State of the art of
the NTIC and their determinants in the companies:
Case of the Tunisian
companies
Article written by:
Jameleddine Ziadi (j.ziedi@planet.tn)
Lecturer in
management, person in change of UR e-Masig
FSEGT of the
University of Tunis El Manar1
Campus University Bd
7 November-Tunis (Tunisia)
Summary:
Today,
new communication and information technologies (NTIC) know a fulgurating
development because they stick perfectly to major socio-economic tendencies to
which firms must face.
However,
the opinions in their connections remain mixed. For the ones the NTIC represent
a strategic stake. For the others, it is only one technological investment among
so much of others.
Our
research interest with the factors which influence the level of use the TIC in
the enterprises. To this effect, the empirical study, near 1 49 Tunisian
enterprises, make it possible to highlight the importance of the extrovert
character of the company like explanatory factor of a strategic use of the TIC.
Lastly,
the literature let identify five contexts: the company, management, the
organisation, culture and environment. These contexts will be developed in this
article.
Key words:
Tunisian companies – NTIC.
Summary
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………3
I. The
concept NTIC………………………………………………………………………….4
I.1. Definition of the concept of the new
technologies……………………………………..4
I.1.1.Technology Internet in the company……………………………………………….4
I.1.2.Trade electronic…………………………………………………………………….5
I.2.Old technologies from now accessible
…………………………………………………7
I.2.1. Decisional data processing…………………………………………………………7
I..2.2.Collaboratif work…………………………………………………………………..7
I.2.3.The ERP (Enterprise Resource
Planning)…………………………………………..9
I.2.4.The SCM (Supply Chain
Management)…………………………………………….9
I.2.5.Thecnologies resulting from the data processing convergence/
Telephony………...9
I.2.6.The CRM (Customer Relationship
Management)…………………………………..9
II. The
determinants of the level of use of the NTIC in the companies………………………10
II.1.The level of use of NTIC……………………………………………………………...10
II.2. The determinants of the level of use of the NTIC…………………………………….11
II.2.1.Context of the company……………………………………………………………..11
II.2.2.Organisationnel context……………………………………………………………...12
II.2.3.Cultural
context……………………………………………………………………...12
II.2.4.Environmental
context………………………………………………………………13
III.
Empirical research………………………………………………………………………...13
III.1. Results………………………………………………………………………………..14
III.1.1.Equipment in NTIC
……………………………………………………………...14
III.1.2. The level of use of the NTIC……………………………………………………16
III.1.3. The determinants of the level of use of the NTIC………………………………17
III.2.Summary of the results of empirical research………………………………………..19
Bibliographical
References…………………………………………………………………...19
INTRODUCTION:
The
digital, Internet, Intranet and more generally the NTIC are notions in which we
are drained. These notions seem to have overspread. Mass media especially that
are concerned with firms.
Thanks to possibilities which come to be more economic, the performances
of acquisition, of stocking, treatment and restoring the information that the
NTIC respond to the new exigencies to which the companies must stand in front
of.
Moreover the opinions towards all that remain mixed. For some people,
these notions are simply a package of tools having the function of a technical
or operational support. For the others, these opinions constitute a major
strategic stake.
The contemporary technologies as every major technical innovation,
leaving in investigation of new possibilities. They systematically don’t make
unanimity for users. Such a case leads us to identify the problems which are:
-
What are the factors
that have an effect on the level of use of the NTIC in the companies?
The
aims of the studies made throughout 49 Tunisian firms are double.
-
Find out how the
companies use the NTIC such a strategic stake or a simple project in technology.
-
Identify and analyze
the relations which may exist between certain variable explanatory and strategic
use of NTIC.
This research is based on an exploratory study of the NTIC situation in
Tunisian firms.
This theme constitute one of the major axis in the next international
colloque which takes place on the 24 and 25 of June 2005 in Tunis by the U.R e
Masing (The Unity of research e-management, the management and information
system). In the university of El Manar (Tunis), The ATUCOM (Tunisian association
of communication, Maghreb technologies).
The intellectual meeting is manifested thought various levels of
questions these questions suggest the points of the following study:
-
The degree of
distribution of the electronical tools along Tunisian firms.
-
The level of use of
NTIC in Tunisian companies. Are they considered as a strategic stake or aren’t
they a normal and simple new field in technology.
-
The determinants of
the level of use of NTIC in the enterprises. The adopted methodology has got two
parts:
-
A theorical part:
Which consist of literature and the identification of theorical model and which
concern the determinants level of use of NTIC.
-
An empirical part:
which is relative to the validity of theorical model, throughout the technique
investigation in sample of some Tunisian firms.
In this case, we have looked for an apprehension oh the degree of
distribution of NTIC in the inquired firms, their standards of use and the
determinants of strategic use of NTIC.
I-
The NTIC concept:
The last wave of technological innovations is known as “the new
technologies of information and communication”: the innovation which knocks on
the spirits is focalized on the Internet explosion, as the appearance and
generalisation of a universal support of data communication.
I-1-
Definition of the concept of new technologies
The term NTIC seems to be extremely difficult to use in the way that each
one has a private representation, that’s why we must precise what we
understand by “new” technologies. These information and communication
technologies are not new item to deal with, contrary to what suggest the
expression. Where is them the innovation? The main innovation in this field is
undoubtedly the irruption of the Internet technologies. But some writers such
Henri Isaac think that this deals with the clarets Innovation Many technologies
of information have witnessed these last years considerable evolutions. “Many
technologies of information have known these years considerable progression
linking with electronical progress (data, memories, stocking). Finally, the
telecommunication technologies especially, these of mobile are the last launched
items of new technologies”.
I-1-1-
The Internet technologies in the companies
They are, undoubtedly, the essential part in technology. The manipulation
of network based on the protocol TCP/IP, have permitted to unfold the Internet
of enterprise and make the some think with commercial partners.
Internet:
The ISOC suggest three definitions of Internet.
-
A general definition:
“Internet is a network information’s open and general”.
-
Large information:
“Internet is the interconnection of network in IP Protocol, then all the
connected network are capable of heading for Traffic (this one which unify
protocol to those which use another protocol rather than IP and the systems with
an applicatory level”.
-
A narrow definition:
“Internet is a group of inter-networks which is capable of dispatching between
them packets following the IP (Internet Protocol).
Intranet:
The Intranet is: the application of technologies of the Internet inside the firm.
The Intranet represents architecture of a network of a company with existent
systems of information.
Extranet:
The Extranet is an external network reposing on the TCP/IP protocol and
interconnected with the information systems of a firm which relate (opening of
internal network for customers, supplies and privileged partners. When opening
the data of the enterprise to its strategic partners, the Extranet technology
realise the concept of extensive firm, that, means, the extensive firm outside,
based on the networks of partners in order of build its offer system.
I-1-2-
The electronic trade
The electronic trade (E.T) is defined by Lombard, Roussel, Dumartin,
Heitzmann and Aufrant as: “every automatic buying (or selling) concluded on a
terminal interactive of electronic network.
It is a selling form which provides the customer to affect the global
process of buying (visualisation of the offer, buying, paying, and information
about the delivery). On the Internet site, the C.E recovers two dimensions: the
trade between firms (business to business) or (B to B) and the trade towards
particular or big public (Business to Consumer) (B to C).
The
B to C trade:
The trade B to C (or B2C), is a site of sale. It provides the internaut
with a complete service of orders and delivery at home couple with a paying.
According to “Badot”, the trade B to C is linked with needs, either of a
principal/urgent necessity, or of accomplishment (rare products or outside
products) and just occupies a reduced state in the panoply of sale firs.
The
B to B trade:
The B to B (or B2B) is the vector of principal development of CE.
According to IDC (International Data Corporation), the sales on the Internet and
will be elevated to 2200 milliards with 88% for the trade B to B. Technically, a
relation of the kind B2B apply on an extranet. Actually, we can distinguish four
big firms of trade B to B.
-
The
e-distribution:
The sites of sales with certain great suppliers, the famous are Cisco and Dell (suppliers
of informatics equipment), facing numerous customers. Some firms can equally
complete the sale with means of reality “brick and click”, earning generally
more than those who want to count on the only store or Internet.
-
The
places pf electronic market:
“A whole of solution customer/supplier reposing on an interface wets
permitting the contact between customers and suppliers and offering
possibilities of purchases and sales with or without the providence of a whole
service (catalogues, gestion of offer service, evaluation of suppliers,
facturation, orders, personalization. The market locals have three major
problems to guarantee their viability, compared to:
The
sellers: it is essential that the site refers to the greatest number.
The
buyers: It must be/is essential that the site is sufficiently flexible and
ergonomic for that these buyers can present their appeals in the most explicit
way.
The
Concurrence: These locations must grow rapidly. In fact, they are put under the
effect of important network. Thus whenever market site present referenced
suppliers, this site will be more and more attractive.
-
The
e-procurement (professional purchases on line):
The processes of purchase or of stocks automated dealing with applicative of
information system specially dedicated to this process. This process may be
included in one or in many places of market. The e-procurement is practiced for
strategic purchases (an exclusive platform thought an Extranet) or in
collaboration of the great firms which are in a concurrence in the same sector.
(Plat forms which are collective thought a unified site in the market).
-
The
web EDI (Exchange of informatised Data):
The EDI makes easy the relations between industrial buyers and suppliers. In
fact, “the computers of different companies use the data’s networks to send
to each other formal information’s about the command, the delivery and the
invoice, more generally, information about all the commercial transactions”.
But the applying of the EDI is a costly operation “only reserved to
enterprises with a certain financial basis together with the possibility to
realise scale economies”. To day, the EDI has been directed to wards Internet
Solutions. The increase of B2B trade let the PME together with the big firms to
have an access to cheaper technologies and to exchange informatised data. “As
soon as many commercial transactions enter the firms thought Internet, it is not
absurd to take out firm procedures recently placed under the EDI system, in
order to provide these enterprises with material means to realise electrical
transactions. While using Internet for EDI, the whole of exchange chain and of
its protocols are maintained, but the communication is established thought
Internet network. The thing that permits a sensible decrease of transmission
costs is then a potential use by a big number of firms with PME.
Internet permit also “the application of EDI lights”, which means
reduced and cheaper functionals, accessible by graphic interfaces and navigators
rather than pre-formatised screens. These elements which permit to familiar and
artizanal enterprises to have an access to EDI.
I-2-
“Old” technologies firm now on accessible:
Hence, applications traditionally inaccessible for the user. Finally
become disponible on the work level and the evolution of power and of operation
of machines and progress in network. Some technologies lake the data “ware
house” and decisive application, “the groupware”, the progicials of
integrated gestion (ERP) constitute new technologies in the measure that the
progression in terms of server and logiciel on the user post permit in the
future to let then accessible on different posts of work and in different
unities.
I-2-1-
The decisive data:
The saturation of data is a significatif gesture in the contemporary
enterprises “it suffers a lot firm this material rather than currency”.
“Herbert Simon” pointed out that the access to richness in information
creates the poverty in attention”. The computer (data) more precisely, the
decisive computer (data) is created firm the last notion. It is based one the
idea of the concentration of data of enterprise in the data house to facilitate
analysis (data mining) and the decision.
The
applicators of decisive data:
-
The
warehouse data:
Which design at the time the basis in which the whole of information’s stocked
together with the decisive system of information.
-
The
mining data: Which literally signify “search data”. Lake in every
excavation, its aim is to extract one element: The information. The data mining
suits with the whole of techniques and methods permitting to obtain exploiting
cognisance”. The data mining has got two principal functions: the extraction
and the treatment of data in view of stocked mass.
I-2-2-
The collaborator work:
The groupware, is defined in 1981 by Peter and Trudy Johnson Lentzas “a
concept which aims at the same time the human process and organisational one in
the collective work and the technological tools necessary to accomplish this
task”, the groupware is a concept which is presented in different ways and use
many applications. When, people work at the same time, we talk then, about
groupware synchronic comprising mainly:
-
The
Visio conference system:
is destined to equipy a conference room for virtual meetings.
-
The
visiophonie system:
is composed of a camera (or every kind of video) linked to the computer by a
numeric and compressive card, of a modem linked to the phone. It permits the
computer to transmit to the receiver who is far but has got the same equipment,
a real video image synchronised with the voice. The two applications which are
Visio play and visio conference respond to different using. The first one is an
integrated mean to the Microsoft ware. But, the second one is desired to equipy
a conference room. In the opposite way, when individuals are not simultaneously
connected, we talk them about an asynchrony groupware which aims to share the
document and promote the communication.
-
The
electronic mail:
it is a bilateral and non collective means of communication.
-
The
form or electronic conference:
it is an electronic site (location) which gather the virtual communities. The
forum permit to a group of actors to structure their exchange of informations
and messages according to thematic files or groups of work.
-
The
shared agenda: it
is a tool which permits to have more visionnality of the planning of different
person in view of the firm. It permits also to reserve slot time eatables and
meeting dates. The agenda is dealt with everyday by phone persons, the secretary
too.
-
The
annuals: are the
lists of address of correspondents, formalised according to their relations
between each others.
For a long time, and remaining marginal, the applications of
collaborative work have witnessed important development as soon as the Internet
was born and the Intranet was developed too. Some applications groupware are
fortunately offered by Internet. Without using specific logicials. “The aim of
specific logicial is to structure the done task when it is repetitive. We are
close then to work flow”.
The
work flow or flux of work in French, means an application of groupware which
resolve one of the major difficult problems in the enterprise and which has got
a concern in the documentation an information which accompany the process.
The
work flow is then an application permitting to “manage, control and automate
the administrative and edition al process of the enterprise”. In this
definition, the important word is process because; it reduces the work flow role
in view of other technologies such as the electronic management of file
document.
“The
work flow is mainly interested of flux orders and documentary process rather
than their content”. Behind the groupware vocabulary a new way of work is
concealed the used techniques are based on new technologies of informatique
networks, but the organisational and human dimensions of work in group are
important too.
I-2-3- The ERP (Enterprise
Resource Planning):
“An
ERP is a whole of applications reposing on data. The applications may be put in
a isolated location, linking the ones to the others or by the assistance pf
outside solutions. This modules group of management permits to rely all the
fields of management in an enterprise”.
The
ERP is a piloting mean/tool which integrates the whole functioning in the
enterprise, starting from a single reference of data disserving the whole of
modules: management of production GRH finance, administration, sale, purchase,
logicials, etc. The all applications are relied the are to the others following
an architecture of customer/provider. If a market application is in need to
comptable data, it makes an appeal close to the computer of department of
comptability. The opposite is just too. Thanks to commun and shared data, every
modification of information’s repered in real time of the whole of
applications. The input is unique and the diffusion is instantaneous.
I-2-4- The SCM (Supply
Chain Management):
The
SCM is a whole of applicative of information system which coordinates of flux of
informations which are either internal or external permitting to optimise the
management of logistic flux (levels of different stocks, purchase,
reapprovisionning, delivery, orders traceability) between customer/supplier
based on the reciprocal doubt to got wards collaboration between actors”.
I-2-5- Technologies
issued of the informatised/telephonic convergence:
There
is years ago, telephonic technologies have permitted to develop the networks of
telephony every where with it known success. The introduction of mobile phone in
enterprise has accroited the nobility of salaried and accessibility of ones and
others. The evolutions in the domain clearly push to consider original
applications linked to the Internet applications.
I-2-6- The CRM (Customer
Relationship Management):
“It
is a collection of applications of information system which permit to reassembly
the informations dispersed in other applications and to manage the customer
relation along the customer process (demarking, pre-sale, sale, invoice,
after-sale, customer value). The principal of CRM is the personalisation of the
relation with the customer, in the prospective to keep him faithful in order,
after that to increase the enterprise profitability. The management of customer
relation has nothing of innovation. It is an approach of the enterprise
centralised on its customers and its potential customers too”. The innovation
today, is concerned with technologies in the service of customer relation rather
than to the fundamentals. Thanks to the integration of Internet technologies the
management of customer relation can fortunately be applied thought multiple
canals to traditional maintenance fax and telephone together with e-mail,
Internet and the TV Web.
“The
fundamental stake for the enterprise is to centralise data in order to offer the
same information to the customer whatever is selected front door/gate and to
keep with this customer a relation which exceed the simple transaction. This
signifies that the informations about transactions that are effected by the
customer must be accessible by all the enterprise functions (commercials,
financials, service after-sale, logistic, marketing, judicial, etc.)”
By
the conjunction of data capacities and telephonique facilities, the solutions of
CRM permit/allow the link appeal centres, the web centres and the transactional
informatics/data systems (commercials, financials …) and decisive (data ware
house and data mining).
After
presenting the NTIC, the functionalities which they recover as well as their
advantage and respective limits, it is high time then that we resumed their
interaction.
SCHEMA
Figure
1.Interaction des NTIC
The
private networks of the enterprise (intra-extranet) are spirited from Internet
by barriers called. Its aim is to protect the enterprise networks from the
incursion of external elements. But the barrier works in the two senses and
serves to limit the access to Internet from the enterprise interior.
The
dialogue customer post with the central server upon on the functions of
electronic-mail, of groupware, the electronic management of documents (EED), the
edition and electronic publication of multimedia documents (picture, text, sound)
is the collection of unified data’s of the enterprise allowing to synchronise
operational applications (CRM, ERP, SCM) starting from downstream, that means
from a customer order.
II- The determinants
of the level of use of the NTIC in the enterprise:
II-1- The level of
use of NTIC:
For
a long time “the conception is the applying of systems of information has been
considered as an essentially technique problem where the principal difficulty
was the manipulation of informatics toll”. The enterprises looked for, them, a
technical validity. This one is defined as relative to “technical characters
of information system of management which many intervene while its application,
as the answer time and the conception of the system.
The
traditional vision of technologies information is the communication as tools
having the function of technical or operational support and which remain,
according to “Rallet” simple intermedial consummations, having a marginal
function persisting with a good number of managers.
The
directions of information systems are perceived as responsible of an element of
logistic support or of the techno structure and they one not integrated into the
global strategic reflexion of the enterprise. But, the technical apply of
information technologies and communication is not sufficient for their success
in the organisation. Two factors may be introduced:
-
The technologies of
information may not be pertinent for the activity of the enterprise “Its
interest may not be evaluated uniquely in terms of efficiency, whatever is its
goal”.
-
Krovi think that
neglecting of organisational factors or human ones may bring difficulties at the
time of applying information technologies.
For
making up for this, purely technical vision, we assist to a proliferation of
articles, as well as academic rather than patricians offering a multitude of
models of strategic alignment strategic of technologies and of information
together with the activities of the enterprise.
If
the NTIC are perceived as a strategic advantage of the enterprise in its
struggle for competitively, the technologies of information must be coherent
with the large aims of the enterprise. Furthermore, their becoming must go hand
in hand with the become of the enterprise.
II-2- The
determinants of level of use of NTIC:
In
the following content, we expose an overview of factors having done the object
of empirical researches, anterior and considered as susceptible to have an
impact on the perception by the users of strategic character of NTIC.
Five
factors groups are identified:
-
The context of the
enterprise (sector, weight and dispersion).
-
The managerial context
(leadership and information).
-
The organisational
context (structure and strategy).
-
The cultural context
(culture of enterprise).
-
The environmental
context (level of concurrence and incertitude of the environment).
II-2-1- The Context
of enterprise:
The sector of the
activity of the enterprise:
The
activity sector seems to have an influence on the level of use of the NTIC. It
had put in evidence differences in the use of technologies between industrial
and department sector. The studies concerning the adoption of innovation in NTIC
have proved that the weight factor affect the adoption of NTIC. Many arguments
fight in favour of a relation between the enterprises. Weight and the level of
use of NTIC. In fact, when the effective of the enterprise increase, the
questions of coordination are dealt with important knowledge and the NTIC are
susceptible to play an important role. In the same chain of ideas, Kalika has
put in evidence “that the strategic character of NTIC is linked to the
organisation of the enterprise and to the dispersion of their activities”. Two
factors of managerial context seem to have an impact on the level use of the
NTIC.
The leadership:
The
empirical anterior researches have shown a correlation between the use of NTIC
and the encouragement and engaging of the direction. The level of use of NTIC
depends on the policy adopted by the management and on the role of hierarical
superiors in the promotion and the use of NTIC. According to the classic theory
and the diffusion of innovations, certain personnel characters of decides
explain the proportion to apport such innovation.
The formation:
The
anterior researches have show that the information in tool and the experience of
use is positively correlated with the frequent use. The researches of
“L’observatoire e-management” have put in evidence a relation between the
formation of NTIC and the level of conscience of the strategic importance which
accord them. “The technical formation in tools is certainly essential, but
cannot be sufficient. Indeed, the technical formation in NTIC must be
accompanied with formation for e-management which considers individual and
collective disruption which are permitted by changements of technologies”.
II-2-2- The
organisational context:
“The
actual structure may influence the conception of the systems of information, the
success of their implantation and their use”. The researches of the
observatories e-management have show that the level of use of NTIC differ
according to the organigram that the enterprises are endowed wick. There existed
a virtual circle in the enterprises. In fact, the manipulation of organisation
for composed project of members who are frequently fare geographically and
requiring means of communication and of work in groups who induce investments in
NTIC. We suggest then to test the sixth hypothesis.
II-2-3- The cultural
context:
The
relative factor to cultural context is reported to the culture of enterprise
which is in great part influenced by national culture.
The culture of
enterprise:
The
empirical studies have proved the delay of certain countries in adopting the
NTIC in regard to others (El Louadi, 2002). They put in evidence the impact of
the national culture on the level of use of NTIC. “The general culture may be
a factor of explication or a facilitator or inhibitor of the acceptance of NTIC”.
In fact, a hierarical culture of country generates an attitude which assimilates
the power to possess informations. The information perceives then its protected
and reserved access for some selected persons. This attitude is in complete
contradiction with principes that govern the NTIC to know the transparency. The
researches of the observatories e-management have proved that NTIC constitutent
a strategic slate and are necessary to replace old and traditional croyances and
professional values by new models of thought. We talk then about enterprise
culture this one is based on the rapidity and immediacy of information. The
transparencies in exchanges, the responsabilisation of collaborators less
formality, more election of ideas and courage in innovation we suggest then to
test hypothesis.
II-2-4- The
environment context:
The
studies about the adoption of NTIC have proved that the proportion of an
organisation to innovate is conditioned by occasions of affairs and the
threatening of its environment.
The incertitude of
the environment:
Having
the fact of fighting in order to gain over dynamic markets and instable and
competitive, the enterprises perceive their environment as uncertain the
pression of customers and suppliers determine the adoption of NTIC, the
instability of the environment, push the enterprises to access to a nuanced and
complete information. Within a real time about the markets and the technologies
and to access to old strategy in order to deal with this incertitude of
environment. The works of the “observatory e-management” have established a
positive correlation between the perception of strategic character of the NTIC
and the record of precedent tools linked to Internet it is the nineth hypothesis
The concurrence
standard:
It
is generally admitted that the more the intensity of the concurrence is strong,
the more the interest brought to NTIC is susceptible is important. The results
issued of the empirical tests are contradictory to this subject. Some studies
have permitted to show that the enterprises using their resources NTIC in order
to respond to competitors influences. At the some times, the researches of the
“observatory e-management” did not put in evidence a significant relation
between the strategic characters attributed to NTIC and the concurrential
intensity.
III- The empirical
research:
In
order to know what are the used NTIC hypothesis enterprises and to what level of
e-management these enterprises are posed, an empirical study was done. The
research consist of an inquiry administrated by a direct voice thought 49
enterprises disposing wells sites we have done an exploratory analysis to
apprehend (in the level of questioned enterprises), the degree of diffusion of
NTIC and the level of use of NTIC.
III-1- Results:
III-1-1- NTIC
equipment:
The use of the
Internet:
The
results of the inquiry show that the questioned enterprises perceive in the
internet essentially a modern mean and a performant mean to exchange
informations, but still not a tool of commercial transaction.
The site web
functions:
We
deduce that the majority of enterprises create a site web which serves as
uniquely glasses. This site presents their offers of products (95.9%), their
activities, their cleaves numbers and gives the cordoned for a direct contact
with principal operational responsible. It is generally, for the inquired
enterprises; to make institutional, communication. There is no real volonty to
make transaction throughout this site because only 32.7% of enterprises which
were interrogated have a site which permits to consumers to pass their orders.
Finally, the paying in line concerns only 6,1% of enterprisers interrogated
which site spontaneously problems of security of transactions.
Moreover,
the inquiry is revealed only the cost of the apply of a site of web does not
present a major handicap (55.1%). On the basis of supports which were followed,
we could explain that by the fact that the enterprises have record to internal
competitions to develop their web site. When the enterprise makes an appeal to
extremes competences, it inquiry generally functions reduced with a cheaper
developing costs.
Intranet and its
functions:
Out
of 149 interrogated enterprises, 43 ones have got an Intranet. This thing permit
to access to Internet for 95.34% between them, to communicate for electronic
e-mailed to access to a general information about the enterprise for 97.7% to
have an agenda shared for 72.1% to work in group of distance (groupware) for
65.1% to be formed in line for 46.5% and to have an electronic management of
documents for 86% of inquired enterprises disposing of an Intranet.
To
the question: “Is it the establishing of your Intranet costly? We remark that
our question has no sense, because the only measurable elements are the
informatised costs, neglected in relation to the whole of investments rather
than such implicate evolution. For 51% of equipped enterprises, the establishing
of the Intranet was costly because joined by developed functions with an
elevated cost. The presence of Intranet is disparate according to the weight of
enterprises. The paying is not transible by this type of canal, besides 36.8% of
enterprises declare a recovery. Our revealed inquiry, that the required
enterprise are characterised by a certain attention.
The ERP diffusion and
the data warehouse:
From
the constatations which resort from the inquiry, the enterprises required adapt
little by little (55.1%) progiciels of integrated management. The most responded
modules were treasury (92.6%) the production management (85.2%) (The management
control (77.8%, only 62% of enterprises having ERP have deployed human resources.
Moreover, the revealed inquiry that the application of ERP is a costly operation
for 89% of enquired enterprises reserved to those who has got a solid financial
basis.
It
appears according to descriptive statistics that the ERP is relatively more
installed in than one called “the industry big size” especially collecting
the industrial companies and of distribution. On the other hand, it is to be
stressed that the data house is highly used (73% of the companies questioned
there have recourse)
The management of the
logistic chain (SCM) and EDI:
The
investigation highlights a very week penetration of SCM the questioned
companies (8.2%).Many people questioned are even unaware of the existence and
the significance of the SCM. For the
people who know that their company uses SCM, 75% of them estimate that its
installation is very expensive. In addition, it should be noted that the
connections of informatized data exchange (EDI) are used enough. In fact, 51% of
the questioned companies affirm to resort to there.
The management of the
client relationship (CRM):
The
management of the client relationship is in phase of emergence (close to 39% of
the questioned companies) but the companies which have recourse are aware of its
contribution in particular for the personalisation.89% state to use information
on waiting of the customers to personalize the relation. Other aspect of the
CRM, the hierachisation of the customers by their value of which 84% of the
companies equipped with CRM structure their wallet customer by profitability.
Electric tools |
Average |
Internet Data
warehouse ERP
EDI
Extranet
CRM
SCM
|
2.75 2.47
2
2.02
1.77
1.77
1.18
|
Table1:
position of the electric tools in the studied companies.
What
comes out from this analysis is that the questioned companies invest rather
largely out of equipment NTIC. L’Intranet appears in the first position with
87.3%. L’ERP appears in the medium but the electronic trade remains in phase
of emergency, since the payment on line relates to only 6.1% of the questioned
companies. On the other hand, the way to be traversed is still long for the CRM
and especially the development of true integrated logistic chains (SCM). It
should be announced that many companies would like to increase their investment
as regards equipment in NTIC.
Budget |
% |
Decreasing Constant
Growing
|
2.0 32.7
65.2
|
Table
2: Evolution of the budget allocated with the NTIC
III-1-2- Level of use
of the NTIC
Although
the NTIC are widely diffused in the questioned companies, one can wonder about
their level of use. This analysis enables us to understand how the questioned
companies use the NTIC, like a strategic stake or a banal investment in
technology.
NTIC are |
average |
Standard deviation |
A competing advantage A
strategic stake Technical
tools A
momentary fashion |
5.33 4.96
3.84
2.37
|
1.64 1.90
1.64
1.70
|
Table3:
statistics concerning the perception of the NTIC by the studied companies
The
observation which arises from the descriptive statistics is that the questioned
companies have a tendency to consider the NTIC as a competing advantage and a
strategic stake rather than technical tools or momentary fashion.
The NTIC are a
strategic stake |
% |
Disagreement Fairly
of agreement Agreement
|
18.4 20.4
61.2
|
Table
4: Strategic character of the NTIC
These
results testify to the strategic character of the NTIC in more half of the
companies and show the place which from now on is granted to them in the
Tunisian companies.
According
to the typology of company that we retained in the theoretical part, we can say
that our sample is consisted of:
-
A majority of
innovative companies having a strategic vision which enables them to position
the NTIC like an essential investment, source of competing advantages.
-
Waiting companies
account for 20.4% and testify to an interest for the NTIC. However, they do not
accompagnent them yet of a strategic reflexion in the log run.
-
Traditional
companies, for which the NTIC are only one effect of fashion, constitute 18.4%
of the sample.
III-1-3- The
determinants of the level of use of the NTIC:
To
test advanced assumptions and to apprehend the determinants of the level of use
of the NTIC, we have used the method of the linear regression which makes it
possible to inform if the explanatory are correlated positively with a level of
use of the NTIC and also with so strategic character which theirs is allotted.
The extraversion of the company gathers the engagement of the general direction
towards the NTIC, the culture of the Net and the strategies of partnerships.
The sector the
structure of the company:
The
results of the multivariate analysis confirming that the sector of the services
and the structure by project are positively correlated with the strategic
character allotted to the NTIC.
Size of the company:
The
examination of the results of the multivariate analysis shows that the size
directly influences the strategic character allotted to the NTIC on the basis of
the significant relation positive. In fact, more the size of the company in
creases, more the importance attached to the NTIC is high. This could be
explained by the complexity of the organisation. In fact, more important
manpower are translated in a company by a vertical organisational
differentiation and horizontal and by a need for exchange and larger
coordination.
Checking of the
assumption relating to the dispersion of the company:
As
well under the geographical angle as organisational, the strategic character
allotted to the NTIC.
The
result also show that the companies which work with the international one, that
means, having contacts by their occupations with people located in a foreign
countries, perceive much more strategic character of the NTIC than their
counterparts whose activity is national. Two explanations can be advanced:
-
The NTIC limit
displacements.
-
The NTIC make it
possible to free from constraints synchrony.
In
addition, it is interesting to note that it is the geographical dispersion which
contributes to more explain the strategic dimension granted to the NTIC.
The extraverti
character of company:
At
the resulting of the results we note that strategic dimension is explained by
character extraverti of enterprise. In fact, it appears that, more the company
is turned towards outside on partners upstream and down stream and gives a
detailed attention to the transparence and with the division of information as
well interns as external borders is called into question and more the NTIC have
a paramount role in the enterprise. On the other hand, more the general
direction adopts an attitude of opening concerning NTIC and encourages the
initiatives in this field; more the strategic dimension of the NTIC is marked
in.
The strategy of
externalisation:
Contrary
with what could be supposed, the strategic dimension allotted to the NTIC is not
associated the externalisation of activities by the company.
The formation with
the NTIC:
Contrary
to the predictions, the results of the multivariate analysis show that the
formation with the NTIC doesn’t explain the strategic character allotted to
the NTIC. This situation can be explained be several considerations. The
formation with the NTIC is often synonymous with facility of use, there is
seldom a strategic going beyond behind. It is not obvious that the companies
which have a strategic vision have the means of invest in a formation with the
NTIC which implies heavy costs.
The environment of
the company:
The
results of the multivariate analysis confirm the assumption according to which
the environment of the company is positively correlated with the character
strategic allotted to the NTIC. It seems that the environment of the company is
significantly connected to this strategic dimension. Indeed, more the
environment of the turbulent and competing, more the character strategic of the
NTIC is perceived by the company.
III-2- Summary of the
results of empirical research:
At
the end of this research, we could highlight that the NTIC are rather widely
diffused in the questioned companies but to differing degrees we noticed that
the majority of the questioned companies creates a web site which is used only
as window. It is not real will to make transactions there. We are still far from
the electronic trade. The Intranet, the data warehouse and the ERP appears in
average position but the Extranet, the CRM and SCM still remain in phase of
emergence. The results testify to a medium level of utilisation of the NTIC and
show the place which from now on is granted to them in the companies. Indeed,
more half of the questioned enterprises have a strategic vision which enables
them to position the NTIC as a true competing advantage, which vision is very
ambitious compared to the current practice.
The
results obtained showed that this strategic dimension allotted to the NTIC
depends mainly on the extraverti character of the company having been disengaged
from the factorial analysis, the factor extraversion gathers the engagement of
the general direction towards the NTIC, the culture of the Internet, we could
check that more the company is open and round towards outside, more it considers
the NTIC as strategic as well the size as the geographical dispersion of the
company positively are correlated with the strategic character allotted to the
NTIC what confirms the formers results of research.
In
addition, we could establish that the strategic character of the NTIC depends on
the environment of the company and with less degree of the company contrary to
the results establish by former research, our research did not find a bond
direct between the formation with the NTIC and the strategic dimension which is
granted to them. However there is necessary to remain careful as for these
conclusions insofar at the coefficients of regression obtained do not have very
high values of other factors thus remain with identifier. This acts can be
object of research of later analyses.
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