Sustaining Tunisian SMEs’ Competitiveness in the Knowledge Society | SpringerLink
Skip to main content

Sustaining Tunisian SMEs’ Competitiveness in the Knowledge Society

  • Conference paper
Knowledge Management, Information Systems, E-Learning, and Sustainability Research (WSKS 2010)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 111))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 2907 Accesses

Abstract

The paper aims to contribute to the debate about knowledge and digital divide affecting countries’ competitiveness in the knowledge society. A survey based on qualitative and quantitative data collection has been performed to analyze the level of ICTs and e-Business adoption of the Tunisian SMEs. The results shows that to increase the SMEs competitiveness is necessary to invest in all the components of Intellectual capital: human capital (knowledge, skills, and the abilities of people for using the ICTs), structural capital (supportive infrastructure such as buildings, software, processes, patents, and trademarks, proprietary databases) and social capital (relations and collaboration inside and outside the company). At this purpose, the LINCET “Laboratoire d’Innovation Numerique pour la Competitivité de l’Entreprise Tunisienne” project is finally proposed as a coherent proposition to foster the growth of all the components of the Intellectual Capital for the benefits of competitiveness of Tunisian SMEs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
¥17,985 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
JPY 3498
Price includes VAT (Japan)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
JPY 11439
Price includes VAT (Japan)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
JPY 14299
Price includes VAT (Japan)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. UNESCO World Report. Towards Knowledge Societies (2005), http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001418/141843e.pdf (retrieved December 16, 2009)

  2. Information Society Commission. Building the Knowledge Society - Report to Government (2002), http://www.isc.ie/downloads/know.pdf (retrieved December 16, 2009)

  3. Bontis, N.: Intellectual capital: An explanatory study that develops measures and models. Management Decision 36(2), 63–76 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cardoso, J., Bostrom, R.P., Sheth, A.: Workflow management systems and ERP systems: differences, commonalities, and applications. Information Technology and Management 5, 319–338 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Daniel, E.M.: The role of dynamic capabilities in e-Business transformation. European Journal of Information Systems 12(4), 282–296 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Norris, P.: Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet World Wide. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2001)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Clark, T.H., Croson, D.C., Schiano, W.T.: A hierarchical model of supply-chain integration: information sharing and operational interdependence in the US grocery channel. Information Technology and Management 2, 261–288 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Lal, K.: Determinants of the adoption of e-Business technologies. Telematics and Informatics 22(3), 181–199 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. INSEAD. Global Technology Information Report 2006-2007 (2007), http://www.insead.edu/v1/gitr/wef/main/explore/framework.cfm (retrieved December 16, 2009)

  10. Mentzas, G., Apostolou, D., Kafentzis, K., Georgolios, P.: Inter-organizational networks for knowledge sharing and trading. Information Technology and Management 7, 259–276 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Molla, A., Licker, P.S.: e-Commerce adoption in developing countries: a model and instrument. Information & Management 42(6), 877–899 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bernerth, J.: Expanding our understanding of the change message. Human Resource Development Review 3(1), 36–52 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Edvinsson, L., Malone, M.S.: Intellectual capital: Realizing your company’s true value by finding its hidden brainpower, New York, NY. Harper Business, Boston (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Seemann, P., De Long, D., Stucky, S., Guthrie, E.: Building intangible assets: A strategic framework for investing in intellectual capital. In: Morey, D., Maybury, M., Thuraisingham, B. (eds.) Knowledge Management: Classic and Contemporary Works. MIT Press, London (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kaplan, R.S., Norton, D.P.: Measuring the strategic readiness of intangible assets. Harvard Business Review, 52–63 (February 2004)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bounfour, A.: The IC-dVAL approach. Journal of Intellectual Capital 4(3), 393–413 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Pulic, A.: Value creation efficiency at national and regional levels: case study – Croatia and the European Union. In: Bounfour, A., Edvinsson, I. (eds.) Intellectual Capital for Communities, Nations, Regions and Cities. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Burlington (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Stahle, P., Stahle, S.: Intellectual capital and national competitiveness: conceptual and methodological challenges. In: Bounfour, A. (ed.) Capital Immateriel, Connaisance et Performance. L’Harmattan, Paris (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  19. O’Mahony, M., van Ark, B.: EU Productivity and Competitiveness: An Industry Perspective. Can Europe Resume the Catching-up Process? (2004), Published on line at http://www.enterpriseeuropenetwork.sk/docs/NB5503035ENC_002.pdf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Del Vecchio, P., Elia, G., Secundo, G. (2010). Sustaining Tunisian SMEs’ Competitiveness in the Knowledge Society. In: Lytras, M.D., Ordonez De Pablos, P., Ziderman, A., Roulstone, A., Maurer, H., Imber, J.B. (eds) Knowledge Management, Information Systems, E-Learning, and Sustainability Research. WSKS 2010. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 111. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16318-0_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-16318-0_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-16317-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-16318-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics