The full text of this article:

One digital leap or a step-by-step approach? An empirical study of e-commerce development among Swedish SMEs
by Lars Torsten Eriksson, Jens Hultman
International Journal of Electronic Business (IJEB), Vol. 3, No. 5, 2005
Abstract: The rapid development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has raised both practical and theoretical concerns. Managers face dilemmas such as when and how to invest in new technology and software. Academically, the debate is whether or not hardware changes have any significant impact on fundamental business behaviour. This article presents empirical evidence from the study of 13 Swedish SMEs during the period 1999-2004. Despite the fact that all the firms had decided to take one, long digital leap at the outset of the study in 1999, only one had actually done so five years later. We find that ICT-related changes have had a very slow impact on the SMEs, although they act within a well-developed ICT context. Contrary to some recent research suggestions, we find a step-wise model of development beneficial to both the study and adoption by SMEs of e-commerce.

is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

Pay per view: If you are not a Subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, please click here to purchase online access to the full-text of this article. Please allow 3 days + mailing time. Current price for article is Thirty Euros (€30)

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Electronic Business (IJEB) journal, that have been redirected here, please check if you have a registered username/password subscription with Inderscience. If that is the case, please Login:

If you are not yet a Subscriber to International Journal of Electronic Business (IJEB) journal, you can subscribe by following a few simple and quick steps. A subscription will give you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years, where applicable. Click here to subscribe.

Should you experience further difficulties or have any enquiries, please email subs@inderscience.com