Roadmap for successful information technology transfer for small businesses

摘要

It is recognised that information and communications technologies (ICT) have the potential to radically transform company operations [4], particularly when the company belongs to the set of small/medium enterprises (SMEs) [9]. However, one of the major obstacles in effecting a successful transformation is the lack of knowledge, on the part of SME management and staff, regarding the best way to undertake the transformation. This knowledge is becoming harder to acquire, particularly in the fast moving electronic commerce sector [4], [7], [8], [10].

This paper is concerned with how SMEs in the United Kingdom can acquire the knowledge to make use of Internet technology. It reviews a number of national and local initiatives, both private and government sponsored that are currently in place to assist SMEs in making best use of the Internet.

The paper demonstrates that new opportunities are becoming available for small businesses to develop important new IT-based applications that make useof lnternet technologies. Furthermore, by adopting open Internet technologies that are increasingly becoming the business norm, SMEs are able to 'future proof' themselves against obsolescence and 'throw away' development. The authors conclude by proposing a roadmap that an SME could follow when planning and managing such major programmes.