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Improving Entrepreneurs’ Digital Skills and Firms’ Digital Competencies through Business Apps Training: A Study of Small Firms

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  • Nick Drydakis

    (School of Economics, International Business and Law, Centre for Pluralist Economics, Faculty of Business and Law, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
    Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RF, UK
    Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, 10 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RF, UK
    Global Labor Organization, Leimkugelstraße 6, 45141 Essen, Germany)

Abstract

The lack of awareness of digital services and outcomes is a concern in business environments since small firms need to improve their digital competencies. The present exploratory study investigated whether business apps training was associated with entrepreneurs’ and firms’ digital advancements. The business apps training was offered to migrant entrepreneurs running small firms in Athens (Greece) over three months, with data collected before and after the training. The analysis revealed that business apps training was positively associated with entrepreneurs’ attitudes toward technology, willingness to change (relating to technology/skills/operations), and internet/digital skills, as well as an increased use of business apps. Moreover, the training was positively associated with firms’ digital competencies related to communication, networking, social media, customer relationship management, payments, accounting and finance, and project management operations. Furthermore, business apps training was positively associated with migrant entrepreneurs’ integration into Greek society. Given the increased number of migrants in Europe, factors that positively impact their entrepreneurship and integration merit consideration. The study provides researchers with a systematic method for evaluating the association between business app training and entrepreneurs’ and firms’ digital advancements.

Suggested Citation

  • Nick Drydakis, 2022. "Improving Entrepreneurs’ Digital Skills and Firms’ Digital Competencies through Business Apps Training: A Study of Small Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:8:p:4417-:d:789054
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    Cited by:

    1. Maurizio Dallocchio & Marcello Lambri & Emiliano Sironi & Emanuele Teti, 2024. "The Role of Digitalization in Cross-Border E-Commerce Performance of Italian SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Drydakis, Nick, 2024. "Reducing the Gender Digital Divide Amongst Immigrant Entrepreneurs," IZA Discussion Papers 17275, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Chuangxin Zhao & Manping Tang & Houjian Li, 2022. "The Effects of Vocational-Skills Training on Migrant Workers’ Willingness to Settle in Urban Areas in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Edīte Sarva & Gatis Lāma & Alise Oļesika & Linda Daniela & Zanda Rubene, 2023. "Development of Education Field Student Digital Competences—Student and Stakeholders’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Drydakis, Nick, 2024. "Small Enterprises' Digital Competencies and Financial Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 17516, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    training; entrepreneurs; small firms; business apps; digital skills; digital competencies; integration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M53 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Training
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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