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Business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce adoption has experienced rapid growth in recent times and has become one of the fastest technology adoptions among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. A firm's resource endowments influence its B2B e-commerce adoption levels that lead to competitive advantage being gained in proportion to that level of adoption. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data for this research, 315 usable responses were obtained from owners and managers of small and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Ghana. This research uses structural equation modelling to examine how different levels of B2B e-commerce adoption affects different types of competitive advantage. The main finding is that SMEs can achieve cost reduction that helps them save on costs in their operational activities through higher levels of B2B e-commerce adoption. Implications of the research, its limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.Hu, X., Ocloo, C. E., Akaba, S., & Worwui-Brown, D. (2019). Effects of business to business e-commerce adoption on competitive advantage of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises.

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Background The misconceptions and conspiracy theories against the Covid-19 vaccines have been identified as potential factors that could negatively impact herd immunity for the Covid-19 vaccination. Focus of the article From the perspectives of the Health Belief Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior, the study sought to determine an effective social marketing intervention to address the misconceptions about the Covid-19 vaccines. Research Hypotheses The hypotheses stipulate that perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefit, and perceived barriers of the coronavirus will positively influence Covid-19 vaccination behavior. The study further hypothesized that subjective norms (important others) would significantly mediate the relationships. Methods Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 821 individuals from three administrative regions, which constitutes 65% of the population of Ghana. The quota and convenience sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents due to the lack of a sampling frame. Results The study’s findings show that only perceived susceptibility and the perceived barrier directly influence the Covid-19 vaccination behavior. The result, however, shows a significant improvement when important others were introduced as a mediating variable. Thus, all four constructs had a positive and significant influence on Covid-19 vaccination behavior through subjective norm (important others) as an intervening variable. The study shows the value of using opinion leaders as a communication channel in addressing the misperceptions and conspiracy theories against the Covid-19 vaccines. Recommendation for Research/Practice To effectively address the misconceptions about the Covid-19 vaccines and improve herd immunity, social marketers should identify key influencers in various communities and cities and use them in promoting the vaccination program. The study examined and found subjective norms (perceived social pressure from important others in society on an individual to perform or not to perform a behavior) as a significant mediator for promoting the Covid-19 vaccination behavior. Limitations The current study examined the mediating role of subjective norm and the HBMs' constructs. Future studies could also consider integrating subjective norm as a mediator in other behavioral change theories to predict the target audience’s behavior.