Does IT Impact Firm Innovativeness: An Empirical Examination of Complementary and Direct Effects

摘要

In this study we investigate the relationship between IT investment and firm innovation outcome. We theorize about the relationships between IT and the innovation processes and identify complementary and direct effects of IT on firm innovation outcomes. We test our theory using data compiled from secondary sources. Using Negative Binomial regression models we find that the interaction between IT investment and R&D expenditure significantly impacts firm innovation measured using patent counts and that IT investments do not have a direct effect on innovation outcomes. We interpret and discuss our results in the paper.