Barriers to e-commerce implementation in small enterprises in Sweden

Abstract

The research in this paper has looked to find the barriers that small enterprises in Sweden have faced in the implementation of the e-commerce during pre and post adoption phases. Taking four small enterprises as case studies the paper is presenting the post adoption barriers faced by these enterprises that are currently using e-commerce. The outcome is that 'security issues associated with e-commerce' identified in previous studies appeared as an obstacle in both pre and post adoption phase. Moreover lack of time to improve e-commerce activities, synchronization of demand and supply, price war among competitors, need for extensive marketing effort, payment related hazards are explored and identified as post-adoption barriers. Finally, a model has been proposed through which we wish to consolidate both pre and post adoption barriers and have a complete picture of the barriers faced by small enterprises in implementing e-commerce in Sweden. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.