Scales measuring characteristics of small business information systems

There is a definite focus in Information Systems (IS) research that is based around the identification of variables that measure the factors that influence IS success in small business. Identification of measures is of importance to the individuals running those businesses as well as researchers seeking to enunciate the value of IS. The first step in this process is to develop models of interacting factors that contribute to success. DeLone and McLean (1992) identified six inter-related factors that help to account for success of IS in small business. Their model has served as a platform for other researchers in this area (e.g., Seddon & Kiew, 1996; Thong & Yap, 1995). A second important step in this process is the identification of antecedent factors and core constructs that predict the success of IS. Without such instruments, it is not possible to go beyond mere speculation about possible contributors to small business IS success. In this paper the authors report on the factorial validation of an instrument that can be used to access core constructs that measure CEO characteristics, organisation characteristics and decision-making related to IS. They also provide a descriptive analysis of these scales to illustrate their relationships with each other and the core demographic items from the survey. Later analyses will examine these constructs as predictors of the constructs measuring IS success using structural equation modelling.