Call for Chapters for the book

Information Systems and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

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State of art of IS research in SMEs

 

Editors:

Jan Devos, PhD, Ghent University, Belgium

Hendrik Van Landeghem, PhD, Ghent University, Belgium

Dirk Deschoolmeester, PhD, Ghent University, Belgium

 

Introduction

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are of crucial importance to most economies all over the globe. Although there is no single generalized definition for a SME, they are most widely seen as companies with less than 500 (US & Canada) or 250 (Europe and elsewhere) employees. SMEs provide since 2000 everywhere more than 50% of all employment (or 67% of employment outside the financial industry). A number that is continuous growing. Entrepreneurial SMEs are also seen as principal drivers for innovativeness and economic growth. However SMEs are more confronted than large companies by resource constraints such as access to financial capital, IT expertise, knowledge and skills. For SMEs, a vital source for competitive advantage is the ability to remain agile and responsive to the business environment. The adoption of IT is therefore paramount for SMEs. Unfortunately SMEs face numerous challenges in implementing information systems (IS). The lack of human and financial resources in SMEs often lead to a slower IT adoption process and to a lot of IS failures. Although literature points out significant differences between SMEs and large companies, IS research has dominantly focused on large companies but often brings conclusions that are supposed applicable to SMEs. Recently, research on SMEs and IS has proliferated and has nearly become a standalone stream within the IS research field. This research stream is considered one of the top ten issues of information systems management. However, more research is needed to identify factors that contribute to IS effectiveness. 

Objectives of the Book

This book will establish and explore existing and emerging theories on SMEs and the adoption of IT/IS, present the latest empirical research findings in that area of IS research, and explore new technologies and practices in this area. The purpose of this book is to expand the knowledge and understanding of SMEs and the adoption of IT/IS. 

Target Audience

The target audience of this book will be composed of professionals and researchers working in the field of IS research or the research of SMEs. Moreover, the book will also be a reference for researchers, professionals and students in management information systems science and related fields. The book will also be useful for practitioners, information systems managers, CEOs, CIOs who are responsible for implementing various information systems in their businesses and organizations.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

·         Behavioral and social studies of the impact of IT/IS on SMEs

·         IT/IS adoption in SMEs: determinants, enablers, barriers, and inhibitors: adoption of social media, e-business, e-commerce, e-SCM, and CRM 

·         Evaluation of IS in SMEs: benefits, costs and risks, productivity studies, impact on organizational and personal performance

·         IT/IS capabilities, knowledge and practices in SMEs

·         SMEs and IT/IS outsourcing

·         Literature analyses and studies on IS research in SMEs

·         The role of IT/IS for innovation in SMEs

·         SMEs and Open Source Software

·         IS success, IS failures in SMEs

·         IT Governance in SMEs: Risk Management, Strategic Information Systems, IT/IS security, Performance Management, IS project/program/portfolio management SMEs

·         Business Process Management (BPM) and EA/BP modelling in SMEs

·         ERP implementation and integration in SMEs

·         Cloud Computing in SMEs: Software as a Service (SaaS), software on demand, Software Oriented Architectures, Web Services, …

·         Researching IT/IS in SMEs: research methodologies and paradigms, best practices, case studies, use cases, action research, design science, …

·         IT/IS and SMEs in developing countries.

To ensure this publication presents the most comprehensive current and relevant coverage of theories and models in IS research, we invite researchers and leading experts in their particular areas to contribute chapters of between 4000–8000 words.  Chapters should ideally address all the objectives above, although chapters beyond the key objectives will also be considered. 

Important Dates: 

Deadline for submission of full chapters: Augustus 1, 2012
Notification of review results: October 30, 2012

Revised chapters due: December 15, 2012
Final notification of chapter acceptance (revised chapters): January 30, 2012 

Submission Details:

Individuals interested in submitting chapters (4,000-8,000 words) on the above or related topics should send an e-mail declaring your interest in submitting—including your name, affiliation, and proposed topic area to Jan G. Devos, editor, at jan.devos@howest.be no later than May 15, 2012.  Deadline for submission of full chapter(s) is Augustus 1, 2012. 

This book is scheduled for publishing by Springer, in 2013 (www.springer.com)

 

 

Regards

jan

 

 

Dr. ir Jan Devos

Ghent University

Campus West, ELIT - Lab

Graaf Karel De Goedelaan 5

BE-8500 KORTRIJK - BELGIUM

T: +32 56 24 12 72

F: +32 56 24 12 24

e-mail: jan.devos@howest.be

e-mail:  jang.devos@ugent.be

linkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jangdevos 

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blog: jangdevos.wordpress.com