E-business, innovation and SMEs: the significance of hosted services and firm aggregations. (29th January 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, David H.; Lockett, Nigel
• Is Part Of: International journal of entrepreneurship and innovation management. Volume 7:Number 1(2007)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 112
• Publication Date: 2007-01-29
• Subjects: small-and-medium-sized enterprises -- SMEs -- information technology -- communication technology -- ICT adoption -- firm aggregations -- hosted applications -- intermediaries -- innovation -- networks -- e-business; Entrepreneurship -- Periodicals; 338.0405
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-275X

Abstract

Against a background of the low engagement of Small- to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in e-business this paper investigates the significance of hosted services and firm aggregations. On the basis of qualitative case studies of aggregations of SMEs, the research shows how e-business-based innovation can occur, and identifies the extent to which the aggregation factor contributes to this innovation. The research confirms existing understanding of the importance of network-based aggregations but adds to this with further detail and examples, including the 'outsourcing' of innovation to the Application Service Providers (ASPs).