An Integrated Model of Information Systems Adoption in Small Businesses

Based on theories from the technological innovation literature, this study develops an integrated model of information systems (IS) adoption in small businesses. The model specifies contextual variables such as decision-maker characteristics , IS characteristics, organizational characteristics, and environmental characteristics as primary determinants of IS adoption in small businesses. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 166 small businesses. Data analysis shows that small businesses with certain CEO characteristics (innovativeness and level of IS knowledge), innovation characteristics (relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity of IS), and organizational characteristics (business size and level of employees' IS knowledge) are more likely to adopt IS. While CEO and innovation characteristics are important determinants of the decision to adopt, they do not affect the extent of IS adoption. The extent of IS adoption is mainly determined by organizational characteristics. Finally, the environmental characteristic of competition has no direct effect on small business adoption ofIS. THE ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS MAYBE DEPICTED as a three-stage sequence of initiation, adoption, and implementation [69, 82]. The initiation stage is concerned with gathering and evaluating information about the technological innovation. This is followed by the adoption stage in which a decision is made about adopting the technological innovation. When the decision is to go ahead with adoption, the implementation stage involves implementing the technological innovation in the business. An important and fast growing technological innovation during this century is computer-based information systems (IS). IS provide an opportunity for businesses to