[AISWorld] AMCIS2015 CFP: Role and Significance of ICT in Micro-Enterprises

[Shana Rachel Ponelis]

CALL FOR PAPERS

AMCIS 2015
El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico
August 13-15, 2015

Mini-track: Role and Significance of ICT in Micro-Enterprises
Track: ICTs in Global Development (SIG GlobDev)


Micro-enterprises are the dominant form of business in developing countries and in many underserved regions in developed countries. Micro-enterprises, employing between 1 and 5 people range from informal traders on sidewalks and markets to registered businesses but all play an important role in broad-based economic development by generating jobs and income for basic household economic survival, developing skills, and providing necessary goods and services to a community. There are, however, opposing views regarding the role and significance of ICT in micro-enterprises. Some argue that the developmental potential of many micro-enterprises are hindered from growing and functioning efficiently by the inability to use ICT effectively[1] whereas others contend that ICTs are not as important to micro-enterprises' success as access to financing, essential business skills, and adequate demand for products and services[2].  Compared to large firms and even small and medium enterprises few studies have focused specifically on the role and significance of ICTs in micro-enterprises.  This mini-track is therefore highly relevant and important not only to practitioners and researchers engaged in ICT for development but also to providers of ICTs to micro-enterprises and to the micro-enterprises themselves.

This mini-track invites researchers and practitioners to share their research results and professional insights with regard to all aspects of ICTs in micro-enterprises. Both completed research and research-in-progress contributions within positivist, interpretive or critical research paradigms will be considered. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

* Drivers and barriers for ICT adoption in micro-enterprises
* Potential, role and impact of mobile applications in micro-enterprises
* Acceptance and use of cloud computing in micro-enterprises
* Impact of ICT on productivity, growth and competitiveness of micro-enterprises
* Strategies for addressing the competitive digital divide in the micro-enterprise sector
* Role of advisors and intermediaries (community multimedia centers, internet cafes, etc.) in providing access to and supporting adoption of ICT in micro-enterprises
* Information and computer literacy in micro-enterprises
* Information needs in micro-enterprises in developing and/or in underserved developed countries
* ICT infrastructure in micro-enterprises
* Government policy and ICT in micro-enterprises
* Case studies on the adoption and use of ICT in micro-enterprises
* Research frameworks to study ICT in micro-enterprises
* Critical assessment of role and significance of ICT in micro-enterprises


IMPORTANT DATES
January 5, 2015 Manuscript submissions for AMCIS 2015 begin
February 25, 2015 Deadline for paper submissions
May 5, 2015 Final decisions

Instructions for authors and more information about the conference at http://amcis2015.aisnet.org/.


MINI-TRACK CHAIR
Shana Ponelis
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA
ponelis at uwm.edu


NOTES
[1] See for example: Schreiner, M., and Woller, G. (2003). Microenterprise Development Programs in the United States and in the Developing World. World Development, 31(9):  1567-1580.
[2] Heeks, R. (1999). Information and Communication Technologies, Poverty and Development, Working Paper Series, Paper No. 5. Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. Available: http://www.man.ac.uk/idpm/idpm_dp.htm#devinf_wp.



_______
Shana R. Ponelis, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Northwest Quadrant Building B, Room 3420, Milwaukee, WI 53211
ponelis at uwm.edu || 414-229-2514 || www4.uwm.edu/sois/people/profiles/ponelis.cfm<http://www4.uwm.edu/sois/people/profiles/ponelis.cfm>
Editorial Board member for Information Technology for Development, www.tandfonline.com/titd<http://www.tandfonline.com/titd>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aisnet.org/pipermail/aisworld_lists.aisnet.org/attachments/20141208/b895fe35/attachment.html>