ICT resources and use: examining differences in pathways to improved small firm performance

Beynon, Malcolm ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5757-270X, Munday, Maxim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9067-2481 and Roche, Neil ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1481-2117 2021. ICT resources and use: examining differences in pathways to improved small firm performance. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research 27 (7) , pp. 1798-1818. 10.1108/IJEBR-12-2020-0847

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Abstract

Purpose: The paper shows how small firms perceive the pathways through which access to and adoption of superfast broadband enabled resources strengthen business performance. Improvements to broadband infrastructure do not automatically lead to adoption of opportunities made available through the broadband resource. Then interventions can be used to alert small firms to new opportunities. However, the quality of interventions in terms of education and digital audits can be better targeted with information available on how small firms perceive the benefits from broadband access and whether these perceptions are reflected in business performance outcomes. Methodology: Data is used from the Digital Maturity Survey from Wales. We use principal component analysis and a dual stage cluster approach to show how SMEs believe they are benefitting from broadband access. These belief-based perceptions of broadband inferred business benefits are tested against business performance variables. Findings: The analysis shows variation in SME perceptions of the benefits of broadband enabled services. We reveal a cluster of firms which perceived routes to business value in terms of variables linked to security and risk management, and then more commonly held notions linked to communication, competition enhancement and productivity. Originality: While the research literature points to ICT resources (ICT investment and skills) and use (digital applications), leading to new to business value improvements, we suggest less work has sought to identify the critical themes identified by business owners in explaining how ICT resources and use tie to observed business performance. We identify these critical themes. Our analysis suggests that these critical themes in terms of business value benefits as perceived by business owners can be summarised in terms of communication and competition benefits, and security and risk related benefits. The findings have a series of implications for interventions in the space.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Business (Including Economics)
Publisher:	Emerald
ISSN:	1355-2554
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	1 July 2021
Date of Acceptance:	29 June 2021
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2024 23:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/142291

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