Nabeel Al-Qirim

The adoption of eCommerce communications and applications technologies in small businesses in New Zealand

This research investigates the impact of 10 factors, extended from the technological innovation literature, on the adoption of different eCommerce communications and applications technologies (EC) in small businesses (SMEs) in New Zealand (NZ). The research results showed that the CEOs innovativeness was the only determinant of external-email adoption. CEOs involvement was found to be the only determinant of Intranet adoption. Relative advantage and competition were found to influence Extranet/VPN adoption significantly and positively. However, support from technology vendors appeared to violate its hypothesised effect on Extranet/VPN adoption. Regression analysis found that pressure from suppliers was the only determinant of Internet-EDI adoption. The adoption of Web sites was influenced by the information intensity of products and the CEOs innovativeness. The significant factors suggested the uniqueness of the adoption phenomenon in SMEs in NZ. However, the factors that appeared to be significant and the ones that appeared to be insignificant factors and the implications arising from these factors led to a conclusion which suggested the weakness of the EC adoption phenomenon in SMEs in NZ. The research discusses theoretical implications emerging from the research factors and portrays a path for future research.

An Empirical Investigation of an e‐commerce Adoption‐Capability Model in Small Businesses in New Zealand

The current research attempted to investigate the significance of an adoption‐capability model of e‐commerce technologies (EC) in Small to Medium‐Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand (NZ). The research model hypothesised ten factors as significantly influencing EC adoption in SMEs: relative advantage, cost, compatibility, size, information intensity of products, support from technology vendors, pressure from suppliers/buyers, competition, CEOs innovativeness, and CEOs involvement. Further, the model attempted to differentiate between adopters and non‐adopters in terms of the adopted EC and hence, categorized them into three clusters of adoption: starters, adopters and extended adopters. It was believed that such classifications could assist this research in identifying innovative and EC capabilities among the SMEs in NZ. The research findings indicated that: (1) starters: the adoption of the Internet and external email was dependent on the innovativeness of the CEO; (2) innovators: the adoption of an...

Personas of E-Commerce Adoption in Small Businesses in New Zealand

Focus group methodology is introduced in this article as one appropriate methodology to study the impact of technological innovation factors on e-commerce (EC) adoption in small businesses (SMEs) in New Zealand. The research results suggested two emerging issues pertaining to EC adoption in SMEs in this research. First, SMEs would not invest their scant resources on perceived risky advanced EC initiatives. In adopting simple EC technologies such as Web pages and e-mail, factors like cost and compatibility were found not hindering the adoption decision. On the other hand, the proposed drivers to adopt these simple technologies were not highly significant as such. Second, the SMEs retained a particular view about advancing their simple EC initiatives. They envisaged that advancing their EC initiatives, such as adopting full-blown and interactive Web sites, will give more weight to the impact of the different factors in this research on their adoption decisions of EC. The gulf between the current adoption and usage levels and the envisaged advanced EC initiatives seemed to be increasing further, suggesting the weakness of the EC phenomenon in SMEs in this research. The research portrays a path where such gaps could be addressed, and hence, this path should guide the SMEs in advancing their EC initiatives. Implications arising from this research with respect to theory and to practice are discussed in this research.

Championing telemedicine adoption and utilization in healthcare organizations in New Zealand

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESnThis research explored the adoption and the utilisation of telemedicine (TM) in two healthcare organizations (HCOs) in New Zealand (NZ). The research utilised the technological innovation theories, as a guiding theoretical framework, to develop a set of potential determinants which could assist in understanding the adoption and the depth of the TM phenomenon in the two HCOs.nnnMETHODOLOGY AND RESULTSnUsing case studies design, the findings across the two cases revealed that TM was adopted according to its cost-benefit analysis. Although this approach was found to be important in assessing the adoption of TM, not considering the importance of other factors, highlighted in this research, such as the compatibility and the trialability aspects of the TM technology had a detrimental impact on the success of TM in both cases.nnnCONCLUSIONnThis research stressed the need for the tight coupling between the roles of both the administrative and the clinical managers in HCOs in order to champion TM adoption and diffusion and to overcome many of the barriers that could hinder telemedicine success in HCOs in NZ. The research points to other implications with respect to the literature and highlights further research in this important area.

A Research Trilogy into E-Commerce Adoption in Small Businesses in New Zealand

This research trilogy about e-commerce (EC) adoption in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand (NZ) started with a survey research, followed by an initial focus group (FG) research and concluded with a second FG in order to fill some of the gaps in the first FG and to add more insights into the EC phenomenon in NZ SMEs. In this research, nine factors were identified from the technological innovation literature as potential determinants of EC adoption in SMEs. The research findings highlighted three main issues pertaining to EC adoption in NZ SMEs. First, at the low level of adoption such as adopting simple email and Web pages, none of the research factors seemed to strongly influence the adoption decision of EC as such. This finding highlighted the importance of the communication aspect of EC and of having a presence in cyberspace even if it was a simple one. Second, the majority of the NZ SMEs perceived to progress these simple EC initiatives in the long-term projections only. They called such initiatives as advanced levels of EC where they envisaged adopting fully functional and interactive websites. At this level of adoption, the participants started to raise the importance of the different factors to their adoption decision of EC. However, this was contrasted by the fact that the participants stressed that they would not risk investing their scant resources on perceived risky advanced EC initiatives. The last point pertains to the SMEs that adopted different EC technologies high adopters such as websites, Intranet and Extranet technologies. This category retained a positive view about EC and indicated that non-adopters of EC and low level adopters should not be deterred from adopting EC and that all their fears were mere misperceptions. The overall results indicated that EC adoption and use among NZ SMEs was limited. The research highlights professional and theoretical significance and implications.

The Strategic outsourcing Decision of IT and eCommerce: The Case of Small Businesses in New Zealand

Abstract In New Zealand, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a very important role in the economy by their contribution to both employment and gross domestic product. Addressing issues pertinent to SMEs is of paramount importance in driving this sector forward. Information Technology (IT) emerges as one main enabler for SMEs in automating their operations, seeking new opportunities and enhancing their strategic business positioning in local and international markets. However, the inability of SMEs to handle the dynamic nature of IT due to problems inherent in their size, structure and resources, makes it difficult for them to take appropriate decisions to benefit from the IT technologies. The advent of eCommerce (EC) has only compounded this problem. One way out of this complex situation is to outsource the IT and EC technology requirements by the SMEs. This study endeavours to identify the pattern of IT and EC outsourcing issues of SMEs within New Zealand. This research attempts to identify the main driver for IT/EC outsourcing in SMEs as well as to explore the problems of IT outsourcing and makes suggestions for further research in this crucial sector.

Electronic commerce in small to medium-sized enterprises : frameworks, issues and implications

Electronic Commerce in Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises: Frameworks, Issues and Implications addresses eCommerce issues in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a global setting. The book aims at addressing issues that are of importance to researchers, to students, and to professionals interested in the eCommerce field in SMEs and hence, interested in addressing issues pertaining to theory and to practice.

E-Commerce Adoption in Small Businesses: Cases from New Zealand

Abstract Electronic commerce (EC) adoption in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is confronted with different difficulties. This is due to reasons relating to the SME’s structure and to their surrounding environment. This research is interested in identifying factors influencing EC adoption and success in SMEs. A review of the technological innovation adoption (TIA) research in SMEs provides useful insights into factors influencing adoption. Thus, this research attempted to achieve two main objectives. Initially, this research examined the prior TIA factors in order to check for their relevance to EC adoption research in SMEs and accordingly, developed an adoption framework made of fifteen factors. Secondly, this research attempted to examine the impact of the developed framework on EC adoption in three New Zealand (NZ) SMEs. The research findings and the emerging implications suggested the weakness of the EC phenomenon in NZ SMEs and pointed to a unique perspective concerning the adoption context of the cases. These issues are discussed in this research raising different theoretical, methodological and professional contributions and implications.

E‐commerce in the aerial mapping industry: A New Zealand case study

This research describes the adoption and the usage of Internet commerce technologies (EC) in a small to medium‐sized business (SME) in New Zealand. The case study is part of the aerial mapping industry. By relying on the technological innovation theories in the context of small business, this research looks at determinants of EC adoption and success in this SME. The findings in this research highlight the importance of the technological factors in general and the relative advantage characteristic specifically in driving the EC phenomenon in the case study. The individual context has further endorsed the central role of the CEO and his characteristics in adopting new technological innovations. However, EC usage in business in the case study was limited and its success expected to happen in the long terms projections only. The research addresses both theoretical as well as professional contributions and highlights implications in EC research in the case study.

Determinants of interactive white board success in teaching in higher education institutions

This research evaluates the effectiveness of the Interactive White Board Technology (IWBT) in teaching in the Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) in UAE University. IWBT includes integrated hardware and software components to facilitate teaching process and hence, provides rich and interactive experience for both teachers and students. However, the IWBT is recent and issues emanating from its use in teaching and learning are scant and inconclusive. The research developed a theoretical framework to guide the research endeavor. Accordingly, the research attempted to unveil factors influencing IWBT introduction and use in different departments within FIT. The research findings reported different hurdles facing the integral use of IWBT in teaching in FIT. The research also suggested that the IWBT could be useful in teaching technical courses in FIT. This is contingent upon addressing certain factors highlighted in this research. This research introduces different recommendations to further IWBT use in FIT. The research highlights different theoretical and professional contributions and contentions and raises the need for more research in the IWBT field.