Why one e-business adoption model won't fit all firm sizes: The case of Lebanon's e-service industry

This study aims to determine the influential factors for e-readiness among enterprises in developing countries based on their size. Given the well-recognized value of e-readiness in promoting e-business in developing economies, and based on the Perceived e-Readiness Model that was previously suggested in the literature, the study considered the impact of internal and external factors by firm size on the adoption of e-business. Survey data were collected from 276 Lebanese senior managers operating in the e-service industry, and a multiple discriminant function analysis was used to determine whether a set of variables is effective in predicting the e-readiness of enterprises in two size categories, that is, large and small to medium enterprises. The study observed that the factors that influence enterprises' e-business adoption vary depending on the firm's size and that one adoption model does not fit e-service firms of different sizes. Large enterprises are more influenced by managers' commitment and the e-readiness of supporting industries than their smaller counterparts. The research findings will be of interest to managers, policymakers, and academics in the e-services industry.