Exploring Levels of ICT Adoption and Sustainable Development - The Case of Polish Enterprises

This study is a part research on the effect of information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption on sustainable development in the enterprises’ context [1][3]. Its main purpose is to identify parameters stimulating the progress of ICT adoption and sustainable development and assess the two constructs based on these parameters. The identified parameters of ICT adoption are grouped into four categories i.e., ICT outlay, information culture, ICT management, and ICT quality, whereas the parameters of sustainable development are classified into ecological, economic, sociocultural, and political sustainability categories. This study employs a quantitative approach and descriptive statistics are employed to evaluate the levels of ICT adoption and sustainable development. The survey questionnaire was used and data collected from 394 enterprises were analyzed. The research findings reveal that digital and socio-cultural competences of employees and managers, financial capabilities ensuring ICT projects as well as law regulations associated with ICT adoption, and information security were at the highest level within enterprises. However, the lowest level was specific for BI and ERP system adoption as well as the adoption of latest management concepts and the exploitation of synergies between national ICT projects and own ones. Moreover, the improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of customer services, better and more efficient organization of work, the enhancement of customer satisfaction and loyalty and the acquirement of new customers and markets were at the highest level within enterprises. However, the lowest level was specific for enterprises’ participation in the democratic public decision-making as well as energy savings and environmental protection. This study advances ongoing research on ICT adoption and sustainable development by exploring parameters which can be used to describe and assess the levels of ICT adoption and sustainable development in the context of enterprises. Moreover, these parameters help clarify areas that need further improvement and stimulate the progress of ICT adoption and sustainable development.