Managing information technology integration and implementation in health care supply chains: two essays.

Abstract

Information-intensive and customer-centric technologies available today promise substantial improvements in operational performance for both manufacturing and service supply chains. This abundance of technology is overwhelming for managers who, more often than not, find it challenging to determine which technologies they should invest in and how they should integrate the technologies to realize the promised performance benefits. Using data from the health care industry, I investigate the phenomena of technology integration and technology implementation, its antecedents, and its impact on organizational performance. The dissertation is comprised of two complementary parts, the first of which focuses on understanding the selection of a level of technology integration within an organization and its implications for performance. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) is the technological context of this research, and the empirical analysis is based on data from acute care hospitals in the U.S. (n=1011). My findings suggest that health care providers self-select into different levels of technology (EMR) integration. While some health care providers are better off investing in higher levels of EMR integration and benefit from doing so, not all providers choose to follow suit. The second part of my dissertation focuses on understanding factors that best explain successful technology implementation within a health care organization and its implications for performance, given a specific level of technology integration. Here I investigate the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system and the empirical analysis is based on data from 188 acute care hospitals. I develop a research framework linking organizational readiness, user readiness, and levels of technology integration with the use of CPOE systems. I also hypothesize the relationship between use of CPOE systems and organizational performance under the moderating influence of the levels of technology integration. Study results show that each of the research hypotheses is supported, save that which links organizational readiness with the use of a CPOE system. Finally, implications of the dissertation findings, limitations, and directions for future research are identified.