Use of the internet as a business tool by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): a descriptive study of small Minnesota-based manufacturers’ internet usage

Because of its global reach, reduction of time restraints, and ability to reduce costs and increase sales, use of the Internet, the World Wide Web (WWW), and related technologies can be a competitive tool in the arsenal of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). Countries the world over are interested in the successful adoption of the Internet by SMEs since a vast majority of their jobs come from that sector, greater financial success of SMEs translates into greater job growth and subsequently, higher tax revenue to the government. While SMEs in the United States were touted in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s as being advanced in their use of e-business/e-commerce, there is little empirical evidence that SMEs in the United States have optimized their use of the Internet and are engaging in a fully-integrated e-business process. Lydia MacKenzie investigated the level of Internet usage for business solutions by small Minnesota-based manufacturers for her soon-to-be completed dissertation, and reports on her results