Analysing of sector specificity regarding ICT and broadband usage by SMME businesses
Date
2007
Journal Title
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Publisher
Southern African Journal of Information and Communication (SAJIC), The Edge Institute / Research ICT Africa, Braamfontein, ZA
Abstract
In the transition of the techno-economic paradigm from a (post) industrial to an information society, it is crucial that
ICT and broadband become embedded within the whole of the socio-economic system. However figures show that SMEs and
micro-enterprises – the backbone of European economy – are still lagging behind, despite the numerous policy initiatives. In
this paper we focus on the specificity of the sector for understanding ICT usage in small business, instead of the common generic
SMME approach. In February 2006 a survey was done with 966 Belgian enterprises that answered an online questionnaire. The
goal was to better understand how professional activity is linked with ICT usage. The latter was measured by means of four
compound indicators (adoption, usage, knowledge and attitude). The three sectors with the lowest degree of ICT usage were
identified: construction, retail trade and manufacturing. Within these sectors a thorough study was done by means of interviews
with professional organisations and focus group interviews with a carefully selected sample of SMME business owners. This
resulted in the identification of sector-specific elements as well as issues that transgress different sectors. These findings are to
be integrated in a public initiative by the Federal Ministry of Economy for stimulating ICT usage among Belgian SMMEs.
Description
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Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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Text
Keywords
INFORMATION SOCIETY, ICT, BROADBAND, SMES, ICT ACCESS AND USAGE, ICT INDICATORS, ACCESS TO INFORMATION