EVALUATING THE PRACTICES OF FLEXIBILITY MATURITY FOR THE SOFTWARE PRODUCT AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

The effect of ICT and higher-order capabilities on the performance of Ibero-American SMEs

Information and communication technologies (ICT) has the ability to create value by enabling other firm capabilities. Based on the ICT-enabled capabilities perspective, this study explores the direct and indirect effects between lower- and higher-order capabilities, such as ICT, knowledge management capability (KM) and product innovation flexibility (PIF), on the performance of Ibero-American small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper uses second-order structural equation models to test the research hypotheses with a sample of 130 Ibero-American SMEs. The results contribute to filling the gap in the SME-focused literature on empirical studies examining ICT-enabled capabilities and firm performance. The results show an enabling effect of ICT on higher-order capabilities, such as KM and PIF, which, by acting as mediating variables, create value and improve performance through innovation in firms.

Benchmarking the practices of flexibility with maturity models and frameworks of organizational capabilities

Purpose

Organizational capabilities are crucial to achieve the objectives. A plethora of maturity models is available to guide organizational capabilities that create a perplexing situation about what stuff to improve and what to leave. Therefore, a unified maturity model addressing a wide range of capabilities is a necessity. This paper establishes that a flexibility maturity model is an unified model containing the operational, strategic and human capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper does a comparative analysis/benchmarking studies of different maturity models/frameworks widely used in the information technology (IT) sector with respect to the flexibility maturity model to establish its comprehensiveness and application in the organization to handle multiple goals.

Findings

This study confirms that the flexibility maturity model has the crucial elements of all the maturity models. If the organizations use the flexibility maturity model, they can avoid the burden of complying with multiple ones and become objective-driven rather than compliance-driven.

Research limitations/implications

The maturity models used in information technology sectors are used. This work will inspire other maturity models to adopt flexibility phenomena.

Practical implications

The comparative analysis will give confidence in application of flexibility framework. The business environment and strategic options across organizations are inherently different that the flexibility maturity model well handles.

Social implications

A choice is put to an organization to see the comparison tables produced in this paper and choose the right framework according to the prevailing business situation.

Originality/value

This is the first study that makes a conclusion based on comparative benchmarking of existing maturity models.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Value Formation and Market Performance in Healthcare: the Mediating Role of Patient's Cognitive Engagement

The Healthcare sector has been at the forefront of the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Owing to the nature of the services and the vulnerability of a large section of end-users, the topic of responsible AI has become the subject of widespread study and discussion. We conduct a mixed-method study to identify the constituents of responsible AI in the healthcare sector and investigate its role in value formation and market performance. The study context is India, where AI technologies are in the developing phase. The results from 12 in-depth interviews enrich the more nuanced understanding of how different facets of responsible AI guide healthcare firms in evidence-based medicine and improved patient centered care. PLS-SEM analysis of 290 survey responses validates the theoretical framework and establishes responsible AI as a third-order factor. The 174 dyadic data findings also confirm the mediation mechanism of the patient's cognitive engagement with responsible AI-solutions and perceived value, which leads to market performance.

Internal flexibility in health-care organizations: a value-laden perspective on sustainability

Purpose

This study aims to identify the constituents of internal flexibility in health-care organizations for achieving sustainability. The study incorporates resources-based theory and resource-dependence theory to illustrate how health-care organizations exhibit internal flexibility to redress environmental uncertainties and maximize organizational responsiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conducts a case study in a health-care organization to explore how health-care organizations acquire several resources for attaining internal flexibility. A survey of health-care professionals was conducted to assess the relationships using partial least squares-structural equation modeling.

Findings

In the present study, the dimensions of internal flexibility in health-care organizations are identified. This study also established internal flexibility as a higher-order factor and explained its underlying aspects as a value-laden perspective on sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in the public health-care context in India. The framework needs to be tested in another context. The sample size for the study was limited to health-care experts, which could be extended to include the customer’s perspective.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying the specific dimensions of internal flexibility and explains as a higher-order factor. It enhances the understanding of sustainability from a flexibility perspective of the firm.

Green service production in healthcare and role of value chain flexibility

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the specific role of value chain flexibility (VCF) in the strategies of green service production (GSP) in healthcare. The study explores the key dimensions of VCF and their linkages with the current GSP strategies in healthcare firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses an exploratory case study with three representative national-level healthcare firms in India. A multiple case study methodology was utilized to explore the relationships between GSP and VCF.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest that several strategies for GSP require the support of multiple dimensions of VCF. More importantly, the role of each dimension of VCF depends upon the innovativeness of green service design, green procurement and green service practices.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted in the emerging healthcare market of India. Thus, the generalizability of the framework needs to be tested in another context. The study reports the employee's perception, and the patients’ (customers) views were not included.

Originality/value

The study is a first step to understand the theoretical perspectives of the relationships between GSP and VCF by exploring the underlying concepts. Furthermore, the study explicates the dynamics of their interplay in a systematic way and contributes to a framework of GSP and VCF in the healthcare context.