The Development of Digital Divide Assessment Mechanism for SMEs: A Perspective from the Taiwan Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

This study developed a mechanism to evaluate and gain a better understanding of the digital divide in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in light of the need to improve the information and communication technologies (ICT) investment and ICT utilization efficiency of SMEs. This study applied the Gowin's Vee research strategy. Through the grounded theory method, 38 critical conceptual factors were found in the literature review. These critical factors were used by the authors to develop an evaluation system for assessing the digital divide. The expert questionnaire methodology was applied and a tentative model set with 29 critical factors was generated. Using the analytic hierarchy process, the authors approached the experimental side and sent questionnaires evaluating the weight of every factor in the prototyped mechanism to Taiwan's manufacturing companies. The resulting comprehensive scale can be a useful tool for measuring the sources of the digital gap as well as for suggesting ways to encourage the adoption of ICT and e-business by SMEs in Taiwan and other countries.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital Divide
• Assessment
• Grounded Theory
• Analytic Hierarchy Process

Additional information

Notes on contributors

She-I >Chang

She-I Chang received his M.S. and PhD degrees in Computer Science and Information Systems Management from Bond University and Queensland University of Technology (Australia) respectively. He is currently an associate professor at the Department of Accounting and Information Technology, National Chung Cheng University (Taiwan). He has interest in the arena of ERP system lifecycle-wide management and support, information technology governance, information security management, computer auditing and published his research papers at several IS conferences and journals.

Hsu-Che Wu

Hsu-Che Wu received the PhD degree in Engineering from the Warwick University. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Accounting and Information Technology, National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan. During his Ph.D. research, he had joined the Inter-Lean team attached to the National B2B center in the Warwick University. His research interests include e-Commerce for Engineering SMEs, Supply Chain Management, Financial Prediction Model and Agent Technology.

Chili-Ming Cho

Chih-Ming Cho received his Master of Accounting and Information Technology from National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan and is currently working at the Great Auto Parts Industrial Co., Ltd.