SMEs and New Technologies: Learning E-Business and Development

Recent empirical evidence across countries shows a substantial and increasing return to IT investment. New technologies open up opportunities for small firms to expand their markets beyond national borders. This books looks specifically at ICT adoption and learning trajectories in developing countries; a context characterized by skill deficiencies and weak institutional support. The authors employ a systemic theoretical framework and a variety of research techniques to present firm-level evidence on learning in firms in an Internet-based production environment. This book is an invaluable addition to the literature on small firms and economic development.

Recent empirical evidence across countries shows a substantial and increasing return to IT investment. New technologies open up opportunities for small firms to expand their markets beyond national borders. This books looks specifically at ICT adoption and learning trajectories in developing countries; a context characterized by skill deficiencies and weak institutional support. The authors employ a systemic theoretical framework and a variety of research techniques to present firm-level evidence on learning in firms in an Internet-based production environment. This book is an invaluable addition to the literature on small firms and economic development.

BANJI OYELARAN-OYEYINKA is currently Professor and Senior Researcher at the United Nations University-Institute for New Technologies (UNU-INTECH), The Netherlands. Up until early 2001, he was Senior Economic Affairs Officer with the UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland. He has published widely in international journals and his most recent book is Learning to Compete in African Industry (Ashgate Publishing, 2006).

KAUSHALESH LAL earned his PhD degree from Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. He is currently a Researcher at the UNU-INTECH, The Netherlands. He has authored a book on the causes and consequences of the adoption of ICTs, and has published several articles in international journals.