Abstract:
This study attempts to present current utilization of IT infrastructure in the Trade and
Services sector enterprises to achieve business objectives and to observe the relationship
between IT infrastructure and business performance with the same services sector. After
a comprehensive review of relevant literature to find definitions and the characteristics of
IT infrastructure available, a sample comprising fifty one-companies was selected in a
way to cover four major service sector categories representing Wholesale, retail trade and
hotels, Transport and communication, Financial and business services and Education,
health, cultural and recreational services. Data from these organizations was collected on
the basis of a questionnaire developed for the purpose. Data collected for each of the
research constructs was then statistically analyzed through linear regression and Pearson
correlation techniques.
The findings strongly indicate a significant impact of IT infrastructure practices in the
business performances of these organizations. This outcome confirms the results of
earlier findings related to work on IT infrastructure. In instances where the service sector
organizations heavily utilize IT infrastructure related practices, such as IT component
related practices, Shared IT services related practices, and IT personnel related practices
and Shared IT application related practices, it was found that these organizations are able
to achieve higher business performance.
It was also observed that above listed sector categories have shown different levels of IT
infrastructure practices. The financial services sector and communicational services
sector organizations are currently adopting their IT infrastructure practices significantly
whereas the Wholesale, retail and hotels sector and Educational, health and recreational
services sector are currently utilizing practices at a level below. Hence, a utilization
model could be developed to represent the level of IT deployment services sectorially.
Keywords—IT Infrastructure, Business Performance, Practices, IT Utilization
