Incentives and Barriers to the Use of E-Business and E-Commerce Information Technologies in Small Businesses in Rural America

摘要

Consistent with earlier findings (Wymer, et al., 2003), almost half of respondents (46%) either currently have a site or intend to within one year; and 72% either have a site or definite plans for one within 5 years. This high number, along with the high values given to Items 2 and 6 in table 2, may show sample bias indicating respondents were more interested and informed about EEIT than non-respondents, suggesting the need for further analysis. In Table 2 there are three very interesting observations. The strengths of the perceived need for, and value of, EEIT as an incentive indicate awareness of the value that these technologies can bring. The barriers shown in Table 2 seem to indicate that the major factor stopping EEIT implementation is the cost and availability of resources and capital to invest in it. A surprising finding was that the majority of respondents indicated very few factors as influencing their EEIT adoption decision (they chose a 0 value for most factors). These topics will be explored as this study progresses and through follow-up interviews with surveyed companies.