Ict, e-business and Small and Medium Enterprises

Awareness raising and business consultation 

Awareness-raising activities have been helpful in diffusing initial information about ICTs and 

e-commerce, and have been a major policy focus. In addition to a government portal covering a wide range 

of e-business issues with links to related support services, seminars and workshops that demonstrate 

possible integration of ICTs and e-commerce into SMEs’ processes are common (Table 2). Government 

programmes have included business case studies, introducing successful business practices of small 

ICT/e-commerce adopters. Case studies can provide practical business pointers to managers and 

employees. Prize and award programmes may give high visibility and publicity to the best users but may 

have little impact on non-adopters if the lessons are not widely shared. Various policies aim at overcoming 

these handicaps, for example the e-Business Guide developed by Australia’s National Office of the 

Information Economy is a comprehensive on-line resource that is aimed at business people who want a 

quick and easy explanation of e-business; what it is, its benefits and what is needed to get started. 

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