Information and communications technology (ICT) project investments: A work-based research study investigating developing ICT Core Competence and Competitive Advantage in the Malaysian Manufacturing Sector

Information and communications technology (ICT) project investments: A work-based research study investigating developing ICT Core Competence and Competitive Advantage in the Malaysian Manufacturing Sector

The use of ICT to automate data and information has long been utilised in Malaysian manufacturing organisations. Malaysian manufacturers use ICT to automate and integrate operations such as distribution, supply chain, financials and manufacturing and provide data for better decision making. While some research focuses on corporate strategy and technology in the Malaysian manufacturing industries, little research has been conducted connecting strategy, ICT core competence and/or corporate competitive advantage in the Malaysian manufacturing sector. This exploratory work-based research study sought to focus on investigating ICT as embedded in corporate strategy, ICT resource allocation and the development of core competence in achieving competitive advantage in the Malaysian manufacturing sector. The study adopted resource based theory (RBT) to frame the research. The RBT of the organisation looks at competitive advantage based on its resources and capabilities. This aligns with the study which looks at ICT resource allocation, ICT capabilities and the development of core competence. A sequential, exploratory mixed-methods research design was used in this study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews followed by an online quantitative survey of manufacturing companies. The results show strong evidence that corporate strategy needs to integrate ICT strategy to a corporate level; understand the technologies and capabilities to leverage their value; and to develop its capabilities into a core-competence that translates into competitive advantage.

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.