Examining the extent and success of e-business adoption in rural small businesses

This dissertation was designed for the examination of how various factors correlate or compare with the extent and success of e-business technology adoption by small businesses in rural areas. Small businesses in San Juan County, a rural area in southeastern Utah, were surveyed. Two variables, including business size and CEO attitude toward technology, were analyzed to determine if they correlated with extent and success of e-business adoption. Both variables were found to correlate with extent and success of e-business adoption. Additionally, industries in which small businesses operate and geographic market focus were analyzed to determine if differences in terms of extent and success of e-business adoption exist among industries or groups of market focus. Extent and success of e-business adoption were found to vary by both industry and market focus group. Pair-wise comparison between groups of market focus showed a significant difference in extent and success of e-business adoption between small businesses having a local market focus and small businesses having an international market focus.