Networks versus ICT use: the case of sme from Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Abstract

Cooperative networks are main tools to improve the competitiveness of Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SME). This study contributes to extend the literature review about the factors that foster firms' cooperative conduct. Apart from that, the paper examines through a LOGIT model, the firm's characteristics, especially ICT (information and communication technologies) use, and the environment's and partners' characteristics that influence the probability of building alliances with other firms from the same economic activity. In particular, we find that ICT use reduces the probability of networking.