Os fatores antecedentes e consequentes ao investimento em tecnologia da informação nas micro e pequenas empresas utilizando a modelagem de equações estruturais

Abstract

The information technology diffusion (IT) is embedded at all levels of society. The advent of increasingly advanced technology allows to connect businesses and citizens among themselves and with global market. This reflects in the process of computerization of companies and an allocation of efforts to micro and small companies to obtain success in this process. The objective of this study is to assess the background factors (perceived usefulness, ease of use, external pressures and internal environment) to investment in information technology and the impact of adoption on growth performance (cost, quality, time, increase market, loyalty market) in micro and small businesses in the city of Natal / RN. To reach the goal, it constituted a conceptual model, based on review of the literature. The theoretical framework and the understanding of the reality faced by micro and small companies allowed the construction of hypotheses about the relationship between the constructs of the model. For the preparation of the measure, empirical research in order to test the hypothesis was performed using a questionnaire with Likert scale validated in the literature. The final sample obtained was attended by 76 companies from micro and small. For testing and validation of the measure, we used the model of structural equation (SEM). The measure reaches the reliability requirements and internal validity. The results suggest that constructs such as ease of use and external pressure positive influence on the adoption of technology, while the perceived usefulness had the opposite effect. The paper presents managerial implications that can assist members that make up the micro and small organization, as well as companies that provide software, suppliers and supporting bodies and regulatory decision making.