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Chapter 4.23
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-587-2.ch423
ABStrAct
This chapter examines the influence of some
relevant factors on the acceptance of internet and
E-Business technologies in Maritime Canada’s
SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises). To
examine the influence of the factors, a research
framework was developed and nine hypotheses
formulated to test the various relationships. A
survey was conducted and a total of 162 valid
responses were obtained from mainly business
owners and managers. The data supported five
out of the nine hypotheses formulated. The key
findings are as follows: The sampled SME’s
organizational readiness is positively related to
their intent to use Internet/business technolo-
gies (dependant variable); the two constructs of
the technology acceptance model (TAM) were
found to be important mediators in the relation-
ship between the management support construct
and the dependant variable. Further, no evidence
was found to suggest that management support
positively influences the intent to use Internet/
Princely Ifnedo
Cape Breton University, Canada
Infuencing Factors and the
Acceptance of Internet and
E-Business Technologies in
Maritime Canada’s SMEs:
An Analysis