The Changing Face of Information System Issues in Small Firms

CAROL E. POLLARD IS WITH THE FACULTY OF Management, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Stephen C. Hayne is with the School of Management, Arizona State University West, Phoenix, USA. This study provides insights into the information technology concerns of small firms and indicates ways in which small firms are managing technological challenges and opportunities. A national survey of small Canadian firms was conducted using a modified Delphi technique and follow-up telephone interviews. (ritical information systems issuies identified include 1) using IS for competitive advantages; 2) improving IS project management practices; 3) improving the effectiveness of software development. A comparison with recent sttudies to identify recent trends in IS issues reveals that the issues faced by small Caniadian firms have changed. Small firms are lagging large firms where the technology is concerned but are similar on conceptual issues. We believe that small firms will continue to desire more internal control over operations ancl consequently adopt more technology. Hardware and software qualitx and reliability will stay at the forefront of their worries. Furthermore, as conmmunications become more mission critical, i.e. electronic mail and electronic data interchanige, small firms will embrace network technologx. Managing communications max become a very critical problem for small business.

[1]  Georgios I. Doukidis,et al.  Trends in information technology in small businesses , 1994 .

[2]  Vincent S. Lai,et al.  A survey of rural small business computer use: Success factors and decision support , 1994, Inf. Manag..

[3]  Fred Niederman,et al.  Information Systems Management Issues for the 1990s , 1991, MIS Q..

[4]  Timo Saarinen,et al.  Success of software packages in small businesses: an exploratory study , 1991 .

[5]  Peter G.W. Keen,et al.  Shaping the Future: Business Design Through Information Technology , 1991 .

[6]  Paul Alpar,et al.  Major IS concerns of entrepreneurial organizations , 1991, Inf. Manag..

[7]  D. Hodgson,et al.  Information systems for the 1990s , 1990 .

[8]  Kin-Nam Lau,et al.  Information System usage within Small Business Firms , 1990 .

[9]  E. Poutsma,et al.  Technology and small enterprises : technology, autonomy, and industrial organisation , 1989 .

[10]  Paul J. Dixon,et al.  Technology Issues Facing Corporate Management in the 1990s , 1989, MIS Q..

[11]  Ali R. Montazemi,et al.  Factors Affecting Information Satisfaction in the Context of the Small Business Environment , 1988, MIS Q..

[12]  James C. Wetherbe,et al.  Key issues in information systems management , 1987 .

[13]  Gary S. Nickell,et al.  The Impact of Attitudes and Experience on Small Business Computer Use , 1986 .

[14]  Louis Raymond,et al.  Organizational Characteristics and MIS Success in the Context of Small Business , 1985, MIS Q..

[15]  F. Blackler,et al.  Evaluation and the Impact of Information Technologies on People in Organizations , 1985 .

[16]  James C. Wetherbe,et al.  Key Information Systems Issues for the 1980's , 1984, MIS Q..

[17]  Richard Harris,et al.  SMIS Members: A Membership Analysis , 1982, MIS Q..

[18]  P. Ein-Dor,et al.  Organizational Context and the Success of Management Information Systems , 1978 .

[19]  David H. Gustafson,et al.  Group Techniques for Program Planning: A Guide to Nominal Group and Delphi Processes , 1976 .

[20]  J. C. Brancheau,et al.  Key Issues in Information Systems Management : An International Perspective , 1997 .

[21]  A. Clark,et al.  Small Business Computer Systems , 1988 .

[22]  N. Dean Meyer,et al.  The Information Edge , 1987 .

[23]  Abdul Aziz,et al.  Entrepreneurship and small business management , 1980 .

[24]  Longnecker,et al.  Small Business Management , 2020, Springer Texts in Business and Economics.