Comparison of Factors Pertaining to the Adoption and Non-Adoption of Electronic Commerce in Formally Networked and Non-Networked Regional SMEs: A Study of Swedish Small Businesses

Abstract

This chapter examines the adoption and non-adoption of electronic commerce (EC) by formally networked and non-networked small to medium enterprises (SMEs) using the findings from a study of 339 Swedish SMEs. The results of the study indicate that there are no considerable differences between formally networked and non-networked SMEs in terms of EC adoption. This raises a number of questions concerning the nature and role of formal networks in the small business arena, and how these impinge upon the perception of the benefits, usefulness and problems of adopting and using EC.