A model of information system success factors in Small and Medium Enterprises: Case study of Health Information Systems

Abstract

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have an important role to play in Uganda’s socio-economic development. Information systems help to support and leverage the operations of SMEs. IS success in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is important since it helps to avoid problems including loss of funds, service delay, threatening the companies’ future survival and loss of reputation. Despite the advantages provided by IS, SMEs in Uganda continue to face problems of IS failure. Existing IS success models do not sufficiently explain the reasons for these failures in Uganda’s context. Current IS success models are generic in nature. They do not sufficiently address differences that exist between IS in SMEs and those of large enterprises, as well as the differences that exist between SMEs in developing countries and those in developed countries. This study aimed at developing a model of information system success tailored to SMEs in Uganda’s context. To address the above objective, a field study was conducted to determine factors for information systems success in Uganda. Data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using SPSS. This study adopted Delone and Mclean’s (2003) information system success model and extended it using factors obtained from the field study survey. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the model. The model was further validated using case study method using questionnaires issued out to staff in two SME healthcare units. Results showed that all the independent variables of management support, user involvement in IS development, resource supply, education and training are positively related to the dependent variable of intention to use information systems. There was a strong relationship between the multiple independent variables and the dependent variable. Education and training had the largest impact in explaining the variation in intention to use, followed by resource supply, user involvement and lastly management support. The results of the study present a model of success factors for information systems in SMEs in a developing country context specifically Uganda