E-Business Strategy in Developing Countries: A Framework and Checklist for the Small Business Sector

Martin Wynn and Olakunle Olayinka
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Martin Wynn: School of Computing and Engineering, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK
Olakunle Olayinka: Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: Since the turn of the century, there has been a growth in the use of e-business by both large and small companies worldwide, a trend that has been given further impetus by the move to online trading in the COVID-19 pandemic era. For small companies, there are the potential benefits of increased efficiencies and market share gain, associated with the re-engineering of selling and marketing processes; but in developing countries, such as Nigeria, research into how small businesses are using e-business systems and technologies is limited. This article builds upon earlier case study research in the Nigerian small business sector to develop a framework for e-business strategy development, implementation and review. Using an inductive approach, data was collected from six small businesses, using interviews and questionnaires, to profile the e-business operations of these companies. This study found that e-business strategy was generally lacking in these companies, but interview material was used to support the development and validation of the strategy framework, which provides a process and a checklist for small businesses pursuing e-business initiatives in developing world environments.

Keywords: e-business; Nigeria; small business enterprises; strategy development; strategy implementation; strategy framework (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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