scholarly journals Assessing the use of e-business strategies by SMEs in Ghana during the Covid-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-160
Author(s):  
Rosina Naab ◽  
◽  
Anita Bans-Akutey ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Business To Consumer ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Traditional Setting

Abstract Purpose: The main purpose of this quantitative research was to assess various e-business strategies implored by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana during the Covid-19 pandemic. Research methodology: It made use of a descriptive design. Data was collected with the use of a structured questionnaire, analysed with excel and presented in tables and figures. Results: The study revealed that small business owners have knowledge of e-business models with the most popular e-business model used being the Business to Consumer (B2C) model, while the least used model was the Business to Government (B2G) model. While imploring the use of e-business models and strategies, SMEs were faced with the challenge of very limited knowledge on the use of e-business strategies. Limitations: The study was limited to businesses in the Tema Metropolitan Assembly of Ghana. Contribution: Most of the SMEs were established in the traditional setting of business operations therefore there was little or no plan for integrating the internet in their operations. However, the pandemic has shifted their attention to adopting some virtual traction to their businesses for the benefit it offers such as continuous sales and more visibility. Further research on how each of the various concepts was used by SMEs is highly recommended.

scholarly journals The Motivation to Adopt E-commerce Among Malaysian Entrepreneurs

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-202
Author(s):  
Wei-Loon Koe
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Shed Light

E-commerce is important in creating a knowledge society and cashless business environment in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (IR 4.0). However, not all Malaysian entrepreneurs are ready for this digital way of performing business. The e-commerce ecosystem is still less matured, and the e-commerce adoption rate is still low among entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the factors that influence the entrepreneurs’ motivation to adopt e-commerce. Self-determination theory (SDT) was employed in determining the factors that influence the motivation to adopt e-commerce. This study employed a quantitative research method and surveyed 273 entrepreneurs through self-administered questionnaires. It used multiple regressions analysis to analyse the data and test the hypotheses. Based on the results obtained, it concluded that competence, relatedness and autonomy positively and significantly influenced entrepreneurs’ motivation to adopt e-commerce. Relatedness was found to be the most important factor, followed by autonomy and competence. This study contributed to entrepreneurship literature by applying SDT in understanding entrepreneurs’ motivation in e-commerce adoption. It also shed light on the importance of individual psychological factors in decision making among entrepreneurs. The study suggested that building a strong connection among the entrepreneurs, providing freedom to business operations and developing knowledgeable entrepreneurs are some crucial steps in motivating entrepreneurs to adopt e-commerce, especially in a developing country like Malaysia.

Sustainability - Oriented Innovation and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Olawale FATOKI
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. The study adopted a multi-dimensional measure of performance (financial, social, environmental, innovation and quality). The study used the quantitative research approach and the descriptive and causal research design. Data was collected from one hundred and ninety eight owners/managers of SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The cross-sectional survey method (self-administered questionnaire) was used for data collection. The participants in the study were conveniently sampled. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha was used as a measure of reliability. The findings of the study indicate that economic, environmental and social dimensions of SOI have significant positive relationships with the five measures of performance. Limitations, areas for further study and recommendations to improve the SOI of SMEs are suggested.

scholarly journals Factors influencing entrepreneurship success during covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 247-256
Author(s):  
Andrie Yuswanto ◽  
Usep Suhud ◽  
Dedi Purwana ◽  
Choirul Anwar
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Entrepreneurial Success ◽  
Business Experience ◽  
Successful Entrepreneurs ◽  
The Government ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The Covid-19 pandemic disaster in Indonesia has caused the economy to be the most affected sector. In order to provide solutions for the government in improving the economy through small and medium enterprises, an investigation on business and entrepreneurship solutions is required to support the economy. This study aims to analyze the determinants of entrepreneurial success when a disaster occurs, such as natural disasters, war, and the Covid-19 pandemic as it is today. Business experience, entrepreneurship education, innovation in business, and strategies to produce successful entrepreneurs, are variables that will be tested. The respondents are people who have had experience selling products online. Two hundred seventeen (217) respondents have participated in a questionnaire survey which was created and distributed online through social media. Data validity and data reliability were tested using the Windows SPPS 25.0 application, followed by analyzing data with Structural Equation Model (SEM) using the Windows Amos 23.0 application. The quantitative research results show that strategy affects entrepreneurial success; however, business experience, entrepreneurship education, and business innovation have not related to entrepreneurial success. The research analysis influences the importance of the strategies identified in dealing with a business to be successful. The contribution resulting from this research is how the small and medium enterprises should respond to their efforts in becoming successful entrepreneurs using good business strategies.

scholarly journals Circular Business Models and Circular Agriculture: Perceptions and Practices of Dutch Farmers

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1282
Author(s):  
Hans Dagevos ◽  
Carolien de Lauwere
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Food System ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Dutch Government ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Production Practices ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact

Although it is not clear yet what a full-grown circular economy (CE) is going to look like, it is clear that the challenges of transitioning to a CE are both impressive and urgent. The Dutch government has expressed the ambition to establish a CE in the Netherlands in 2050. In the wake of this, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality laid down a vision on circular agriculture (CA). A key question with respect to both CE and CA is if and to what extent this means business as unusual: How distinct is circular business from normal business operations? The ways in which the notions of CE and circular business models (CBMs) are often introduced suggest a big difference. However, closer scrutiny also reveals that in practice the impact of circularity is less obvious. Against the backdrop of such opposite observations, this paper examines how Dutch farmers perceive circularity and what implications this has for their production practices. Interviews (n = 13) with Dutch farmers show that circular business is adapted in normal business management by some and regarded as a genuine alternative to the conventional food system by others. By taking Dutch farmers as an example, this paper aims to contribute to our understanding of how CE is interpreted in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

scholarly journals From Barriers to Enablers: The Role of Organizational Learning in Transitioning SMEs into the Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1021
Author(s):  
Sara Scipioni ◽  
Meir Russ ◽  
Federico Niccolini
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Business ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Contextual Elements ◽  
Transfer And Retention ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Medium Enterprises

To contribute to small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) sustainable transition into the circular economy, the study proposes the activation of organizational learning (OL) processes—denoted here as multi-level knowledge creation, transfer, and retention processes—as a key phase in introducing circular business models (CBMs) at SME and supply chain (SC) level. The research employs a mixed-method approach, using the focus group methodology to identify contextual elements impacting on CBM-related OL processes, and a survey-based evaluation to single out the most frequently used OL processes inside Italian construction SMEs. As a main result, a CBM-oriented OL multi-level model offers a fine-grained understanding of contextual elements acting mutually as barriers and drivers for OL processes, as possible OL dynamics among them. The multi-level culture construct—composed of external stakeholders’, SC stakeholders’, and organizational culture—identify the key element to activate CBM-oriented OL processes. Main implications are related to the identification of cultural, structural, regulatory, and process contextual elements across the external, SC, and organizational levels, and their interrelation with applicable intraorganizational and interorganizational learning processes. The proposed model would contribute to an improved implementation of transitioning into the circular economy utilizing sustainable business models in the construction SMEs.

Another failed M&A: misaligned business models as culprit

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 18-26
Author(s):  
Gaël Le Floc’h ◽  
Laurent Scaringella
Keyword(s):  
Customer Value ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Recent Debate ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose Literature on business models (BMs) has grown ve ry rapidly since the beginning of the twenty-first century, and although the theoretical and empirical literature has developed significantly, the number of practical and management-oriented studies remains relatively low. A recent debate in the field has focused on the definition of BM invariants: sensing customer needs, creating customer value, sustaining value creation and monetizing value. Extant empirical studies have mainly focused on multinational enterprises (MNEs) and successful BMs; however, this study concentrates on the failure of BMs in the case of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). An important source of a BM’s failure is the misalignment between MNE and SME involved in an acquisition. Design/methodology/approach Looking through the lens of the four BM constants, the aim of this study is to examine the case of the acquisition Domestic Heating (an SME) by Ventilair (an MNE). Findings Although both separate entities were achieving good results and each had a specific BM, the acquisition produced poor results mainly due to the misalignment of the two BMs. The findings lead the authors to make recommendations to practitioners on avoiding BM misalignment during an acquisition. Originality/value The authors encourage practitioners to enhance communication, promote organizational experiments, acknowledge specificities of both entities, foster employee commitment and ensure homogeneity in IT system usage.

scholarly journals Customer expectations and service delivery: Are SME’s aware of the service quality standards gap?

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 175-184
Author(s):  
Johannes Arnoldus Wiid ◽  
Michael Colin Cant ◽  
Carly Prinsloo
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Customer Expectations ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Service Standards

Competition among small businesses are high, as small businesses compete for market share which larger business do not engage with. A definite competitive advantage that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can rely on is service quality (Kasul & Motwani in Anuar & Yusuff 2011:328; Tseng & Wu 2014:77). SMEs do not necessarily understand service standards and how to ensure that the service standard is implemented. The research utilised a quantitative research design whereby the data was collected by means of a 5-point Likert scale survey known as the SERVQUAL model. The results indicate that there are discrepancies between dimensions those owners feel should be adhered to and the extent to which they perceive their businesses to adhere to these dimensions.

scholarly journals THE ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE SECTOR OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Boban Sašić
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Business Activity ◽  
Financial Instruments ◽  
Business Climate ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The aim of this paper is to analize the role and importance of financial and non-financial instruments of supporting the sector of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Republic of Srpska (RS). For that purpose, in late 2013 and early 2014, there was conducted a quantitative research on a sample of 110 respondents on the whole territory of RS, with the aim of finding the answers to the following question: What is the reason that a large number of SMEs in RS fail to provide adequate financial and non-financial support to their business activity and what measures should be taken in order to improve the current situation? In order to specify the research problem, we ask ourselves if the existing instruments of financial and non-financial support to the sector of SMEs in the RS are sufficiently developed and accessible, as to contribute to the successful growth and development of the said enterprises? We found that the above mentioned instruments of support to the SME sector in RS are not sufficiently developed. Respondents were acquainted with the sole instruments and models of financial and non-financial support that exist in RS. According to the results of the empirical research, we conclude that creating and mastering the models and instruments of financial and non-financial support to SME sector in the RS and providing the adequate business climate for their successful functioning, will increase the availability of favourable financial means for SMEs, as well as the possibility of using the positive aspects of clusters, guarantee funds, factorings and other forms of entrepreneurship infrastructure.

scholarly journals PENERAPAN BISNIS MODEL KANVAS DALAM PENENTUAN RENCANA MANAJEMEN USAHA KEDELAI EDAMAME GORENG

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Novitha Herawati ◽  
Triana Lindriati ◽  
Ida Bagus Suryaningrat
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Value Proposition ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Business Model Canvas ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Customer Segment ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Business model canvas (BMC) is a strategic management and lean start-up template for developing new or documenting existing business models. It is a visual chart with elements describing a firm's or product's value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. It assists firms in their aligning activities by illustrating potential trade-offs. Business model canvas focuses on the idea of creating value in a business. The purpose of implementation of BMC was to determined the best business planning of fried edamame, when it applied to the industry or MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises). The method in the research used descriptive method, while the data analysis used qualitative analysis. Primary data collection was obtained from interviews.  Analysis was done by compiling the initial hypothesis, hypothesis testing and verification of business model canvas (BMC). The results showed that the business model strategy for fried edamame products in the value proposition component were crispy, natural, labeled and applied good cooking oil for use. The customer segment component were the buyers of the entire Jember Regency including men and women over 20 years old with middle income. Components of revenue streams were fried edamame product sales, sale of unused oil, and sale of edamame peel to farmers, while the component channels were direct selling and retailers for fried edamame product. Keywords: business model, fried edamame, strategy, value proposition

scholarly journals The Effect Of Promotion Mix Costs On Sales Volume And Its Impact On The Benefits Of Agribusiness Medium Enterprises In Maros District

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Ahmad Rijal ◽  
Ahmad Ramadhan Siregar ◽  
Jusni
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Personal Selling ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Sales Volume ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Intervening Variables

This research was conducted on Small and Medium Enterprises in the agribusiness sector in Maros Regency by taking data on the promotion mix costs, sales volume and profits from 2017-2019. The purpose of this research is to partially determine the effect of advertising costs, promotion costs, personal selling costs on sales volume in increasing profits in agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises in Maros district. This type of quantitative research uses an associative approach which aims to determine the effect and relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable through intervening variables. The sample in the study obtained 21 small and medium enterprises using purposive sampling technique. The data analysis technique used is regression analysis with the help of SPSS and Sobel test. The results showed that advertising costs (X1) and personal selling costs (X3) had a significant effect on sales volume in increasing profits with the calculated value of the Sobel test, the Z1 value obtained was 2.0337 and Z3 was 2.168 > 1.669 and the selling promotion costs ( X2) does not have a significant effect on sales volume in increasing profits in small and medium agribusiness enterprises in Maros district. The value of the calculation of the Sobel test, the Z2 value obtained is -0.4967 < 1.669 (t table N = 63, Prob 5%).

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