Challenges facing W. Midlands ICT‐oriented SMEs

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the challenges faced by West Midlands (UK) information communications technology (ICT)‐oriented small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting and coping with the speed of fast‐changing technologies.

A total of 73 company managers (most of them are owners) were interviewed in various sub‐regions of West Midlands. Among the companies, 81 per cent of SMEs opted for face‐to‐face interview, while 19 per cent opted for a telephone interview.

Several factors that affect the speed of adopting new technology were identified, ranging from SME owner or manager level of education, lack of strategy and perceived benefits in adopting new technologies, to ICT investment, involvement in research, innovation and research and development.

The study focused on the ICT‐oriented businesses in general. ICT is a wide area and so there is a need to test each type of ICT and see how other factors like geographical location affect the business. Also, it would have been interesting to have large number of medium‐sized businesses involved in the survey.

The identified factors need to be addressed if sustainable ICT adoption within the ICT‐oriented SMEs in the region is to be achieved. The research provides a basis for the establishment of future projects that will embed these factors.

This is the first study that uses a large data sample collected through face‐to‐face interviews to present the challenges faced by the ICT‐oriented businesses in West Midlands in adopting new technologies. The study suggests means to achieve a successful and sustainable technology adoption for ICT‐oriented SMEs in the region.