Abstract:

This article describesthe development and field-testing of a methodology,called IT-QSM,which can be used tohelp SMEs understand how to improve their usage of IT. The methodology seeks to answer two key questions: how canSMEs increase the effective usage of existing information systems; and what new IT systems could help to increase the company performance. We used action-research and Soft Systems Methodology as a framework to develop IT-QSM. We argued that is necessary to apply qualitative research techniques to create a flexible methodology which at the same time would be both time efficient and have practical useful results for small-companiesmanagers. The methodology has been field tested in companies in New Zealand and Colombia. Results show the methodologycan make a positive contribution as a diagnostic tool, and the satisfaction of the small companies managers with the outputs of the analysis alsoincreased across the cases. This article will be of interest to academic researchers; SME consultants,owners,and managers; and government policy makers.