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Purpose The effect of the transition toward digital technologies on today’s businesses (i.e. Industry 4.0 transition) is becoming increasingly relevant, and the number of studies that have examined this phenomenon has grown rapidly. However, systematizing the existing findings is still a challenge, from both a theoretical and a managerial point of view. In such a setting, the knowledge management (KM) discipline can provide guidance to address such a gap. Indeed, the implementation of fundamental digital technologies is reshaping how firms manage knowledge. Thus, this study aims to critically review the existing literature on Industry 4.0 from a KM perspective. Design/methodology/approach First, the authors defined a structuring framework to highlight the role of Industry 4.0 transition along with absorptive capacity (ACAP) processes (acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation), while specifying what is being managed, that is data, information and/or (actual) knowledge, according to the data-information-knowledge (DIK) hierarchy. The authors then followed the systematic literature review methodology, which involves the use of explicit criteria to select publications to review and outline the stages a process has to follow to provide a transparent and replicable review and to analyze the existing literature according to the theoretical framework. This procedure yielded a final list of 150 papers. Findings By providing a clear picture of what scholars have studied so far on Industry 4.0 transition, in terms of KM, this literature review highlights that among all the studied digital technologies, the big data analytics technology is the one that has been explored the most in each phase of the ACAP process. A constructive body of research has also emerged in recent years around the role played by the internet of things, especially to explain the acquisition of data. On the other hand, some digital technologies, such as cyber security and smart manufacturing, have largely remained unaddressed. An explanation of the role of these technologies has been provided, from a KM perspective, together with the business implications. Originality/value This study is one of the first attempts to revise the literature on Industry 4.0 transition from a KM perspective, and it proposes a novel framework to read existing studies and on which to base new ones. Furthermore, the synthesis makes two main contributions. First, it provides a clear picture of the different digital technologies that support the four ACAP phases in relation to the DIK hierarchy. Accordingly, these results can emphasize what the literature has looked at so far, as well as which digital technologies have gained the most attention and their impacts in terms of KM. Second, the synthesis provides prescriptive considerations on the development of future research avenues, according to the proposed research framework.

International audience; Contrasting findings about the role of extremely negative ratings (ENRR) are found in the literature, thus suggesting that not all ENRR are perceived as helpful by consumers. In order to shed light on the most helpful ENRR, we have drawn on negativity bias and signaling theory, and we have analyzed the moderating role of product quality signals in the relationship between ENRR and review helpfulness. The study is based on the analysis of 9,479 online reviews, posted on TripAdvisor.com, pertaining to 220 French hotels. The findings highlight that ENRR is judged as being more helpful when the hotel has been awarded a certificate of excellence, and when the average rating score and the hotel classification are higher. On the basis of these results, we recommend that managers of higher category hotels, with a certificate of excellence and with higher average score ratings, pay more attention to extremely negative judgments.

Firms automatically and continuously capture a high amount of digital data (DD) through social media, RFID tags, clickstreams, manufacturing sensors. However, empirical evidence on the effects of the generation of such digital data on firms remains scarce. Therefore, this paper examines the antecedents of companies' ability to leverage DD, which the authors refer to as DD dynamic capability and DD initiatives, and investigates whether this ability directly leads to better data accessibility. They empirically test the hypotheses, and they find that the antecedents have specific influences on both DD initiatives and DD capability, such that all the antecedents support the initiatives; however, only organizational processes strengthen DD capability. Furthermore, DD initiatives and DD capability improve the accessibility of DD. The results show that organizational processes of sensing, coordination, integration, and learning emerged as the most important sources of DCs. By contrast, the firm's assets and history played only a marginal, supporting role.

PurposeThe travel and tourism industry (TTI) could benefit the most from artificial intelligence (AI), which could reshape this industry. This study aims to explore the characteristics of tourism AI start-ups, the AI technological domains financed by Venture Capitalists (VCs), and the phases of the supply chain where the AI domains are in high demand.Design/methodology/approachThis study developed a database of the European AI start-ups operating in the TTI from the Crunchbase database (2005–2020). The authors used start-ups as the unit of analysis as they often foster radical change. The authors complemented quantitative and qualitative methods.FindingsAI start-ups have been mainly created by male Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics graduates between 2015 and 2017. The number of founders and previous study experience in non-start-up companies was positively related to securing a higher amount of funding. European AI start-ups are concentrated in the capital town of major tourism destinations (France, UK and Spain). The AI technological domains that received more funding from VCs were Learning, Communication and Services (i.e. big data, machine learning and natural language processing), indicating a strong interest in AI solutions enabling marketing automation, segmentation and customisation. Furthermore, VC-backed AI solutions focus on the pre-trip and post-trip.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study focussing on digital entrepreneurship, specifically VC-backed AI start-ups operating in the TTI. The authors apply, for the first time, a mixed-method approach in the study of tourism entrepreneurship.

International audience; Firms can achieve a competitive advantage by leveraging real-time Digital Data Streams (DDSs). The ability to profit from DDSs is emerging as a critical competency for firms and a novel area for Information Technology (IT) investments. We examine the relationship between DDS readiness and competitive advantage by studying the mediation effect of product effectiveness and process efficiency. The research model is tested with data obtained from 302 companies, and the results confirm the existence of the mediation effects. Interestingly, we confirm that competitive advantage is more significantly impacted by IT investments affecting product effectiveness than those affecting process efficiency

The desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle is growing amongst consumers globally as well as the adoption of health apps. Prior research investigates what affects adoption of a health app, but few studies consider Continuance Intention (CI) for mobile health apps. Drawing on the Information Systems Continuance Model and integrating social (i.e. subjective norms) and psychological factors (i.e. flow experience, health consciousness, behavioral change techniques), we develop a framework testing the factors influencing users’ CI for health apps. The model is validated using PLS analysis and data from 397 health app users from China. The study finds that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, flow experience and behavioral change techniques are significant predictors of CI, and satisfaction mediates these effects. Health consciousness positively moderates the effect between perceived usefulness and satisfaction and negatively moderates the effect between perceived ease of use and satisfaction. Lessons for app developers, marketers and health practitioners are drawn.

Online reviews have become irreplaceable product/service information for many consumers. However, not all consumer reviews are deemed to be helpful. Drawing upon expectation-confirmation theory and the attribute-based model of consumer decision-making, this study investigates the role of service attributes and the moderating role of service category in the prediction of extremely positive and extremely negative ratings helpfulness. This study uses latent semantic analysis and regression analysis using a sample of 490 extremely negative and 3757 extremely positive ratings of hotels from TripAdvisor.com . Results show that some product attributes discussed in consumer reviews are particularly important in the determination of the helpfulness of consumer reviews associated with extreme ratings. Findings also suggest the moderating role of service category (i.e. hotel stars) in the relationship between hotel attributes and extreme ratings helpfulness. This study stresses the importance of service attributes and classification in the evaluation of extremely positive and extremely negative ratings helpfulness. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

International audience; Big data has gained momentum as an Information Technology that is capable of supporting organizational efforts to generate new and better business value. We here contribute to the emerging literature on big data analytic (BDA) solutions by investigating the moderating roles of firm size and industry concentration in the relationship between BDA solutions and firm profitability. Using a unique panel data set that covers 13 years, from 2004 to 2016, which contains information about 176 firms, we provide robust econometric empirical evidence of the negative moderating effects of industry concentration and the positive moderating effects of firm size on the relationship between the use of BDA solutions and firm profitability. Our findings provide strong empirical evidence on the business value of BDA as well as the essential role played by contextual conditions that managers should consider.

This article describes how in their search for value creation, companies are investing considerable resources in so-called “Big Data” initiatives. A peculiar aspect of these initiatives is the increasing availability of real-time streams of data. Successfully leveraging these streams to extract value is emerging as a critical competence for the modern firm. Despite the significant attention received, scholarly research on Digital Data Stream (DDS) remains insufficient. More importantly, there are no specialized definitions and measurement instruments that can move the field forward by initiating a cumulative research tradition. This article can provide clarification on key definitions, differentiating DDS from Big Data. Drawing on the organizational readiness concept, the DDS readiness index develops as a measure of organizational readiness to exploit real-time digital data. This article will conceptualize, define, operationalize and validate the index. By identifying the four dimensions of mindset, skillset, dataset and toolset as the elements of the DDS readiness index and discussing its managerial and research implications

Purpose The adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has some peculiarities that may depend on the combined effect of size and the competitive environment. The purpose of this paper is to use a contingency approach to explore how SMEs develop organizational capabilities through ICT investments in response to environmental conditions. Design/methodology/approach A survey on 284 SMEs in Italy was conducted and data were analyzed with regression models for testing seven hypotheses on the environmental influence on the development of ICT-based capabilities and the role played by firm size. Findings The results show that the environment influences the development of such capabilities in a different way, depending on size. Within munificent environments, ICT-based capabilities are more diffused among larger SMEs, whereas under environmental complexity, this pattern is inverted, with larger SMEs exhibiting a more limited deployment of ICT in support of both their internally and externally oriented processes. Under environmental dynamism medium-sized firms tend to develop more internally oriented ICT capabilities, but fail in reporting superior capabilities for managing external relationships. Originality/value This paper contributes to understand the relationship between the environment and ICT investments in SMEs. Since the combined effect of size and the competitive environment may influence considerably the ICT investments in SMEs, this study investigates the organizational responses with respect to how SMEs use ICT to address their external environment. This focus provides a contribution to understand the challenges that SMEs are facing in the current technological and market environment, where changes in the ICT paradigm raise the level of complexity and dynamism and bring changes in competition levels that leave few resources for growth to SMEs.

The study shows the adoption of big data technologies (BDT) in companies.The study illustrates the transactional and strategic benefits of BDT.The study indicates the transformational benefits of BDT.The study figures out the informational benefits of BDT.The study identifies the risks of BDT. Companies currently have to deal with profound changes in the way they manage their business, their customers and their business models, since they are overrun by a data-driven revolution in management. This revolution is due to the wide availability of big data and the fast evolution of big data technologies. Big data is recognized as one of the most important areas of future technology, and is fast gaining the attention of many industries, since it can provide high value to companies. This article investigates the adoption levels of big data technologies in companies, and the big data sources used by them. This article also points out the most frequently recognized strategic, transactional, transformational and informational benefits and risks related to the usage of big data technologies by companies. In order to achieve these aims, the paper looks at the differences that exist among companies of different sizes, by comparing medium-sized and large companies, and the differences among companies of different industrial sectors. It provides evidence that only in a few cases these differences are significant. This study could serve as a reference for managers who wish to initiate an evaluation cycle on the adoption and usage of big data technologies.

PurposeLiterature on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has so far produced limited evidence on how these firms pursue their organizational flexibility with information and communication technology (ICT) and ad hoc work practices. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the extant literature by focusing on how SMEs use flexible work practices that provide latitude with respect to when employees work, where they work and via which communication medium. Specifically, the authors analyze how such practices are related to the conditions that SMEs face in reference to their competitive environment and their patterns of ICT usage.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted on 304 Italian SMEs, with the aim of identifying the contextual dimensions where flexible work is chosen and the different typologies of flexible work implemented by companies.FindingsFlexible work in SMEs is chosen for different reasons associated to different conditions in the competitive environments and in ICT usage where SMEs operate. In general, SMEs use flexible work when they are more capable of improving their external orientation toward suppliers, customers, and the entrance in new markets with ICT. This duality is more likely in the competitive environments where external orientation and information processing is more needed, namely, environments that are uncertain and complex for product and breadth of the geographical complexity (scope) covered.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper, the authors offer an analysis on the contextual characterizations of flexible work practices. Future studies should disentangle more in depth the ways these characterizations are related to different ICT usages.Practical implicationsIn uncertain and complex environments, SMEs should increase their external information processing with ICT and organizational practices that support the latitude of employees involved in boundary spanning with respect to where, when, and how they work.Originality/valueThis paper offers an interpretation of flexible work as an organizational mechanism used to cope with uncertain and complex environments where more external orientation is needed. This paper also shows that there are four different typologies of flexible work implemented by companies, namely, flexible work for cheaper input costs, flexible work for operational drivers, flexible work for strategic drivers, and flexible work for individual motivations, and that in some cases the conditions under which they are chosen are different.

By integrating a resource dependence perspective with a complementarity view, this article investigates how online visibility affects the performance of hotels, through user-generated reviews and their presence on Internet portals. Our core argument is that when firms have gained a positive reputation from user-generated reviews, they should reduce their asymmetric dependence on Internet portals. Using a unique panel dataset of 276 small and medium-sized hotels from 2012 to 2014, we have found that good online visibility and the presence on multiple Internet portals are complementary conditions for the profitability of a hotel, and that the impact on profitability, due to the number of Internet portals on which firms are visible, is negative in the case of a poor reputation and leads to diminishing marginal returns in the case of a positive reputation.

International audience; Real-time digital data are becoming important assets in a growing number of organizations. This paper, applying the affordance theory, describes the development of a taxonomy for understanding real-time digital data initiatives. The proposed taxonomy is composed by two categories, the Technology affordance and the Affordance actualization, respectively gathering four and five dimensions. Specifically, the Technology affordances of the real-time digital initiatives are real-time sensing, real-time mass visibility, real-time experimentation and real-time coordination, while the Affordance actualizations are service, efficiency, analytics, aggregation and generation; Les données digitales en temps réel deviennent des atouts importants dans un nombre croissant d'organisations. Cet étude applique la théorie des affordances dans l'élaboration d'une taxonomie permettant de comprendre les initiatives en données digitales en temps réel. La taxonomie proposée est composée de deux catégories, les affordances technologiques et l'actualisation des affordances, regroupant respectivement quatre et cinq dimensions. Plus précisément, les affordances technologiques sont la détection en temps réel, la visibilité de masses en temps réel, les expérimentations en temps réel et la coordination en temps réel, tandis que les actualisations d'affordances concernent le service, l'efficacité, l'analyse, l'agrégation et la génération.

International audience; Travelers increasingly consider electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) from online review platforms when making their accommodation decisions. Theory predicts that e-WOM increases sales, but little is known regarding the role that branding plays in the relation between e-WOM and hotels\textquoteright financial performance. This study relied on financial data (including Revenue per Available Room\textemdashRevPAR\textemdashand sales profitability) and 34,164 online customer reviews gathered from TripAdvisor (as a proxy for e-WOM) based on panel data from 221 hotels, including not-branded and branded chain hotels in France from 2005 to 2013. The results show that the volume of reviews has no effect on RevPAR growth for branded chain hotels and a positive effect on RevPAR growth for not-branded chain hotels. In addition, the direct effect of the valence of online reviews and its interaction effect with the yearly and cumulative volume of online reviews on RevPAR growth and sales profitability is shown to apply to not-branded chain hotels but not to branded chain hotels. This study contributes to the e-WOM literature by revealing the role of a brand in e-WOM\textquoterights impact on hotel financial performance. Based on our results, managers of branded chain hotels should know that they might find it difficult to leverage e-WOM to achieve higher RevPAR growth and greater sales profitability, as their economic advantages derive from their brand instead of e-WOM.

Firms automatically and continuously capture a high amount of digital data through social media, RFID tags, clickstreams, smart meters, manufacturing sensors, equipment logs, and vehicle tracking systems. However, empirical evidence on the effects of the generation of these digital data on firm performance remains scarce in the Information Systems and Management literature. Therefore, from a dynamic capability perspective, this paper examines whether companies' ability to leverage digital data, which we call their Digital Data dynamic capability, leads to better financial performance, and whether there are moderating effects on this relationship. In order to achieve these goals, the following research questions are addressed: 1) To what extent do firms that develop Digital Data dynamic capabilities achieve better financial performance? 2) To what extent do organisational and industry-related environmental conditions moderate the relationship between a firm's Digital Data dynamic capability and financial performance? We empirically test our hypotheses through partial least square modelling using a financial database and a survey of sales managers from 125 firms. We find that the development of Digital Data dynamic capability provides value in terms of firm financial performance and that the moderating effects are influential: under high levels of dynamism and munificence in younger firms, the relationship is stronger. Overall, this study evaluates the potential business value of firm digital data use and addresses a lack of empirical evidence on this issue in the Information Systems literature. We discuss two managerial implications. First, managers should pay more attention to digital data phenomena and to ways of leveraging value creation opportunities. Second, managers must evaluate their environmental and organisational characteristics when business opportunities from digital data are taken into account.

The literature on flexible work practices has not yet evaluated in detail how the characteristics of a job affect job satisfaction. This study makes a distinction between two types of flexible work practices according to their aims: the accommodation of employees’ personal lives (employment practice) and the operational reasons of a firm (work practice). Based on this distinction, we studied how the characteristics of a job, which reflect the use of ICT to support the spatial disaggregation of business processes, influence the relationship between the two types of flexible work practices and job satisfaction. We show, through a survey conducted on 987 workers, that the characteristics of a job that favour work disaggregation positively moderate the influence of flexible work as a work practice on job satisfaction, but they do not moderate the influence of flexible work as an employment practice. The implications for managers, workers and scholars are discussed.

In the era of digital transformation, Big Data have assumed a crucial role in changing the global travel and providing significant challenges and opportunities for established companies, as well as...

International audience; Online customer reviews (OCRs) are increasingly used by travelers to inform their purchase decisions. However, the vast amount of reviews available nowadays may increase travellers' effort in information processing. In order to facilitate traveller's decisions, social commerce organizations must help travellers rapidly identify the most helpful reviews to reduce their cognitive effort. Academic literature has often documented that negative reviews are judged as helpful by consumers. However, extremely negative reviews are not always perceived as such. This study is the first that unveils what factors moderate the influence of extremely negative reviews on review helpfulness. The study has adopted a sample of 7,455 online customer reviews of hotels to test hypotheses. Findings show that reviews with extremely negative ratings are more likely to be helpful when the review is long and easy to read and when the reviewer is an expert or discloses his identity (geographical origin).

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the contextual conditions under which mobile forms of work are chosen by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the most relevant tensions that these firms should be able to face in order to be successful in the adoption of these forms of work. Design/methodology/approach – A survey analysis on 304 SMEs and an analysis of a collection of case studies were conducted to answer to the following research questions: what is the role of contextual conditions in shaping the way firms develop and use their mobile forms of work? Which tensions do SMEs need to manage when adopt a particular mobile form of work? Findings – In this paper, the authors found that SMEs choose different mobile forms of work according to the conditions under which they operate. For example, SMEs that adopt mobile forms of work for operational reasons are more capable of using IT to improve their external orientation. Moreover, the analysis of the configurations of mobile forms of work led to classify in a systematic way the managerial and organizational tensions, and to identify which tensions need to be managed in each mobile work configuration. For example, firms that adopt mobile work given individual employee requests need to manage human resource management tensions. Research limitations/implications – Future research should analyse in depth the jobs that are frequently engaged in mobility and the operational and strategic reasons of their mobility. Moreover, future research should analyse more in-depth companies’ capability of managing tensions discussed in this paper. Practical implications – Managers should understand that mobile work is an essential element in the organizational strategy of SMEs, since it is a way to manage more effectively externally oriented business processes. Also policy makers should provide financial support for programmes aimed at promoting the importance of mobile forms of work, since they allow achieving different objectives and saving. Further, demand-oriented policies and experiences about mobile work adoption should be shared. Originality/value – The authors found scant empirical evidence on understanding the contextual conditions under which SMEs choose different mobile forms of work, and the most relevant tensions that SMEs should deal with when they decide for the adoption of a particular mobile work configuration. The value of this paper consists in filling this research gap.

Big data has recently been recognised as one of the most important areas of future technology. It has attracted the attention of many industries, since it has the potential to provide companies with high business value. This paper examines the forms of business value that companies can create from big data analytics investments, the direct impacts it has on the financial performance of a firm, and the mediating effects of market performance and customer satisfaction. Drawing on the resource-based view theory, this study demonstrates that the business value achieved from investments in big data analytics leads to advantages in terms of the financial performance of a firm. The results offer evidence of the existence of a customer satisfaction mediation effect and of the absence of a market performance mediation effect. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed at the end of the paper.

Previous literature has studied telework practices predominantly from the employees' perspective rather than exploring its use at the firm level. With the objective of contributing to reducing this research gap, the relationship between firms' adoption of telework and the firms' technological, organisational and environmental contexts is explored. Data were obtained from a survey conducted between 2005 and 2009 on a sample of 1,134 Italian firms in the Piedmont region. The results show an overall increase in the diffusion of telework primarily attributable to a rise in the adoption of ‘mobile’ work rather than home-based forms of telework. The results also show that firms that had previously adopted information systems supporting core business processes and knowledge management were more inclined to adopt telework. Telework arrangements were more widely diffused among firms facing a growing and geographically dispersed market demand, and also in the contexts of higher levels of human capital and lower capital intensity.

Infomediaries such as online travel agencies (OTAs) and review aggregator websites are profoundly changing the structure of the hospitality industry with consequences in the mechanisms of creation and capture of economic value for hotels. By drawing on arguments from resource-based views, transaction cost economics and industrial organisations, we look inside these mechanisms by assessing whether in regard to creation and capture of economic value hotels should pay more attention to diversify the number of OTAs that distribute their services or to improve their reputation through travellers’ reviews posted on TripAdvisor. Gathering data on 62,865 travellers’ reviews on TripAdvisor and on the presence of hotels on multiple OTAs, we built a panel dataset of 355 hotels spanning from 2004 to 2014 and also including hotels’ financial data. Fixed effects regression models show that hotels listed on multiple OTA bolster sales revenue and operating profitability. We demonstrated that for hotels, the online visibility on OTAs counts more on value capture than the online reputation gained on TripAdvisor. Through the presence on multiple OTAs, hotels are expected to have a higher bargaining power towards each individual distributor. We discuss the implications of these results on the way hotels, OTAs and TripAdvisor can generate and capture value in the vertical chain of the travel industry.

Production systems design is a multifaceted task, due to a variety of aspects such as the mutual interdependency between the sub-systems, the variety of configurations and alternative system control strategies, the multiple managerial and ''soft'' aspects that cast an influence on the behavior of the system. A reasonable number of modeling tools can be applied to production system design, but they tend to divide the problem into unconnected sub-problems whose individual solutions may result in a poor global one. This is despite the fact that production design encompasses all aspects of manufacturing operations, and needs a systemic approach, as clearly shown in practitioner-oriented literature. This paper proposes to apply the ''System of Systems'' approach to production system design in order to represent their main aspects and support the rational definition of the path leading from corporate strategy to system (re)design.

This paper analyses the digital divide among citizens, considered as differences between Internet users and non-users. To this aim data collected by the Piedmont ICT Observatory through a survey on a sample of 2,000 citizens since 2005 are studied through descriptive and multivariate analysis and then compared with Eurostat data. Specifically, the research shows that between 2005 and 2009 in Piedmont the number of Internet users has not noticeably grew up, while in the following two years the trend has changed and digital divide seems to have reduced. Which are the causes for this situation? As results, we have found out firstly the factors that determine Internet usage by individuals and then analysed possible policy solutions. Both the analysis of Piedmont data and the comparison with European countries showed that age and education are two main variables that impact on the usage of the Internet. Moreover the study reveals the presence of a gap in ICT diffusion between Piedmont and European regions in terms of policy implementation. Finally, the analysis of European e-inclusion policies provides some suggestions for the definition of future regional initiatives aimed to further strengthen the Information Society .

International audience; In the big data era, huge amount of data are created in digital forms. Due to the frequent technological changes and developments that are happening in this era, organisations need to constantly match with market changes. Therefore they need to develop dynamic capabilities based on digital data, in order to reach valuable outputs. Specifically, this study examines whether the development of the Digital Data Genesis dynamic capability in firms leads to valuable outputs: data quality and data accessibility. We empirically test our model using a questionnaire-based survey answered by 125 sales managers. Results suggest that firms able to develop dynamic capabilities based on digital data obtain higher outputs in terms of data quality and accessibility. Managerial implications of our results are finally offered.

International audience; Although the Business Model (BM) concept provides a convenient unit for analyzing business practices, BM research in the Information Systems (IS) field reveals that there is a lack of consensus about definitions of the BM concept, and divergences and blurriness about the structure of such models. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive state of the art review of BM research in the IS domain, and so highlight important research avenues. We review the titles and abstracts of 115 papers, examine a subset of 54 significant papers, and code 28 separate definitions of the BM concept. Our work makes three main contributions. First, it up-dates previous literature analysis in BM in the IS discipline. Second, it helps alleviate the fuzziness associated with BM definitions, identifying BM essence, components, characteristics and functions as fundamental dimensions of the BM definition. Third it defines four main BM uses, so enriching research on BMs from different angles.

Purpose This paper explores smart work (SW), a work practice characterized by spatial and temporal flexibility, supported by technological tools, and that provides all employees of an organization with the best working conditions to accomplish their tasks. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to identify whether firms adopt different SW models, explore complementarities between the factors that can lead to choose a SW model, and figure out whether contingent variables matters in the implementation of a particular SW model. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on: a survey delivered in 2013 to 100 Human Resources directors of medium and large Italian organizations to collect preliminary evidence on SW; and four embedded case studies based on 49 semi-structured interviews to better explain the findings achieved in the quantitative analysis. Findings Four SW models can be chosen by companies. They are named inconsistent, analogical, digital and complete SW. They are different according to investments in the enabling digital technologies, in trans-formations of the organizational policies and in workspace settings, according the contingent conditions where firms operate. Results show that there are complementarities between the elements that characterize a SW model and that at least two elements are developed in each SW model. In case all the three elements are developed, companies achieve higher labour productivity. Originality/value The paper unpacks the elements that can generate SW environments by deepening the complementarities that can be exploited among information and communication technologies, work place and work practice innovation, and by evaluating their development on employees’ performance.

Ce rapport est le résultat d'un projet de recherche co-financé par Grenoble École de Management et la Région Rhône-Alpes. Cette étude a été menée dans le but de comprendre comment les technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) offrent de nouvelles opportunités aux entreprises, en se concentrant particulièrement sur le rôle joué par ces solutions dans le traitement et l'utilisation des données numériques. Les données numériques sont au centre de ce projet, en raison des opportunités qu'elles peuvent apporter aux entreprises : elles se sont transformées en un torrent inondant tous les secteurs de l'économie mondiale. Dans un tel contexte, les entreprises peuvent se retrouver avec un volume important de données transactionnelles à gérer, la capture de milliards d'octets d'informations concernant leurs clients, leurs fournisseurs et leurs opérations. Des millions de capteurs sont intégrés au monde physique dans des appareils comme les téléphones portables, les compteurs intelligents, les voitures et les machines industrielles qui captent, créent et transmettent des données dans l'ère du « numérique ». Par conséquent, il est nécessaire de comprendre si les entreprises sont prêtes à créer de la valeur à partir de ces données numériques et à décrypter quelles sont les conditions qui y sont les plus favorables.

We examine whether firms that develop the Digital Data Genesis dynamic capability show higher performance. Using detailed survey data on the capabilities developed by companies by the usage of digital data and firm financial performance of 96 firms, we find that the firms that develop the DDG dynamic capability have levels of ROA, ROS and revenue growth higher than others do. Our results provide one of the first empirical evidence on the direct link between DDG dynamic capability and firm financial performance.

La presente relazione è il risultato di un progetto di ricerca co-finanziato da Grenoble École de Management e dalla Regione Rhône-Alpes. Questo studio è stato condotto con lo scopo di comprendere come le tecnologie dell’informazione e della comunicazione (TIC) possano offrire delle nuove opportunità alle imprese, concentrandosi in particolare sul ruolo giocato da queste soluzioni nel trattamento e nell'uso dei dati digitali. I dati digitali sono al centro di questo progetto, date le opportunità che essi possono offrire alle imprese: si sono infatti trasformati in una sorta di torrente che invade tutti i settori dell'economia mondiale. In un siffatto contesto, le imprese possono ritrovarsi con un volume importante di dati transazionali da dover gestire, miliardi di bytes d’informazioni riguardanti iloro clienti, fornitori e operatori. Milioni di sensori sono integrati al mondo fisico attraverso degli apparecchi quali i telefoni cellulari, i computer, le automobili e le macchine industriali a controllo numerico che percepiscono, creano e trasmettono dati nell'era del « digitale ». Di conseguenza, è necessario comprendere se le imprese sono pronte a creare del valore a partire da questi dati digitali, e ad identificare quali sono le condizioni che sarebbero più favorevoli a tale scopo.

This report is the output of a research project co-financed by Grenoble Ecole de Management and Rhône Alpes French region. This study was conducted with the aim of understanding how Information Technology (IT) provides new opportunities to firms, specifically focusing on the role that such solutions play in the process and usage of digital data. Digital data are the focus of this project since data can provide new opportunities for firms: they have become a torrent flowing into every area of the global economy. In such a context, companies may have to deal with a high volume of transactional data, capturing trillions of bytes of information about their customers, suppliers, and operations. Millions of sensors are embedded in the physical world in devices such as mobile phones, smart energy meters, cars, and industrial machines that sense, create and communicate data in the “digitalized” age. Therefore, there is the need of understanding whether companies are ready for extracting value from digital data and for figuring out the more favorable conditions under which this happens.

Ce rapport est le résultat d'un projet de recherche co-financé par Grenoble École de Management et la Région Rhône-Alpes. Cette étude a été menée dans le but de comprendre comment les technologies de l'information (TI) offrent de nouvelles opportunités aux entreprises, en se concentrant particulièrement sur le rôle joué par ces solutions dans le traitement et l'utilisation des données numériques. Les données numériques sont au centre de ce projet, en raison des opportunités qu'elles peuvent apporter aux entreprises : elles se sont transformées en un torrent inondant tous les secteurs de l'économie mondiale. Dans un tel contexte, les entreprises peuvent se retrouver avec un volume important de données transactionnelles à gérer, la capture de milliards d'octets d'informations concernant leurs clients, leurs fournisseurs et leurs opérations. Des millions de capteurs sont intégrés au monde physique dans des appareils comme les téléphones portables, les compteurs intelligents, les voitures et les machines industrielles qui captent, créent et transmettent des données dans l'ère du " numérisé ". Par conséquent, il est nécessaire de comprendre si les entreprises sont prêtes à créer de la valeur à partir de ces données numériques et à décrypter quelles sont les conditions qui y sont les plus favorables.

This report is an output of a research project co-financed by Grenoble Ecole de Management and Rhône Alpes French region. This study was conducted with the aim of understanding how Information Technology (IT) provides new opportunities to firms, specifically focusing on the role that such solutions play in the process and usage of digital data. Digital data are the focus of this project since data can provide new opportunities for firms: they have become a torrent flowing into every area of the global economy. In such a context, companies may have to deal with a high volume of transactional data, capturing trillions of bytes of information about their customers, suppliers, and operations. Millions of sensors are embedded in the physical world in devices such as mobile phones, smart energy meters, automobiles, and industrial machines that sense, create and communicate data in the "digitalized" age. Therefore, there is the need of understanding whether companies are ready for extracting value from digital data and for figuring out the more favorable conditions under which this happens.

Thanks to the software commoditization and the rise of the cloud computing, today Information Technology (IT) may have far-reaching effects upon different industries. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) may however encounter several obstacles in using IT to enrich their base of capabilities. This paper examines the diffusion patterns of IT-based capabilities in SMEs and - drawing on the resource-based-view and contingency theory - it analyzes how the industry environment influences the impact of capabilities on performance. Data are gathered through a survey conducted among 238 firms in Italy in 2009. Results show that outcomes of IT investments related to internal efficiency improvements are more diffused than uses of IT enhancing the capabilities related to the firm’s external orientation, that in more dynamic industries firms enjoy lower returns on profitability from their IT-based capabilities, and that in more munificent industries firms enjoy superior returns from enriching their capabilities base through IT.

New ways of conducting the working activities are emerging among enterprises. In such a context, research have investigated only marginally the evolution of telework adoption even thought continuous investments in Information Technologies have allowed to develop telework practises especially for tasks that do not require physical proximity to the customer. Thus, this paper examines the telework diffusion among companies, trying to identify how technological, organizational and environmental contexts influence its diffusion. Drawing upon a large-scale sample survey conducted among firms in Italy in the 2005–2009 period, results show how technological and organizational contexts matter in each year investigated. Contrarily we have shown how with the progressive diffusion of telework practices, the environment influence over their adoption decreases of importance. Managerial implications are also discussed.

Drawing on the resource-based-view and contingent studies, this paper examines the diffusion patterns of the capabilities that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) develop from Information Technology (IT) use and how the industry environment affects their impact on profitability. Data are gathered through a sample survey conducted among firms in Italy in 2009. Results show that in more dynamic industries firms enjoy lower returns on profitability from their IT-based capabilities. By contrast, industry munificence has positive moderating effects on the returns firms experience from enriching their capabilities base through IT. Managerial implications of these results are discussed.

Part 5: Transformation, Values and Change; International audience; Over the last decade the diffusion of Information Technologies has represented one of the main drivers of government reform. The adoption process of such technologies has posed significant challenges for public organizations. The aim of this paper is thus to look into the process of organizational change that public agencies have undergone, in order to single out its most salient characteristics, such as understanding changes in the adoption of technologies, in organizational choices, in skill needs and in customer-public administrations relationship. On the one hand, organizations are gradually opening up their institutional boundaries in order to proactively answer to environmental changes. On the other hand, citizens play an increasing role in the context of e-Government, since their suggestions and contributions may considerably influence decisions taken by public administrations. Specifically, we attempt to answer this research question: What are e-Government organizational implications in the back office and in the interaction with citizens due to Information Technologies diffusion? Using data from a survey on 1,206 Italian public administrations, we show how organizational changes are emerging, based on the overcoming of traditional bureaucratic organizational forms. The implications of these findings are also discussed.

Research that has recently investigated telework adoption among companies has analyzed only marginally the evolution of this phenomenon. This study examines the telework diffusion trend among companies, trying to identify new models and contingent factors that influence its diffusion. In so doing, the paper reports empirical findings of three surveys conducted among firms in Italy in the 2005-2009 period and has three goals: assess the existence of different types of teleworker, identify drivers of telework adoption, understand whether and how the effect of such drivers changes over time, as the commoditization of ICT enables diffused organizational learning and diffusion of such practices. Specifically, drawing on a Technology-Organizational-Environmental framework, this paper shows how the antecedents of telework adoption have been changing over time and how different teleworker types exist. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed.

This paper analyses digital divide in an Italian region (Piedmont) exploring factors that determine Internet usage by citizens. The research is conducted by using data collected over time by the Piedmont ICT Observatory (PICTO) through a survey on a sample of 2,000 citizens and then comparing them with Eurostat data. Focusing on Piedmont data, multivariate analysis shows that age and education level are the two most important variables that influence Internet usage. Moreover comparing Piedmont with similar European regions, this research has found out that the value reached by Piedmont is not enough high and that this is due to the ageing of Piedmont population and to its lower educational level, confirming the findings of the first part of the study. Thus, the analysis of e-inclusion policies implemented in such regions aimed to bridge this gap and addressed to the part of the population that has been identified as excluded, would help the policy maker to better understand which actions could be undertaken to increase the number of Internet users in the region.