Abstract

This research explores the potential impact of the smartphone as a disruptive technology for small service businesses such as plumbers, painters, and similar businesses. This research postulates that use of mobile technology in these businesses is primarily restricted to phone calls and text messages with limited impact on business processes or operations. The research further postulates that this impact is limited due to a perception of these users that there is little the device can do for them. To address these questions, we will use a Design Science Research (DSR) approach to 1) conduct structured interviews with small business owners to establish the need for mobile technologies to affect business processes and operations, 2) demonstrate that a mobile app for scheduling and tracking can be helpful to these businesses, and 3) create and implement such an app in one or more of the businesses and track its performance longitudinally.

Share

COinS