MAINTAINING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION PERFORMANCE AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE ROLE OF IT GOVERNANCE, IT CAPABILITY AND PROCESS AGILITY

Abstract

This study examines the effect of information technology (IT) governance and IT application orchestration capability (IT-AOC) on the performance of higher education institutions (HEIs) directly and indirectly using process agility as a mediating variable. The study took a developing country, i.e., Indonesia, and the COVID-19 pandemic as its context. The study design was based on quantitative research employing partial least squares (PLS). The data were gathered by distributing questionnaires directly to HEI management members at all levels (department, dean, head/director/rector). The study results revealed a positive direct effect of IT governance and IT-AOC on HEI performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research also found that process agility mediated the effect of IT governance and IT-AOC on HEI performance. Based on the findings, HEI management and policymakers should support and encourage HEIs to govern their IT effectively and improve IT-AOC and process agility, especially when HEI operations have to be conducted online during the pandemic.