RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF ICTS ON THE LOCATION AND SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT OF FIRMS

Abstract

This article resulted out of primary data produced on the basis of PhD level research of the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in, primarily, professional services firms located in Romania and the broader European spectrum. We have aimed at seeing whether ICTs produce a spatial effect on firms (such as their launching of new offices or hiring of remote workers, in places where the firm does not have branches. Among the chief conclusions of this paper, we have highlighted the idea of how companies should be encouraged to conceptualize the ease with which they can locate their branches wherever so as to capitalize on two aspects: a broader market for their services and products as well as tapping into reservoirs of talent in lower cost countries .

Keywords

• ICTs, location, research, Internet, SMEs