Achieving business success through information and communication technologies adoption by small and medium enterprises in Oman

Abstract

Effective management of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can improve productivity and performance of an organization. This paper identifies key factors that are essential for achieving business value by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through ICT adoption. A survey was conducted to obtain data regarding the current status of ICT adoption among SMEs in Oman. The Chi Square Test was employed to determine the effect of nature of organization on ICT infrastructure capabilities and factor analysis was used to identify the key elements for achieving business value from ICT. Results of this study show that size of an organization plays an important role in its ICT infrastructure. This study has identified seven factors that assess business value of ICT adoption in SMEs. These factors include: organization and management practices, strategic, informational, transactional and organizational change benefits, impetus for ICT investment and support from government contribute to achieving business value through ICT. This study, it is hoped, will be useful to ICT managers and researchers who intend to optimize business value through ICT adoption. Furthermore, results will help understand barriers and benefits of ICT adoptions. This study will make valuable contribution to the literature since the number of studies on the benefits of ICT adoption by SMEs in developing countries are quite limited.