No abstract

With the availability of the Internet as an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tool, electronic commerce (e-commerce) has received much attention in many Western and developed countries. However, it has been given little attention in emerging economies, and therefore e-commerce adoption has been particularly difficult for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this review paper is to explore several types of barriers that influence the adoption of e-commerce by SMEs in emerging economies. An exhaustive review of the literature was conducted on the subject. It further evaluates and extends Tornatzky and Fleischer’s (1990) Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework by adding a micro-level context - that of the ‘entrepreneurial (individual) characteristics of owner-managers’ to examine various contextual challenges SMEs face in adopting e-commerce in emerging economies. The paper examines a number of new dynamic and contextual barriers identified in the study, grouping them into four themes: technological, organizational, environmental and extended ‘entrepreneurial (individual) characteristics of owner-managers’. The paper sets up a new conceptual framework and has established a holistic view of contextual barrier themes for the coming years. In addition, this theoretical model provides us with the new barriers related to ‘entrepreneurial (individual) characteristics of owners/managers’ and ‘local business institutions in supporting e-commerce’ that influences the adoption of e-commerce by SMEs in emerging economies. Based on this extended framework, future areas of research can be determined, and owner-managers of SMEs, new entrepreneurs and government authorities in emerging economies will be able to identify emerging concepts in e-commerce.

The main objective of this study is to explore various barriers that are preventing Pakistani HEIs (universities) students from learning online in this COVID-19 pandemic. Applying a qualitative research design, twelve (12) in-depth interviews were conducted with individual business school participants (students), selected at undergraduate and graduate levels to participate. Data were collected from six (06) universities in Islamabad, Pakistan. After collecting the data using a self-developed questionnaire, a thematic analysis method within the qualitative research was applied to uncover several barriers relating to the objective of this study. Eight themes emerged from the interview data: internet technology access, the content of digital slides, student’s perception towards online learning, power outages during COVID-19 pandemic, students’ fear of losing marks and impact on employment, faculty skills in using technology to teach online, student’s stress and health in the COVID-19 pandemic and student skills to use distance learning tools. Based on the findings, students who live in rural areas are more affected by online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic than students in urban areas due to identified barriers and, most importantly, lack of technology infrastructure. Opportunities and future recommendations have been provided to the relevant authorities to conduct and deliver smooth online education in the country during pandemic.

SMEs are one of the main contributors to job creation and GDP. To ensure the sustainability of their business and meet market needs, the owner-managers these days, switch the functioning of SMEs from traditional to latest technological frameworks. However, even after adoption, local SMEs are still not fully able to exploit and reap the benefits of information and communication technologies (ICTs). To understand this issue, this research focuses on two research objectives. First, it highlights the impact of ICT usage on SMEs. And, second, it tries to identify different factors that affect the ICTs adoption in SMEs. Main contribution of this research is that it extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) on two antecedents of Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) as a theoretical framework. For this research, qualitative interviews were conducted from ten (10) owner-managers of SMEs in Pakistan. A careful thematic analysis of interview data reveals the emergence of five different themes: the impact of ICT usage on SMEs, cultural decisions, factors affecting the adoption of ICT in SMEs, entrepreneurial characteristics of owner-managers, and the role of governments and institutional support leading to successful adoption of ICT in SMEs. Findings of this study have significance for SME’s owner-managers, government bodies, and relevant business authorities who wish to address issues pertaining to the adoption and increase in ICT usage among SMEs in Pakistan.

Purpose The link between SME performance, growth and development is well established; however, the characteristics of SMEs that allow firms to be successful in the long run in an underdeveloped country context, i.e. Pakistan, are still unclear. This paper aims to bridge this gap by identifying the SMEs’ characteristics that set them apart from their rivals and become successful. Design/methodology/approach This study uses Storey’s development framework to identify the SMEs’ characteristics. Data is gathered using the case study method from SMEs with a metropolitan context in Pakistan. A narrative methodological framework was used during the data gathering and analysing stages. Findings Findings of this study indicate that the prosperity of SMEs in Pakistan is dependent on a combination of characteristics, including entrepreneurial characteristics of owner–managers, knowledge of business operating models, social networks and relationship building and innovation in business style. Additionally, other factors such as governance structure, strategic planning of market diversification and export characteristics also influence the prosperity of an SME. These findings may have several important implications for key stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, SMEs and policymakers in the government. Originality/value This research provides evidence about factors that can help an SME to become successful in uncertain situations surrounding a business environment. Theoretically, the contribution of this research is that it demonstrates that entrepreneurial characteristics and the effective leadership style of owner–managers can help SMEs achieve prosperity in external unforeseeable situations.