أثر الاستثمار في تكنولوجيا المعلومات على تحسين الأداء المؤسسي:دراسة حالة مؤسسة المناطق الحرة الأردنية

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an in-depth case study of the Jordanian Free Zones Corporation during the period 1996-2005 when it started investing in Information Technology (IT). “Investment in Technology” was measured by the total allocations and expenditures, plus the salaries of employees in the IT department. Organizational Performance was measured by the achievement of nine goals set in its Strategic Plan, three from each of the Goal Achievement, Internal Processes, and Resource approaches. The study used formal data & interview. Results revealed that the over one million Jordanian Dinar ($1.390.000) investment in IT had a positive impact on the achievement of all goals except “the return on cost” which is a result that requires further research, given its importance. It also drew attention to other problems of relevance to Public Enterprises in the Developing Countries, mainly: the poor documentation of important data, problems with planning, allocations impacted by sporadic policies of reducing spending, setting of goals in generalities rather than quantitatively, as well as the continuing use of governmental procedures and regulations despite becoming an independent entity