Herbert Kotzab

Purpose: This study investigates the interplay between technological, organizational and environmental factors driving e-commerce usage and how this usage impacts performance in Pakistani manufacturing SMEs. The study also explores whether top management support strengthens performance outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: We apply partial least squares structural equation modeling to test direct, mediating and moderating hypotheses in a robust model framework. Data were collected from 364 manufacturing SMEs. Findings: The results show that technological and organizational factors significantly drive the use of e-commerce, while environmental factors have weaker effects. E-commerce adoption partially mediates the relationship between adoption drivers and firm performance. Top management support positively moderates the relationship between e-commerce usage and firm performance. Research limitations/implications: The results are based on a cross-sectional sample limited to manufacturing SMEs in Pakistan. Practical implications: The study provides SME managers and policymakers with evidence on how technological readiness and top management support positively impact e-commerce adoption and firm performance. Originality/value: This study uniquely integrates the TOE, DOI and RBV frameworks to explore the mediating and moderating mechanisms in the relationship between e-commerce adoption and firm performance among manufacturing SMEs.

Using Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) technology, companies can upscale their innovation in organizing, managing, and controlling the value chain life cycle. IR4.0 is anticipated to bring challenges and opportunities to developing economies such as Malaysia, but due to its novelty to the Malaysian business community, the concept still needs clarity in its definition for proper understanding and business practice. This paper aims to examine the impact of IR4.0 adoption on Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by analyzing the organizational readiness, relative advantage, compatibility, top management support, government regulation, and competitive pressure, and its relationship with the adoption of IR4.0 to Malaysian SMEs. This study framework is based on the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI) and technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework. The study results verified the importance of relative advantage, compatibility, competitive pressure, and top management support as significant predictors of IR4.0 adoption. The study is expected to benefit regulators and business ecosystems in understanding the challenges in implementing IR4.0 in Malaysia and formulating intervention processes and programs for successful IR4.0 adoption.