we proceeded to the translation of the variables for the survey. Information Systems experts (researchers) also participated in the evaluation of the variables to the measurement model, judging its presence or deletion. Surveys Pre-test and Pilot Study were conducted with a view to refining the data collection instrument and the measurement model, respectively. The full survey was answered by 150 IT’s and business’s managers in large Brazilian organizations. Data were analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling in order to validate the measurement model and testing hypotheses of the research model. For the test of the structural model in the full survey, it was found that the Internal IT Capabilities are associated with the level of Quality of Information and at the Process Level Performance. The External IT Capabilities, on the other hand, do not impact positively on IQ, neither on the performance levels (Processes and Firm). One model of mediation for Process level Performance was tested in the full survey. It was found full mediation, supporting the hypothesis that Internal IT Capabilities exert impact on the performance at the Firm level, mediated by business processes. The results are supported by researches that argue value of IT is captured direct and firstly at the Processes level. The contributions, limitations and recommendations of the research are contained in the end of the thesis.