The Mediating Role of Accounting Information Systems on the Relationship between Digital Technology and Strategic Performance of Electronic Companies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Ebrahimi Kordlar 1
Yahya Seyed Talebi 2
1 Associate Prof., Department of Accounting and Auditing, Faculty of Accounting and Financial Sciences, College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 MSc. Student, Department of Accounting and Auditing, Faculty of Accounting and Financial Sciences, College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/aimj.2025.553463.1657
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of accounting information systems in the relationship between digital technology and strategic performance and the moderating role of digital innovation in electronic companies. The importance of the subject stems from the fact that organizations in the era of digital transformation need to use new technologies and integrate them with information systems and innovative processes to achieve sustainable strategic performance. The research method is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical and survey in terms of implementation. The required data were collected using a standard questionnaire consisting of four main constructs. The statistical population includes companies active in the field of electronics and similar industries accepted on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Structural equation modeling based on the partial least square method was used to analyze the data. The research findings showed that digital technology does not have a significant direct effect on strategic performance and its role is more apparent in the form of an enabling and indirect factor. In contrast, accounting information systems played an effective role as a mediating variable in transmitting the effect of digital technology on strategic performance and significantly strengthened this relationship. The results also showed that digital innovation in the research population does not have a significant moderating role in this relationship, although it can act as an independent path to improve strategic performance. Overall, the results of the study indicate that investment in digital technology leads to improved strategic performance when it is accompanied by the development of accounting information systems and the application of digital innovations in business processes and models.

Keywords

Abudaqa, A., Alzahmi, R. A., Almujaini, H. & Ahmed, G. (2022). Does innovation moderate the relationship between digital facilitators, digital transformation strategies and overall performance of SMEs of UAE? International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Venturing, 14(3), 330–350. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEV.2022.124964
Akram, M. S., Goraya, M. A. S., Malik, A. & Aljarallah, A. M. (2018). Organizational performance and sustainability: exploring the roles of IT capabilities and knowledge management capabilities. Sustainability, 10(10), 3816.
Ali, M. & Ouda, H. (2021). Automation of accounting tasks and its impact on efficiency. International Journal of Accounting Research, 17(2), 34–47.
Al-Waeli, A. J., Hanoon, R. N., Ageeb, H. A. & Idan, H. Z. (2020). Impact of accounting information system on financial performance with the moderating role of internal control in Iraqi industrial companies: An analytical study. Journal of Advanced Research in Dynamical and Control Systems, 12, 246–261.
Ardolino, M., Rapaccini, M., Saccani, N., Gaiardelli, P., Crespi, G. & Ruggeri, C. (2018). The role of digital technologies for the service transformation of industrial companies. International journal of production research, 56(6), 2116-2132.
Asonitou, S. (2019). Technologies to communicate accounting information in the digital era: Is accounting education following the evolutions? In K. Andronikidis, K. G. Varelas & C. G. Assimakopoulos (Eds.), Strategic innovative marketing and tourism (pp. 187–194). Springer.
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120.
Bharadwaj, A. (2000). A resource-based perspective on information technology capability and firm performance. MIS Quarterly, 24(1), 169–196.
Boughin, J., Kretschmer, T. & van Zeebroeck, N. (2021). Digital technology adoption drives strategic renewal for successful digital transformation. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 49(3), 103–108. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMR.2021.3098663
Budiarto, D. S. & Prabowo, M. A. (2015). Accounting information systems alignment and SMEs performance: A literature review. International Journal of Management, Economics and Social Sciences, 4(2), 58.
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling Techniques (3rd ed.). Wiley.
Daoud, H. & Triki, M. (2013). Accounting information systems in an ERP environment and Tunisian firm performance. International Journal of Digital Accounting Research, 13, 1–35. https://www.academia.edu/download/32889659/Lavigne.pdf
Di Vaio, A., Palladino, R., Pezzi, A. & Kalisz, D. E. (2021). The role of digital innovation in knowledge management systems: A systematic literature review. Journal of Business Research, 123, 220–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.09.042
DiRomualdo, A., El-Khoury, D. & Girimonte, F. (2018). HR in the digital age: How digital technology will change HR’s organization structure, processes and roles. Strategic HR Review, 17(5), 234–242. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-08-2018-0074
Evangelista, R., Guerrieri, P. & Meliciani, V. (2014). The economic impact of digital innovation in industrial sectors. Research Policy, 43(8), 1434-1449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2014.04.011
Fedun, V., Lyuba, A. & Kovtoniuk, I. (2024). Digital innovations and their impact on accounting. Ekonomichnyy analiz, 34(2), 440-452.
Govindaraju, M., Alavi, S. & Ramli, R. (2021). Industry 4.0: Strategic approaches for enhancing corporate competitiveness. Technology in Society, 67, 101748.
Grigorescu, A., Lincaru, C., Pîrciog, S. & Tudose, G. (2018). Strategical focus for change path to digital transformation in Romania–study case GIS open e-governance systems applications. In C. Brătianu, A. Zbuchea & A. Vitelar (Eds.), Strategica: Challenging the Status Quo in Management and Economics (pp. 1163–1174).
Guo, H., Wang, C., Su, Z. & Wang, D. (2020). Technology push or market pull? Strategic orientation in business model design and digital start-up performance. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 37(4), 352–372. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12526
Hair, J. F., Hult, T. M., Ringle, C. M. & SarstedtM. A. (2013). Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). London: SAGE.
Hala, T. & Turo, K. (2015). The role of accounting information systems in enhancing firm performance. Procedia Economics and Finance, 32, 487–495.
Hanelt, A., Firk, S., Hildebrandt, B. & Kolbe, L. M. (2021). Digital M&A, digital innovation, and firm performance: An empirical investigation. European Journal of Information Systems, 30(1), 3–26.
Henderson, J. C. & Venkatraman, N. (1993). Strategic alignment: Leveraging information technology for transforming organizations. IBM Systems Journal, 32(1), 4–16.
Hinings, B., Gegenhuber, T. & Greenwood, R. (2018). Digital innovation and transformation: An institutional perspective. Information and organization, 28(1), 52-61.
Hla, D. & Teru, S. P. (2015). Efficiency of accounting information system and performance measures. International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research, 3, 976–984.
Kareem, H. M., Dauwed, M., Meri, A., Jarrar, M. t., Al-Bsheish, M. & Aldujaili, A. A. (2021). The role of accounting information system and knowledge management to enhancing organizational performance in Iraqi SMEs. Sustainability, 13(22), 12706.
Khan, S. A. R., Zia‐ul‐haq, H. M., Umar, M. & Yu, Z. (2021). Digital technology and circular economy practices: An strategy to improve organizational performance. Business Strategy & Development, 4(4), 482-490.
Khattak, A.; Yousaf, Z. (2022), Digital social responsibility towards corporate social responsibility and strategic performance of hi-tech SMEs: Customer engagement as a mediator. Sustainability, 14, 131. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010131.
Khin, S. & Ho, T. C. (2018). Digital technology, digital capability and organizational performance: A mediating role of digital innovation. International Journal of Innovation Science, 11(2), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-08-2018-0083
Langfield-Smith, K., Thorne, H. & Hilton, R. W. (2018). Management accounting: Information for creating and managing value (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Li, L. (2020). Technology-driven business model innovation: A review and research agenda. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 120(6), 1141-1159.
Lutfi, A., Alkelani, S. N., Al-Khasawneh, M. A., Alshira’h, A. F., Alshirah, M. H., Almaiah, M. A., Alrawad, M., Alsyouf, A., Saad, M. & Ibrahim, N. (2022). Influence of digital accounting system usage on SMEs performance: The moderating effect of COVID-19. Sustainability, 14(22), 15048.
Mannheim, I., Wouters, E.J., van Boekel, L.C. & van Zaalen, Y. (2021). Attitudes of health care professionals toward older adults’ abilities to use digital technology: Questionnaire study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(4), e26232. https://doi.org/10.2196/26232
Napoli, F. (2023). Corporate digital responsibility: A board of directors may encourage the environmentally responsible use of digital technology and data: Empirical evidence from Italian publicly listed companies. Sustainability, 15(3), 2539.
Nasiri, M., Ukko, J., Saunila, M., Rantala, T. & Rantanen, H. (2020). Digital-related capabilities and financial performance: The mediating effect of performance measurement systems. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 32(12), 1393–1406. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2020.1772966
Nassani, A., Yousaf, Z., Grigorescu, A., Oprisan, O. & Haffar, M. (2023). Accounting Information Systems as Mediator for Digital Technology and Strategic Performance Interplay. Electronics, 12(8), 1866.
Paladino, A. (2007). Investigating the drivers of innovation and new product success: A comparison of strategic orientations. Prod. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 24(6), 534-553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2007.00270.x
Pavlou, P. A. & El Sawy, O. A. (2011). Understanding the elusive black box of dynamic capabilities. Decision Sciences, 42(1), 239–273.
Ramli, I. & Iskandar, D. (2014). Control authority, business strategy, and the characteristics of management accounting information systems. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 164, 384–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.11.092
Rêgo, B. S., Jayantilal, S., Ferreira, J. J. & Carayannis, E. G. (2021). Digital transformation and strategic management: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 13, 3195–3222.
Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.
Saganuwan, M. U. & Ahmad, U. N. U. (2013). Technostress: Mediating accounting information system performance. Information Management and Business Review, 5(6), 270–277.
Shen, L., Zhang, X. & Liu, H. (2022). Digital technology adoption, digital dynamic capability, and digital transformation performance of textile industry: Moderating role of digital innovation orientation. Managerial and Decision Economics, 43(7), 2038–2054. https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3507
Soudani, S.N. (2012). The usefulness of an accounting information system for effective organizational performance. International Journal of economics and Finance, 4(5), 136-145. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v4n5p136.
Spremic, M. (2017). Governing digital technology – how mature IT governance can help in digital transformation? International Journal of Economics and Management Systems, 2, 214–223.
Teece, D. J. (2018). Business models and dynamic capabilities. Long Range Planning, 51(1), 40–49.
Teece, D. J., Pisano, G. & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533.
Teru, S. P., Idoko, I. F. & Bello, L. (2019). The impact of E-accounting in modern businesses. International Journal of Accounting & Finance Review, 4(2), 1-4.
Trendov, N. M., Varas, S. & Zeng, M. (2019). Digital technologies in agriculture and rural areas. FAO.
Usai, A., Fiano, F., Petruzzelli, A.M., Paoloni, P., Briamonte, M.F. & Orlando, B. (2021). Unveiling the impact of the adoption of digital technologies on firms’ innovation performance. Journal of Business Research, 133, 327–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.035
Wade, M. & Hulland, J. (2004). Review: The resource-based view and information systems research. MIS Quarterly, 28(1), 107–142.
Wang, H., Feng, J., Zhang, H. & Li, X. (2020). The effect of digital transformation strategy on performance: The moderating role of cognitive conflict. International Journal of Conflict Management, 31(3), 441–462.
Zhe, B. O. M. & Hamid, N. A. (2021). The impact of digital technology, digital capability and digital innovation on small business performance. Research in Management of Technology and Business, 2, 499–509.

  • Receive Date 15 October 2025
  • Revise Date 13 November 2025
  • Accept Date 16 November 2025