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Call for Papers: Special Issue on The Impact and Use of ICT in SMEs
Service Business: An International Journal ()

Guest Editor: Silvana Trimi, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, U.S.A

Scope and Theme:

The impetus with which information and communication technology (ICT) has rooted itself in the business world has brought about a veritable revolution whose true consequences and scope are yet to be seen. We are currently witnessing lightning speed changes in technology and, above all, the huge impact and rapid spread these changes are conveying worldwide.

ICT and the Internet are enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to be as competitive and successful as large businesses, not only at the local but also at the global level. SMEs need to maintain the competitive edge that they traditionally have over their large counterparts: their flexibility to adapt while sustaining innovation and strengthening customer relationships. Having access to and adopting ICT, which were not available to previous generations, are helping SMEs not only to achieve and sustain their traditional edge, but also enabling them to expand across customers, products, and geographies, thus growing their market share and expanding globally. Through ICT, SMEs can compete with larger players on a more level playing field and also participate in extended supply chains more effectively.

It is clear that ICT plays a fundamental role in consolidating and driving the competitiveness of SMEs. On this premise, the Guest Editor believes that it is of paramount importance to raise awareness of and discover the impact of ICT on SMEs among managers and the society in general. The purpose of this special issue is to gather research articles that would help us understand the real impact the use of ICT has on improving the ‘apparent’ productivity in the workplace and the competitiveness of SMEs, particularly in the services sector.

Topics of Interest:

Recommended topic areas to consider for inclusion in this special issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• ICT applications and infrastructure development for SMEs
• Network infrastructure needs of SMEs
• Accessibility to information and communication technologies for SMEs
• Detecting technological barriers for SMEs and finding ICT solutions
• Causes of the slow implementation of ICT in SMEs
• Types of ICT that should be given priority to improve competitiveness in SMEs
• Enterprise systems for SMEs
• ICT and SMEs growth
• E-business and SMEs
• Trust, security, and privacy issues of ICT applications in SMEs
• Effects of the use of ICT on the ‘apparent’ productivity of work in SMEs
• Supply chain efficiency linked to the use of ICT
• Outsourcing and SMEs
• The relation between ICT and commerce
• The role of public institutions in introducing ICT in SMEs
• Government policies for ICT use in SMEs
• E-government and ICT use in SMEs
• Learning and training for workers in ICT/ “e-learning” in SMEs
• Knowledge management systems in SMEs
• Global knowledge transfer for ICT application in SMEs
• The effect of geographical location and the availability of local technological resources on the start-up decision for service SMEs
• Leading countries of ICT use in SMEs
• The contribution of ICT to improving external relations for SMEs (the effects of collaboration and association)
• Technological differentiation and performance of SMEs
• The challenges in implementing new ICT in microfirms
• The effect of introducing ICT on internal organizational behavior in SME
• Digital convergence and SMEs
• Future trends in ICT in SMEs / where do we go from here?
• Comparative studies between SMEs with similar characteristics but with differing degrees in the use of ICT in different economic sectors
• ICT impact and use in SMEs across nations
• International cooperation for ICT applications in SMEs
• Key points for the smooth implementation of ICT in SMEs

The issue will publish both conceptual and empirical papers that make a relevant contribution to the analysis of the impact and use of ICT on small and medium-sized firms, which should act as a guide for researchers and practitioners on how to improve and maximize the use of ICT in the future. Case studies of successful firms, or failures, that have important practical implications will be gladly received along with original papers that contribute to the progress in the interface between the small firm in service industries and ICT, as well as articles on government policy that aid the implementation of ICT.

Timeline:

Call for Papers Issued: May 15, 2007
Submission of full paper: February 28, 2008
Feedback from referees: April 30, 2008
Submission due date of revised paper: June 30, 2008
Notification of acceptance: July 30, 2008
Submission of final revised paper: August 30, 2008
Publication date: Issue 3, 2009 (Tentative)

Submission guidelines:

The ideal length of the submissions related to the themes discussed above is about 5000 words, but, if justified, shorter and longer manuscripts will be considered. All submissions should follow the general guidelines of the journal as specified under the "Instructions for Authors" tab at . The manuscripts will be peer reviewed according to the journal’s general policy; all reviews are double-blind.

Please send electronic submissions (Word or PDF format) directly to the guest editor, Dr. Silvana Trimi (strimi@unlnotes.unl.edu). Prospective authors are welcome to submit an abstract to the guest editor for preliminary feedback on the appropriateness of their planned manuscript. Please clearly identify your submission in the email subject line “SB-The Impact and the Use of ICT on SMEs-Special Issue”.

Silvana Trimi
Associate Professor of MIS
Management Department
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
strimi@unlnotes.unl.edu

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