International case studies: To what extent is ICT infused into the operations of SMEs?

Purpose – The paper seeks to overcome previous research limitations by examining both macro (industry, country) and micro (functions, enterprise) level phenomena within the information communication technologies (ICT) use of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Australia and Germany were chosen because both recognise the importance of SMEs.Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted an interpretivist philosophy and a qualitative case study method that enables gathering data which are rich in detail. Semi‐structured, on‐site interviews were carried out in eight firms of various classifications.Findings – The study found that, for micro enterprises, ICT is only emerging in the form of systems that have the potential to facilitate the interactions with the outside. Small enterprises rely heavily on personal interactions, which they supplement with the use of ICT. In medium enterprises, ICT is more extensively used in interactions, both internally and with the environment. The differences between Au...

[1]  Jean Hartley,et al.  Case study research , 2004 .

[2]  R. Yin.  Case Study Research: Design and Methods , 1984 .

[3]  John M. Ward,et al.  Using resource-based theory to interpret the successful adoption and use of information systems and technology in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises , 2003, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[4]  M. Patton,et al.  Qualitative evaluation and research methods , 1992 .

[5]  Cs Yap,et al.  Information systems success factors in small business , 1992 .

[6]  J. Thong,et al.  CEO characteristics, organizational characteristics and information technology adoption in small businesses , 1995 .

[7]  Graeme G. Shanks,et al.  Successfully completing case study research: combining rigour, relevance and pragmatism , 1998, Inf. Syst. J..

[8]  Paul B. Cragg,et al.  Small-Firm Computing: Motivators and Inhibitors , 1993, MIS Q..

[9]  Enid Mumford,et al.  Effective systems design and requirements analysis : the ETHICS approach , 1995 .

[10]  Philip Powell,et al.  SMEs, co-opetition and knowledge sharing: the role of information systems , 2003, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[11]  W. Scott,et al.  Institutions and Organizations. , 1995 .

[12]  Harry Matlay,et al.  "Blanket" approaches to promoting ICT in small firms: some lessons from the DTI ladder adoption model in the UK , 2001, Internet Res..

[13]  A. Athos,et al.  The Art of Japanese Management , 1982 .

[14]  A. Giddens.  The Constitution of Society , 1985 .

[15]  W. Powell,et al.  The New Institutionalism in Organizational Analysis , 1993 .

[16]  D. Fink,et al.  Guidelines for the Successful Adoption of Information Technology in Small and Medium Enterprises , 1998 .

[17]  Denise Elaine Fletcher,et al.  Family and Enterprise , 2006 .

[18]  Robert Y. Cavana,et al.  Applied Business research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods , 2001 .

[19]  Paul B. Cragg,et al.  Benchmarking information technology practices in small firms , 2002, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[20]  S. Stanek,et al.  Addressing ICTs skill challenges in SMEs: insights from three country investigations , 2002 .

[21]  Michael D. Myers,et al.  Qualitative Research in Information Systems , 1997, MIS Q..

[22]  Enid Mumford,et al.  Socio-technical Design: An Unfulfilled Promise or a Future Opportunity , 2000, Organizational and Social Perspectives on IT.

[23]  Rob Kling,et al.  Reconceptualizing Users as Social Actors in Information Systems Research , 2003, MIS Q..

[24]  W. Richard Scott.  Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems , 1981 .

[25]  B. Crabtree,et al.  Doing Qualitative Research , 1999 .

[26]  I. Holloway.  Basic concepts for qualitative research , 1997 .