The Assimilation of E‐business in Manufacturing SMEs: Determinants and Effects on Growth and Internationalization

Abstract

In order to become ‘world‐class’ enterprises, manufacturing SMEs have made sizable investments in Internet‐related technologies as the infrastructure for e‐business applications. To the extent that e‐business is assimilated by the SME, it can significantly affect the firm's key business processes and relationships such as servicing customers and collaborating with business partners. In this regard, an empirical study of 108 Canadian firms sought to answer the following questions: For what purposes are the Internet and the Web presently used, i.e., to what extent are e‐business functions assimilated in manufacturing SMEs? What characteristics of the SMEs' environmental, strategic, managerial, operational and technological context determine e‐business assimilation? And ultimately, to what extent does e‐business assimilation contribute to the growth and internationalization of manufacturing SMEs?

Keywords:

• e‐business assimilation
• e‐commerce assimilation
• Internet use
• Web use
• SME
• small business
• manufacturing
• growth
• export
• performance

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Canada Research Chairs Program and the Canada Foundation for Innovation for their financial assistance.

Notes

François Bergeron

Louis Raymond

([email protected]), is a Professor of Information Systems and holds the Canada Research Chair on Enterprise Performance at the University of Québec at Trois‐Rivières. His work has been published in various journals such as the Journal of Management Information Systems, MIS Quarterly, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, and Journal of Information Technology.

([email protected]), is a Professor of Information Systems in the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at Laval University. His work has been published in various journals such as the MIS Quarterly, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Journal of Small Business Management, and Journal of Organizational Computing and Electronic Commerce.

Louis Raymond

([email protected]), is a Professor of Information Systems and holds the Canada Research Chair on Enterprise Performance at the University of Québec at Trois‐Rivières. His work has been published in various journals such as the Journal of Management Information Systems, MIS Quarterly, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, and Journal of Information Technology.

Sam Blili

([email protected]), is a Professor of Information Systems and heads the Enterprise Institute at the University of Neuchâtel. His work has been published in various journals such as Information & Management, European Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, International Journal of Information Management, and International Journal of Electronic Commerce.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sam Blili

François Bergeron Louis Raymond ([email protected]), is a Professor of Information Systems and holds the Canada Research Chair on Enterprise Performance at the University of Québec at Trois‐Rivières. His work has been published in various journals such as the Journal of Management Information Systems, MIS Quarterly, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, and Journal of Information Technology. ([email protected]), is a Professor of Information Systems in the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at Laval University. His work has been published in various journals such as the MIS Quarterly, Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Journal of Small Business Management, and Journal of Organizational Computing and Electronic Commerce. Sam Blili ([email protected]), is a Professor of Information Systems and heads the Enterprise Institute at the University of Neuchâtel. His work has been published in various journals such as Information & Management, European Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, International Journal of Information Management, and International Journal of Electronic Commerce.