Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Building Internet capabilities in SMEs

Building Internet capabilities in SMEs Internet based information and communication technology provides the opportunity for small firms to improve their competitiveness. This paper presents a methodology that responds to the needs of small firms whilst overcoming the constraints to their use of these technologies. Key features of this methodology are: provision of a turnkey package of hardware, software, installation and training for Internet connection and operation; identification of opportunities for integrating Internet ICT into business processes that will deliver performance improvement; ongoing IT and business support for a year. The effectiveness of this methodology was examined during its application in 21 SME automotive component suppliers in the West Midlands region of England. This exercise found that 90 per cent of firms continued to use their Internet based ICT capability after a year. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Logistics Information Management Emerald Publishing

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/building-internet-capabilities-in-smes-CwJlalcAXR

References (32)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 MCB UP Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN
0957-6053
DOI
10.1108/09576050010355662
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Internet based information and communication technology provides the opportunity for small firms to improve their competitiveness. This paper presents a methodology that responds to the needs of small firms whilst overcoming the constraints to their use of these technologies. Key features of this methodology are: provision of a turnkey package of hardware, software, installation and training for Internet connection and operation; identification of opportunities for integrating Internet ICT into business processes that will deliver performance improvement; ongoing IT and business support for a year. The effectiveness of this methodology was examined during its application in 21 SME automotive component suppliers in the West Midlands region of England. This exercise found that 90 per cent of firms continued to use their Internet based ICT capability after a year.

Journal

Logistics Information ManagementEmerald Publishing

Published: Dec 1, 2000

Keywords: Small firms; Internet; Small‐to‐medium‐sized enterprises; Information technology; Communications technology

There are no references for this article.