A Comparative Examination of Information Technology Usage in the Restaurant Industry

摘要

Contingency theory suggests that there is no universal information system that is applicable to all organizations in all circumstances. In this study, segment, ownership type, sales level, and financial success were all examined for their relationships to information technology usage in the restaurant industry. Restaurant owners and managers (n = 243) across three restaurant segments (casual service, quick service, and family style) were asked about what types of applications they used. First, a classification scheme emerged from the data as a result of factor analysis consisting of five categories: cost analysis, sales and forecasting, administrative, service, and advanced technologies. Second, analysis of variance supported the contingency theory for three of the four factors investigated. The segments of casual service, quick service, and family style, as well as chain versus independent restaurants, use systems differently from each other to meet their specific industry needs. Sales volume, however, did not correlate with systems use, but perceived financial success did correlate with the number of applications used by managers. The implications of this study suggest that generic, canned information technology solutions may not be the optimum solution for the restaurant industry. To enhance competitiveness, information technology solutions should address the specific needs for each restaurant firm.