Training for the e-Business Competition: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship between Competence, Training and Performance in European SMEs

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between e-business competence, training, and the performance of e-business in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). E-business competencies and e-business performance were investigated based on survey data from a sample of 339 SMEs in three European countries. In addition, data of the training supply related to e-business was collected from a sample of 116 providers of e-business related training. The findings show that training can explain variances in e-business related competencies as well as e-business performance in terms of efficiency, complementarities, lock-in and novelty. The research has implications for business managers and for policy makers who make decisions regarding support for the SME segment.