SME network practice - a qualitative study of network management practice and design implications for ICT-support

This paper presents the results of an investigation of network practice among European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s). The purpose is to assess network management practice and design implications for Information Communication Technology (ICT) support. The investigation consisted of 49 interviews with individuals employed by 19 SME’s that either were or had been involved in a network co-operation with another separate juridical entity. This was complemented by a questionnaire answered by 121 respondents fitting the same criteria as the individuals interviewed. We provide a rich description of the vast diversity in SME network management practice and ICT use. From the collected data, three generic network profiles are identified (“Supplychain networks” (SN), “R&D Networks” (RN) and “Business Networks” (BN)). The three network profiles are structured and analyzed through use of an established IS architecture framework. This provides a holistic view of ICT design implications for the network profiles structured in three architectural levels namely, scope, enterprise and systems level.