E-business and fast growth SMEs

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

28 Scopus Citations
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Author(s)

Related Research Unit(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)559-576
Journal / PublicationSmall Business Economics
Volume48
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2017

Abstract

This paper tests a theoretical model to evaluate e-business capability and value in the fast growth small-to-medium enterprise (SME) context. We propose that e-business value depends on how fast growth SMEs deploy IT resources, strategic planning, culture, and business partnerships to develop e-business capability and business process competence which help these companies to achieve outstanding business performance. Structural equation modelling is employed to test our theoretical conceptualization on a cohort of 310 Australian fast growth SMEs across different industrial sectors. The results show that IT resources, strategic IT alignment, market orientation, and business partnerships do contribute significantly and indirectly to SME performance through the development of e-business capability and business process competence. Our study provides an initial empirical evidence to understand the relationship between IT and entrepreneurial SME performance. These findings have important implications for research and business practices.

Research Area(s)

  • Business process competence, E-business capability, E-business value, Fast growth SMEs, Resource-based view of the firms theory

Citation Format(s)

E-business and fast growth SMEs. / Bi, Rui; Davison, Robert M.; Smyrnios, Kosmas X.

In: Small Business Economics, Vol. 48, No. 3, 03.2017, p. 559-576.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62)21_Publication in refereed journalpeer-review