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.
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1 December 2000
This article was originally published in
Logistics Information Management
Research Article|
December 01 2000
Building Internet capabilities in SMEs Available to Purchase
Paul Chapman;
Paul Chapman
Paul Chapman is a Senior Research Fellow at Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK.
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Mike James‐Moore;
Mike James‐Moore
Mike James‐Moore is a Senior Research Fellow in the Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
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Michael Szczygiel;
Michael Szczygiel
Michael Szczygiel is Director of Information Services in the European Automotive Initiative Group, Isen, Germany.
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Diana Thompson
Diana Thompson
Diana Thompson is Principal Lecturer in the School of Computing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK.
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Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Online ISSN: 1758-7948
Print ISSN: 0957-6053
© MCB UP Limited
2000
Logistics Information Management (2000) 13 (6): 353–361.
Citation
Chapman P, James‐Moore M, Szczygiel M, Thompson D (2000), "Building Internet capabilities in SMEs". Logistics Information Management, Vol. 13 No. 6 pp. 353–361, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/09576050010355662
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