ICT adoption in SMEs: Determinants, levels, and influence on the organizational innovativeness

Abstract

While ICT adoption and utilization are essential for all kind of companies for various reasons, it could be especially essential for SMEs for their sustainability and innovativeness. ICT awareness and perception is the main determinants of ICT adoption and utilization. In SMEs, ICT adoption and utilization will be dependent on a) owner/manager’s individual characteristics, b) owner/manager’s ICT awareness c) company related features. Thus, this study aims to investigate: (1) effects of company characteristics, owner/manager's individual characteristics and ICT awareness on ICT adoption and utilization (2) how the extent of ICT adoption and utilization influences different aspects and types of innovativeness. Mixed approach combining quantitative and qualitative research methods is used for gaining insight related to subject and the studied phenomenon. Data gathered from semi-structured interviews, and a developed questionnaire applied to SMEs are synthesized to reveal findings regarding the determinants of ICT adoption and utilization levels of SMEs. The developed model is being tested in Turkish SMEs. Moreover, the effects of ICT adoption and utilization levels on the components of organizational innovativeness are investigated comprehensively in this study.