The Influence Of Technological Factors On E-Business Diffusion In The Small-To-Medium Enterprise Sector In Zimbabwe

Catherine Mazwi Roseline Tsikirayi

Abstract


This article is a derivation from the researcher’s PhD thesis on e-business diffusion in the small-to-medium enterprise (SME) sector in Zimbabwe. The research examines the influence of technological dimensions, namely, relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability on e-business diffusion.  A survey design, using a questionnaire based on Likert’s five point scale to collect data through online survey monkey, was adopted. A sample of 590 owners and managers of small-to-medium firms was obtained through probability random sampling. The research engaged a quantitative research design and used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to ascertain the dimensionality of factors adopted for the study and construct validity, respectively. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was engaged using AMOS SPSS v26 to determine which factors have a significant impact on e-business diffusion. The study concluded that only three out of the five technological dimensions have a significant influence on e-business diffusion in the Zimbabwean SME sector. Central  government is urged to focus on establishing a fully equipped national ICT infrastructure and requisite training programmes to facilitate the diffusion of e-business in the fledgling small enterprises. SMEs in Zimbabwe are advised to adopt e-business operating systems as a survival and sustainability imperative in the current technology-driven global business environment necessitated by the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.


Keywords


technological dimensions, SMEs, e-business, Zimbabwe.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Finscope (2012). FinScope MSME Survey Zimbabwe, 2012.

Kasemsap, K. (2018). The importance of electronic commerce in modern business. Encyclopesia of Information Science and Technology, Fourth Edition.

Kalakota and Robinson (2007). Modelling and Analysis of Enterprise Information Systems. IGI Publishing, Hershey, New York.

Shahjee, R. (2016). The impact of electronic commerce on business organisations. An International and Peer Reviewed and Refereed Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, Volume 4, Issue 27, pages 3130-3140. ISSN 2278-8808. www.srjis.com

Kasemsap, K. (2016). Implementing Electronic Commerce in Global Marketing. Publisher: IGI Global. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-9787-4.ch043

Nair, K. R. (2017). Impact of e-business on global business and opportunities – A conceptual study. International Journal of Advanced Engineering and Management Research, Volume 2, Issue 2, 2017. ISSN 2456- 3676

Chivandi, A and Sibanda, (2018). An investigation of e-commerce adoption inhibitors in the Tourism industry: A Zimbabwe National Parks Perspective. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, Volume 7 (3) - (2018) ISSN: 2223-814X

Mupemhi, S. and Muposhi A. (2018). Organisational Factors Influencing E-business Adoption in Zimbabwe’s Manufacturing Sector. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, Volume 10, Issue 2 (J), pages 176-187. https://doi.org/10.22610/jebs.v10i2(J).2227

Putra, Panca O.H. and Santoso, H. B. (2020). Contextual factors and performance impact of e-business use in Indonesian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Heliyon, Volume 6, Issue 3, March 2020, Article e03568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03568

Zaied, A.N.H. (2012). Barriers to E-Commerce Adoption in Egyptian SMEs. Journal of Information Engineering and Electronic Business, Volume 3, pages 12-17.

Manuere, F. (2012). Barriers to the adoption of ICT by SMEs in Zimbabwe: An exploratory study in Chinhoyi district. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business. Volume 4, Issue 6, pages 21-30.

Derguti, A. and Shabani, L. (2015). The impact of electronic business on the development of small and medium enterprises in the Republic of Kosovo.

Villa, E., Ruiz, L., Valencia, A. and Picón, Ed. (2018). Electronic Commerce: Factors Involved in its Adoption from a Bibliometric Analysis. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research. ISSN 0718–1876. Electronic Version January, 2018, Volume 13, Issue 1, Pages 39-70. Access: www.jtaer.com DOI: 10.4067/S0718-18762018000100104.

Okundaye, K., Fan, S.K. and Dwyer, R.J. (2019), "Impact of information and communication technology in Nigerian small-to medium-sized enterprises", Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Science, Vol. 24 No. 47, pp. 29-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEFAS-08-2018-0086 (Accessed 10-01-2021).

Rahayu, R. and Day, J. (2015), “Determinant factors of e-commerce adoption by SMEs in developing country: evidence from Indonesia”. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences, Volume 195, pages 142-150. DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.06.423.

Billal, Hossain Md, Shin, Ho Kyun and Sim, Wan Jun (2019). Management Review: An International Journal, Volume 14, Issue 1, pages 51-81.

Njanike, K. (2019). The factors influencing SMEs’ growth in Africa: A case of Zimbabwe. DOI:10.5772/intechopen.87192

Rogers E.M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations. New York, Simon and Schuster.

Lee, Y.H., Hsieh, Y.C. and Hsu, C.N. (2011). Adding Innovation Diffusion Theory to the Technology Acceptance Model: Supporting Employees' Intentions to Use E-Learning Systems. Journal of Educational Technology and Society, Volume 14, Issue 4, pages 124-137. Retrieved December 14, 2020 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/75487/.

Jere, J.N. and Ngidi, N. (2020). A technology, organisation and environment framework analysis of information and communication technology adoption by small and medium enterprises in Pietermaritzburg. South African Journal of Information Management, Volume 22, Issue 1, article 1166. https://doi.org/ 10.4102/sajim.v22i1.1166

Naruemon Choochinprakarn (2016). Adoption of electronic commerce in Thai travel small and medium enterprises. International Journal of Business and Management, Volume 4, Issue 1, pages 1-23. 10.20472/BM.2016.4.1.001

Abdallah Nantembelele, F. and Gopal, S. (2017). E-Commerce Technology Usage in Business Processes in Tanzania: Is There a Significant Gap in Perceived Value and Perceived Risk? The International Journal of Business Management and Technology, Volume 1 Issue 2 November 2017

Rogers E. M. (1995). Diffusion of Innovations. 4th Edition. New York Free Press.

Taherdoost, H. (2018). A review of acceptance and adoption models and theories. Elsevier. Science Direct, Procedia Manufacturing, Issue 22 (2018), pages 960-967.

Tornazky, L. G. and Fleischer, M. (1990). The process of technological innovation. Lexington, M.A.: Lexington Books, Lexington.

Venkatesh, V., Thong, J.Y., and Xu, X. (2012). Consumer acceptance and use of information technology: extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. MIS Quarterly, pages. 157-178.

Camilleri, M.A. (2018). The SMEs’ technology acceptance of digital media for stakeholder engagement. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.

Mutua, Joshua, Oteyo, Isaac N. and Njeru Agnes W. (2013). The Extent of E-Commerce Adoption among Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya. International Journal of Business and Social Science, Volume 4, Issue 9, August 2013

Mostafa, Ashour A.N. (2018). Review factors influencing the slow adaptation of e-commerce. The Higher Institute of Sceince and Technology – Tobruk.

Dibra, Mirjam (2015). Rogers Theory on Diffusion of Innovation - The Most Appropriate Theoretical Model in the Study of Factors Influencing the Integration of Sustainability in Tourism Businesses. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 195 ( 2015 ) 1453 – 1462.

Gono, S., Harindranath, G. and Özcan Gül B. (2016). The Adoption and Impact of ICT in South African SMEs. Volume 25, Issue 6. Special Issue: The Strategic Impact of Information Technology Deployment, Part III. November 2016, Pages 717-734. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsc.2103

Davis, Fred D., Baggozi, Richard P. and Warshaw Paul R. (1989).User acceptance of computer technology: a comparison of two theoretical models. Management Science, Volume 38, Issue 8, August, 1989, ABI/INFORM Global, page 982.

Almoawi, A.R.N.A. and Mahmood, R. (2012). Applying the OTE model in determining the e-commerce adoption on SMEs in Saudi Arabia. Asian Journal of Business and Management Sciences, Volume 1, Issue 7, pages 12 – 24.

Tornatzky, L. G., and Klein, K. J. (1982). Innovation Characteristics and Innovation Adoption-Implementation: A Meta-Analysis of Findings. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 29, 28-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TEM.1982.6447463

Sahin, Ismail (2006). Detailed review of Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory and educational technology-related studies based on Rogers’ theory. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology – TOJET April 2006. Volume 5, Issue 2, Article 3. ISSN: 1303-6521

Hoti, E. (2015). The technological, organizational and environmental framework of innovation adaption in small and medium enterprises. Evidence from research over the last 10 years. International Journal of Business and Management, Volume 3, Issue 3, No. 4 of 2015. DOI: 10.20472/BM.2015.3.4.001

Nguyen, Huu Phuoc Dai, and Dang, Thai Binh (2017). The Impact of E-commerce in Vietnamese SMEs. European Journal of Business Science and Technology, Volume 3, Issue 2, pages 90–95. ISSN 2336-6494, DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.11118/ejobsat.v3i2.106.

Lippert, Susan K. and Govindarajulu, Chittibabu (2006). Technological, Organizational, and Environmental Antecedents to Web Services Adoption. Communications of the IIMA, Volume 6, Issue 1 , Article 14. Available at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/ciima/vol6/iss1/14

Kabanda, S. (2013). E-commerce and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in least developed countries: The Case of Tanzania. Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Franco, Eugine C. and Bulomine, Regi S. (2016). “Advantages and challenges of e-commerce customers and businesses: in Indian perspective”. International Journal of Research – Granthaalayah, Volume 4, Issue 3: SE (2016): pages 7-13. ISSN- 2350-0530(O) ISSN- 2394-3629(P)

Rahayu, R. and Day, J. (2017). E-commerce adoption by SMEs in developing countries: Evidence from Indonesia. Eurasian Business Review, Volume 7, Issue 1, pages 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40821-016-0044-6

Leedy, Paul D. and Ormrod, Jean Ellis. (2015). Practical Research Planning and Design. 11th Edition. Global Edition. Pearson. ISBN 10:1292095873 ISBN 13:9781292095875978

Malhotra, N.K. and Dash, S. (2011). Marketing research: An applied orientation. 6th Edition, India: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Miguel, et al. (2017) Dimensionality and factorial invariance of religiosity among Christians and the religiously unaffiliated." PloS one 14.5

Schmitt, T. A. (2011). Current methodological considerations in exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, Volume 29, Issue 4, pages 304-321

Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2003). Business Research – A practical guide for undergraduate and post graduate students. 2nd Edition. New York: Pelgrave MacMillan.

Tabachnick, B. G. and Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics: Chicago: Univesity of Chicago Press.

Bartlett, M.S. (1954) A Note on the Multiplying Factors for Various Chi Square Approximations. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, 16, 296-298.

Sharpe, N., De Veaux, R. and Velleman P. (2014). Business Statistics. 3rd Edition. Publisher : Pearson; 3rd edition (January 23, 2014) ... ISBN-13: 978-0321925831 ISBN-10: 9780321925831

Heizer, J. and Render, B. (2015). Principles of Operations Management. 9th Edition

ISBN-13: 978-0132968362 ISBN-10: 0132968363

Agresti, Alan (2013). Categorical data analysis. 3rd Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New Jersey. ISBN: 978-0-470-46363-5

Coolican, H. (2014). Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology. 6th Edition. New York, NY: Psychology Press.

Kyriazos, T. A. (2018). Applied Psychometrics: Sample Size and Sample Power Considerations in Factor Analysis (EFA, CFA) and SEM in General. Psychology, Volume 9, pages 2207-2230. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2018.98126

Gravetter, F.J. and Forzano, Lori-Ann B. (2018). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. 6th Edition. ISBN-13: 978-1337613316 ISBN-10: 1337613312

IBM (2018). IBM SPSS Statistics Base 24, NY, IBM

Hair, J. F., Sarstedt, M., Ringle, C. M. and Gudergan, S. P. (2018). Advanced Issues in Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Schreiber, James B. (2008). Core reporting practices in structural equation modelling. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Volume 4, Issue 2, pages 8-97. DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2007.04.003

Raykov, Tenko (2005). Strong Consistency of Reliability Estimators for Multiple-Component. Measuring Instruments. Structural Equation Modelling.

Boosma, A. (2000). Reporting Analyses of Covariance Structures. Structural Equation Modelling, Volume 7, Issue 3, pages 461-483. https://doi.org/(...)7/S15328007SEM0703_6

Hair, J., Black, W., Babin, B., Anderson, R. and Tatham, R. (2010). Multivariate data analysis 7th Edition. Uppersaddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Pallant, J. (2013). SPSS Survival Manual. A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS. 4th Edition. Allen and Unwin.

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M. and Sarstedt, M. (2014). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Sherwood, G, Cherian, Usha K, Horton-Deutsch, S., Kitzmiller, R. and Smith-Miller, C. (2018). Reflective practices: meaningful recognition for healthy work environments. Nursing Management, Evidence and Practice.

Finney, S. J. and DiStefano, C. (2013). Non-normal and categorical data in structural equation modelling. A second course, pages 269-314

Loehlin, J.C. (2004). Latent variable models: An introduction to factor, path, and structural analysis. Lawrence Erlbaum: Hillsdale, NJ.

Brown, T. (2012). Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Applied Research. NY: Guildford Press.

Suitable for beginners.

Kline, R. B. (2016). Methodology in the social sciences. Principles and practice of structural equation modelling (4th ed.). Guilford Press.

Blunch, N.J. (2016). Introduction to structural equation modelling using IBM SPSS STATISTICS

and EQS. Sage:Los Angeles.

Jeyaraj, A., Rottman, J., and Lacity, M. (2006). A review of the predictors, linkages, and biases in IT innovation adoption research. Journal of Information Technology, Volume 21, Issue 1, pages 1-23.

Dedrick, J. and Zheng Y. (2011). Smart Grid Adoption: A Strategic Institutional Perspective. Industry Studies Association Annual Conference 2011. Pittsburgh, PA.

Lin, C.Y., Ho, Y.H. (2011), Determinants of green practice adoption for logistics companies in China. Journal of Business Ethics, Volume 98, Issue 1, pages 67-83.

http://www.academicjournals.org/app/webroot/article/article1380634357_Weng%20and%20Lin.pdf

Nan, N., Zmud, R. and Yetgin, E. (2014). A complex adaptive systems perspective of innovation diffusion: an integrated theory and validated virtual laboratory. Comput Math Organ Theory 20, 52–88 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10588-013-9159-9

Basto, Mário and Pereira, José Manuel (2012). An SPSS R-Menu for Ordinal Factor Analysis. Journal of Statistical Software, Volume 46 (2012), Issue 4. DOI:10.1867/jss.v046.i04




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v27.2.3295

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2021 Catherine Mazwi Roseline Tsikirayi

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.