Abstract
The West Midlands (WM) ICT industry is one of ten sectors identified by the regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands (AWM), for clustering development. AWM is investing resources to fund projects that will meet the needs of industry in encouraging development of clustering activity and the growth of the ICT Cluster, including helping companies to adopt new technologies. During 2007 as part of a PhD study, research was commissioned by AWM which involved 200 ICT SMEs in the West Midlands (WM) UK. This work indicated that common misconceptions are as endemic in ICT companies as in any other sector. This research is unique in that it targets one sector only which has often been assumed not to need support in ICT adoption. This paper concentrates specifically on the micro company owner-manager’s education and skills. Whilst owner-manages have a major influence on ICT adoption in other sectors; in the ICT industry adoption and diversification are necessary at an alarming speed, the implications of this influence are not only on the micro company itself but are far wider-reaching. Consequently, this research has identified specific educational concerns with regard to owner-managers and technology adoption.
Recommended Citation
Costello, Pat, "ICT Adoption By ICT SMEs In The UK West Midlands - Is Education The Key?" (2009). UK Academy for Information Systems Conference Proceedings 2009. 21.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ukais2009/21