Abstract

The emergence of the Internet has provided a means of providing a low cost technological infrastructure that offers new opportunities for small businesses. Small business is a significant contributor to the Western Australian economy and electronic commerce technology, such as B2B Trading exchanges, presents unique opportunities to small businesses in Western Australia to overcome limitations of time differences and geographical remoteness. This study explored the factors and variables that influence adoption behaviour of these small businesses in relation to B2B Trading exchanges in the context of Western Australia. This paper reports a qualitative field study with seven randomly selected small businesses of various sizes and differing degrees of computer usage. The owner/managers of the selected small business were interviewed and the data collected was analysed using content analysis technique. The results identified a number of significant external, control and contextual factors. Using the factors identified and literature as a basis, the study also developed a preliminary research model. The paper also highlights industry and research implications

Share

COinS