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Small Business Economics

, Volume 19, Issue 4, pp 341–354 | Cite as

The Dynamics of SME Information Systems

  • Margi Levy
  • Philip Powell
  • Philip Yetton
Article

Abstract

The process by which small firms (SMEs) invest in and gain benefit from information systems (IS) is little understood. This paper analyses two alternative models of IS-based strategic change – the Focus-Dominance model (Levy et al., 2001) and stages of growth models as applied to SMEs. An analysis of the outcomes of IS strategy development undertaken for 43 SMEs maps their IS use over time. The analysis supports the Focus-Dominance model, some parts of the stages of growth model and extends the critique of the latter. Further variances are explained by the entrepreneur/owner's values and experience. One structural variable, namely, the industry sector may also explain the variances. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Keywords

Information System Structural Variable Alternative Model Growth Model Strategy Development 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 2002

Authors and Affiliations

  • Margi Levy
    • 1
  • Philip Powell
    • 2
  • Philip Yetton
    • 3
  1. 1.Warwick Business SchoolUniversity of WarwickCoventryU.K.
  2. 2.Centre for Information Management, School of ManagementUniversity of BathBathU.K.
  3. 3.Fujitsu Centre, Australian Graduate School of ManagementUniversity of New South WalesSydneyAustralia

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