THE MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN SMALL BUSINESS: A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO MANAGERS

Research investigating the relative importance of issues facing organisations in their management of Information Systems (IS) has grown rapidly since the early 1980s. However, this research has largely focused on large businesses, with little comparable data collected in the context of small businesses. This paper reports preliminary results from a pilot project investigating the relative importance of various IS concerns from the perspective of small business managers in the Albury-Wodonga region. Initial results confirm the operational focus of small business managers despite evidence of some concern with more strategic issues. In light of the preliminary nature of these findings, the paper concludes by identifying areas for further research