The wide application of new information and communication technologies(ICTs)has been argued to be critical in local economic development,while the application of new ICTs will affect the development of industrial cluster,especially those small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs).This paper examines Yangxunqiao textile cluster located in Zhejiang Province as a case study to focus on the role of ICTs in the sustainable development.We argue ICTs application in firms boost flexible and customized production approach,improve e-commerce market channel and raise supply chain management.We also pay special attention to the spatial implication of ICTs adoption in industrial cluster,and suggest that application of ICTs tend to lead to further clustering of SMEs in the location with mature production chain.Our analysis shows that new ICTs are a facilitator in the sustainable development of the industrial cluster.
The wide application of new information and communication technologies(ICTs) has been argued to be critical to business success of small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) ,especially to those in the developing countries.Drawing upon existing literature,this article will examine the determinants of ICTs application in SMEs in China based on data collected from interviews with top managers and/or owners of 70 SMEs.We identify 20 factors affecting ICTs application in SMEs in China and divide them into four broad categories,namely pressures,firm specific factors,technical factors and local milieu.We also pay special attention to the Chinese business environment affecting ICTs application.Our analysis shows that local ICT infrastructure,external pressures from competitors and ICT knowledge of employees are the determinants of Internet application by SMEs,while product characteristics and market target are important factors of e-commerce adoption.
