IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i13p7949-d851668.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Adoption of Digital Technologies by SMEs for Sustainability and Value Creation: Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation

Author

Listed:
  • Demetris Vrontis

    (School of Business, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2417, Cyprus)

  • Ranjan Chaudhuri

    (Department of Marketing, Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, Ranchi 834008, Jharkhand, India)

  • Sheshadri Chatterjee

    (Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, West Bengal, India)

Abstract

Digital business transformation is considered an effective business strategy that appears to have gained attention since the enterprises are challenged to continuously improve their business practices as well as capabilities. The use of digital technologies could reduce the influence of external crises and could introduce massive changes in business operations by providing better business models. Moreover, adopting digital technology can influence both economic sustainability and social value of enterprises and can improve regional socio-economic conditions. There are few recent studies on how technology can empower enterprises at different phases of growth and sustainability; furthermore, very few studies are available that determine how adopting different modern digital technologies can create value for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, this study aims to close this gap and investigate the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation. With the support of resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability view (DCV) theories, along with a literature review, a theoretical model has been developed. It was then validated using the PLS-SEM technique considering 319 respondents who are SME employees in India. The findings show that adopting digital technologies has a significant impact on the creation of economic sustainability and social value for SMEs. The study also found a significant moderating impact of entrepreneurial orientation on the relationship between social and economic value creation and SME performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Demetris Vrontis & Ranjan Chaudhuri & Sheshadri Chatterjee, 2022. "Adoption of Digital Technologies by SMEs for Sustainability and Value Creation: Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7949-:d:851668
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7949/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/13/7949/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elia, Gianluca & Margherita, Alessandro & Passiante, Giuseppina, 2020. "Digital entrepreneurship ecosystem: How digital technologies and collective intelligence are reshaping the entrepreneurial process," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Andreas Rauch & Johan Wiklund & G.T. Lumpkin & Michael Frese, 2009. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance: An Assessment of past Research and Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(3), pages 761-787, May.
    3. Robert W. Fairlie, 2020. "The Impact of Covid-19 on Small Business Owners: The First Three Months after Social-Distancing Restrictions," CESifo Working Paper Series 8581, CESifo.
    4. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Vrontis, Demetris & Thrassou, Alkis & Ghosh, Soumya Kanti, 2021. "Adoption of artificial intelligence-integrated CRM systems in agile organizations in India," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    5. Sheshadri Chatterjee, 2021. "Antecedence of Attitude Towards IoT Usage: A Proposed Unified Model for IT Professionals and Its Validation," International Journal of Human Capital and Information Technology Professionals (IJHCITP), IGI Global Scientific Publishing, vol. 12(2), pages 13-34, April.
    6. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    7. Shahriar Akter & Samuel Fosso Wamba, 2016. "Big data analytics in E-commerce: a systematic review and agenda for future research," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(2), pages 173-194, May.
    8. Sarah Drakopoulou Dodd & Briga Chris Hynes, 2012. "The impact of regional entrepreneurial contexts upon enterprise education," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(9-10), pages 741-766, December.
    9. Salma S. Abed & Yogesh K. Dwivedi & Michael D. Williams, 2016. "Social commerce as a business tool in Saudi Arabia's SMEs," International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19.
    10. Robert Fairlie, 2020. "The impact of COVID‐19 on small business owners: Evidence from the first three months after widespread social‐distancing restrictions," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 727-740, October.
    11. Vincenzo Morabito, 2015. "Big Data and Analytics," Springer Books, Springer, edition 127, number 978-3-319-10665-6, January.
    12. David B. Audretsch & Maksim Belitski, 2021. "Towards an entrepreneurial ecosystem typology for regional economic development: the role of creative class and entrepreneurship," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 735-756, April.
    13. Zbysław Dobrowolski, 2021. "Internet of Things and Other E-Solutions in Supply Chain Management May Generate Threats in the Energy Sector—The Quest for Preventive Measures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-11, August.
    14. Friederike Welter & Ted Baker & Katharine Wirsching, 2019. "Three waves and counting: the rising tide of contextualization in entrepreneurship research," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 52(2), pages 319-330, February.
    15. Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Vrontis, Demetris, 2022. "AI and digitalization in relationship management: Impact of adopting AI-embedded CRM system," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 437-450.
    16. Blake D. Mathias & Annelore Huyghe & David W. Williams, 2020. "Selling your soul to the devil? The importance of independent ownership to identity distinctiveness for oppositional categories," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(13), pages 2548-2584, December.
    17. Sheshadri Chatterjee & Ranjan Chaudhuri & Georgia Sakka & Balakrishna Grandhi & Antonino Galati & Evangelia Siachou & Demetris Vrontis, 2021. "Adoption of Social Media Marketing for Sustainable Business Growth of SMEs in Emerging Economies: The Moderating Role of Leadership Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-16, November.
    18. Rajesh K. Singh & Suresh K. Garg & S.G. Deshmukh, 2010. "The competitiveness of SMEs in a globalized economy," Management Research Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(1), pages 54-65, January.
    19. Oprișan Oana & Tileagă Cosmin & Niţu Claudiu Valentin, 2017. "Artificial Intelligence - A New Field of Computer Science Which Any Business Should Consider," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(1), pages 356-360, June.
    20. Gry Agnete Alsos & Tommy Høyvarde Clausen & Ulla Hytti & Sølvi Solvoll, 2016. "Entrepreneurs’ social identity and the preference of causal and effectual behaviours in start-up processes," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(3-4), pages 234-258, March.
    21. Ana M. Moreno & José C. Casillas, 2008. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Growth of SMEs: A Causal Model," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(3), pages 507-528, May.
    22. Robert Fairlie, 2020. "The impact of COVID‐19 on small business owners: Evidence from the first three months after widespread social‐distancing restrictions," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 727-740, October.
    23. Kate V. Lewis, 2016. "Identity capital: an exploration in the context of youth social entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(3-4), pages 191-205, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maksim Belitski & Christina Guenther & Alexander S. Kritikos & Roy Thurik, 2022. "Economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on entrepreneurship and small businesses," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 593-609, February.
    2. Kyung Min Lee & John S. Earle & Lokesh Dani & Ray Bowman, 2023. "Who innovates during a crisis? Evidence from small businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 33(3), pages 893-950, July.
    3. Shahriar Akter & Katina Michael & Muhammad Rajib Uddin & Grace McCarthy & Mahfuzur Rahman, 2022. "Transforming business using digital innovations: the application of AI, blockchain, cloud and data analytics," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 308(1), pages 7-39, January.
    4. Iva Gregurec & Martina Tomičić Furjan & Katarina Tomičić-Pupek, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Sustainable Business Models in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-24, January.
    5. Ioannis Giotopoulos & Alexander S. Kritikos & Aggelos Tsakanikas, 2023. "A lasting crisis affects R&D decisions of smaller firms: the Greek experience," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1161-1175, August.
    6. Martín-Rojas, Rodrigo & Garrido-Moreno, Aurora & García-Morales, Víctor J., 2023. "Social media use, corporate entrepreneurship and organizational resilience: A recipe for SMEs success in a post-Covid scenario," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    7. John C. Haltiwanger, 2022. "Entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from the Business Formation Statistics," Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 1(1), pages 9-42.
    8. Robert Fairlie & Frank M. Fossen, 2022. "The 2021 Paycheck Protection Program Reboot: Loan Disbursement to Employer and Nonemployer Businesses in Minority Communities," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 112, pages 287-291, May.
    9. Vincent Miozzi & Benjamin Powell, 2023. "The pre-pandemic political economy determinants of lockdown severity," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 197(1), pages 167-183, October.
    10. Lingli Yu & Ling Yang, 2024. "News media in crisis: a sentiment and emotion analysis of US news articles on unemployment in the COVID-19 pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    11. Michael Sheppard, 2020. "The relationship between discretionary slack and growth in small firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 195-219, March.
    12. Abel Brodeur & David Gray & Anik Islam & Suraiya Bhuiyan, 2021. "A literature review of the economics of COVID‐19," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(4), pages 1007-1044, September.
    13. Santos, Cezar & Kozeniauskas, Nicholas & Moreira, Pedro, 2020. "Covid-19 and Firms: Productivity and Government Policies," CEPR Discussion Papers 15156, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    14. Michal Hrivnák & Peter Moritz & Marcela Chreneková, 2021. "What Kept the Boat Afloat? Sustainability of Employment in Knowledge-Intensive Sectors Due to Government Measures during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-21, July.
    15. Lafortune, Jeanne & Pugatch, Todd & Tessada, José & Ubfal, Diego, 2022. "Can interactive online training make high school students more entrepreneurial? Experimental evidence from Rwanda," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1041, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    16. Jacob A. Jordaan, 2023. "Firm‐level characteristics and the impact of COVID‐19: Examining the effects of foreign ownership and international trade," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(7), pages 1967-1998, July.
    17. Jose Ribamar Siqueira Junior & Enrique Horst & German Molina & Laura H. Gunn & Felipe Reinoso-Carvalho & Burcu Sezen & Nathalie Peña-García, 2023. "Branding in the eye of the storm: the impact of brand ethical behavior on brand commitment during the COVID-19 crisis in a South American country," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 95-115, March.
    18. Rajapakshe, PSK & Gamage, SKN & Prasanna, RPIR & Jayasundara, JMSB & Ekanayake, EMS & Upulwehera, JMHM & Wijerathna, WAID & Abeyrathne, GAKNJ, 2020. "Social Capital, Performance of SMEs, and COVID-19 Pandemic," MPRA Paper 109530, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 30 Aug 2020.
    19. Georgij Alekseev & Safaa Amer & Manasa Gopal & Theresa Kuchler & J. W. Schneider & Johannes Stroebel & Nils Wernerfelt, 2023. "The Effects of COVID-19 on U.S. Small Businesses: Evidence from Owners, Managers, and Employees," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(1), pages 7-24, January.
    20. Radeef Chundakkadan & Rajesh Raj Natarajan & Subash Sasidharan, 2022. "Small firms amidst COVID‐19: Financial constraints and role of government support," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 51(3), November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:13:p:7949-:d:851668. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.