IT readiness in small firms

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to explore conceptually and empirically the application of the concept of IT readiness to small firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken was a questionnaire administered to small manufacturing business owners in the Liguria region of Italy. Data were analysed using factor and cluster analysis.

Findings

IT readiness concept appears valid with the emergence of three constructs: strategic vision; project management capability; and IT application infrastructure. The date analysis yielded four distinctive and varying profiles of small business owners.

Research limitations/implications

This quantitative study exploring a cross section of small firms suggests antecedents to change have been ignored relative to IT adoption decisions.

Practical implications

Provision of policy and support services requires a much more nuanced approach to small businesses.

Originality/value

There are very few studies of IT readiness in the literature, making the paper original in its intent. The construction of the IT readiness concept appears robust when subjected to empirical testing and yields a number of specific small business profiles with respect to IT.

Citation

Spinelli, R., Dyerson, R. and Harindranath, G. (2013), "IT readiness in small firms", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 807-823. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-01-2012-0012