Information technology interventions for growth and competitiveness in micro-enterprises

Sajda Qureshil, Mehruz Kamal, Peter Wolcott

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have the potential to enable these businesses to grow through access to new markets and administrative effciencies. However, the growth of the smallest of these SMEs which are micro-enterprises is hindered by their inability to adopt ICTs. This article investigates how micro-enterprises can adopt ICTs to grow and achieve competitiveness. It investigates a set of seven micro-enterprises through an interpretive feld study in which action research was used to diagnose and treat the micro-enterprises. This was done using interventions through a process called "Information Technology (IT) Therapy". This process involved providing individualized IT solutions to pressing problems and opportunities. The increase in competitiveness of these micro-enterprises was assessed using the Focus Dominance Model and their growth through a modifed model of micro-enterprise growth. This research contributes to assisting micro-enterprises achieve sustained growth and competitive advantage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)72-95
Number of pages24
JournalInternational Journal of Enterprise Information Systems
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2009

Keywords

  • Competitive Advantage
  • Focus-Dominance Model
  • Information Systems
  • Micro-Enterprises
  • Small Businesses

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Management Information Systems
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Information Systems and Management

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