IT readiness in small and medium‐sized enterprises

Abstract

PurposeSeveral studies have documented that information technology (IT) projects often do not successfully meet defined objectives regarding time, budget, and functionality. There can be multiple causes for this, and an important factor in this context is the extent to which a company is ready for an IT project. To help understand this dynamic, this paper seeks to present a framework for analyzing “IT readiness” in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review, the paper defines a framework for assessing and changing the IT readiness of a SME. The framework is illustrated and investigated by three case studies.FindingsThe case studies show that the framework of IT readiness in SMEs is useful for assessing company readiness and supporting the management of a project.Research limitations/implicationsThe framework and case studies provide an improved understanding of how to evaluate the readiness of a SME for an IT project.Practical implicationsThe framework for IT readiness provides a solid basis for SMEs who plan to engage in an IT project and help to increase the chances of success.Originality/valueThe framework presented in the paper constitutes an operational model for choosing IT projects and making SMEs ready to engage in IT projects.