Title: Information technology and communication adoption in SMEs in the metal-mechanic sector: case of Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area, Colombia

Authors: María Teresa Castañeda-Galvis; Alba Soraya Aguilar-Jiménez; Marianela Luzardo-Briceño; Jairo Núñez-Rodríguez

Addresses: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Km-7 Via Piedecuesta, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia ' Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Km-7 Via Piedecuesta, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia ' Universidad de Medellín, Carrera 87 N° 30 – 65, Belen Los Alpes, Medellín, Colombia ' Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Km-7 Via Piedecuesta, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia

Abstract: This study aims to conduct descriptive-correlational research on the current state of ICT adoption in SMEs of the metal-mechanic sector in Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area, as well as to identify the aspects with the most significant influence on such adoption. The Annual Manufacturing Survey provided by National Administrative Department of Statistics is used to validate the proposed hypotheses. Statistical methods, such as factor analysis with principal component extraction method, and descriptive measures are applied to determine the data's correlation and verify if the techniques used are suitable, such as the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Statistic and Barlett's sphericity test, among others. The value of the research lies in understanding the use and adoption of ICT in metal-mechanical SMEs in one of the main cities of the Colombian northeast, the epicentre of economic development, where technological and environmental factors were analysed to propose a theoretical model capable of predicting the level of adoption.

Keywords: information and communication technology; ICT; statistical methods; companies; metallurgy; SMEs; steel industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2024.142789

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2024 Vol.21 No.4, pp.467 - 480

Received: 22 Jul 2023
Accepted: 26 Jul 2023
Published online: 22 Nov 2024 *

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