ABSTRACT DOCTORAL THESIS: USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AS 
SUPPORT OF COMPETITIVE STRATEGY AND ITS IMPACT ON BUSINESS 
PERFORMANCE 
AUTHOR: DAVID MARTÍNEZ SIMARRO
DIRECTOR: CARLOS ALBERTO DEVECE CARAÑANA, DANIEL PALACIOS 
MARQUÉS

The objective of this work is, from the perspective of the Resource-based view to analyze the 
moderating effect of the strategy on information technology (IT) in the relationship between 
the competitive strategy developed by an organization and its organizational performance. 
The study of this moderation allows us to determine the combination of IT strategy and 
competitive strategy that delivers better results in terms of performance.
In the first part of the work, a theoretical one based on the review of the main contributions 
to the issue, the concept “IT strategy” has been developed and the impact of different types 
of possible strategies (innovator vs. Conservative) in different competitive strategies 
analyzed. In the second part, an empirical one, the hypotheses have been tested using a 
sample of 166 firms from the food industry, industrial sector Spanish first volume. For the 
empirical validation of the hypotheses we have used quantitative methods in order to ensure 
objectivity and extrapolation. Specifically we have used the survey method with a Likert 
questionnaire to determine variables such as IT strategy and business strategy. 
Organizational performance has been extracted from the SABI database. Subsequently, for 
the validation of measuring instruments and the testing of the theoretical model proposed we 
have used structural equation models and the Fisher’s Z test.
The findings are significant because they demonstrate the efficacy of an innovative IT 
strategy solely on cost-based strategies, linked to manufacturing processes and supplier 
relationships. By contrast, the innovation in IT strategy is very risky in the marketing 
activities and therefore in strategies based on image differentiation. The relationship of this 
IT strategy with strategies based on R & D differentiation is ambiguous and with only the 
variables considered in this study no conclusive conclusions can be found. Moreover, 
conservative IT strategy always obtains best results, excepting the competitive strategy 
based on costs. The conclusions can provide guidance in making strategic decisions 
regarding the development of IT in the organization according to its business goals.