A knowledge-driven shift in perception of ICT implementation barriers: Comparative study of US and European SMEs

This paper reports on findings of a comparative study conducted among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the USA, Spain, Portugal and Poland regarding different aspects of the business digital divide. Specifically, this study explores a shift in the perception and ranking of barriers to implementation of information and communication technology (ICT)-based solutions among SMEs, which can be attributed to the degree of ICT readiness exhibited by a given country. We have verified a hypothesis that the more knowledge-based a given economy is (as measured by ICT indexes), the more likely it is that perception of the key ICT implementation barriers among SMEs will shift away from mere lack of funds and technology toward lack of knowledge, education and information system planning. The conclusion of this study may well serve a better distribution of resources allocated by the governments to overcome the business digital divide that limits productivity of so many SMEs.