{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,18]],"date-time":"2026-04-18T23:41:36Z","timestamp":1776555696346,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"1\/2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,13]],"date-time":"2009-02-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1234483200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,13]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper aims to investigate the effect of compositions of managerial\/demographic characteristics of the top management team (TMT) on the extent of information technology (IT) adoption in small businesses (SMEs), where such strategic decisions made by TMT have direct and significant influence on all aspects of business operations and its competitive position in a market.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>Based on the upper echelon theory, the study formulated four hypotheses relating the compositions of TMT characteristics to the extent of IT adoption in different functional areas. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyze the data.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The age average and the education average of TMT in small businesses are significant predictors of the extent of IT adoption. However, the group heterogeneity (either gender or ethnicity), contrary to the prediction, has negative impact on the extent of IT adoption.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The research findings indicate that the age and education composition of managers as current\/future top management is critical to facilitate the extent of IT adoption in SMEs.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>The research contributes to the body of knowledge in IT adoption by complementing the results of prior research with the findings that the characteristic compositions of TMT affect the extent of IT adoption in SMEs, applying the upper echelon theory to examine issues surrounding IT adoption, and suggesting practical implications that SMEs could compose, educate, and rejuvenate their top management teams to achieve a high extent of IT adoption.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/17410390910932821","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,14]],"date-time":"2009-02-14T07:44:14Z","timestamp":1234597454000},"page":"183-196","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":108,"title":["An exploratory study of the extent of information technology adoption in SMEs: an application of upper echelon theory"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"22","author":[{"given":"Ta\u2010Tao","family":"Chuang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kazuo","family":"Nakatani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Duanning","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Caldeira, M.M. and Ward, J.M. (2002), \u201cUnderstanding the successful adoption and use of IS\/IT in SMEs: an explanation from Portuguese manufacturing industries\u201d, Information Systems Journal, Vol. 12, pp. 121\u201052.","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2575.2002.00119.x"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Caldeira, M.M. and Ward, J.M. (2003), \u201cUsing resource\u2010based theory to interpret the successful adoption and use of information systems and technology in manufacturing small and medium\u2010sized enterprise\u201d, European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 12, pp. 127\u201041.","DOI":"10.1057\/palgrave.ejis.3000454"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Child, J. (1974), \u201cManagerial and organizational factors associated with company performance\u201d, Journal of Management Studies, Vol. 11, pp. 13\u201027.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-6486.1974.tb00693.x"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b4","unstructured":"Choudrie, J. and Dwivedi, Y.K. (2005), \u201cThe demographics of broadband residential consumers in a british local community: the London Borough of Hillingdon\u201d, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Vol. 45 No. 4, pp. 93\u2010101."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b5","unstructured":"Choudrie, J. and Dwivedi, Y.K. (2006), \u201cInvestigating factors influencing adoption of broadband in the household\u201d, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Vol. 46 No. 4, pp. 25\u201034."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chuang, T.\u2010T., Rutherford, M.W. and Lin, B. (2007a), \u201cOwner\/manager characteristics, organizational characteristics and IT adoption in the small and medium enterprise\u201d, Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, Vol. 4 No. 6, pp. 619\u201034.","DOI":"10.1504\/IJMED.2007.014985"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chuang, T.\u2010T., Nakatani, K., Chen, J. and Huang, I.\u2010L. (2007b), \u201cExamining the impact of organizational and owner's characteristics on the extent of e\u2010commerce adoption in SMEs\u201d, International Journal of Business and Systems Research, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 61\u201080.","DOI":"10.1504\/IJBSR.2007.014770"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Davis, F., Bagozzi, R. and Warshaw, P. (1989), \u201cUser acceptance of computer technology: a comparison of two theoretical models\u201d, Management Sciences, Vol. 35 No. 8, pp. 982\u20101003.","DOI":"10.1287\/mnsc.35.8.982"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dwivedi, Y.K. and Lal, B. (2007), \u201cSocio\u2010economic determinants of broadband adoption\u201d, Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 107 No. 5, pp. 654\u201071.","DOI":"10.1108\/02635570710750417"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b23","unstructured":"(The) Federal Reserve Board (2006), \u201cNational survey of small business\u201d, available at: www.federalreserve.gov\/pubs\/oss\/oss3\/nssbftoc.htm (accessed January, 2007)."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grover, V. and Teng, J.T.C. (1992), \u201cAn examination of DBMS adoption and success in American organizations\u201d, Information and Management, Vol. 23 No. 5, pp. 239\u201049.","DOI":"10.1016\/0378-7206(92)90055-K"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hambrick, D.C. and Mason, P.A. (1984), \u201cUpper echelons: the organization as a reflection of its top managers\u201d, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 9 No. 2, pp. 193\u2010206.","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.1984.4277628"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Harrison, D.A., Mykytyn, P.P. Jr and Riemenschneider, C.K. (1997), \u201cExecutive decisions about adoption of information technology in small business: theory and empirical tests\u201d, Information Systems Research, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 171\u201095.","DOI":"10.1287\/isre.8.2.171"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Igbaria, M., Zinatelli, N. and Cavaye, A. (1998), \u201cAnalysis of information technology success in small firms in New Zealand\u201d, International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 18 No. 2, pp. 103\u201019.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0268-4012(97)00053-4"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kimberly, J.R. and Evanisko, M.J. (1981), \u201cOrganizational innovation: the influence of individual, organizational, and contextual factors on hospital adoption of technological and administrative innovations\u201d, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 24, pp. 689\u2010713.","DOI":"10.5465\/256170"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Korac\u2010Kakabadse, A., Korac\u2010Kakabadse, N. and Myers, A. (1998), \u201cDemographics and leadership philosophy: exploring gender differences\u201d, The Journal of Management Development, Vol. 17 No. 5, p. 351.","DOI":"10.1108\/02621719810220225"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b16","unstructured":"Levenburg, N.M., Schwarz, T.V. and Motwani, J. (2005), \u201cUnderstanding adoption of internet technologies among SMEs\u201d, Journal of Small Business Strategy, Vol. 16 No. 1, pp. 51\u201069."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Levy, M. and Powell, P. (2003), \u201cExploring SME internet adoption: towards a contingent model\u201d, Electronic Markets, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 173\u201081.","DOI":"10.1080\/1019678032000067163"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b18","unstructured":"Longenecker, J.G., Moore, C.W. and Pettym, J.W. (1994), Small Business Management: An Entrepreneurship Emphasis, Southwestern Publishing, Cincinnati, OH."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Magal, S.R. and Lewis, C.D. (1995), \u201cDeterminants of information technology success in small businesses\u201d, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 75\u201083.","DOI":"10.1080\/08874417.1995.11647146"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b20","unstructured":"Mintzberg, H. (1979), The Structuring of Organizations, Prentice\u2010Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mirchandani, D. and Motwani, J. (2001), \u201cUnderstanding small business electronic commerce adoption: an empirical analysis\u201d, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Vol. 41 No. 3, pp. 70\u20103.","DOI":"10.1080\/08874417.2001.11647011"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b22","unstructured":"National Opinion Research Center (2005), \u201cThe 2003 survey of small business finances: methodology report\u201d, available at: www.federalreserve.gov\/pubs\/oss\/oss3\/ssbf03\/methodology\/method_report.pdf (accessed January, 2007)."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Riemenschneider, C.K., Harrison, D.A. and Mykytyn, P.P. Jr (2003), \u201cUnderstanding IT adoption decisions in small business: integrating current theories\u201d, Information and Management, Vol. 40, pp. 269\u201085.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-7206(02)00010-1"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scupola, A. (2003), \u201cThe adoption of internet commerce by SMEs in the South Italy: an environmental, technological and organizational perspective\u201d, Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 52\u201071.","DOI":"10.1080\/1097198X.2003.10856343"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Seyal, A.H. and Rahman, M.N.A. (2003), \u201cA preliminary investigation of e\u2010commerce adoption in small and medium enterprises in Brunei\u201d, Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 6\u201026.","DOI":"10.1080\/1097198X.2003.10856347"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thong, J.Y.L. (1999), \u201cAn integrated model of information systems adoption in small business\u201d, Journal of Management Information Systems, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 187\u2010214.","DOI":"10.1080\/07421222.1999.11518227"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thong, J.Y.L. and Yap, C.S. (1995), \u201cCEO characteristics, organizational characteristics and information technology, adoption in small businesses\u201d, Omega, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 429\u201043.","DOI":"10.1016\/0305-0483(95)00017-I"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tye, E., Ng, M.W. and Chau, P.Y.K. (1995), \u201cA study of information technology adoption in Hong Kong\u201d, Journal of Information Science, Vol. 21 No. 1, pp. 11\u201020.","DOI":"10.1177\/016555159502100102"},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b27","unstructured":"(The) US Small Business Administration (2007), \u201cSummary of small size standards\u201d, available at: www.sba.gov\/services\/contractingopportunities\/sizestandardstopics\/summarywhatis\/index.html (accessed January, 2007)."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b31","unstructured":"Welsh, J.A. and White, J.F. (1981), \u201cA small business is not a little big business\u201d, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 59 No. 4, pp. 18\u201032."},{"key":"key2022031020422921900_b33","unstructured":"Yao, J.D., Liu, C., Xu, X. and Lu, J. (2002), \u201cOrganizational size: a significant predictor of IT innovation and adoption\u201d, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 76\u201082."}],"container-title":["Journal of Enterprise Information Management"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/17410390910932821","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/17410390910932821\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/17410390910932821\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T00:19:19Z","timestamp":1753402759000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jeim\/article\/22\/1-2\/183-196\/204273"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Yogesh K.","family":"Dwivedi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"editor","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,13]]},"references-count":32,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1\/2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,13]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/17410390910932821"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/17410390910932821","relation":{},"ISSN":["1741-0398"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1741-0398","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2009,2,13]]}}}