The study explored the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategies that managers of Barbados's wholesale trade businesses use to improve international competitiveness in Barbados. The resource-based view theory was the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semi structured interviews with 15 business managers, participant observation, and organizational document analysis. Data analysis and methodological triangulation revealed 4 themes that helped to understand the findings within the context of the research question and the purpose of the study. These themes included competitive position and response, internal factors, IT-specific factors, and ICT experiences. Implications of social change include providing business managers with specific knowledge on ICT strategies used to improve international competitiveness in Barbados and an understanding of desirable and undesirable perspectives held regarding these strategies.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Purpose of the study
Conceptual Framework
A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature
Geographical Context of the Study
The Caribbean Environment: Small and Constrained
Use of ICT in Wholesale and Retail Trade
ICT Strategies Used in Wholesale and Retail Businesses
Information Technology and Context
Information Technology and Business Performance
Use of RBV in Information System Research
RBV Concepts
The Role of Inhibitors
Summary of Important Points
Presentation of the Findings
Summary of Findings
Applications to Professional Practice
Implications for Social Change
Recommendations for Further Research
Summary and Study Conclusions
Research Objectives and Topics
This study explores the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategies utilized by managers within Barbados's wholesale and retail trade sector to bolster international competitiveness, framed by the resource-based view (RBV) theory.
- Analysis of ICT integration in wholesale and retail business operations.
- Application of the resource-based view (RBV) as a conceptual framework for IT strategy.
- Identification of organizational enablers and inhibitors affecting IT-driven competitive advantage.
- Evaluation of managerial strategies to overcome internal and external barriers to ICT adoption.
Excerpt from the Book
ICT Strategies Used in Wholesale and Retail Businesses
Several possible ICT strategies exist to improve competitiveness in wholesale and retail businesses. One such strategy is the integration of supply chain management (SCM), which creates strategic assets for the organization (Madhani, 2012). The primary assertion of the RBV is strategic resources or organization assets that are rare, valuable, and difficult to imitate or substitute allows an organization to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage (Barney, 1991). An organization that leverages SCM in this context can improve their competitiveness if used correctly (Madhani, 2012).
The use of ICT has high potential in SCM to reduce costs and improve service levels for customers (Christopher & Holweg, 2011). SCM increases the ability of organizations to outsource business activities and improve the efficiency of their operations (Xu, 2011a). Khan, Liang, and Shahzad (2014) posited that SCM creates value for organizations by combining buyers and sellers, generating market liquidity, and decreasing transaction costs. Integration of SCM to improve competitiveness in wholesale and retail businesses include: (a) upstream supply chain: e-procurement, (b) in-house supply chain: internal ICT systems, and (c) downstream supply chain: e-retailing and e-marketing.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the challenges faced by Caribbean businesses due to globalization and international trade regulations, highlighting the necessity for ICT adoption in Barbados.
Purpose of the study: This section defines the scope of the qualitative case study, focusing on how managers in the wholesale and retail sector use ICT to achieve competitive advantages.
Conceptual Framework: This chapter introduces the resource-based view (RBV) as the theoretical foundation for understanding organizational resources and sustained competitive advantage.
A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature: This section synthesizes existing research on the Caribbean business environment, the role of ICT in retail, and the application of RBV in information systems research.
Presentation of the Findings: This chapter details the data collection process, including semistructured interviews and observation, and presents themes identified through methodological triangulation.
Summary of Findings: This section provides an overview of the organization’s current ICT strategy, revealing a reliance on IT for operational efficiency while identifying critical internal constraints.
Applications to Professional Practice: This chapter discusses how the identification of inhibitors and the application of RBV provide managers with practical tools to improve strategic IT decision-making.
Implications for Social Change: This section explores how providing business managers with specific knowledge on ICT strategies can contribute to the economic health and development of Barbadian society.
Recommendations for Further Research: This chapter suggests future research paths, including comparative studies of competing organizations and the development of tools for diagnosing IT inhibitors.
Summary and Study Conclusions: This final chapter synthesizes the study's core insights, emphasizing the need for managers to focus on internal organizational factors to maximize IT-derived benefits.
Keywords
Information and Communication Technology, International Competitiveness, Wholesale and Retail, Globalization, Organizational Environment, Economic Partnership, Resource-Based View, Supply Chain Management, E-procurement, IT Strategy, Caribbean Business, Inhibitors, Competitive Advantage, Organizational Resources, Business Performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The study focuses on identifying the specific ICT strategies used by managers of wholesale and retail businesses in Barbados to improve their international competitiveness.
What theoretical framework is used in this work?
The study utilizes the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory to analyze how organizational resources and capabilities contribute to sustained competitive advantage.
What is the central research question?
The research question is: What ICT strategies do managers of wholesale trade businesses in Barbados use to improve international competitiveness?
What scientific methodology was employed?
The author conducted a qualitative single case study, utilizing semistructured interviews with 15 business managers, participant observation, and organizational document analysis.
What are the key thematic areas covered?
The main themes include competitive position and response, internal factors, IT-specific factors, and ICT experiences within the organization.
Which key terms describe this study?
Key terms include Information and Communication Technology, International Competitiveness, Resource-Based View, Wholesale and Retail, and Organizational Environment.
What is the significance of "inhibitors" in this study?
Inhibitors are identified as factors that reduce an organization's ability to derive expected benefits from its IT resources, such as staff resistance or slow system performance.
Why is the Caribbean context important for this research?
The Caribbean context is unique due to the characteristics of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including resource constraints and specific regulatory pressures like the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement.
- Citation du texte
- Seon Levius (Auteur), 2018, Information and Communication Technology Strategies to Improve International Competitiveness in the Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/412619
