The Significance of Information and Communication Technologies in the Development of the Strategic Advantage of SMEs in South-Eastern Poland

Abstract

Gaining strategic advantage by SMEs is strongly associated with their absorption capacity of information technology by the entities. It is associated with activities such as exchange of resources, i.e. information, and building the system supporting the management process, which provides the capacity to quickly respond to emerging changes in the environment of the organisation. The article analyses the collected material in the context of the thesis concerning the importance of SMEs’ skills and their ability to use ICT to build IT platforms in the process of developing strategic advantage in a competitive market. This study is based on resource based theory (RBT) approach related to the concept of characteristics of the endo- and exogenous determinants of development, while focusing on the resources of organisation. This process has been carried out to allow for the identification of the ability to create strategic advantage for SMEs. This is contingent on raising the efficiency of information processes in the organisation (the construction of a suitable IT platform for information exchange) and to adapt to changes in the competitive environment. Such involvement increases the potential of a company in terms of adaptability and innovation, which also allows to achieve strategic advantage. Proper management of these components in the enterprise helps to gain advantage primarily in terms of innovation, but also in the field of reputation, structure and architecture of the company or of all the elements that create additional values, which hare a source of competitive advantage. SMEs that are characterised by insufficient engagement in the It absorption approach tend to lack a coherent development strategy and fail to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in building a strategic advantage.