Title: Maturity of supply chain integration within small- and medium-sized enterprises: lessons from the Taiwan IT manufacturing sector

Authors: Hsin Chen, Anastasia Papazafeiropoulou, Yogesh Kumar Dwivedi

Addresses: School of Information Systems Computing and Mathematics, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 9PH, UK. ' School of Information Systems Computing and Mathematics, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 9PH, UK. ' School of Business and Economics, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK

Abstract: Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are known to lack behind in terms of the adoption and exploitation of information and communication technology (ICT). In this paper, we explore the area of ICT adoption in the Taiwanese information technology manufacturing sector within SMEs based on a multiple case study research. The findings suggest that small enterprises were in the initial stages of the process maturity of their supply chain. Seven types of ICT connections used by the case companies to support their supply chains were identified which show that most of the companies stayed in the lower level of supplier chain management integration without exploiting the benefits of ICT in full. Our results provide a better understanding on ICT adoption for supply chain integration by SMEs in practice.

Keywords: ICT adoption; information technology; communications technology; SCM; supply chain management; supply chain integration; e-commerce; electronic commerce; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; process maturity; Taiwan; ICT manufacturing; management; enterprise development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2010.037562

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2010 Vol.9 No.4, pp.325 - 347

Published online: 17 Dec 2010 *

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