01991nas a2200169   4500008004100000245005700041210005500098260000900153490000700162520151400169653001501683653000801698100001901706700002001725700001901745856005701764       2017                        eng d00aA Normative Model for Assessing SME IT Effectiveness0 aNormative Model for Assessing SME IT Effectiveness  c20170 v153 aInformation technology (IT) is a key enabler of modern small businesses, yet fostering reliably<br>effective IT systems remains a significant challenge. This paper presents a light weight IT<br>effectiveness model for small businesses to assess their IT and formulate strategies for<br>improvement. Employing an action research approach we investigate a mixed method analysis of<br>120 survey responses from small family businesses and user participation in 10 semi-structured<br>interviews. We then conduct critical reflection to identify refinements which are validated using<br>72 survey responses from university students. The results present compelling evidence that<br>employees’ normative patterns (norms) are a significant driver of IT effectiveness in a second<br>order PLS predictive model able to explain 26% of observed variance.<br>A norms-based approach to IT effectiveness helps fill a significant research and managerial gap<br>for organizations unable or unwilling to adopt IT best practice frameworks used by large<br>organizations. Our findings imply that comparing norms to IT best practices may offer a less<br>technical approach to assessing IT operations, which may be well suited to small businesses.<br>Although further investigation cycles are needed to systematically test this model, we encourage<br>small business managers to: 1) anticipate IT risks and mitigate them; 2) identify measures of IT<br>performance, and monitor them, and 3) review/synchronize business and IT goals.10aAccounting10aBIS1 aCurry, Michael1 aMarshall, Byron1 aKawalek, Peter  uhttp://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/ciima/vol15/iss1/3