Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Barriers to e-Commerce Implementation in Small Enterprises in Sweden

  • Conference paper
ENTERprise Information Systems (CENTERIS 2011)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 219))

Included in the following conference series:

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Alzougool, B., Kurnia, S.: Electronic Commerce Technologies Adoption by SMEs: A Conceptual Study. In: Proceedings of the 19th Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Christchurch, New Zealand, December 3-5 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bartels, A.: The difference between e-business and e-commerce. Computer World, October 30 (2010), http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/53015/The_difference_between_e_business_and_e_commerce (accessed: March 1, 2011)

  3. Besimi, A., Dika, Z., Gërguri, S.: B2B Frameworks Comparison And Implementation Challenges For Small And Medium Enterprises (SME’s). In: Proceedings of the ITI 2010 - 32nd International Conference on Information Technology Interfaces, Croatia, June 21-24 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bunker, D.J., Yin, L.: The Effect of E-Commerce Adoption on Small/Medium Enterprise Industry Structure, Competitive Advantage and Long-term Profitability. Australian Accounting Review 15(3), 56–67 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  5. European Commission: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/ (accessed: February 1, 2011)

  6. Giannakouris, K., Smihily, M.: ICT usage in enterprises, Eurostat, Issue 49/2010 (2010), http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (accessed: February 2, 2011)

  7. Huff, A.S. (ed.): Mapping Strategic Thought. John Wiley and Sons, England (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  8. IMEGO: Increasing Innovation Capabilities for Swedish SME’s, http://www.imego.com (accessed: February 3, 2011)

  9. Jones, P., Beynon-Davies, P., Muir, E.: E-business barriers to growth within the SME sector. Journal of Systems and Information Technology 7(1/2), 1–25 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kalakota, R., Robinson, M.: E-Business 2.0: Roadmap for Success, 2nd edn. Addison-Wesley Professional, USA (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kshetri, N.: Barriers to e-commerce and competitive business models in developing countries: A case study. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications 6, 443–452 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lawson, R., Alcock, C., Cooper, J., Burgess, L.: Factors affecting adoption of electronic commerce technologies by SMEs: an Australian study. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 10(3), 265–276 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. MacGregor, R.C., Bunker, D.J.: A Comparison of Real Estate Brokers Computer Training Needs with other Small Business Sectors: An Australian Perspective. Journal of Real Estate Practice and Education 2(1), 1–12 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  14. MacGregor, R., Vrazalic, L.: A basic model of electronic commerce adoption barriers: A study of regional small businesses in Sweden and Australia. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 12(4), 510–527 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Poon, S., Swatman, P.: The Internet for Small Businesses: An Enabling Infrastructure for Competitiveness. In: Proceedings of the Fifth Internet Society Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, pp. 221–231 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Porter, M.E.: Strategy and the Internet. Harvard Business Review 79(3), 63–78 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Quayle, M.: E-commerce: the challenge for UK SMEs in the twenty-first century. International Journal of Operations and Production Management 22(10), 1148–1161 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Riquelme, H.: Commercial Internet adoption in China: comparing the experience of small, medium and large businesses. Internet Research: Electronic Networking Applications and Policy 12(3), 276–286 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Santarelli, E., DÁltri, S.: The Diffusion of E-commerce among SMEs: Theoretical Implications and Empirical Evidence. Small Business Economics 21, 273–283 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sapsford, R., Jupp, V.: Data Collection and Analysis, 2nd edn. Sage Publications, Inc., USA (2006)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. Schmiemann, M.: Enterprise by size class-overview of SMEs in the EU, Eurostat, Industry trade and services, Issue 31/2008 (2008), http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat

  22. Scupola, A.: Adoption issues of business-to-business Internet commerce in European SMEs. In: Proceedings of the 35th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Big Island, Hawaii, USA, January 7-10 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Scupola, A.: SMEs’ e-commerce adoption: perspectives from Denmark and Australia. Journal of Enterprise Information Management 22(1/2), 152–166 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Seyal, A., Rahman, M.: A Preliminary Investigation of E-Commerce Adoption in Small & Medium Enterprises in Brunei. Journal of Global Information Technology Management 6(2), 6–26 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Silverman, D.: Interpreting Qualitative Data, 3rd edn. Sage Publications, Inc., USA (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Simpson, M., Docherty, A.: E-commerce adoption support and advice for UK SMEs. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 11, 315–328 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sparling, L., Toleman, M., Cater-Steel, A.: SME adoption of e-commerce in the central Okanagan region of Canada. In: Proceedings of the 18th Australasian Conference on Information Systems, Toowoomba, Australia, December 5-7 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Statistics Sweden, http://www.scb.se (accessed: March 2, 2010)

  29. Taylor, M., Murphy, A.: SMEs and e-business. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development 11(3), 280–289 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Tellis, W.: Application of a Case Study Methodology. The Qualitative Report 3(3) (1997), http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-3/tellis2.html

  31. Wales Information Society Project: E-essential for Business: A Survey of the use of Information Technology in Welsh Firms, Funded by the Welsh Development Agency and the European Commission (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Worzala, E.M., McCarthy, A.M., Dixon, T., Marston, A.: E-commerce and retail property in the UK and USA. Journal of Property Investment & Finance 20(2), 142–158 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Yin, R.: Case Study Research: Design and Method, 4th edn. Sage Publications, Inc., USA (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Yong, J., Yang, Y.: Fostering e-commerce among Australian SMEs. IEEE IT Professional 5(5), 21–24 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Sweden

    Rabeya Sultana, Jorge L. Lopez & Lazar Rusu

Authors
  1. Rabeya Sultana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jorge L. Lopez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lazar Rusu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnic Institute of Cávado e Ave, Vila Frescainha S. Martinho BCL, 4750-810, Portugal

    Maria Manuela Cruz-Cunha

  2. University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal

    João Varajão

  3. Birkbeck, University of London, WC1E 7HX, London, UK

    Philip Powell

  4. School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901, Leiria, Portugal

    Ricardo Martinho

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Sultana, R., Lopez, J.L., Rusu, L. (2011). Barriers to e-Commerce Implementation in Small Enterprises in Sweden. In: Cruz-Cunha, M.M., Varajão, J., Powell, P., Martinho, R. (eds) ENTERprise Information Systems. CENTERIS 2011. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 219. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-24358-5_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-24358-5_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-24357-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-24358-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation