Factors Affecting the Adoption of Information Technology in the Context of Moroccan Smes

Abstract

AbstractToday, information technology (IT) has become the foundation for streamlining processes, optimizing costs and organizing information, transforming traditional business models into dynamic enterprises that make their operations profitable through technology. The accelerated adoption of IT as a service solutions is one of the fastest growing trends among businesses of all sizes. Despite the great benefits they are expected to bring to businesses, the level of IT usage in Moroccan small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) remains very low. This article attempts to identify the factors that influence the adoption of IT in the context of Moroccan SMEs. We applied a qualitative research approach using the interview technique. The population of this study includes team leaders, users, internal IT managers, external consultants and individuals who are familiar with the Moroccan SME sector with different levels of education and experience. The research results indicate that several determinants affect the willingness of SMEs to adopt IT. These determinants are of two types: internal determinants, which refer to organizational and individual factors, also referred to as factors specific to the organization; and external determinants, which include factors specific to the technology, and factors related to the environment in which the organization operates.KeywordsITAdoptionChallengesIntegrated ISMoroccan SMEs