A framework to evaluate the relationship between manufacturing and information system practices: The effect of competitive capabilities and firm performance

The evolution of manufacturing from the industrial to post-industrial model of competition has created an organizational environment characterized by unpredictable, often radical change, destabilizing many firms' manufacturing and work system practices in the process. When I. S. practices are based on organizational practices, those firms whose manufacturing and work system practices fail to keep adequate pace with the need for change may and their I. S. function's ability to develop effective information system strategies to be severely limited as well.;This research represents an initial cross-functional investigation between the manufacturing and information systems fields of study. A major contribution is the development of instruments designed to measure several key constructs including the work system practices of the firm, organizational involvement in I. S., the I. S. management practices of the firm, and I. S. performance.;An extensive literature review facilitated theory development. Interviews with practitioners, consultants, and academics helped to refine the questionnaire and ensured that the domain of each construct was adequately addressed. A pilot study was executed with 37 respondents from a target group of senior manufacturing managers drawn from firms of 250 employees or more, representing several different industries. The large-scale study yielded 265 responses that were used to test the generalizability of the results. The statistical methods employed include exploratory factor analysis in the instrument development phase and LISREL to test the hypothesized relationships.;The results confirm the existence of a strong positive relationship between time-based manufacturing practices and work system practices. That is, firms who implement time-based manufacturing practices will generally exhibit greater work system standardization, formalization, routinization, and integration than those firms who do not adopt such practices. Second, this research confirms the existence of a strong positive relationship between time-based manufacturing practices and theater organizational involvement in I. S. related activities.;Third, this research confirms the existence of strong positive relationships between the work system practices of the firm and the effectiveness of its I. S. management practices. Fourth, this research confirms the existence of a positive relationship between the I. S. management practices of the firm and its competitive capabilities. The major implication of these findings being that the adoption of time-based manufacturing practices enables the development of more effective I. S. management practices which in turn contribute to the creation of greater competitive capability and firm performance.