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Dynamic capabilities represent an important determinant of competitive advantage in turbulent environments. However, despite intense work in the area, the issue of the antecedents of dynamic capabilities remains poorly researched. Understanding the sources of dynamic capabilities would give organizations instruments to rationally improve their chance of gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. We contribute to the literature on information technology dynamic capabilities by focusing on three sources of dynamic capabilities: organizational processes, firm history and firm's assets. We lay the theoretical and methodological groundwork for our explanation and empirically test our model by focusing on an emerging capability we term Digital Data Genesis (DDG). We define DDG as the dynamic capability of (1) choosing information technology to generate and capture data in digital form unobtrusively, (2) integrating the IT in the appropriate business processes, and (3) managing the digital data so captured .Our results show that the organizational processes of sensing and learning, the historical information dynamic capability, and the historical IT dynamic capability influence the DDG dynamic capability.

The article investigates the relationship between Performance Management Systems (PMS) and IS in a single Italian Public University, starting from the gap that exists between what is declared in University policy statements— ostensibly oriented towards empowerment—and what is actually implemented by public managers. We are particularly interested in understanding how ICT could support PMS in the control process. In our empirical analysis we observed that the role of IS depends on the strategy adopted in planning and implementing the PMS.

Digital transformation (DT) at the micro level implies organizational changes in roles, individual skills, leadership styles, and managerial approaches. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the individual attitudes and behaviors that lead to DT in organizations. Thus, we investigated DT at the micro level to explain the individuals who manage DT. For this, we developed a multiple-case study of 38 Italian firms by analyzing data regarding seven large firms and 31 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to allow for cross-case analysis. Our findings suggest that approaches differ for managers in SMEs and large firms. In large firms, a “digital transformation conductor” (often called “chief digital officer”) oversees DT processes, whereas in SMEs, there is a “digital transformation peer-tutor” approach to DT. A bottom-up, informal, persuasive, and empathic approach characterizes the peer tutor. However, in large firms, a conductor approach is used to drive the necessary changes.

This paper aims to shed light on the actual rate of new venture death in the context of a high level of digital entrepreneurship. Using three different country-level databases, it investigates how different combinations of socio-cultural propensity towards entrepreneurship, exposure to digital media, and digital infrastructure lead to entrepreneurial death. Longitudinal data on 23 European countries are analyzed employing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fs-QCA). The findings suggest that, in a context characterized by the presence of high levels of socio-cultural propensity toward entrepreneurship and exposure to digital media and in the absence of high levels of technological and human digital infrastructure, the associated outcome will be a high level of entrepreneurial death for new ventures.

The 4th industrial revolution or Knowledge Age enhances the transition to knowledge-driven organizations that rely on data, technologies and learn how to manage all the variables involved in their digital transformation (DT). How should firms manage their knowledge during their DT is an underdeveloped research issue, especially in the SMEs' context. Employing a mixed inductive-deductive approach, this multiple case-study of 35 SMEs tries to shed light on which are the critical knowledge factors required to support and hinder DT in SMEs' context.

Over the last decade, social media has evolved from being an interesting technology used mainly for corporate communication and public relations into a proper business tool. One of the most promising areas in this field is employing social media as a source of information and knowledge to deepen the understanding of technological discontinuities and changes; however, this area remains largely unexplored. Thus, this study addresses this shortcoming by investigating the role of social media analytics in the activities and processes that make sense of social media data to enhance the technological opportunism capability, which is defined as the organizational capability to sense and respond to technological changes. The empirical results are obtained using a mixed-methods approach, supporting the existence of a positive and significant relationship between social media analytics deployment and technological opportunism. Further, they highlight the role of marketing and information technology integration and employee skills as significant antecedents.

PurposeThis article aims to understand whether and how a digital transformation strategy (DTS) can strengthen the relationship between network organizations and the generation/regeneration of their business network commons (BNC). Further, it investigates the role of the DTS in managing the BNC, a critical source of business network success.Design/methodology/approachA two-year longitudinal case study of an Italian business network operating in the wine sector was conducted.FindingsThis study provides theoretical insights into the digital, sustainable shift of a business network. On combining a network's business strategy and its DTS, digital resources are a key driver to promote BNC regeneration. A DTS undertaken to manage, regenerate and preserve the BNC can positively affect organizational variables, such as participatory architecture, and the network-level organizational integration and can help in preventing opportunistic behaviors affecting the BNC. Moreover, the DTS supports quality and social responsibility.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses on an Italian case and its findings are hence not generalizable. It would be interesting to study sustainable business networks' digital shift in different socioeconomic contexts as well as in different industry settings.Practical implicationsNetwork SMEs and other stakeholders (institutions, competitors and consumers) can foster the transition from a “business-as-usual” strategy to a long-term strategy for digitalized management of common resources.Originality/valueThe study is at the intersection of, and contributes to, several research streams. It contributes to the digital transformation literature by adding information on the positive externalities of digitalization in the social and economic environment. It also contributes to the early streams of organizational and managerial literature on the BNC.

This paper investigates the role of crucial technological and social factors in enhancing or undermining vaccine coverage rates at the country level worldwide. Employing five country-level databases, it explores how different combinations of technology diffusion (that is, social media penetration) and social conditions (functional literacy and attitude toward science) affect the level of vaccine coverage. The analyses are based on two built ad-hoc longitudinal datasets of 36 and 40 countries worldwide, employing a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fs-QCA) approach. The findings highlight that, at the country level, the absence of high social media penetration, combined with an above-average level of functional literacy and positive attitude toward science, enable vaccine coverage to reach the level recommended by health institutions and authorities.

This study explores how ICTs and the Internet are influencing, and being influenced by, the evolution of institutions, organizations and workflows that play a role in scholarly work. Based on a literature review and a structured analysis of 8 carefully selected web sites, this study explores: (i) the evolving business models of scientific journals; (ii) the new competitive dynamics triggered by open access and article-level metrics; (iii) the traditional and emerging forms of peer review; and (iv) the emerging ICT-enabled changes in research workflows. The findings depict a highly complex and dynamic scenario, in which different scholarly communities, with their respective institutional and organizational environments, are experimenting different ICT-based arrangements and solutions, which are dramatically widening the range of possible activity systems through which scientific knowledge is created, exchanged, evaluated and leveraged. JEL classification: M10, M15, Keywords: Research workflow, Scholarly commons, Academic publishers, Publish or perish, Open scientific data, Academic libraries, Academic incentives, Digital publishing

There is widespread belief that crowdfunding can successfully support charity operation by accelerating and simplifying the process of finding large pools of funders. Analysing a unique dataset of donations collected in Italy through crowdfunding in 2016, we identify contextual factors that hamper online donations. Specifically, looking at the role of digital divide, digital literacy, and social network interactions, our study extends the existing literature on charity crowdfunding. Implications are discussed in both theoretical and practical terms on the modes of engagement of online communities and on possible tactics to overcome donations barriers.

Introducing IT-enabled transformational change in the public sector can be complex and challenging. Documentary analysis and in-depth interviews were used to study the introduction of a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) in one Italian regional healthcare organisation (RHO). Drawing on existing HRIS benefit models, we examined the types of benefit envisaged by different stakeholders and how these were realised in practice, along with unintended outcomes. Analysis revealed that the RHO had derived value from the implementation project, whilst demonstrating variations in expected and realised benefits between different categories of employee and co-dependencies between different types of benefit. We propose an extended and empirically-informed model of expected and realized benefits from HRIS in health organizations, which takes account of these interdependencies and differences.

The present study builds on diffusion of innovation (DOI) and institutional theories to address the current lack of cross-national studies on e-HRM adoption and usage. The core research question asks about the factors influencing e-HRM adoption and usage for HRM. We analysed direct effects related to country, organizational and HRM factors among 3815 organizations in 21 countries in a multilevel approach. The results largely supported the hypotheses. Specifically, national systems supporting innovative behaviours determine the extent of e-HRM adoption. The economic sector of activity, size, global competition and educational level were associated with e-HRM adoption and usage at the organizational level. Moreover, a strategic orientation of the HR function seems to be a prerequisite for e-HRM adoption and usage. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Negli ultimi 10 anni l’interesse manageriale verso le piattaforme Social Media (SM) è cresciuto esponenzialmente, ma in molti casi all’interesse iniziale è seguita una certa disillusione rispetto all’utilità dei SM. Recentemente la ricerca accademica ha ipotizzato che i SM possano avere un ruolo importante nel supportare i processi di innovazione. Anche in questo caso le evidenze empiriche sono state contrastanti mostrando una relazione negativa tra il livello di utilizzo dei SM, per ottenere informazioni utili allo sviluppo di soluzioni tecnologiche, e il livello di innovazione dell’organizzazione. Questo studio va a investigare la relazione tra i processi di SM Analytics e la capacità organizzativa di percepire e rispondere al cambiamento tecnologico, adottando un modello di ricerca più esteso che consideri anche le variabili individuali e organizzative a supporto di questi processi. Le informazioni raccolte dai SM possono infatti supportare la reattività organizzativa al cambiamento, a condizione di: implementare i processi analitici necessari a raccogliere, filtrare, e analizzare le informazioni rilevanti; sviluppare le capacità individuali e le competenze organizzative necessarie a supportarli.

Changes in traditional sectors, such as cultural heritage, have stemmed from technological innovations, which brought new opportunities for the valorization of cultural heritage, as well as new competences requirements. With a specific focus on cultural organizations, the technology can provide greater efficiency in the coordination of processes and facilitate the development of new activities that can generate economic returns. Touristic guides have a prominent role in cultural heritage valorization as they contribute to deliver a full and comprehensive experience to the visitors. Therefore, the technology adoption and usage of the touristic guides should have a direct impact on the valorization of cultural heritage through ICTs. In this paper, we aim at identifying the sensemaking that each actor confers to the technological innovations, and its impact on cultural heritage valorization.

Recent technological innovations and applications have impacted traditional sectors, such as the cultural heritage. They have brought about not only new opportunities for the valorization of cultural heritage, but also unprecedented challenges for the human resources working in the sector. With a specific focus on cultural organizations, the technology can provide greater efficiency in the coordination of processes and facilitate the development of new activities that can generate economic returns. Touristic guides have a prominent role in cultural heritage valorization as they contribute to deliver a full and comprehensive experience to the visitors. Therefore, the technology adoption and usage of the touristic guides should have a direct impact on the valorization of cultural heritage through ICTs. In this paper, we aim at identifying the sensemaking that each actor confers to the technological innovations, and its impact on cultural heritage valorization.

The main goal of the paper is to explore the importance of the complementarities between ICT and organizational change in order to plan new organizational forms. In particular, the paper analyzes whether and how technology can be an important instrument of coordination for healthcare organizations. Results from our empirical research indicate that ICT solutions and initiatives play a significant role in improved information management and therefore re-engineering of business processes. We show how traditional organizational models and coordination are no longer consistent and sufficient in turbulent environments such as that of the Italian health. ICT provides new ways of coordination and control. So the traditional coordination mechanisms are scaled or enhanced with the use of ICT.

This chapter focuses on the reciprocal relationship between information systems and organizational control. It introduces the volume, describing both the theoretical frameworks and the topics analyzed and discussed. In particular, the volume is divided into three sections, each one focusing on a specific topic: organizational control, accounting and information systems; organizational change, innovation and ICT; and information, knowledge and project management practices.

The literature on distributed work has recognized the importance of enhancing our understanding of how leadership processes change in globally distributed teams (GDTs), and of the interplay between leadership processes and the use of collaborative technologies. However, we still find limited, and some- times contradictory, empirical evidence on the topic. Following the theoretical framework of e-leadership, the aim of this paper is to explore how emergent and formal leadership processes co-evolve with the use of collaborative technologies in GDTs and their influence on team performance. We conducted a multiple case study in five GDTs engaged in scientific collaborations. Our analysis suggests that the attainment of consistency between leadership processes and technology use is related to better knowledge integration, which is an important antecedent of overall team performance.

Cooperation among firms is universally seen as a catalyst of competitive advantages. However, 50 % of alliances fails, often due to the lack of tools and methods to quantitatively track the effects of alliances on firms and to link goals and KPIs outside of traditional organizational boundaries. Nonetheless, performance management and performance measurement have a key role in the assessment of alliance’s goals achievements and of the impact of alliances on firms. This concept has been included in DsNA, a tool for the analysis of strategic partnerships, that we developed with the aim of providing firms, networks’ managers, researchers and policy makers with a more structured and complete information. In particular, the innovative aspect consists of the creation of an online service which enables KPIs monitoring and benchmarking, thus simplifying a possible reconfiguration of network dynamics.