IT Readiness in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Several studies have documented that IT projects often do not successfully meet defined objectives regarding time, budget, and functionality. There can be multiple causes for this, and an important factor in this context is the extent to which a company is ready for an IT project. To help understand this dynamic, this paper presents a framework for analyzing 'IT readiness' in SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) based on a literature review. The framework is illustrated and investigated by three case studies and shows that the framework of IT readiness in SMEs is useful for assessing company readiness and supporting the management of a project. The framework and case studies provide an improved understanding of how to evaluate readiness of an SME for an IT project and provides a solid basis for SMEs who plan to engage in an IT project and help to increase the chances of success.