Journal Article
© Feb 2010 Volume 12 Issue 2, Editor: Shaun Pather, pp129 - 198
Look inside Download PDF (free)
Abstract
In today's business world, Small‑to‑Medium enterprises (SMEs) increasingly join their larger counterparts in regarding use of Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) as fundamental to business operations. For SMEs, investment in packaged software that has not been customized to individual enterprise needs, allows ready access to much of the IT function enjoyed by their larger counterparts. However, given these systems are not exclusively tailored to the enterprise and further given the collective nature of the work‑place in these enterprises, the likelihood increases for work‑arounds and unexpected usage to occur to manage enterprise needs. Studies that explore system use typically focus on individual use. Using an interpretive case study approach, this study considers users of a common system in individually owned SMEs to explore evidence of collective, innovative, configural (CIC) use, the causes of this and its impact on fellow workers. Results provide insight into the role of systems as dynamic business tools and show that despite impacts on financial and operational reporting, CIC use occurs for reasons of operational efficiency and also out of frustration with system functionality. This provides some insight into attitudes concerning Use and Net Benefits in the IS Success Model, which in turn informs system evolution.
Keywords: collective use, work-arounds, innovative use, configural use, small-to-medium enterprises, net benefits
Journal Issue
Volume 12 Issue 2 / Dec 2009
pp129‑198
View Contents Download PDF (free)
Keywords: analytical hierarchy process, B2C e-commerce, collective use, DeLone and McLean, developing country, e-commerce Success, e-learning systems, electronic marketplace, ex-post evaluation, free and open source software, ICT evaluation, ICT in tertiary education, ICT investment management, innovative use, investor structure, IS success, MIS, multi-criteria evaluation tool , net benefits, novice user, onfigural use, online television, online video, ownership, performance evaluation and improvement, small-to-medium enterprises, software quality, technology adoption, theory of planned behaviour, user acceptance of online videos, web TV, work-arounds