ICT and productivity growth - the paradox resolved?

Alan Hughes and Michael S Scott Morton

Working Papers from Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge

Abstract: This paper argues that the gains from ICT at the individual business level depend upon the implementation of a range of complementary ÔinvestmentsÕ and organisational changes appropriate to the competitive and institutional context of particular sectors. To support our proposition we provide a brief overview of a recently emerging but compelling body of large sample micro-econometric research. We focus in depth, however on a single case study of ICT related organisational transformation in the transportation sector. This case builds upon the conceptual framework developed in the MIT interesting organisations project (Scott Morton (2003)). Taken as a whole we believe there is clear evidence of the conditions that seem to be required before the payoff from ICT can be realised by an organisation and hence diffuse through the economy. Effective use of ICT requires a holistic solution which recognises that there is no single factor, or even just a few, which leads to successful exploitation. Rather success comes from the artful crafting of a series of interrelated and mutually interdependent driving forces. The paradoxical 'gap' between investment in computers and realised performance can be closed if this lesson is absorbed.

Keywords: ICT; Complementary Investment; Productivity; Transport Services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eff, nep-ict and nep-ino
Note: PRO-1
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cbrwp316.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cbr:cbrwps:wp316

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Working Papers from Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ruth Newman ().