REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN BUSINESS USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY - CASE-STUDY EVIDENCE FROM RURAL ENGLAND

This paper compares the awareness, take-up and use of information and communication technologies in an 'accessible' rural region with that i n a 'remote' rural region and assesses the implications for policy. Da ta are drawn from a survey of small businesses in south Warwickshire a nd north Lancashire. The findings reveal the overall adoption of infor mation and communication technologies, both basic and advanced, to be low, but especially low in north Lancashire compared with south Warwic kshire. The reasons for these patterns are explored. In general, the l ow take-up rates are a function of a combination of factors: infrastru cture; business size; the cost, complexity and relevance of the techno logy; awareness and training; whilst the observed differences between the two regions reflect differences in business culture. The policy im plications of these findings are discussed. It is advocated that local policy intervention is necessary to take account of the differences t hat exist between rural areas. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd