Product lifecycle management system implementation and market responsiveness: the role of partner management capability

This study contributes to clarifying how the implementation of product lifecycle management systems allow firms to improve market responsiveness due to the lack of understanding the mediating mechanisms. Empirical research that studies the mechanisms underlying the impact of product lifecycle management systems on market responsiveness has been scarce. To address the research issues, this study draws on dynamic capability view and the notion of information technology - business capability - organizational performance links to develop a theoretical model and employs empirical research methods to evaluate the model. The research results reveal that product lifecycle management system implementation allows firms to increase market responsiveness through the two enhanced partner management capabilities, namely relationship-building capability and coordination capability. By clearly identifying the underlying mechanism of product lifecycle management system-enabled market responsiveness, this study advances the current understanding of how product lifecycle management system implementation enables firms to improve market responsiveness.