The Adoption of ICT in Small And Medium-sized Family Business. The Role of Younger Generation

Francesca Maria Cesaroni, Domenico Consoli and Annalisa Sentuti
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Francesca Maria Cesaroni: Department of Economics, Society, Politics – University of Urbino, Italy
Domenico Consoli: Department of Economics, Society, Politics – University of Urbino, Italy
Annalisa Sentuti: Department of Economics, Society, Politics – University of Urbino, Italy

Timisoara Journal of Economics, 2011, vol. 4, issue 2(14), 67-80

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to understand if the involvement of younger generation in small and medium-sized family firms can encourage a process of technological innovation, realized through the introduction and use of Information and Communication Technology. Younger entrepreneurs, that we call digital successors, compared to their predecessors, has a higher level of education and, living in an era dominated by electronics and digital information, should be able to exploit the new technologies in business organization and management. The new generation has skills, energy and innovative spirit necessary to start the process of technological innovation. From the methodological point of view, this work is based on a qualitative research involving two case studies. In both the family firms analyzed the involvement of the younger generation promoted the adoption of ICTs. This study is proposed as an initial moment of reflection to better identify some hypothesis to be tested with further investigations and a quantitative analysis.

Keywords: ICT; digital entrepreneur; family business; small and medium enterprises; technological innovation; generational change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: M15 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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