Third party IT provision in UK SMEs: an improvisational strategy perspective

This full paper from the Strategy track of BAM 2013 investigates why small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) exhibit problems in planning and providing information and systems technology (IST) facilities in the context of third party provision. To explore this problem, the research methodology utilizes a case study strategy, with data collected primarily via face-to-face semi-structured interviews with key IT decision makers in four SMEs in the north west of England. Improvisation theory is used as a theoretical lens to both guide the data collection and interpret the research. Based on the analysis of one example case study called Mercury there is precious little in the literature that reflects the reality of this SME; Mercury follows a strategy of improvisation in accessing and using third party IT services. The findings capture the process through which Mercury goes about providing their IST facilities.