E-Business Skill Demand of SMEs in Taiwan: A Comparative Study with LSEs in Japan, and U.S.A.

What are the skill demands of SMEs of e-business in Taiwan? Based on the need analysis of BNAM (Borich Needs Assessment Model), this survey investigates nearly 1,000 SME in Taiwan and LSE in Taiwan, Japan and U.S.A. using questionnaires comprising 71 e-commerce-related parameters.For the large-scaled enterprises, the skill demand including practical technology of e-commerce, m-commerce programming, development theory of information system, and knowledge management were highly-demand, whereas the SME viewed these skills as lowly-demanded.Although most countries fully realize the importance of the need to implement the computerized e-business into the vast majority of their businesses, somehow, the large-scaled enterprises during the economic development of a country often take the lead, and as a result the needs of SME for wanting to be technologically competitive could often be ignored. Especially, to the economic framework like Taiwan where small and medium enterprises are the economic backbone of the entire Taiwan economy, thus, how to implement computerized e-business into the entire small and medium enterprises should be the challenge and the top priority in the agenda of the government. Through this study, it is hoped that the results revealed from the different needs in skill demand required by SME and LSE could provide both academia and the government the right path with respect to fostering quality e-business professionals that can meet the skill demand of the industry they serve.