Programme evaluation of a government information technology programme for small businesses

The Small Enterprise Computerization Programme (SECP) was introduced by the Singapore Government to encourage and aid computerization in small businesses. The programme incentives include information technology (IT) seminars, the provision of technical expertise in the forms of advisers and consultants and various financial subsidies and loans. This paper presents the results of a formal evaluation of the impact of the SECP based on the views of various participants in the programme, including chief executive officers (CEOs) of small businesses, technical advisers, consultants, IT vendors and programme administrators. A programme evaluation methodology is utilized in this study. The main finding is that the government programme has lowered the barriers to computerization and aided small businesses that lack the resources to computerize successfully. More efforts need to be expended in promoting this programme to other small businesses that suffer from resource poverty. There is a lack of knowledge of the existence of the computerization programme and a lack of appreciation of the programme.