E-commerce and entrepreneurship in SMEs : the case of myBot

Purpose:The adoption of e-commerce in Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) is a much-researched topic in developed and developing nations. The application of mobile devices, and social media networks (SMN) such as Facebook has revolutionised the e-commerce adoption process in SMEs. However, research into this area is still developing and there is a dearth of knowledge on how SMEs in developing countries enact and apply this phenomenon. This paper explains how e-commerce entrepreneurship using SMN is conceptualised and applied in SMEs, and highlights factors that influence this e-commerce innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach:An interpretive and qualitative case study approach was adopted as a methodological foundation in a firm pseudo-named, myBot. The study employed Contextualism theory as a meta-theoretical framework to conceptualise and analyse the e-commerce entrepreneurship process in the firm. The study employed face-to-face semi-structured and unstructured interviews with the manager as primary means of obtaining in-depth information. Further information was obtained through website content analysis and document analysis of the firm’s reports and observations. Findings:The results unearth a socially-constructed feature of e-commerce entrepreneurship that draws from myBot’s manager’s innovative ability to use Facebook and e-mail to increase sales through its niche market. Factors that propelled e-commerce entrepreneurial activities using Facebook include trust, commitment and innovativeness. Originality/Value:The study provides a theoretical lens into the understanding of an ecommerce entrepreneurship process using a Contextualism theory. The paper showcases how e-commerce using Facebook can be portrayed in a developing country context. Keywords:E-commerce, Entrepreneurship, SMN, Contextualism, SMEs, Interpretive, Case study

Factors affecting e-commerce adoption in small and medium enterprises : an interpretive study of Botswana

This study aimed to investigate the factors that affect e-commerce adoption in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the developing country context of Botswana. The research was undertaken using an interpretive paradigm with multiple case studies in nine SMEs that were codenamed C1Alpha, C5Home, C6Lodge C2Beta, C3Gamma, C4Teq, C7Panda, C8Estate, and C9Autoco. Data collection tools and techniques involved face-to-face semi-structured and unstructured interviews, telephone interviews, website content analysis, document analysis of SME reports and observations. A conceptual framework was developed to capture elements from extant e-commerce adoption literature that are defined in the research question. Data collected from each of the SMEs was analysed to present the findings based on the elements described above. These elements include the following: 1) the nature and characteristic of the business environment, 2) use of ICT and Web Applications; 3) managerial characteristics and perception of e-commerce; 4) factors that affect e-commerce adoption or the lack of it; 5) the interaction of the factors and how they determine the level of e-commerce adoption, and 6) the role of the local business environment. The main findings of this study are the factors for e-commerce adoption for each of the SMEs. The study emerges with factors of e-commerce adoption that have been derived from various patterns of e-commerce adoption as represented in the nature and characteristics of the SMEs. This study makes a theoretical contribution by proposing a conceptual framework for investigating factors affecting e-commerce adoption in SMEs. Methodologically, the study adds a different blend to the research approach by undertaking in-depth studies on selected SMEs in Botswana, and provides an interpretive assessment of e-commerce adoption research in a developing country context of Botswana. Strategies for improving e-commerce development in the selected SMEs are presented, as well as implications of the research findings. This study provides insights into understanding SME e-commerce adoption factors in other contexts with similar characteristics

Explaining contextual factors affecting e-commerce adoption progression in selected SMEs: Evidence from Botswana

This paper provides an interpretive account of contextual factors that affect the progression of e-commerce in six Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in a developing country context of Botswana. The methodology followed multiple in-depth case studies, using semi-structured face-to-face interviews, website analysis, observation and document analysis. Results show that contextual factors peculiar to each SME provide better explanations on how SMEs progress in e-commerce adoption. At the high level of adoption, managerial innovativeness and the nature of the external e-commerce market has contributed to success in two SMEs, whereas the local business environment in combination with some organisational factors can explain the low-level and non-adoption in the other four SMEs. Future implications indicate that managers need to pay particular detail to the unique and idiosyncratic nature of SMEs in guiding decisions for e-commerce adoption in their firms

Digital Entrepreneurship in Business Enterprises: A Systematic Review

This study systematically reviews extant contemporary literature on digital entrepreneurship in peer-reviewed journal articles over six years (2013–2018) from six journal databases. It involved a systematic literature review of 101 papers from 53 journals focusing on the publication outlets, yearly trends, themes, and associated theoretical and conceptual approaches, methodologies, sources and geographical distribution of digital entrepreneurship research. The findings suggest that extant literature mostly lacked sound theoretical underpinnings. More work adopting appropriate and proven theoretical approaches is needed. Most of the reviewed papers also focused mainly on issues relating to the technology itself than those relating to the enterprise or the entrepreneur. The capabilities and capacities of enterprises, as well as the strategies in implementing digital technologies and harnessing the opportunities of digitalization, are key issues that have not hitherto received much attention. The study contributes to the understanding of the conceptualization of the digital entrepreneurship phenomenon. Future research should consolidate the understanding of the field, with models and frameworks that recognize digital entrepreneurship as an academic research field in its own right, and also consider the impact of enterprise capabilities and capacities on digital entrepreneurship