Transformation of Polish ICT Enterprises after the COVID 19
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
IBIMA Publishing
IBIMA Business Review
https://ibimapublishing.com/articles/IBIMABR/2021/940105/
Vol. 2021 (2021), Article ID 940105, 11 pages, ISSEN: 1947-3788
DOI: 10.5171/2021.940105
Research Article
Transformation of Polish ICT
Enterprises after the COVID 19
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA
Wrocław University of Economics, Wrocław, Poland
katarzyna.jasinska@ue.wroc.pl
Received date: 23 April 2021; Accepted date:3 March 2021; Published date: 2 August 2021
Academic Editor: Daiva Zostautiene
Copyright © 2021. Katarzyna JASIŃSKA. Distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International CC-BY 4.0
Abstract
The COVID-19 epidemic has disrupted the development of the global economy. Virtually all
sectors experienced a negative impact, which forced the transformation of many enterprises.
In the case of the ICT sector, new environmental conditions pose a threat but also a
development perspective, which forces ICT enterprises to introduce cross-cutting changes
within their activities. These changes are not limited to the ICT sector but affect other
economic sectors. This is related to the role that the ICT sector plays in creating innovation,
building modern business models and new phenomena in the information society. The aim of
the article is an attempt to characterize the conditions related to the transformation of ICT
companies caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. The first part of the article defines the basic
concepts of the ICT sector and characterizes its importance for the development of the
economy. Then, against the background of the evolution of the ICT sector, the general
characteristics of changes taking place within it are discussed. The next part of the article
presents the results of the author’s own research conducted among enterprises from the
Polish ICT sector in 2020. The last part contains conclusions.
Keywords: ICT Market, IT Market, Strategic Directions, Covid Crisis
Introduction building a vision of future profits for
investors. There is even a new term for an
The ICT sector is described as a driving enterprise that builds its competitiveness
force for the development of the global based on new technologies - the so-called
economy [Shamim 2007; Garcia-Muniz, digital leader. This picture presented the
Vicante 2014; Sassi, Goaied 2013; WEF participants of the ICT sector perspectives
2009; WEF 2015]. Investments in of undisturbed growth, dependent only on
development and innovation contribute to the company's ability to follow changing
the increase in the effectiveness of technological trends. The COVID-19
enterprises and build their intellectual epidemic has shaken the global economy,
capital. Enterprises in stock market reports which has faced technology providers with
bid on development ideas related to the a natural question about the timeliness of
implementation of new technologies, development directions defined so far. The
___________________
Cite this Article as: Katarzyna JASIŃSKA (2021)," Transformation of Polish ICT Enterprises after the
COVID 19 ", IBIMA Business Review, Vol. 2021 (2021), Article ID 940105, DOI: 10.5171/2021.940105IBIMA Business Review 2
___________________________________________________________________
purpose of this article is to attempt to is a combination of the IT sector
approximate the conditions in which ICT (Information Technologies) and the
enterprises currently find themselves, and telecommunications sector. According to
to indicate how enterprises respond to the Gartner report, the size of the global ICT
changes. market was $3.7 trillion in 2019. Over the
past 10 years, the ICT sector has seen annual
It should be emphasized that there is value increases of around 3%. Among the
currently no detailed data available on the most important market segments are:
impact of the epidemic crisis on the ICT telecommunications services, equipment
sector. In the global context, the first supplies, software development, data
forecasts are created in selected market centers, and professional service providers
segments, and in the local context [Gartner 2019]. In Poland, the situation of
preliminary research is being conducted the ICT sector was described as stable. Since
[KIGEiT, 2020; IDC 2020]. They have an the beginning of 2014, GDP has been
undoubted cognitive dimension, but in a growing at a rate of at least 3.1% per year,
practical context they do not have a broader and the share of the ICT sector in GDP is
meaning. The goal chosen in the article fits about 8% [PARP 2017].
in with this trend, while maintaining
concentration primarily on managerial ICT solutions are also a significant element
rather than macroeconomic aspects, which of the Fourth Digital Revolution, which was
is typical of most available studies. distinguished by the World Economic
Forum and Klaus Schwab. According to her
The first part of the article defines the concept, the boundaries between the
concept of the ICT sector, then discusses its physical world and ICT are becoming
evolution and importance for the blurred and the saturation of IT solutions is
development of the economy. The general constantly increasing [Schwab 2017].
characteristics of changes taking place in
the ICT sector are discussed further, and on According to the PARP report, the
this basis research hypotheses were development of information technologies is
formulated, which were verified in an in- the foundation of growth not only of the ICT
depth interview among 52 managers from sector, but also of the entire economy and
20 companies in the Polish ICT sector. The society. The competitiveness of enterprises
last part of the article presents the results of is largely based on the ability to use ICT
research and formulated conclusions. sector solutions in the area of providing
their own services or products [PARP
ICT sector and its economic importance 2017]. The role played by the ICT sector has
been recognized not only in Europe; The
The ICT sector has already been the subject World Economic Forum in cooperation with
of many different scientific publications and the Business School - INSEAD (INSEAD - The
numerous reports [Shamim 2007; Lombard Business School for the World) measures
2009; Garcia-Muniz, Vicante, 2014; Sassi, the NRI (Networked Readiness Index),
Goaied 2013; PARP 2017; IDC 2020]. This which can be defined as an indicator of
has contributed to the creation of very readiness to use information technology
different ways of defining this sector [OECD communication in the economy of states
2011; Central Statistics Office 2010; PARP [Stecyk 2009].
2017; Zuppo, 2012; UNSC 2002]. An
overview of the available definitions is not In the case of the ICT sector, there is a
the purpose of this article, therefore, the phenomenon of stimulating the growth of
basic sector definition created by the OECD. other economic fields, practically regardless
According to which, the ICT sector is defined of the economic profile of a given country,
as a set of enterprises conducting because the use of information and
production and service activities, which communication technologies leads to an
consists in intercepting, sending and increase in the efficiency of enterprises.
displaying data and information by However, this conclusion was not obvious,
electronic means [OECD 2002]. ICT sector and was based on observations of the
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.9401053 IBIMA Business Review
___________________________________________________________________
economies of strongly developing countries. situation is more complex because, although
In 1978, it was recognized that the some development investments of
widespread use of ICT was a source of enterprises have been frozen, other
success for the Japanese economy, and purchasing decisions have become even
similar solutions began to be used in France. more meaningful during the crisis. This is
These activities became the foundation for due to the fact that the use of ICT in
building European strategies aimed at the enterprises can also be a source of savings
development of the ICT sector, which, and lead to a reduction in human
however, were not started until the 1990s participation in the provision of services.
[Grodzka 2009 p. in: Biuro Analiz This phenomenon places before the ICT
Sejmowych 2009]. The widening sector not only threats but also
technological divide between Europe, and opportunities, inaccessible to other sectors,
Japan and the US led to the publication in which construct their products and services
1994 of a set of recommendations for with a small share of intellectual capital. An
Europe and a global information society. important element of transformation will be
Recommendations to the European Council the marketing strategy of enterprises. It can
(Europe and the Global Information be assumed that there will be changes in the
Society) became the basis for shaping long- share of revenues in individual market
term strategies for the development of the segments.
ICT sector in Europe
[http://ec.europa.eu/archives/ISPO/infoso Business models of services rendered may
c/ ..., date of download: 16/12/11]. also be subject to change in adapting to
changing demand conditions.
The importance of the ICT sector for the
development of the economy has increased One of the most important areas of ICT
over time, as the ability of enterprises to use enterprises' activity, thanks to which it is
products of this sector has increased. At the possible to provide services to clients, is
beginning of 2020, the ICT sector had project implementation.
prospects of almost unlimited growth.
One of the results of the aforementioned
General changes taking place in ICT research conducted by the author in 2011
enterprises in connection with the was to verify the impact of external factors
COVID - 19 epidemic on the success of projects in the ICT sector.
Under stable environmental conditions in
The difficult macroeconomic situation which the study was conducted, as many as
related to the COVID-19 epidemic, which 97% of respondents indicated that "the
became a global pandemic in March 2020, degree of stability of the environment in the
reduces the general willingness of social, economic and environmental
enterprises to spend, instead inclining them dimensions" has a significant impact on the
to strive to accumulate cash and cut costs. management of project implementation
According to the IDC, the situation is not processes [Jasinska, Szapiro 2014]. It can
dramatic, however, the increase in spending therefore be assumed that the area of
on ICT in Europe in 2020 will amount to project implementation will undergo
only 1.4%, which, compared to the significant transformation in connection
December forecast that assumed 2.8%, is a with the epidemic. Changes may include not
50% decrease. The pessimistic scenario only the way projects are implemented but
assumes an increase of only 0.2% [IDC also the management of entire portfolios
2020]. and changes in the perception of value built
by projects. The implementation of projects
Quarantine and temporary stoppages of is based on teamwork, in which the
many enterprises caused a degree of competences of members play a special role.
stagnation of demand for goods and
services. This negatively affects, above all, Until now, the ICT market was definitely an
the sectors whose products are consumer in employee's market, not an employer's one.
nature. In the case of the ICT sector, the The constant shortage of specialists led to
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.940105IBIMA Business Review 4
___________________________________________________________________
above average wages and salaries recorded of social responsibility activities by ICT
in the sector. So, the natural question arises enterprises. Therefore, the question arises
as to how the crisis will affect staff in the as to what type of activities are undertaken
sector. On the one hand, one can observe an by ICT enterprises in the area of shaping
increase in the number of projects, and a their image in a crisis.
growing demand for specialists. On the
other hand, however, some projects may In the area of internal organization, the
freeze, which will result in less demand for crisis associated with COVID-19 has had an
highly qualified staff. influence in all industries, forcing a change
in working methods, e.g., the introduction of
Leading players in the ICT sector in times of telework and transferring some of the
stable development took care of building processes previously carried out in a
the image as a professional entity that traditional form to the digital environment.
customers could rely on while An important element for verification is,
implementing key projects for their therefore, how to reorganize work in
business. In a crisis situation, building the enterprises and prepare them to adapt to
right image is important for ICT companies. changes.
It should be remembered that ICT projects
are often high-budget initiatives, forcing In summary, in Table 1, areas have been
large expenses on clients. In the face of the identified that are undergoing changes due
progressing crisis, there is a natural to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemics.
expectation of the involvement of a trusted The areas have been assigned the forecast
business partner in helping to solve current change trends. In this way, hypotheses were
problems. In the image sphere, this is constructed and verified in empirical
related to, for example, the implementation studies.
Table 1: Areas of the ICT enterprise and its surroundings susceptible to changes related
to the COVID-19 crisis
Area of change Hypothesis: expected change trend
H1 Demand and willingness to spend Stagnation while maintaining the growth of selected
segments
H2 Market opportunities and development The emergence of new market opportunities.
Interruption of previously stable trends
H3 Employment and demand for Turbulence in the employment market
specialists
H4 Implementation of projects Changes in the scope of projects and portfolios
H5 Company image Take action to combat the epidemic
H6 Management and work methods Digitization of processes and teleworking
H7 Willingness to implement changes High readiness
The hypothesis presented in Table 1 ware representing 20 companies from the Polish
built on the basis of market observations ICT sector. Companies were selected form
described in this part of the article, because the Polish Agency for Enterprise
the article was constructed in the beginning Development’s list, that was presented in
of the epidemic period. report “IT/ICT sector in Poland” [PARP,
2019]. The whole list included 200
The Empirical Studies companies. Only 20 of them responded. The
study consisted of two parts. In the first
Trends indicated in Table 1, expressed in stage, general questions were asked about
the form of a hypothesis, were verified in the characterization of changes occurring in
empirical studies. This study was conducted a given area of the enterprise and the
from April 10-17, 2020 and involved in- market, and verified probable trends of
depth interviews with 52 managers changes, which are described in Table 1. In
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.9401055 IBIMA Business Review
___________________________________________________________________
the second stage, deeper questions were impact of the diagnosed events on the
asked to induce the respondent to think enterprise.
about the opportunities and threats, the The survey was completed by respondents
reasons for the changes, and long-term whose characteristics are presented in
Table 2.
Table 2: Share of respondents in the knowledge broken down by type of enterprise
Number
Number percentag
of Participation
of e share of
Company people of respondents
companie companie
surveye [%]
s s [%]
d
Telecommunications
2 10% 12
operator 23%
TV and internet
1 5% 4
provider 8%
Software - house 2 10% 4
8%
Professional service
provider (employee 1 5% 8
outsourcing) 15%
Service company 2 10% 4 8%
A technological start-
3 15% 5
up 10%
Cybersecurity and
2 10% 6
software tester 12%
Data center 2 10% 2 4%
Hardware and
1 5% 1
software supplier 2%
Equipment distributor 1 5% 1 2%
IT systems integrator 2 10% 4 8%
Provider of
1 5% 1
teletechnical systems 2%
The first stage of the research segment for the most part do not have
guaranteed quality, which significantly
The first stage of the research revealed that affects the quality of transmission in the
the situation for telecommunications event of an increase in load. Due to
operators seems to be relatively stable, overloading, there are also numerous
especially taking into account the mass failures, the removal of which is difficult due
market. However, a drop in satisfaction can to imposed restrictions. In business
be observed among customers due to the customer segments, there are decreases in
increase in complaints regarding the revenues related to the freezing of projects
decrease in the quality of services provided. and the desire to accumulate cash for
This problem is associated with a significant corporate clients. Many of the companies
load on the data transmission network that are clients of the operators are
caused by the widespread use of telework. currently struggling with the effects of the
Real-time audio and video transmission crisis because they themselves have seen a
requires stable link quality parameters. decline in revenues. Service enterprises that
Access services provided in the mass operate in traditional sectors based on
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.940105IBIMA Business Review 6
___________________________________________________________________
human work at the service point are the providers and operators have developed
worst in this respect. remote customer service through electronic
channels. According to the respondents, the
Respondents indicate that activities were primarily to increase the
telecommunications operators have the infoline throughput and minimize the time
opportunity to develop domain systems of customer service in the electronic
that can be provided in the SaaS model, as channel. It should be emphasized that
various telemedicine systems are indicated television operators and suppliers are large
here as an example. Operator enterprises, therefore they undertook
representatives see this trend as a long- large-scale image-building activities. For
term development that will continue even example, campaigns were carried out to
after the crisis. According to the survey, spread knowledge about methods of
those employed by operators, systems protection against COVID-19, protective
based on M2M and IoT also create equipment was purchased for hospitals, and
development perspectives, because they subsidies of foundations and purposeful
allow the elimination of human fundraisers for the medical sector were
participation in the implementation of organized. Taking into account local
services, e.g. they allow reading a specific activities, computer equipment was made
parameter remotely. Considering available to children from rural areas, and
teleconferencing systems, respondents are free Internet access was provided to the
seeing a slight increase in interest. Among poorest.
the clients, publicly available tools offered
by Microsoft (teams), google (Zoom) or Subsidiaries of operators are to a large
Cisco (Webex) are used rather than ordered extent service and teletechnical system
dedicated project-implemented systems. In providers whose mobility has been limited.
the field of project management, Respondents emphasized that currently
respondents estimated that around 70% of both individual and corporate clients are
customer development initiatives were not willing to contact representatives of
stopped. However, projects focused on enterprises. Thus, service companies and
rapid digitization of processes have gained installers are developing ways in which the
in importance. end users can do some of the work
themselves. Similarly, when it comes to
The employment situation with operators is equipment, tests are carried out to increase
assessed as relatively stable. However, staff the possibilities of existing models of
reduction strategies are implemented equipment and reduce the need to replace
which originate for reasons other than the them. Service companies have modified
COVID-19 crisis. In the area of sales, their strategy and instead of installing, they
recruitment has been suspended, and distribute equipment and other goods (even
temporary part-time employment is being from outside the ICT sector). On the other
implemented. Remote work methods were hand, in the business segment, due to the
implemented immediately and readiness to large number of telecommunications
change the mode of work according to infrastructure failures, the service
respondents was high. department is currently carrying out fewer
but more complex orders. Therefore,
In companies that are television and companies need to acquire more qualified
Internet providers, respondents observed personnel and reduce the number of less
similar trends of change. Unlike operators, a qualified service personnel.
temporary increase in the purchase of
Internet access services and television According to the respondents, working
packages on the mass market was recorded methods in service companies have hardly
here. In the business market, however, a changed, while a larger share of work was
significant decrease in revenues was observed on the basis of remote user
recorded due to the temporary closure of support.
hotels and the reduction in the purchase of
television services. Both television
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.9401057 IBIMA Business Review ___________________________________________________________________ According to respondents, an increase in related to counteracting the effects of the orders was recorded in software houses. A crisis. particularly large number of orders appeared in companies associated with one According to respondents, equipment main customer for many years or in those manufacturers and distributors are enterprises that form part of the capital currently in a quite difficult situation, group. Representatives of software-houses because orders for equipment were largely assessed the situation and concluded that in related to the propensity of customers to the event of an epidemic they received a implement large projects. Currently, large number of orders aimed at digitizing development efforts have been limited, and developing electronic channels, as well which resulted in the freezing of orders. as upgrading programming to adapt to Distribution of equipment is not a high- remote work. Due to the decline in the value margin service; therefore, distributors are of PLN, interest in orders from abroad was counting on the possibility of employment noted, especially in software testing reduction. Orders for subscriber and companies. In one of the surveyed computer equipment are quite stable, which enterprises, the number of traders selling remained relatively intact due mainly to abroad tripled. Both software developers public sector orders. Equipment and testers are used to working remotely, distributors and manufacturers have therefore the crisis situation did not established cooperation with IT systems’ significantly affect the way the work was integrators, striving to stabilize the revenue organized. According to the respondents, line by creating cloud-based products. In the number of projects related to this way, projects and built environments cybersecurity was limited. This is quite a requiring the purchasing of a large amount surprising conclusion because due to the of equipment are carried out, while transfer of a large part of the work of reducing the need for its distributed companies to the network, the interest in installation. Data centers benefit from this security should grow. Software strategy, which provides disk space for the development is also associated with needs of the systems. Hardware and creating solutions for monitoring the software suppliers carry out extensive activity of people in quarantine. The image-oriented activities aimed at applications are used for social monitoring providing free tools for the hospital and to determine the potential contact of an education sector. This trend has also hit infected person with other people. Modeling professional service providers, especially the course of the epidemic, however, is the outsourcing of qualified personnel. Due performed using big data and AI analysis, to the suspension of production and the which is also of interest to software freezing of projects, there was limited developers. However, start-ups that are demand for outsourcing employees. The largely associated with the development of contracts concluded are pronounced and a specific application are in a difficult employees employed in this form situation. Currently, the interest of experience considerable uncertainty. enterprises in new ideas has significantly decreased, due to the strong commitment to The results of the first stage of the study are the implementation of routine activities collected in Table 3. _________________ Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.940105
IBIMA Business Review 8
___________________________________________________________________
Table 3: Diagnosed changes in ICT enterprises and their environment related to the
COVID-19 crisis
Area of change Hypothesis: Description
expected change
trend
Demand and Stagnation while The hypothesis was confirmed with a pessimistic forecast
willingness to maintaining the regarding future changes in revenues. 40% of respondents
spend growth of selected reported an increase in revenue, which they treat as
segments temporary. Ultimately, they expect long-term declines in
the business segment reaching even 20% - 30%, which is
associated with the pursuit of capital accumulation and the
implementation of crisis plans in clients' enterprises. Only
2% of respondents expect an increase in revenues (test
companies). Companies see significant opportunities for
development in foreign markets due to the decrease in the
value of the Polish currency (5%).
Market The emergence of The hypothesis has been confirmed. Among the main
opportunities new market trends in the Industry 4.0 area, that have been
and development opportunities. discontinued, are smart-city solutions (currently city
Interruption of investments are directed at co-financing hospitals). The
previously stable growing importance of ICT enterprises trends will be in:
trends IoT (71%), M2M (24%), specialist services (13%), AI
(10%), telemedicine (8%), data protection (5%), non-
contact systems (4%), use of robots (4%) biometric
auditing (2%).
Employment and Turbulence in the The hypothesis has been confirmed. There was a decrease
demand for employment market in demand for outsourcing employees in the auto-motive
specialists sector (15%). Entire teams of specialists have appeared on
the market to be taken over by ICT companies in connection
with the freezing of projects (12%) and phenomena such as
reduction of salary or full-time employment (6%).
Respondents indicate an increase in the amount of current
work and fatigue by telework (72%)
Implementation Changes in the scope The hypothesis has been confirmed by way of observation:
of projects of projects and freezing of projects in the area of cybersecurity (41%),
portfolios suspension of projects requiring investment in equipment
(31%), reducing the scope of the project (12%),
recomposition of project portfolios (10%), increasing the
share of foreign projects (3%)
Company image Take action to The hypothesis was confirmed; however, the activities
combat the epidemic largely concerned the IT area. The products and services
were made available for free or at preferential prices
(21%), a fundraising campaign was organized to combat
COVID-19 (10%), programs aimed at supporting e-
education and the medical sector were implemented (8%).
Management and Digitization of The hypothesis was confirmed, although the way of
work methods processes and working during the epidemic did not differ significantly
teleworking from the standards already adopted in ICT enterprises. In
particular, the teleworking system was implemented
(92%) and the digitization of internal processes was
deepened (41%). It was indicated that teleworkers do not
need special methods of supervision and control (100%). In
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.9401059 IBIMA Business Review
___________________________________________________________________
the respondents' opinion, an important element of changes
was the protection of personal data (11%).
Willingness to High readiness The hypothesis was confirmed. The ability to implement
implement changes was rated very high (98%). The high degree of
changes enterprise digitization and possession of IT equipment
(100%) facilitated adaptation to new conditions.
The second stage of studies development of new services and
specialized products (2%). Among the
The results collected in Table 3 were biggest threats, the respondents mentioned:
deepened in the second stage of the study. loss of liquidity (68%), loss of sales
This stage revealed that in large part opportunities for which they had worked
respondents perceive the current situation for a long time (54%), loss of work by
in a pessimistic way, practically freezing specialists (21%), sale of enterprises (14%),
most development initiatives. At the same departure of key personnel (8%), loss of
time, 72% of respondents confirmed that investors (8%).
they must take measures aimed at further
development and construction of new Summing up the presented research results,
products and services that respond to the it should be emphasized that they relate to a
changing market demand. However, over period of high uncertainty among the
half of the respondents could not name new studies. In many companies analyzed,
solutions yet. Most of them used general detailed results related to the loss of orders
terms related to the development of a given were not yet known. Opinions were based
market area: e.g., development of SaaS primarily on a quantitative analysis of
solutions (47%), expansion of call-center contracts that had been lost, projects that
services (15%), construction of virtualized had been suspended, and estimates of
environments (15%) and remote market segment transformations that had
monitoring of own employees and clients unexpectedly begun to increase. The first
(12%) or construction of cost control quarter in which the full picture of the
systems (2%). Respondents were asked to effects of the crisis will be known is Q2
characterize the strategy adopted for the 2020. At that point, it seems as though it will
crisis. Unfortunately, for the most part, they be valuable to repeat the tests on the same
were unable to provide detailed answers, research sample. The conducted studies do
rather describing operational activities that not meet the criteria of representativeness,
were a reaction to emerging problems. The although they may illustrate certain trends
answers included: cost cutting (28%), in the ICT sector.
reduction of employees' working time
(22%), freezing of development projects Summary
(21%), resignation from the organization of
conferences (15%), resignation from Due to the changing market conditions
organization of training, and associated with the COVID-19 epidemic,
implementation of on-line activities line enterprises, regardless of the sector in
(12%). Among the most important which they operate, must take remedial
opportunities created in the face of the action. In the case of the ICT sector, which
COVID-19 crisis, representatives of ICT additionally plays the role of a stimulus for
enterprises indicated: international the development of other industries, the
expansion (19%), resignation from part of negative impact of the crisis may have
the office space due to the development of secondary effects on the entire economy. In
telework, and the possibility of reducing this context, it is important to attempt to
current costs (12%), increasing awareness analyze the scope of changes in the sector
of the need to digitize processes for external and to identify ways of dealing with
clients, which may lead to market alarming phenomena undertaken by ICT
development (11%), building an offer companies.
related to consulting in addition to
providing simple services (2%), and
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.940105IBIMA Business Review 10
___________________________________________________________________
The purpose of the article was to attempt to • Gartner (2019), “Gartner Market
approximate the conditions currently Databook, 3Q19 Update”, [Online],
affecting ICT enterprises, and to indicate [Retrieved march 3, 2020] available on:
how enterprises respond to changes. The https://www.gartner.com/en/newsro
goal was achieved by analyzing the results om/press-releases/2019-10-23-
of empirical research conducted on a gartner-says-global-it-spending-to-
sample of 52 respondents from 20 Polish grow-3point7-percent-in-2020,
ICT enterprises. The research method used • Garcia-Muniz, A. S., Vicante, M.R.
was an in-depth series of interviews, which (2014), ‘ICT technologies in Europe: A
allowed us to confirm seven hypotheses. study of technological diffusion and
economic growth under network
The main conclusions are not optimistic, theory’, Telecommunications Policy 38
because ICT companies are focused on (4), 360-370
investment reduction and expect similar • Grodzka, D. (2009), Społeczeństwo
actions taken by clients. Only some business informacyjne – idea, programy, badania,
segments do not show disturbances. It 2009 [in:] Biuro Analiz Sejmowych
should be emphasized, however, that Kancelarii Sejmu, Społeczeństwo
enterprises are open to seeking new informacyjne, Studia Biura Analiz
business models based on SaaS. In addition, Kancelarii Sejmu 3(19), Wydawnictwo
expansion appears on the international Sejmowe Kancelarii Sejmu., Warszawa
markets as a chance, which seems justified • IDC, International Data Corporation,
given the low value of the currency. (2020), Market Perspective report,
Generally, enterprises are focused on Impact of Covid-19 on European ICT
undertaking anti-crisis measures. Market and Ecosystem European
Survey, march 2020, [Online],
A significant limitation of the research was [Retrieved march 3, 2020] available on:
the deep focus of managers from the ICT https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?cont
sector on dealing with the current crisis. In ainerId=prEUR146133320
addition, the enterprises did not have • Jasińska, K., Szapiro, T. (2014),
detailed data, therefore the presented Zarządzanie procesami realizacji
conclusions are a qualitative assessment of projektów w sektorze ICT,
the situation by the management. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN,
Warszaw
The analysis of changes taking place in the • KIGEiT (2020), Wspólna ankieta
ICT sector is an interesting research area DIGITALEUROPE i KIGEiT – wpływ
that can be continued as economic COVID-19 na rynek ICT, Krajowa Izba
conditions continue to develop. Gospodarcza Elektroniki i
Telekomunikacji, marzec 2020,
Aknowledgment [Online], [Retrieved march 30, 2020]
available on:
The project is financed by the Ministry of https://kigeit.org.pl/2020/03/23/wsp
Science and Higher Education in Poland olna-ankieta-digitaleurope-i-kigeit-
under the programme "Regional Initiative wplyw-covid-19-na-rynek-ict/
of Excellence" 2019 - 2022 project number • Lombard, D., Globalna wioska cyfrowa.
015/RID/2018/19 total funding amount Drugie życie sieci, MT Biznes, 2009
10 721 040,00 PLN • OECD (2002), Measuring the
information economy, Annex 1. The
References OECD definition of the ICT sector, 2002
• OECD (2011), OECD Information
• Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Technology Outlook 2010, OECD
Finance and Economic Development Publishing
(2010), Economic and Social Indicators
• PARP (2017), Polska Agencja Rozwoju
Information and Communication Przedsiębiorczości, Perspektywy
Technologies (ICT) statistics – 2009, Port rozwoju polskiej branży ICT do roku
Louis 2025, Wydawnictwo PARP, [Online],
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.94010511 IBIMA Business Review
___________________________________________________________________
[Retrieved march 7, 2020] avaliable on: badań Światowego Forum
https://www.parp.gov.pl/storage/pub Ekonomicznego, ‘E-mentor, 3 (30), SGH
lications/pdf/2017_ict_sector_by_2025 & Fundacja Promocji i Akredytacji
_pl.pdf Kierunków Ekonomicznych
• PARP (2019), Polska Agencja Rozwoju • UNSC (2002), United Nations Statistical
Przedsiębiorczości, IT/ICT martket in Commission, ISIC Rev 3.1, International
Poland, Wydawnictwo PARP, 2019 Standard Industrial Classification of All
[Online], [Retrieved march 12, 2020] Economic Activities
avaliable on: • WEF (2009), World Economic Forum,
https://www.trade.gov.pl/pl/f/v/570 ICT for Economic Growth: A Dynamic
995/PPE_PL_IT%20ICT%20SECTOR% Ecosystem Driving The Global Recovery
20IN%20POLAND.pdf] • WEF (2015), World Economic Forum,
• Sassi, S., Goaied, M. (2013) , ‘Financial Deep Shift-Technology Tipping Points
development, ICT diffusion and and Societal Impact, Global Agenda
economic growth: Lessons from MENA Council on the Future of Software and
region’, Telecommunications Policy, Society, World Economic Forum,
Volume 37 ( 4–5), 252-261 September
• Shamim, F. (2007), ‘The ICT • Zuppo, C.M. (2012), Defining ICT in a
environment, financial sector and boundaryless world: the development of
economic growth: a cross-country a working hierarchy, ‘International
analysis’, Journal of Economis Studies , Journal of Managing Information
34 (4), 352-370 Technology’ (IJMIT), 4 (3)
• Schwab, K. (2017) , The Fourth • http://ec.europa.eu/archives/ISPO/inf
Industrial Revolution, Crown Business: osoc/backg/bangeman.html, [Online],
New York, NY, USA [Retrieved march 15, 2020] access:
• Stecyk, A. (2009), Wykorzystanie 16.12.11
technologii ICT w Polsce – w świetle
_________________
Katarzyna JASIŃSKA ,IBIMA Business Review, DOI: 10.5171/2021.940105You can also read
