A Combined-Method Study of Small Business Internet Commerce
Simpson Poon and Paula M.C. Swatman
International Journal of Electronic Commerce,
Volume 2, Number 3, Spring 1998, pp. 31.
Abstract: Small business Internet use has gained much popularity among researchers in information systems and entrepreneurship over recent years-with many undertaking surveys of small business Internet commerce. The newness and dynamic nature of this area, however, means that multiple research methods are needed to obtain an all-around understanding of the key issues. In this paper, we demonstrate that, by combining survey techniques with case study research, we can combine quantitative and qualitative data for a better understanding of small business Internet commerce. Such multidimensional understanding is necessary as a foundation for ongoing longitudinal studies and hypotheses generation.
Key Words and Phrases: Electronic commerce, Internet commerce, small business, small business Internet commerce (SBIC).