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Let’s Connect to Keep the Distance: How SMEs Leverage Information and Communication Technologies to Address the COVID-19 Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Charlotte Wendt

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

  • Martin Adam

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

  • Alexander Benlian

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

  • Sascha Kraus

    (Free University of Bolzano)

Abstract

COVID-19 caused significant challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the event industry. To address these challenges, many SMEs leveraged information and communication technologies (ICTs), with some even emerging strengthened from the crisis. Drawing on the technology-organization-environment framework and technology-affordances-and-constraints theory, we investigate the adoption of ICTs as a crisis response strategy in 10 SMEs in the German business event (e.g., corporate events, conferences) industry. Our findings reveal that ICT adoption not only depends on rational decisions based on organizational, environmental, and technological characteristics, but also on these dimensions’ interrelationship and the specific ICTs’ affordances and constraints. Introducing readily available ICTs (e.g., video-conferencing) has significant potential in addressing physical distancing in the short and medium term, while more sophisticated ICTs (e.g., virtual reality) are more likely to gain importance in the long term. Thus, we expand our understanding of organizational technology adoption and ICT-enabled crisis response strategies in SMEs.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte Wendt & Martin Adam & Alexander Benlian & Sascha Kraus, 2022. "Let’s Connect to Keep the Distance: How SMEs Leverage Information and Communication Technologies to Address the COVID-19 Crisis," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1061-1079, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:24:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s10796-021-10210-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-021-10210-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nisreen Ameen & Jyoti Choudrie & Paul Jones & Amitabh Anand, 2022. "Innovative Technologies and Small-Medium Sized Enterprises in Times of Crisis," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1055-1060, August.
    2. Durst, Susanne & Davila, Andrés & Foli, Samuel & Kraus, Sascha & Cheng, Cheng-Feng, 2023. "Antecedents of technological readiness in times of crises: A comparison between before and during COVID-19," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. Attah-Boakye, Rexford & Adams, Kweku & Hernandez-Perdomo, Elvis & Yu, Honglan & Johansson, Jeaneth, 2023. "Resource re-orchestration and firm survival in crisis periods: The role of business models of technology MNEs during COVID-19," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    4. Brecht, Stacy & Le Loarne-Lemaire, Séverine & Kraus, Sascha & Maalaoui, Adnane, 2023. "The role of time management of female tech entrepreneurs in practice: Diary and interview results from an innovative cluster," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).

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