THE ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE COMPANIES OF THE SOCIAL ECONOMY

Recent studies suggest that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can offer wide opportunities to organizations, such as facilitating the expansion of the range of products, the improvement of the service to the client, the best response to the demand, the improvement of the relations with suppliers and clients, etc. Firms of the Social Economy or the third sector are also open to the opportunities offered by these technologies. However, empirical studies in the field of organizations of the Social Economy are still scanty. The main aim of this article is to enhance the empirical evidence for the Spanish case, offering information about the characteristics of the firms of Social Economy, their efficiency and their use of these technologies. Results are obtained from a representative sample of Spanish manufacturing firms. They offer information about the main aspects that the companies of the Social Economy should take into account to take advantage of the opportunities offered by new technologies. The main conclusions of the article will be useful both for the managers of these organizations and for the authorities in charge of public policies related to the promotion of the Social Economy.