A conceptualisation of the opportunities and barriers to e‐business development in the smaller firm
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
ISSN: 1462-6004
Article publication date: 1 September 2003
Abstract
Drawing on existing research on e‐business and the smaller firm, this paper presents a review of the literature and the formulation of a conceptual framework of adopting an e‐business approach. Macro‐factors, industry sector, firm and managerial motivations and attitudes are examined, and then positioned in a conceptual framework of e‐business development in domestic and international markets. A series of research propositions are developed which go beyond the formalised, prescriptive frameworks of e‐business as presented in marketing and e‐commerce textbooks. These include the belief that those firms with a high degree of entrepreneurial orientation will be more likely to develop interests in e‐business than their conservative counterparts. Other factors include firm size, age of the manager, particular industry sector and product type. Conceptualises the tangible and intangible factors which impact upon the process of e‐business development, to present a workable framework for future qualitative and quantitative data collection.
Keywords
Citation
Fillis, I., Johansson, U. and Wagner, B. (2003), "A conceptualisation of the opportunities and barriers to e‐business development in the smaller firm", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 10 No. 3, pp. 336-344. https://doi.org/10.1108/14626000310489808
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited