Abstract
The paper explores the specificity of appropriation, i.e. adoption and usage, of information and communication technology (ICI) by small businesses with less than 10 employees, also denoted as self-employers and micro-enterprises (SEMEs). Starting from an interpretative viewpoint we design a functional classification of ICT based on ‘transaction-oriented’ and ‘knowledge-oriented’ use. The internal and external factors that could enable and constrain these uses are highlighted. To illustrate this approach we explore the appropriation of Internet services in the case of public accountants in Flanders (Belgium). Our goal is to indicate how technological and economic aspects of ICT appropriation are socially embedded.
Research Assistant for the Fund for Scientific Research — Flanders (Belgium) (F.W.O.)
The original version of this chapter was revised: The copyright line was incorrect. This has been corrected. The Erratum to this chapter is available at DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-35511-5_17
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Pierson, J. (2000). ICT Appropriation by Small Businesses. In: Sloane, A., van Rijn, F. (eds) Home Informatics and Telematics. HOIT 2000. IFIP — The International Federation for Information Processing, vol 45. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35511-5_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35511-5_8
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