Ian Fillis

Factors impacting on e-business adoption and development in the smaller firm

Globalisation and technology effects appear to have spurred smaller firms around the world to embrace e‐business practices. However, there is considerable variability in adoption and usage from country to country. Drawing on existing research on e‐business and conventional business and marketing in the smaller firm, this paper formulates a conceptual framework of reasons behind adoption and non‐adoption in the smaller firm. Macro dimensions, industry sector and firm‐level factors are analysed, together with owner/manager motivations and attitudes towards e‐business adoption. A conceptual framework is constructed and research propositions are then developed in order to focus attention on sets of internal and external factors which impact on smaller firm e‐business usage. Recommendations for future theory development are presented, together with implications for industry bodies involved in supporting the SME sector.

Small firm internationalisation: an investigative survey and future research directions

Surveys the literature on internationalisation research and identifies a number of theoretical and practical inadequacies in terms of current theory’s ability in describing behaviour of the smaller firm. A range of internationalisation theories are discussed, from their historical provenance in economic trade theory to the more recent developments concerning the impact of technology and networking. It is concluded that the majority of frameworks fail to readily explain smaller firm internationalisation behaviour. A number of implications and recommendations are presented, including the promotion of the belief that the emerging marketing and entrepreneurship paradigm provides additional understanding of smaller firm internationalisation, where creativity and innovative behaviour can act as a competitive advantage over firms with larger resources at their disposal. This then acts as a catalyst for internationalisation development.

E-business and e-supply strategy in small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)

The purpose of this research was to investigate e‐business and e‐supply strategies in Scottish small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). The paper reviews academic literature and recent survey reports on the degree of e‐business adoption in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The qualitative methodology undertaken is described, findings are discussed and implications from this study for e‐business strategies outlined. This was an exploratory study using a small sample with possible geographic biases. Nevertheless, the data so far are in line with findings from larger studies. The role of support agencies is examined, as well as how government could better serve the SMEs. Finally conclusions and future research plans are presented.

A conceptualisation of the opportunities and barriers to e‐business development in the smaller firm

Drawing on existing research on e‐business and the smaller firm, this paper presents a review of the literature and the formulation of a conceptual framework of adopting an e‐business approach. Macro‐factors, industry sector, firm and managerial motivations and attitudes are examined, and then positioned in a conceptual framework of e‐business development in domestic and international markets. A series of research propositions are developed which go beyond the formalised, prescriptive frameworks of e‐business as presented in marketing and e‐commerce textbooks. These include the belief that those firms with a high degree of entrepreneurial orientation will be more likely to develop interests in e‐business than their conservative counterparts. Other factors include firm size, age of the manager, particular industry sector and product type. Conceptualises the tangible and intangible factors which impact upon the process of e‐business development, to present a workable framework for future qualitative and quantitative data collection.

E-business Development An Exploratory Investigation of the Small Firm

Drawing on existing research on e-business and the small firm, this article presents a review of the literature and the formulation of a conceptual framework of e-business development. Macro-level, industry sector, firm and managerial factors are examined, together with attitudes towards e-business and the benefits of and the barriers to its development. The research is positioned within a framework that adopts the Marketing/Entrepreneurship interface paradigm as an aid to understanding how combinations of formal and informal competencies contribute to competitive advantage. A series of in-depth interviews with company managers was carried out in Central Scotland. Results indicate that industry factors, customer influences, the degree of entrepreneurial orientation of the key decision maker and the level of competency development within the organization play important roles in the level of e-business development achieved. Also, some small firms only embrace e-business to a certain level and even revert to more conventional business practices.

The Role Of Creativity In Entrepreneurship

This paper evaluates the contribution of creativity to entrepreneurship theory and practice in terms of building an holistic and transdisciplinary understanding of its impact. Acknowledgement is made of the subjectivist theory of entrepreneurship which embraces randomness, uncertainty and ambiguity but these factors should then be embedded in wider business and social contexts. The analysis is synthesised into a number of themes, from consideration of its definition, its link with personality and cognitive style, creativity as a process and the use of biography in uncovering data on creative entrepreneurial behaviour. Other relevant areas of discussion include creativitys link with motivation, actualisation and innovation, as well as the interrogation of entrepreneurial artists as owner/managers. These factors are embedded in a critical evaluation of how creativity contributes to successful entrepreneurship practice. Modelling, measuring and testing entrepreneurial creativity are also considered and the paper includes detailed consideration of several models of creativity in entrepreneurship. Recommendations for future theory and practice are also made.

Barriers to internationalisation

Previous research concerning barriers to internationalisation growth have modelled sets of internal and external factors impinging upon the behaviour of the firm. It is believed that this approach can only ever achieve a general perception of the difficulties encountered and that industry specific studies are needed in order to elicit particular differences encountered by these firms. By examining the internationalisation behaviour of the smaller craft firm, this research uncovers a number of factors not generally modelled in other works which impinge both upon the craft firm in particular and on smaller firms in general. This is done by adopting a pluralistic approach to research, resulting in in‐depth analysis of craft firm microenterprises and their owner/managers.

A qualitative investigation of smaller firm e-business development

A previous paper by the authors drew on existing research on e‐business and the smaller firm, developed a conceptual model and a set of research propositions. This paper analyses a series of qualitative, in‐depth interviews of owner/managers of smaller firms in central Scotland in order to test the research propositions. Results indicate that industry and sectoral factors play an important role in the level of e‐business development achieved. In many cases the customer determines the need for e‐business adoption, rather than any internally planned programme of adoption. Other important factors include the degree of entrepreneurial orientation of the key decision maker and the ability to exploit appropriate competencies. Recommendations for encouragement of e‐business development are made and suggestions for future research are included.

Being Creative at the Marketing/Entrepreneurship Interface: Lessons from the Art Industry

Creativity is not a new phenomenon. Neither is entrepreneurial marketing. This paper offers a discussion, based on both classical and contemporary evidence from the world of art, on how creative ability can give both the individual and the smaller firm a competitive advantage. Instead of adopting a replicative, quantitative methodology, as found in many smaller firm studies concerning marketing and entrepreneurship, this work embraces an alternative methodology by examining actual creative practice, as well as investigating the creative metaphor. It is believed that a range of useful outcomes will emerge from this, ranging from the promotion of awareness of the need for creativity in the smaller firm, given the inherent lack of many other resources, to the belief that those researching at the Interface will also benefit from adoption of alternative methodologies in order to generate new theory.

The Internationalizing Smaller Craft Firm: Insights from the Marketing/Entrepreneurship Interface

Craft sector analysis was carried out in order to determine the range of factors impinging upon domestic and export market behaviour. Existing craft sector research is practitioner specific, with little evidence of theoretical rigour. Internationalization theories are discussed, and the conclusion made that the majority of these frameworks fail to readily explain smaller firm internationalization behaviour generally and craft firm behaviour in particular. A pluralistic research methodology was followed. Quantitative results identified the majority of firms as micro-enterprises with those firms exhibiting entrepreneurial flair achieving significant amounts of turnover, despite severe resource constraints. The main export markets were European Union countries and North America. Combining the qualitative and quantitative results enabled profiling of craft firm types. Four orientations were uncovered: the entrepreneur, the idealist, the ‘lifestyler’ and the latecomer. Implications include promotion of the belief that the Marketing/Entrepreneurship interface paradigm provides additional understanding of smaller firm internationalization.