Driving the internet and e-business technologies to generate a competitive advantage in emerging markets

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically examine a comprehensive model that attempts to identify the factors that explain competitive advantage of implementing electronic business (e-business) in an emerging market. It seeks to fulfill an inevitable lack of conducting rigorous and intensive empirical studies on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in which the internet use and e-business applications are on the rise. Design/methodology/approach This research is descriptive in nature where a quantitative research methodology is deployed. Data are collected using both interviews and e-survey for a sample of 302 Egyptian companies serving in diverse industries. A multivariate partial least squares technique is employed to analyze the collected data. Findings This study explores various e-business modes and applications widely employed in the MENA region. It also addresses a set of e-business-driven competitive advantages that are mainly generated from supportive ICT environment, major market forces and strategic opportunities, and at last, from electronically driven customers’ relationship initiatives. A number of e-business barriers are claimed to moderate the relationship between those forces and the resulting competitive advantages. Research limitations/implications Although this research main framework incorporates important variables based on theoretical and empirical foundations, integrating other factors may extend understanding of how these factors, independently and/or interactively, explain the adoption of e-business and its merit to create distinctive competitive advantage. Practical implications This work helps managers and e-business experts alike to comprehend the ways through which firms target the applications of e-business technologies to realize a competitive edge in MENA region. It also helps practitioners and professionals comprehend the interrelationship between the type of forces drive e-business based competitive position and key barriers that deteriorate such a connection in emerging markets. Originality/value A model that enables scholars to better understanding the e-business phenomenon in MENA market is developed and validated. This model rests on e-business experts’ perspectives, reflections and it is evidently substantiated by past works in the areas.

E-Commerce in Trade Companies During the Conditions of a Pandemic Crisis: Case Studies

“…This comprises converting resources into value and extracting profits. Businesses need to manage customer needs, produce what customers demand, and to provide product value to customers (to manage Internet commerce) 19 .…”

Untitled

“…The literature argues that t's essential to examine the moderating effects of organizational variables such as technical capability on the relationship between IT adoption and competitive advantage (Chen, 2019). Investigating such a moderating role of technical capability (technology adoption barriers) in the relationship between IT adoption and competitive advantage can better explain technology adoption and its merit to create distinctive competitive advantage (Shehata & Montash, 2019;Chiu and Yang, 2019). Technical capability is defined as "the physical assets that are essential to adopt innovations, such as computer hardware, data, and networking" (Chen, 2019, p. 60).…”

“…Past studies have empirically confirmed that environmental context moderates the relationship between TOE factors and IT adoption. However, little is known about the moderating role of organizational-level factors such as technical capability in the relationship between IT adoption and competitive advantage (Chen, 2019;Shehata & Montash, 2019). strong technical capability can influence firms' competitive advantage, improve the overall quality of employees, enhance internal and external communication efficiency, facilitate the delivery of technical solutions for integrating advanced technologies, and then achieve firms' objectives (Chen, 2019).…”

“…strong technical capability can influence firms' competitive advantage, improve the overall quality of employees, enhance internal and external communication efficiency, facilitate the delivery of technical solutions for integrating advanced technologies, and then achieve firms' objectives (Chen, 2019). Thus, technical capability can be considered a facilitator to enhance the overall technology adoption and the competitive advantage of the firms (Shehata & Montash, 2019;Chen, 2019).…”

The Determinants of Employee’s Performance: A Literature Review

“…ICT facilitates abroad range of organization's activities related to production, marketing, customer loyalty and employee performance (Reichstein, 2019). Shehata & Montash (2019) claim that ICT transformed the nature of products, markets, companies and the competition itself. ICT restructures many industries, enhance managing cost and created entirely new business models.…”