Factors Influencing Information and Communications Technology Usage

Abstract

The paper investigates predictors of information and communications technology (ICT) usage in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among European Union member states - developed countries (EU-28) - and the Western Balkans developing countries (WB-5) in the period 2010-2018. It aims to suggest measures for the improvement of ICT usage among SMEs in WB-5 countries. Primary data for a thorough qualitative analysis of ICT use by the WB-5 SMEs were obtained through interviews at the firms’ level. Secondary data were obtained from credible international business support organizations and relevant scholarly literature. The analyses were performed utilizing the regression analysis.The authors have identified many variables that influence ICT use through the literature review. From these, they selected ICT access, functional literacy, and gross domestic spending on research and development (R&D) as being vital to the improvement of ICT usage among SMEs in developing countries.

Keywords

• ICT
• digitalization
• SMEs
• South-Eastern Europe