TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATION AND FIRM PERFORMANCE OF KENYA TEA PRODUCERS COMPANIES
Abstract
The study sought to examine the role of Technology Communication on performance of Tea Producers companies in Kenya. The study reviewed theoretical and empirical literature relevant to the role of Technology Communication on performance of Tea Producers companies in Kenya. The conceptual framework was discussed to show the relationship
between Technology Communication (independent variable) and firm performance (dependent variable). Positivism philosophy guided this study. The study used cross-sectional survey design to establish the role of Information Technology strategic alignment on performance of Tea Producers companies in Kenya. In this study, the target population was identified as tea producer companies that are members of the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) in Kenya. This choice was made on the premise that these entities are likely to possess pertinent and accurate information relevant to the research. Specifically, the population encompassed all 29 tea producer members of EATTA. Respondents’ population comprised of six top managers from each organization translating to 174 top managers. The sample size was 121 top managers. They were targeted because top managers of organizations mostly handle strategic management issues. Purposive sampling technique was used to select respondents. The study mainly relied on primary data. The study used a questionnaire with diverse set of questions for the respondent to answer. A pilot study was carried out in order to ascertain the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics in the form of means
and standard deviations were computed on the Technology Communication and performance measurement scales to provide an initial outline of the distribution of the participants' responses. The study concluded that Technology Communication has a positive and statistically significant influence on performance of Tea Producers companies in Kenya. Based on the findings,this study recommends that the management of Tea Producer companies should ensure effectiveness in adopting information technology and using it in governance of their organization. In addition,the management of Tea Producer companies should ensure their employees are well equipped with information technology skills to improve their productivity.
References
Afandi, W. (2017). The impact of strategic IT-business alignment: Evidence from Saudi private small and midsize enterprises. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 8(10), 48-63.
Akwaowo, R. (2021). Entrepreneurial Competency and Competitive Advantage of Hotels in Nigeria. Available at SSRN 3912459.
Alreemy, Z., Chang, V., Walters, R., & Wills, G. (2016). Critical success factors (CSFs) for information technology governance (ITG). International Journal of Information Management, 36(6), 907-916.
Alrowwad, A. a., & Abualoush, S. H. (2020). Innovation and intellectual capital as intermediary variables among transformational leadership, transactional leadership, and organizational performance. Journal of Management Development.
Belfo, F. P., & Sousa, R. D. (2012). A critical review of Luftman s instrument for business-IT alignment.
Benbya, H., Nan, N., Tanriverdi, H., & Yoo, Y. (2020). Complexity and Information Systems Rsearch in the Emerging Digital World. Benbya, H., Nan, N., Tanriverdi, H., Yoo, Y, 1-17.
Bhattacharya, P. (2018). Aligning enterprise systems capabilities with business strategy: an extension of the strategic alignment model (SAM) using enterprise architecture. Procedia computer science, 138, 655-662.
Biberhofer, P., Lintner, C., Bernhardt, J., & Rieckmann, M. (2019). Facilitating work performance of sustainability-driven entrepreneurs through higher education: The relevance of competencies, values, worldviews and opportunities. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 20(1), 21-38.
Chao, C. A., & Chandra, A. (2012). Impact of owner's knowledge of information technology (IT) on strategic alignment and IT adoption in US small firms. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.
Chebrolu, S. B. (2010). Assessing the relationships among cloud adoption, strategic alignment and information technology effectiveness: Capella University.
Coltman, T., Tallon, P., Sharma, R., & Queiroz, M. (2015). Strategic IT alignment: twenty-five years on. In: SAGE Publications Sage UK: London, England.
Ilmudeen, A., Bao, Y., & Alharbi, I. M. (2019). How does business-IT strategic alignment dimension impact on organizational performance measures: conjecture and empirical analysis. Journal of Enterprise Information Management.
Izzati, N., Adnan, M., & Jambari, D. (2016). Mutual Understanding Determinants for Effective Communication in Business and IT Strategic Alignment Planning. vol, 6, 914-921.
Jenkin, T. A., & Chan, Y. E. (2010). IS project alignment–a process perspective. Journal of Information Technology, 25(1), 35-55.
Kapur, D., Lewis, J. P., & Webb, R. C. (2011). The World Bank: its first half century (Vol. 1): Brookings Institution Press.
Kearns, G. S., & Lederer, A. L. (2003). A resource‐based view of strategic IT alignment: how knowledge sharing creates competitive advantage. Decision sciences, 34(1), 1-29.
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques: New Age International.
Kotsik, B., Tokareva, N., Boutin, F., & Chinien, C. (2009). ICT application in TVET. In International handbook of education for the changing world of work (pp. 1879-1894): Springer.
Kumar, S., & Harms, R. (2004). Improving business processes for increased operational efficiency: a case study. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management.
Parto, A., Sofian, S., & Saat, M. M. (2016). The impact of enterprise resource planning on financial performance in a developing country. International Review of Management and Business Research, 5(1), 176.
Patterson, M. (2020). A structured approach to strategic alignment between business and information technology objectives. South African Journal of Business Management, 51(1), 1-12.
Pérez‐López, S., & Alegre, J. (2012). Information technology competency, knowledge processes and firm performance. Industrial Management & Data Systems.
Porter, M. E., & Kramer, M. R. (2019). Creating shared value. In Managing sustainable business (pp. 323-346): Springer.
Reich, B. H., & Benbasat, I. (2000). Factors that influence the social dimension of alignment between business and information technology objectives. MIS quarterly, 81-113.
Sabherwal, R., Sabherwal, S., Havakhor, T., & Steelman, Z. (2019). How does strategic alignment affect firm performance? The roles of information technology investment and environmental uncertainty. MIS quarterly, 43(2), 453-474.
Sabin, M., Alrumaih, H., & Impagliazzo, J. (2018). A competency-based approach toward curricular guidelines for information technology education. Paper presented at the 2018 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON).
Sanchez, X., & Bayona-Oré, S. (2020). Strategic alignment between business and information technology in companies. Paper presented at the 2020 15th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI).
Schallmo, D. R., & Brecht, L. (2016). IT Alignment Trap. In Mind the Trap–11 typische Unternehmensfallen (pp. 95-101): Springer.
Spraakman, G., O'Grady, W., Askarany, D., & Akroyd, C. (2015). Employers’ perceptions of information technology competency requirements for management accounting graduates. Accounting Education, 24(5), 403-422.
Wetering, R., Mikalef, P., & Pateli, A. (2017). A strategic alignment model for IT flexibility and dynamic capabilities: toward an assessment tool.
Wu, S. P.-J., Straub, D. W., & Liang, T.-P. (2015). How information technology governance mechanisms and strategic alignment influence organizational performance. MIS quarterly, 39(2), 497-518.
Yayla, A. A., & Hu, Q. (2012). The impact of IT-business strategic alignment on firm performance in a developing country setting: exploring moderating roles of environmental uncertainty and strategic orientation. European Journal of Information Systems, 21(4), 373-387.
Zahra, M., Hameed, W. U., Fiaz, M., & Basheer, M. F. (2019). Information technology capability a tool to expedite higher organizational performance. UCP Management Review (UCPMR), 3(1), 94-112.
Zehry, K., Halder, N., & Theodosiou, L. (2011). E-Learning in medical education in the United Kingdom. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 3163-3167.
