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E-business and fast growth SMEs

Author

Listed:
  • Rui Bi

    (Charles Sturt University)

  • Robert M. Davison

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Kosmas X. Smyrnios

    (RMIT University)

Abstract

This paper tests a theoretical model to evaluate e-business capability and value in the fast growth small-to-medium enterprise (SME) context. We propose that e-business value depends on how fast growth SMEs deploy IT resources, strategic planning, culture, and business partnerships to develop e-business capability and business process competence which help these companies to achieve outstanding business performance. Structural equation modelling is employed to test our theoretical conceptualization on a cohort of 310 Australian fast growth SMEs across different industrial sectors. The results show that IT resources, strategic IT alignment, market orientation, and business partnerships do contribute significantly and indirectly to SME performance through the development of e-business capability and business process competence. Our study provides an initial empirical evidence to understand the relationship between IT and entrepreneurial SME performance. These findings have important implications for research and business practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Bi & Robert M. Davison & Kosmas X. Smyrnios, 2017. "E-business and fast growth SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 559-576, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:48:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11187-016-9788-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-016-9788-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Razmdoost, Kamran & Alinaghian, Leila & Linder, Christian, 2020. "New venture formation: A capability configurational approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 290-302.
    5. Naiana ŢARCĂ & Mirela BUCUREAN & Dinu SASU & Remus ROȘCA, 2022. "Analysis Of The Online Purchase Behaviour Of Romanians," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 2(2), pages 230-246, December.
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    7. Alžbeta Kucharčíková & Martin Mičiak & Miloš Hitka, 2018. "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Investment in Human Capital in E-Business Enterprise in the Context of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-23, September.
    8. Sunday Bolade, 2024. "Towards a Measurable Substance of Organizational Knowledge," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 751-770, March.
    9. David B. Audretsch & Maksim Belitski & Rosa Caiazza & Farzana Chowdhury & Matthias Menter, 2023. "Entrepreneurial growth, value creation and new technologies," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 1535-1551, October.
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