Information and communication technology (ICT) connectivity (PCs and Internet) is very widespread in businesses of all sizes. As is the case with all technologies, small businesses are slower than large ones to adopt new ICTs. Commercial considerations and potential returns are the principal...

The main policy directions derived from the analysis are to foster appropriate business environments for e-business and ICT uptake, and target programmes to overcome market failures to the extent that they are needed in particular areas.

This book focuses on the adoption of e-commerce applications that optimize potential opportunities presented to organizations. With expert international contributions, this advanced publication provides a comprehensive account of developments in the new and exciting area of research and...

1. Designing digital marketplaces for competitive advantage / Dinesh Rathi, Lisa Given -- 2. E-commerce systems for software agents / Emmanuel Tadjouddine -- 3. Enhancing the preparedness of SMEs for E-business opportunities by collaborative networks / Heiko Duin, Klaus-Dieter Thoben -- 4....

1. SMEs and e-business / Mário Ferreira -- 2. Strategic e-business/IT alignment for SME competitiveness / Eduardo Escofet, María Rodríguez-Fórtiz, José Garrido -- 3. SME managers' required entrepreneurship and business competences / George Velegrakis ... et al. -- 4. Preparing for change /...

"This book discusses the main issues, challenges, opportunities and solutions related to electronic business adoption with a special focus on SMEs, providing researchers, scholars, and professionals with some of the most advanced research developments, solutions and discussions of E-Business...

Several studies have been made to determine the effectiveness of information and communication technologies within small business enterprises, but the focus on e-readiness assessments have been very limited. This publication provides insights into the current state of the digital economy and the...

"This book presents detailed studies of e-commerce in multiple regions focusing on business size, sector, market focus, gender of CEO, and education level of CEO as driving forces for e-commerce adoption. Results show that regional SMEs in developed countries have low e-commerce adoption rates,...