Title: Internet Opportunities for
Development
of Small to Medium Sized Enterprises in Ukraine
Abstract: It has been argued that the
development
of the small business sector in Ukraine is central to economic reforms
and
the creation of wealth and employment (Isakova, 1997). Given the
inherent
instability and general weakness of the Ukrainian economy, there have
been
many internal and external obstacles to entrepreneurial activity and
the
development of small enterprises in a variety of business sectors.
However,
the relatively recent emergence of the Internet as a vehicle for
business
transformation has provided opportunities for small to medium-sized
enterprises
(SMEs) in Ukraine to enter global markets. The extent to which this has
been
the case for developing economies is an emerging research issue, given
that
various studies have already identified tangible benefits for the
growth
of SMEs in developed economies (e.g. McWilliams, 1995; Daniel &
Myers,
2000; Warren, 2000). This paper looks at the development of SMEs in
Ukraine
and outlines the factors that have affected their growth. The paper
then
focuses on the role of the Internet in promoting the growth of SMEs in
Ukraine,
and considers the facilitation of opportunities provided by the
available
infrastructure. Recent progress towards developing a better
infrastructure
to support entrepreneurial activity and SME growth are discussed,
including
the need for further research.
Authors: Brendan D’ Cruz and Shafqat Hameed
