SME network practice : a qualitative study of network management practice and design implications for ICT-support

• This paper presents the results of an investigation of network practice among European Small andMedium-sized Enterprises (SME’s). The purpose is to assess network management practice anddesign implications for Information Communication Technology (ICT) support. The investigationconsisted of 49 interviews with individuals employed by 19 SME’s that either were or had beeninvolved in a network co-operation with another separate juridical entity. This was complemented bya questionnaire answered by 121 respondents fitting the same criteria as the individuals interviewed.We provide a rich description of the vast diversity in SME network management practice and ICTuse. From the collected data, three generic network profiles are identified (“Supply-chain networks”(SN), “R&D Networks” (RN) and “Business Networks” (BN)). The three network profiles arestructured and analyzed through use of an established IS architecture framework. This provide aholistic view of ICT design implications for the network profiles structured in three architecturallevels namely, scope, enterprise and systems level.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

Keyword

IT management

SME

ICT-support

Computer and Systems Sciences

data- och systemvetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)