The adoption of e-business by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in construction lags from other
service and product businesses within the building sector. This paper develops a model to facilitate the
uptake of electronic business, especially in relation to SMEs within the Australian construction sector. Ebusiness
is defined here as “the undertaking of business-related transactions, communications and
information exchanges utilising electronic medium and environment”, the elicited model highlights
significant changes needed including skills development, social, economic and cultural issues. The
model highlights barriers for SMEs to migrate towards e-transactions, e-bidding, e-tendering and ecollaboration
and provides learning and skills development components. The model is derived from case
study fieldwork and is to inform diffusion and awareness models for best practice. Empirical techniques
included ‘focus group’ interviews and one to one ‘interviews’. Data was transcribed and analysed using
cluster analyses. Preliminary results reveal that current models for e-business adoption are not effective
within the construction context as they have emerged from other service and product industries - such
as retail or tourism. These generic models have largely ignored the nature of the construction industry,
and some modifications appears to be required. This paper proposes an alternative adoption model
which is more sensitive to the nature of the industry – particularly for e-business uptake in building
SME’s