Information systems implementation within US agribusiness: an applicationsapproach

The complexity and sophistication of information system depends upon the in formation processing needs at the firm level. Agribusinesses tend to be het erogeneous in terms of firm size, operator characteristics, and opportuniti es for strategic behavior. Thus, information system hardware and software s ophistication is expected to differ significantly even within similar indus tries. This study employs survey data from US agribusiness firms in order t o determine the factors that contribute to hardware and software sophistica tion. Sophistication levels relative to hardware and software many times ar e a function of firm size and sales. It is also shown that a manager needs to recognize the level of sophistication in order to gauge competitive posi tioning against firm rivals. To be competitive within specific agribusiness sectors a firm must maintain or acquire the requisite information technolo gy of its rivals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.