CWE from an SME perspective

1. CWE from an SME perspective John Lindström and Anders Lundkvist

2. Agenda • Introduction • Methodology • CWE practice for SMEs over the last 20 years • Barriers for results from CWE research to become SME practice • Summary

3. Introduction • High tech SMEs often early adopter of new/innovative tools – improve operations, speed, quality, ability to co-operate… • Collaborative Working Environment (CWE) tools – accepted as common tools • Definition of CWE • integrated and connected resources providing shared access to contents and allowing distributed actors to seamlessly work together towards common goals • Examples (and evolution) of CWE-tools • Telephone, fax, cellphone, SMS, e-mail, web • Conference tools, VoIP, Instant Messaging (IM) like ICQ and Skype, Internet based project management tools, web based office suites with shared work spaces

4. Introduction, cnt’d • This paper discusses: • CWE-tools and enabling infrastructures from a high tech SME perspective during the last 20 years in Europe • Barriers for results from CWE research and development to not become SME practice

5. Methodology • Arctic Group AB – high tech consulting company, SME, developing IT-systems for public and private sector customers • Analyzed restrictions for use of CWE tools during development and research projects where worked with customers and partners • 105 projects (Sweden, Europe, Asia) during last 4 years • Categorized every worked day into type of CWE tool limitations (project type A-C) and small – large customers • Type A projects – no limitations • Type B projects – some limitations • Type C projects – strong limitations

6. Methodology cnt´d Stable sample - except for 2005

7. Methodology cnt´d 1 < Small < 50 50 < Medium < 250 250 < Large

8. CWE practice for SMEs over the last 20 years • Telephone and fax • Cellphone and SMS • E-mail • Web • CWE tools (conference tools, VoIP, IM, Internet based project tools, wikis, web based office suites with shared work spaces…) • Characteristics of SME uptake of new technology (CWE tools) • High tech SMEs – often early adopters • Low tech SMEs – slower (IT knowledge) • Communications infrastructure (bandwidth)

9. Barriers for results from CWE research to become SME practice Observations from 105 projects Barriers • Large organizations´IT- and information security policies • Employees tries to find ways around… • Separate ICT infrastructures… • Use security tools… • Sarbanes-Oxley act (US SEC) – paper trail of e-mail and IM-traffic • Security issues – browser problems, http, web mail, IM-tool flaws, unsecure VoIP, H.323 and SIP protocol vulnerabilities. Hinders widely accepted use!

10. Barriers cnt’d Questions • What CWE-tools to allow from an efficiency perspective – is there a trade off or not? • How should high tech SMEs collaborate with large organizations? Efficiency and cut costs. If CWE-tools are not addressed by an organization’s IT- and information security policies and how to use them in a secure manner – that needs to be looked at!

11. Summary • Methodology • CWE practice for SMEs over the last 20 years • Barriers for results from CWE research to become SME practice John Lindström, Luleå Univ. Anders Lundkvist, Arctic Group AB Sr Project Mgr CEO jlm@cdt.ltu.seanders.lundkvist@arcticgroup.se +46 70 674 5859 +46 70 674 5858

12. Questions ?