Resource Constraints Related to Emerging Integration Technologies Adoption: The Case of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

While most prior studies on Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) and Web Services adoption have focused on large counterparts, this research recognizes the importance of these technologies, and realizes the difficulties involved in their effective adoption by Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). The aim of this paper is to study as to whether the resources constraints (time, finance, and expertise) a real obstacle to emerging integration technologies (EAI and Web Services) adoption in SMEs. The paper initially conceptualizes a model to support the analysis and proposes a research issue for validation. A qualitative multiple case study approach was considered as an appropriate research methodology to test the conceptual model. Findings obtained from the empirical study suggest that: (1) expertise, time and financial constraints is a real obstacle to SMEs’ integration technologies adoption, and these constraints are important influential parameters affecting SMEs’ adoption decision; and (2) SMEs’ resource constraints are closely related to financial and expertise availability, time and expertise flexibility, and manager’s attitude on managing time and financial issues. Based on this, the proposed conceptual model is revised. Finally, concluding section of the paper also outlines limitations and provides future research directions.