Organisational determinants of information technology adoption and implementation in SMEs: The case of family and cooperative firms

The current work attempts to identify the factors behind the intensity and speed of adoption of information technology in small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in which family or cooperative character play an important role. For this purpose, we have used a qualitative perspective, in which we have taken into account the opinions of entrepreneurs and managers of SMEs that have been involved in technological change processes in recent years. Our results indicate that there are a number of internal factors that influence the success of the adoption decision, on the one hand, and the implementation process, on the other hand. Among these, we might mention various systems for the socialisation of the workers, the rotation of personnel for exemplary purposes, the simultaneous implementation of information technology and quality systems, and professionalisation in the case of family firms. There are also inhibiting factors of the adoption and implementation, such as the modification of the firm's hierarchy and power structures, as well as the absence of qualified personnel. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.