The arrival of Information and Communication Technology may play a role in restoring competitiveness, since these technologies are also a factor in relaxing the constraints specific to SMEs. ICT makes a number of services possible in a large range of processes and transactions within and between companies. Internally, ICT applications can improve knowledge and information management practices; they can also allow more rapid and more reliable transactions between businesses (B2B) and between businesses and consumers (B2C). They are equally quite effective in improving external business communications and service quality for both new and existing clients. They also appear to be a source of competitive advantage for SMEs under certain conditions. Few studies have focused on the ways that SMEs can use ICT to improve and defend their competitive positions. This book provides a synthesis of the advantages of ICT for SMEs. Seven chapter illustrate the technologies used in such companies. Each of these chapters provides a theoretical and/or practical view of the way that SMEs can use ICT. This book is an indispensable reference for both academics and for practitioners.
Diane Poulin is Full Professor of Management at Université Laval (Canada). She holds a PhD in Management from the École Polytechnique de Paris (France), a Masters degree in Public Administration from the École d'administration publique du Québec and a Masters degree in Sociology from the Université de Montréal (Canada). She has taught in American and European universities as a visiting professor. She is a member of the Interuniversity Research Center on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation (CIRRELT), and of the FOR@C Research Consortium. Her areas of research and consulting are mainly in strategy and networking.Sébastien Tran is Dean of Faculty of Normandy Business School in France and Professor of Strategy and Information Systems. He is a member of M-Lab, a research lab of Paris Dauphine University. He holds an MPhil of Innovation and Technology and a PhD in Industrial Organization from the Paris Dauphine University. His main research interest focus on the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on firms and the innovation process management.
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