Information technology, and exploration and exploitation of business opportunities: An empirical investigation

Jose Benitez, Javier Llorens, Jessica Braojos

Research output: Book chapterConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Understanding how and why some firms are better than others at exploring and exploiting new business opportunities is a cutting-edge research problem. Our central thesis, that information technology (IT) performs a differential role in firms’ opportunity exploration and exploitation, led us to examine how IT influences exploration and exploitation of business opportunities. We tested the proposed theory using partial least squares on a combination of survey and secondary data from 203 large firms in Spain. We found that: (1) IT infrastructure provides the foundation to build business experimentation, and the flexibility to sense and explore business opportunities; and (2) IT infrastructure-enabled business flexibility helps firms to develop the operational proficiency to exploit business opportunities, and increase their performance. This research contributes to the field of Information Systems by explaining whether and how IT infrastructure influences the firm’s capabilities for opportunity exploration and exploitation. The managerial implications are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAMCIS 2017 - America's Conference on Information Systems
Subtitle of host publicationA Tradition of Innovation
PublisherAmericas Conference on Information Systems
ISBN (Electronic)9780996683142
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes
EventAmerica�s Conference on Information Systems: A Tradition of Innovation, AMCIS 2017 - Boston, United States
Duration: 10 Aug 201712 Aug 2017

Publication series

NameAMCIS 2017 - America's Conference on Information Systems: A Tradition of Innovation
Volume2017-August

Conference

ConferenceAmerica�s Conference on Information Systems: A Tradition of Innovation, AMCIS 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston
Period10/08/1712/08/17

Keywords

  • Business opportunities
  • Business value of IT
  • Exploitation
  • Exploration
  • IT infrastructure

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