Title:
ICT
adoption and development by the SME sector in Malaysia
Abstract: The aim of the
current study is to measure the level of ICT adoption among SMEs’ in
Malaysia and the factors that influence SMEs’ favorable attitude and
barriers that hinder them from adopting ICT in their business. SME is
the heart of any national development both from an economy point of
view as well as employment. ICT enterprises need creativity and
innovations of a fast nature which is possible with the small sector.
ICT also enables one to become a global player even in their greenfield
project. The questions that arise are: Given this situation, “Why are
SMEs slow in adopting this vital tool for progress?” “Why is the
encouragement mediocre with no special focus into training and
development and incentives created for them?” “Why have there not been
any TNA studies of this emerging area till date, while many other
countries have reviewed and updated this area of study and are poised
to make major breakthroughs?” “Why are later entrants in this
progressing much faster then Malaysia, who is actually targeting to
become the knowledge leaders of the Asian region?” Though many of the
areas would remain unaddressed in our study a fairly good glimpse is
expected to be available to the researchers in this regard.
Nevertheless, a study of the status is felt interesting and useful for
academicians, policy makers and the industries attempting this
development. Questionnaire
responses were collected from 50 SME units’ ICT status enabled
consideration of the diverse uses of digital technology that already
existed to support individuals, businesses and organizations use of
information and knowledge management approaches. Research found that,
most of the managers and supervisors of SMEs are aware of the benefits
of ICT but yet a large portion of SMEs did not adopt ICT till date.
This research also figured out the factors of ICT adoption, ICT
planning of adoption, benefits of ICT adoption and barriers of ICT
adoption among SMEs. Suggestions on the steps towards ICT adoption
among SME has been discussed in this research. Therefore the change to
ICT usage by SME sector is expected to open up a wide zone of
operations favorable to the SME sector and other stakeholders, with a
better business chance to all especially the SMEs adopting this
initiative. It is left to the authorities to create a more favorable
environment than presently existing towards this sector.
Author:
M.V.Shetty