International differences in the adoption and impact of new information technologies and new hr practices
Subtitle: the valve-making industry in the u.s. and u.k.
By: Ann Bartel, Casey Ichniowski, Kathryn Shaw, Ricardo Correa
Contributors: Ichniowski, Casey; Shaw, Kathryn; Correa, Ricardo; National Bureau of Economic Research
Series: NBER working paper series -- working paper 13651; Working paper series (National Bureau of Economic Research : Online) -- working paper no. 13651.
Publisher: National Bureau of Economic Research
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Cambridge, MA
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Description: "This paper compares the impact of new IT-enhanced technology on the efficiency of production in the U.S.  and the U.K.  for one manufacturing industry, valve manufacturing.  There is a long-standing question of whether technological change and organizational changes have the same rates of adoption and impact internationally.  We have assembled a unique dataset on plants in one narrowly defined industry -- valve manufacturing -- in both the U.S.  and U.K to consider whether plants outside of the U.S.  gain as much from IT as U.S.  plants.  We find that, despite differences in the current and historical patterns of institutions in the U.S.  and U.K., both countries exhibit comparable patterns of gains to IT at the plant level.  The impact of new IT-enhanced technology on the efficiency of production is virtually identical in the two countries.  In addition, as a result of the adoption of the new technology, plants in both countries have shifted production to customized products.  Finally, we find that, in both countries, the adoption of the new IT-enhanced technology coincides with increases in the skill requirements of machine operators, notably technical and problem-solving skills, and with the adoption of new human resource practices to support these skills"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 12/12/2007.

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