Problems and solutions in adopting information and communication technology in micro and small enterprises

Abstract

Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are predominant worldwide and responsible for the greater employability of citizens, income generation, and production. However, they face resource constraints and rely on information and communication technology to remain competitive, which often causes many problems during or after the adoption process. Knowing the problems that affect micro and small enterprises and the solutions adopted may help other companies face the same issues. In this work, based on a systematic literature review (SLR), we identified and analyzed the problems that occurred during or after the implementation of information and communication technologies in micro and small enterprises and what actions were taken to solve them. We sought to understand the behavior of problems and solutions in the last 21 years and the factors that influenced them. We performed an SLR using the snowballing technique, retrieving 12,936 articles in eight iterations, and selecting and analyzing 105 papers. As a result, we identified 129 problems, divided into 12 categories, and 48 solutions. Such an analysis is advantageous for academia, governments, and business managers, as it allows one to understand problems in advance and formulate more efficient policies, plans, and projects for these enterprises.