An investigation into operations improvement and competitiveness through IT

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the growing recognition of the importance and essence of technology latest trends used by companies and developed to enhance the business processes and workflow of day-to-day procedures within operational departments. Three major important factors within operation departments are communication, business intelligence and automated systems, which involve the use of the latest technology. The dissertation starts with a literature review focusing on the study, investigating the importance of sustainable use of information technology and business practices within operational departments of businesses in Malta. Companies and industry objectives mainly focus on the strategic decisions to enhance operational business practices required for growth and ultimately to gain competitive advantage. The main aspect of the research carried out in preparation for this dissertation required carrying out semi-structured interviews with four well-established companies. For the purpose of this dissertation the companies’ chosen required that they carried out operations in different industries. Using the findings gathered during these interviews, this dissertation analyses how the organizations introduced the important factors of ensuring good use of IT for the benefits of performance improvement and work/service growth. This determines that enhancing the use of IT; results in achieving better rankings within the market growth and improve their competitive position. The study through this dissertation concludes that, although each company had introduced IT with the use of information systems, difficulties were faced by each company in relation to employees resisting or neglecting technological advancement and change in business operations, as well as difficulties with allocating time and resources required to introduce and implement new technology. Furthermore, although the companies had tailor-made systems and made use of new technologies, they still faced a lack of essential tools with reference to project management and document management systems.