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<div>CALL FOR PAPERS</div>
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<div>AMCIS 2015</div>
<div>El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico</div>
<div>August 13-15, 2015</div>
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<div>Mini-track: Role and Significance of ICT in Micro-Enterprises</div>
<div>Track: ICTs in Global Development (SIG GlobDev)</div>
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<div>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. </div>
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<div>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:</div>
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<div>* Drivers and barriers for ICT adoption in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Potential, role and impact of mobile applications in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Acceptance and use of cloud computing in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Impact of ICT on productivity, growth and competitiveness of micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Strategies for addressing the competitive digital divide in the micro-enterprise sector </div>
<div>* Role of advisors and intermediaries (community multimedia centers, internet cafes, etc.) in providing access to and supporting adoption of ICT in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Information and computer literacy in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Information needs in micro-enterprises in developing and/or in underserved developed countries</div>
<div>* ICT infrastructure in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Government policy and ICT in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Case studies on the adoption and use of ICT in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Research frameworks to study ICT in micro-enterprises</div>
<div>* Critical assessment of role and significance of ICT in micro-enterprises</div>
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<div>IMPORTANT DATES</div>
<div>January 5, 2015 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>Manuscript submissions for AMCIS 2015 begin</div>
<div>February 25, 2015 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>Deadline for paper submissions</div>
<div>May 5, 2015 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>Final decisions </div>
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<div>Instructions for authors and more information about the conference at http://amcis2015.aisnet.org/.</div>
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<div>MINI-TRACK CHAIR</div>
<div>Shana Ponelis</div>
<div>University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA</div>
<div>ponelis@uwm.edu</div>
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<div>NOTES</div>
<div>[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.</div>
<div>[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.</div>
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<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="margin:0px">_______</div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="margin:0px">Shana R. Ponelis, Ph.D<br>
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<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="margin:0px">Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies</div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="margin:0px">University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee</div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="margin:0px">Northwest Quadrant Building B, Room 3420, Milwaukee, WI 53211</div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="margin:0px">ponelis@uwm.edu || 414-229-2514 ||
<a tabindex="0" href="http://www4.uwm.edu/sois/people/profiles/ponelis.cfm" id="NoLP">
www4.uwm.edu/sois/people/profiles/ponelis.cfm</a></div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="margin:0px">Editorial Board member for Information Technology for Development,
<a tabindex="0" href="http://www.tandfonline.com/titd" id="NoLP">www.tandfonline.com/titd</a></div>
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