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Environmental and technological factor diffusion with innovation and firm performance: Empirical evidence from manufacturing SMEs

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: The adoption of e-commerce is essential in today’s dynamic business environment to optimize the overall firm performance of manufacturing SMEs. This research investigates the influence of environmental and technological factors to promote e-commerce adoption and subsequent firm performance in manufacturing SMEs. Technology usage for sustainable production is becoming a global phenomenon, though it seems less prevalent in emerging economies. Fewer studies address technology adoption issues to enhance corporate performance in Pakistani manufacturing SMEs. The present study adopted a resource-based view with the diffusion of innovation theory to formulate a research framework. We chose a stratified proportionate random sampling method to collect data by selecting four heterogeneous strata. Out of 800 distributed questionnaires, 368 top- and middle-level managers of textile, leather, sports, and surgical SMEs of Pakistan returned the questionnaire. This study employed PLS-SEM for empirical analysis. The results showed that both the technological factors’ relative advantage and technology readiness have a significant positive relationship with the use of e-commerce. However, environmental factors, i.e., competitive pressure, have an insignificant effect on e-commerce usage. Nevertheless, the government support has a significant positive effect on e-commerce usage in SMEs. Overall, e-commerce adoption depicts a positive association with firm performance.

Source: Frontiers in Environmental Science

DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.960095

Authors: Ahsan Akbar, Arsalan Hussain, Arfan Shahzad, Hana Mohelska, Rohail Hassan

Institutions: Guangzhou City University of Technology, Institute of Business Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, University of Hradec Králové

Language: English

Topic: Technology Adoption and User Behaviour

Subfield: Information Systems and Management

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,490