Factors Affecting SMEs' Owners/managers in Adoption of Business-to-Business Techniques: a Research Framework

This paper uses innovation and diffusion theory and the technology acceptance model as its theoretical basis. The paper proposes a new theoretical model that emphasises on Small to Medium Enterprises' adopting Business to Business electronic commerce by identifying the individual factors, including perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, innovativeness, attitude, and behaviour as the factors affecting owners/managers decision to the adoption. Because of individuals' uniqueness and the nature of B2B techniques, differences in education, organisational culture, past experience with technology, and the pressures from important business partners and suppliers are identified as possible moderators for the effects of individual factors.