Firm Size and the Characteristics of Computer Use

This article studies the proposition that firms of different sizes manage their computer operations differently, and it seeks to determine whether small firms face special circumstances in their uses of computers. The author presents several hypotheses which associate computer related variables with differences in firm size. These hypotheses are tested using data collected from seventy-four Los Angeles manufacturing firms of various sizes. The results indicate that selected computer-use characteristics vary with firm size. These research findings and their implications are discussed.