Implications for Policy
The implication of this study is that, irrespective of the amount of knowledge an SME owner/manager has about ICTs, it is the basic business capabilities of the owner/manager that is the key to successful implementation of ICTs. Unless there is a fundamental understanding of basic economic principles and business management practice in place first, effort expended in education about ICTs is likely to be less than effective.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that for SMEs in particular, there may well be a shortage of these basic skills. A challenge for policy-makers is to devise ways to grow SME human capital in this area first, if maximum benefits are to be gained from the use of ICTs in this sector. Locke's (2002) findings indicate that this may be a difficult challenge, given that these business owner/operators tend to look first to friends and family rather than traditional business advisers such as accountants and government agencies, such as BizInfo, for education and support. This implies that economic and business education may be as fundamental to the New Zealand economy as basic literacy and numeracy if New Zealand is to grow successful small businesses in an environment where any technology is used, let alone ICTs. Addressing this type of education is a fundamental component of growing the knowledge that is required if New Zealand is to truly develop into a world-class Knowledge-Based Economy.
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