Digitalization: the edge of first movers

Cátia Cerqueira (), Fernando Alexandre () and Miguel Portela ()
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Cátia Cerqueira: NIPE/Centre for Research in Economics and Management, University of Minho, Portugal
Fernando Alexandre: NIPE/Centre for Research in Economics and Management, University of Minho, Portugal
Miguel Portela: NIPE/Center for Research in Economics and Management, University of Minho, Portugal; and IZA, Bonn

No 11/2023, NIPE Working Papers from NIPE - Universidade do Minho

Abstract: This paper examines firms’ characteristics and the impact on firm performance of being a first mover in the adoption of cloud computing and big data digital technologies, relative to followers and non-adopters. Our results show that firms with higher levels of education both for managers and workers, and shorter managerial tenure are more likely to be digital adopters. First movers in the adoption of big data show distinct characteristics from followers, namely they are younger and have a larger share of higher education workers. Regarding the impact on firm performance, we find that first movers in cloud computing experience significant performance gains, namely in gross value added and productivity, compared to non-adopters, but no gains relative to followers. Interestingly, first movers in big data exhibit a productivity edge over followers and non-adopters. Furthermore, we find that higher levels of education and shorter managerial tenure amplify the positive effects of big data adoption on firm performance.

Keywords: cloud computing; big data; management; digitalization; productivity; ICT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D24 E22 E23 J24 L20 M10 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-eff, nep-eur, nep-hrm, nep-ict, nep-lma, nep-pay, nep-sbm and nep-tid
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