Investigating the level of end-user development and involvement among time-based competitors

As global markets and technology change, time-based competitors create product development and manufacturing practices that reduce response time and enhance customization capabilities. These practices require an information-rich internal environment that is capable of flexible resource deployment and direct and continuous feedback. To build this environment, time-based competitors are developing end-user capabilities and involving them in information systems (IS) activities. Data collected from 265 manufacturers were used to determine if firms with high levels of time-based product development and time-based manufacturing practices also have high levels of end-user involvement in IS-related activities, end-user training effectiveness, and end-user computing skills. The results of this study support that contention.