The Influence of Environmental Factors on the Adoption of E – Commerce by the Small Medium Enterprise in Nigeria.
Factors on the Adoption of E – Commerce by the Small Medium Enterprise in Nigeria.
Keywords:
Keywords: E- Commerce, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), environmental factors, organizational factors, adoption of E – Commerce.Abstract
ABSTRACT
Electronic commerce (EC) offers considerable benefits and opportunities for enterprises. Despite the benefits, however, several scholars have shown that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been lagging in EC adoption. In this regard, this study aimed to explore environment as a factor that influence EC adoption among SMEs in developing countries, in the context of Nigerian retail SMEs in southeast Nigeria. The target population consisted of top managements and middle management who are engaged in decision making in the organization. The study selected sample of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in Imo State, Nigeria. A total of 385 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents through google form, emails and direct administration using hard copies. The data collected from the field via the use of a questionnaire were updated and subjected to a comprehensive analysis to check for reliability and validity of the instrument. The study used SPSS Version 27 and AMOS for descriptive analysis and inferential analysis respectively. An exploratory factor analysis was performed on the questionnaire items. The findings among others include that: gender and age play significant roles in determining whether SME owners adopt e-commerce; educational qualification is moderately associated with e-commerce adoption, environmental factor, government support and competitive pressure are potential obstacles to e- commerce adoption. Based on the findings the following recommendations are proffered: Governments can play a crucial role in creating an environment that is conducive to e-commerce growth through various means, such as financial incentives, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, and educational programs. ; policymakers and government agencies can design targeted support programs for SMEs based on demographic characteristics; researchers can build upon these findings by conducting more in-depth studies to explore the specific challenges and opportunities within Imo State's Ecommerce landscape and Consumers should be aware of the environmental practices of businesses and may choose to support those that prioritize sustainability in their Ecommerce operations.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Chinonso Uzoaru
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