The Decision-Making Process Of Small Business For Microcomputers And Software Selection And Usage

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the selection process of microcomputers and software applications in small businesses as well as the usage of their computer facilities. We report on an empirical study of small businesses in five selected states. One finding is that owners, managers, and users are most involved in the selection of microcomputers and software. The study also identifies the most important criteria considered in the selection process. Based on the results of the study, we develop a systems approach for small businesses to use in selecting the most appropriate microcomputer and software.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Essam Mahmoud

ESSAM MAHMOUD is Associate Professor of Quantitative Analysis and Systems at the School of Management, University of Michigan-Flint. His interests are in the areas of Forecasting Applications, The Accuracy of Forecasting Methods, Forecasting and Decision Support Systems, and the Evaluation and Selection of Software in general and in particular for forecasting applications and Data Bases for Businesses. He has published several articles in the Journal of Forecasting, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, The American Statistican, Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, and Management International Review. He serves as a reviewer for several journals and on the editorial board of Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science.

Naresh Malhotra

NARESH K. MALHOTRA is Associate Professor and Co-ordinator of Marketing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He obtained his PHD in management and MS in computer science from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1979. Since then, he has published twenty-eight articles in fourteen major journals. His publications have appeared in prestigious journals such as Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Retailing, Journal of Health Care Marketing, and several major journals in statistics and psychology. Dr Malhotra has also edited three national proceedings and published numerous articles in national and international proceedings. He serves on the editorial boards of seven journals and is an associate editor for Decision Sciences.