Using Asset Specificity and Asset Scope to MEASURE THE VALUE OF IT

摘要

Information technology is an increasingly important source of firm value; indeed, it is rapidly outpacing material goods as the main source of economic value in post-industrial economies. Accounting for the nonmaterial value of IT, however, is inherently complex. This value is often integrated into the production process, making it difficult to separate the discrete contribution of IT from the complementary processes and activities in which the IT is embedded, Undetected reinvestment and collateral investments often absorb the financial benefits derived from IT implementations. Also, the use of supportive IT for monitoring, controlling, and improving production can hide visible return on IT investments. So, while we know IT produces value for firms, knowing where, how, and how much is a significant problem.