Assessing the use of e-business strategies by SMEs in Ghana during the Covid-19 pandemic

https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v2i3.800
Published: Oct 5, 2021

Abstract:

Purpose: The main purpose of this quantitative research was to assess various e-business strategies implored by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Research methodology: It made use of a descriptive design. Data was collected with the use of a structured questionnaire, analysed with excel and presented in tables and figures.

Results: The study revealed that small business owners have knowledge of e-business models with the most popular e-business model used being the Business to Consumer (B2C) model, while the least used model was the Business to Government (B2G) model. While imploring the use of e-business models and strategies, SMEs were faced with the challenge of very limited knowledge on the use of e-business strategies.

Limitations: The study was limited to businesses in the Tema Metropolitan Assembly of Ghana.

Contribution: Most of the SMEs were established in the traditional setting of business operations therefore there was little or no plan for integrating the internet in their operations. However, the pandemic has shifted their attention to adopting some virtual traction to their businesses for the benefit it offers such as continuous sales and more visibility. Further research on how each of the various concepts was used by SMEs is highly recommended.

Keywords:
1. E-Business
2. Strategies
3. SME
4. Covid-19
5. Pandemic
Authors:
1 . Rosina Naab
Department of Business Administration, BlueCrest University College, Kokomlemle, Accra, Ghana
2 . Anita Bans-Akutey
Department of Business Administration, BlueCrest University College, Kokomlemle, Accra, Ghana
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How to Cite
Naab, R., & Bans-Akutey, A. (2021). Assessing the use of e-business strategies by SMEs in Ghana during the Covid-19 pandemic. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 2(3), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v2i3.800
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Issue & Section
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2021): February
Articles
References

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  2. Amit, R., & Zott, C. (2001). Value creation in E?business. Strategic Management Journal, 22 (6-7), 493–520. DOI: 10.1002/smj.187
  3. Andam, Z. R. (2003). E-commerce and e-business. Retrieved from https://www.kau.edu.sa/Files/830/Files/61164_Ecommerce%20and%20E%20Business.pdf
  4. Ankumah, T. A., Bans-Akutey, A. (2021). Effect of Management Information System on the Productivity of Livestock Farming in Ghana: A Case Study of Selected Pig Farmers in Akuapem. Global Scientific Journal, 9(8), 607-614
  5. Aryeetey, E., Nuakoh, A. B., Dugglebey, T., Hettige, H., & Steel, W. F. (1994). Supply and Demand for Finance of Small Enterprises in Ghana. World Bank Discussion Papers. DOI: 10.1596/0-8213-2964-2
  6. Bans-Akutey, A. (2019). Staff perceptions on paperless management – A qualitative study of RPS Engineering Services Ghana Limited. International Journal of ICT and Management, 6(1), 6-14.
  7. Bans-Akutey, A. (2020). Change management amid pandemic – A case of educators in Ghana. Global Scientific Journal, 8(8), 1642-1649.
  8. Bans-Akutey, A. (2020). Differentiating micromanagement from effective management: A manager's guide. Global Scientific Journal, 8(11), 827-833
  9. Bans-Akutey, A. & Sowah, J. K. (2020). Examining management information systems in healthcare administration at the Sunyani West District of Ghana. Global Scientific Journal, 8(10), 489-499
  10. Boateng, R., Molla, A., Heeks, R., & Hinson, R. (2011). Advancing E-commerce Beyond Readiness in a Developing Country: Experiences of Ghanaian Firms. Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations 9 (1)), 1-16. DOI: 10.4018/jeco.2011010101
  11. Brache, A., & Webb, J. (2000). E-Business: The Eight Deadly Assumptions of e-Business. Journal of Business Strategy, 21(3), 13-17.
  12. Chatterjee, S., Moody, G. D., Lowry, P. B., Chakraborty, S., & Hardin, A. (2015). Strategic Relevance of Organizational Virtues Enabled By Information Technology in Organizational Innovation. Journal of Management Information Systems, 32(3), 158-196. DOI: 10.1080/07421222.2015.1099180Chinedu, O. F., Dennis, M. O., & Chikwuemeka-Onuzulike, N. (2020). Impact of Covid-19 on the survival of Igbo owned businesses in Nigeria: the nexus. International Journal of Financial, Accounting, and Management. 2(2), 121-130
  13. Christensen, G. E., & Methlie, L. B. (2003). Value Creation in eBusiness: Exploring the Impacts of Internet-Enabled Business Conduct. BLED 2003 Proceedings. 68.
  14. https://aisel.aisnet.org/bled2003/68
  15. Contributor, C. (2020). Examples of an E-Business Strategy. Retrieved from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-ebusiness-strategy-11453.html
  16. Dehua, H., Yaobin, L., & Deyi, Z. (2008). Empirical Study of Consumers' Purchase Intentions in C2C Electronic Commerce. Tsinghua Science & Technology, 13(3), 287-292. DOI: 10.1016/S1007-0214(08)70046-4
  17. Essel, S. A. (2006). E-commerce & E-business Management. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/8732657/Introduction_to_e_commerce_and_e_business_management
  18. Fahey, L., Srivastava, R. K., Sharon, J. S., & Smith, D. E. (2001). Linking E-Business and Operating Processes: The Role of Knowledge Management. IBM Systems Journal, 40(4), 889 - 907. DOI: 10.1147/sj.404.0889
  19. Fauska, P., Kryvinska, N. & Strauss, C. (2013) "E-Commerce and B2B Services Enterprises", The First International Workshop on Collaborative Enterprise Systems (COLLABES-2013), in conjunction with the 27th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications (AINA-2013), ISBN-13: 978-0-7695-4952-1/13, pp. 1141-1146.
  20. Fuseini, G. (2015). Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises' (SMEs') Access to
  21. Credit in Ghana: Determinants and Challenges. (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Ghana.
  22. Gerald, E., Obianuju, A., Chukwunonso, N. (2020). Strategic agility and performance of small and medium enterprises in the phase of Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Financial, Accounting, and Management, 2(1), 41-50
  23. Hamed, S. (2019). E Business: Concepts and Context with Illustrative Examples of e-business and e-commerce in education. 1-21. ResearchGate.
  24. Hackbarth, G., & Kettinger, W. J. (2000). Building an E-Business Strategy. Information Systems Management, 17(3), 78-93.
  25. Hayford, S. (2012). The Development of Small Medium Enterprises and their impact to the Ghanaian Economy (Unpublished master's thesis). Institute of Distance Learning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.
  26. Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., Camp, S. M., & Sexton, D. L. (2001). Strategic entrepreneurship: entrepreneurial strategies for wealth creation. Strategic Management Journal, 22, 479-491. DOI: 10.1002/smj.196
  27. Junghagen, S., & Linderoth, H. C. J. (2002). E-Business and the Formation of Strategies. International Federation for Information Processing, 259-274. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-35692-1_15
  28. Karmaker, J. (n.d.). Discuss the differences between e commerce and e business. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/25501806/Discuss_the_differences_between_e_commerce_and_e_business
  29. Kayanula, D., et al. (2000). The policy environment for promoting small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana and Malawi. ResearchGate.
  30. Kumar, V., & Raheja, G. (2012). Business to business (b2b) and business to consumer (b2c) management. International Journal of Computers & Technology, 3(3), 447-451.
  31. Kutz, M. (2016). Introduction to Ecommerce: Combining Business and Information Technology. Retrieved from https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/1c74f035/files/uploaded/introduction-to-e-commerce.pdf
  32. Li, Z., Anaba, A. O., Ma, Z., & Li, M. (2021). Ghanaian SMEs amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating the Influence of Entrepreneurial Orientation. Sustainability, 13, 1131. DOI: 10.3390/su13031131
  33. Lim, C. H., & Teoh, K. B. (2021). Factors influencing the SME business success in Malaysia. Annals of Human Resource Management Research, 1(1), 41-54
  34. Lo, B. W., & Sedhain, R. S. (2006). How reliable are website rankings? Implications for e-business advertising and internet search. Issues in Information Systems, 7(2), 233-238
  35. Mensah, S. (2004) A Review of SME Financing Schemes in Ghana. A Presentation at the UNIDO Regional Workshop of Financing SMEs, Accra, Ghana in March 2004. http://www.doc88.com/p-5923947209413.html
  36. Millinuex, A.W. (1997) The Funding of Non-Financial Corporations (NFCs) in the EU (1971-1993): Evidence of Convergence. Mimeo, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.
  37. Modzi, K. S., Martinson, A. T., Evans, T. T., & Asamoah, E. (2016). Barriers to E-Commerce Adoption and Implementation Strategy: Empirical Review of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Ghana. Journal of Economics, Management and Trade, 13 (1), 1-13. DOI: 10.9734/BJEMT/2016/25177
  38. Ofori-Atta, K. (2020). Economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the economy of Ghana, Republic of Ghana. Retrieved from https://www.food-security.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Ghana-Economic-Impact-of-COVID-on-Ghanas-Economy.pdf
  39. Pratt, M. K. (2019). E-business (electronic business). Techtarget.
  40. Quinton, S., & Khan, M. A. (2009). Generating web site traffic: A new model for SMEs. Direct Marketing and International Journal, 3(2), 109-23. Pervin, M. T., & Sarker, B. K. (2021). Benefits and challenges in adopting social Media for SMEs: A case from Bangladesh. Journal of Sustainable Tourism and Entrepreneurship, 2(3), 171-185
  41. Reichheld, F. F., & Schefter, P. (2000). E-Loyalty: Your Secret Weapon on the Web. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2000/07/e-loyalty-your-secret-weapon-on-the-web
  42. Rodgers, J. A., Yen, D. C., & Chou, D. C. (2002). Developing e-business: A strategic approach. Information Management & Computer Security, 10 (4), 184–192. Doi: 10.1108/09685220210436985
  43. Saravanakuma, M. D., & SuganthaLakshmi, T. D. (2012). Social Media Marketing. Life Science Journal, 9(4), 4444-4451.
  44. Sheung, C. T. (2014). E-Business; The New Strategies Ande-Business Ethics, that Leads Organizations to Success. Global Journal of Management and Global Research, 14(8), 8-14.