Planning and initiating virtual collaborative networks for SMEs in rural areas - An example from the Finnish Archipelago

Abstract

In an ICT R&D project in the Finnish archipelago, we have come in contact with 17 small business owners, and have gained hands-on information regarding some of the challenges they are facing and problems they have in their everyday work routines. We believe one solution for SMEs in similar settings is to start collaborating more, forming collaborative networks, enabling more effective information sharing, problem solving and also the creation of new value for their customers. The paper presents the challenges and proposes solutions, based on the situation we have observed but presumably also applicable to similar settings. © 2008 International Federation for Information Processing.