Small Business Sales Growth and Internationalization Links to Web Site Functions in the United Kingdom

Brychan Thomas, Gary Packham, R Williams, P Thompson

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    Abstract

    The potential of the Internet to both geographically expand customer bases and provide a source of growth has led to a rapid embracement of the Internet by a majority of small businesses in the United Kingdom. However, many studies suggest that much of this adoption takes the form of simple websites representing little more than an electronic brochure. Although theories and models have been proposed suggesting adoption and development of e-commerce takes a staged process, with firms moving to more complex e-commerce processes after first mastering simpler forms of website, studies have found mixed evidence with regard to this. This chapter investigates the level of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) website adoption and functionality and how this relates to growth aspirations, specifically the geographical expansion of customer bases. One potential explanation for this slow uptake of true e-commerce is a lack of employees with basic and advanced IT skills. The possibility that IT skills shortages could explain the gap between the Internet’s potential and the extent of involvement by a vast majority of UK SMEs is explored. Discussion within the chapter is complemented with analysis of data from a large survey of SMEs.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationE-Commerce Adoption and Small Business in the Global Marketplace
    Subtitle of host publicationTools for Optimization
    PublisherIGI Global
    Pages139-173
    ISBN (Electronic) 9781605669991
    ISBN (Print)9781605669984
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010

    Keywords

    • tools for optimization

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Small Business Sales Growth and Internationalization Links to Web Site Functions in the United Kingdom'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this