Linking relational learning with e-business through social knowledge:: A multi-sector comparison

This paper analyses the role of relational learning on e-business adoption and vice versa. We investigate the implementation of e-business through a relational learning (RL) process by means of an empirical investigation of 203 SMEs in the Spanish telecommunication and the Spanish construction industries (107 firms from the telecommunications sector and 96 from the construction sector). Structural equation modelling reveals that, in order to implement relational learning phases, companies need to provide and support e-business systems as prior steps. These results have implications for e-business managers when they come to formulating policies and making a choice as to organizational capabilities to target in order to ensure effective adoption of e-business systems.