Using resource-based theory to interpret the successful adoption and use of information systems and technology in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises

The purpose of this paper is to consider how resource-based theory can be used to explain success with the adoption and use of information systems and information technology (IS/IT) in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A number of authors have explored the applicability of resource-based theory to the IS/IT domain, mainly at a conceptual level. Overall they infer that the key differentiators for long-term successful IS/IT deployment reside within the internal context of an organisation, based on organisational competences. This paper is based on in-depth case study research in 12 Portuguese manufacturing SMEs, which identified two factors that, from the empirical evidence, appeared to be the determinants of the different levels of success in IS/IT adoption and use. These factors were also primarily associated with the internal context of the organisations. Therefore, the findings were analysed from the perspective of resource-based theory, to understand why and how the attributes of these factors caused the differential levels of IS/IT success in the firms studied.