THEMED PAPER Digital business ecosystem prototyping for SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to survey, systemize and analyse the e-readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and determine which new technologies can be applied to build a digital business ecosystem (DBE) for SMEs. Based on the results of a survey, the authors’ objectives are to propose an adequate solution system that uses open source solutions for the SME through the development of a prototype based on a DBE concept. Design/methodology/approach – On the resulting principal components, the authors applied the variance analysis and built two LISREL (a linear structural equation system involving multiple indicators of unmeasured variables) models. LISREL can handle a wide array of problems and models. Based on a survey, an open source prototype solution was developed based on DBE philosophy. Findings – The authors defined different clusters. An SME can then find within the clusters further methods that could be important for their business. The authors developed two LISREL models, aiming to examine the factors that impact the use of the community applications and how they impact them, as well as the factors that impact the increase of the on-line sales. Based on the survey, a prototype system was designed and created that can be used for the set-up of digital business networks. Practical implications – The paper proposes an adequate solution system that uses open source solutions for the SMEs through the development of a prototype based on a DBE concept. Originality/value – Building DBEs helps to create and operate value chains that help enterprises to extend their markets. Through their help, the inquirers and buyers get to know the elements of the value chain, and can therefore make decisions much easier. The paper shows how to define e-attributes of SMEs and clusters to build and use a DBE system for them.