An empirical examination of Web 2.0 technologies and its readiness for business

摘要

Increasingly, businesses are considering Web 2.0 for strategic benefits and yet the adoption rate is quite low. As Web 2.0 adoption is increasingly a bottom-up phenomenon, this paper empirically verifies the extent to which the new generation of business users perceive Web 2.0 technologies important and compares with their perception of its ability to deliver or perform. The research examines more than 20 Web 2.0 technologies with over 4,000 responses over a five-year period. The research concludes that better adoption rates may be expected once the performance meets user expectations. Users find Web 2.0 important across all areas of business but especially for accounting, promotion and marketing, human resources, and sales. This research is important for academicians as it compares a wide representation of Web 2.0 technologies currently used in business. By understanding the end user perceptions, practitioners can shape their Web 2.0 initiatives for successful adoption.