Table 6 Ways SMEs involve IT suppliers... | Emerald Publishing

Table 6

Ways SMEs involve IT suppliers

Clusters of SMEs	Ways of involving	Degree of IT supplier’s involvement	Level of IT supplier’s responsibility
Efficiency seekers	Operational involvement	Basic involvement Supplier sells and manufacturer procures a software package (or license)	Limited and operational responsibility Sales, operative customer support, updates
Service growth seekers	Innovation collaboration	Moderate involvement Manufacturer is involved in developing the solution using the supplier’s platform IT supplier provides the platform and development resources; manufacturer delimits the scope, defines the requirements, defines contents, and resolves problems during testing	Enhanced operational responsibility IT supplier’s commitment to support the further development of the solution and manage changes in cooperation, in addition to sales, operative support, and updates
Service-centric SMEs	Strategic partnership	High involvement IT supplier included in the manufacturer’s development project. The manufacturer and IT supplier collaborate throughout the solution lifecycle and with customers on updating the solution	Continuous and strategic responsibility A subscription-based (or use-based) earning logic, between customer and manufacturer and manufacturer and IT supplier Solution can be installed from the app store; contract specifies earnings distribution between IT supplier and manufacturer Solution may include proprietary components owned by the manufacturer’s customer

Clusters of SMEs	Ways of involving	Degree of IT supplier’s involvement	Level of IT supplier’s responsibility
Efficiency seekers	Operational involvement	Basic involvementSupplier sells and manufacturer procures a software package (or license)	Limited and operational responsibilitySales, operative customer support, updates
Service growth seekers	Innovation collaboration	Moderate involvement Manufacturer is involved in developing the solution using the supplier’s platform IT supplier provides the platform and development resources; manufacturer delimits the scope, defines the requirements, defines contents, and resolves problems during testing	Enhanced operational responsibilityIT supplier’s commitment to support the further development of the solution and manage changes in cooperation, in addition to sales, operative support, and updates
Service-centric SMEs	Strategic partnership	High involvementIT supplier included in the manufacturer’s development project. The manufacturer and IT supplier collaborate throughout the solution lifecycle and with customers on updating the solution	Continuous and strategic responsibility A subscription-based (or use-based) earning logic, between customer and manufacturer and manufacturer and IT supplier Solution can be installed from the app store; contract specifies earnings distribution between IT supplier and manufacturer Solution may include proprietary components owned by the manufacturer’s customer

Source(s): Authors’ own work