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South African SMME owner/manager's perceptions of e-commerce related risks
Author(s)
Yang, Ping Ping
Date Issued
2007
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
E-commerce, as one of the applications of the Internet, has been considered as a possible
channel for small businesses to be benefIted. However, due to their nature, it is challenging to
involve e-commerce in small businesses; some new risks arise that typically are not
adequately addressed in SMMEs' (Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises) established risk
management programs. Therefore, to obtain the benefits from e-commerce adoption, SMME
owner/managers need to identify and manage these risks.
Identifying SMME owner/managers' perceptions of e-commerce related risks, and how they
manage them is crucial for ascertaining the factors that affect the successful small business
e-commerce adoption, as their perceptions influence their decision-making process. This
research identified South African SMME owner/managers' perceptions of e-commerce related
risks, and their effects on e-commerce and SMMEs' development. The investigation was
conducted by using a quantitative research methodology, drawing on the data obtained from a
sample of 50 questionnaires, and the 17 interviews out of the 50, by using qualitative research
methodology to achieve the research objectives.
The SMME owner/managers' perceptions imply that they are unaware of e-commerce related
risks, they lack risk management attention to and skills in e-commerce related risks and their
businesses, which can affect the development of e-commerce adoption and SMMEs. The
perceptions also exhibited the SMME owner/managers' attitudes to risk-taking; the research
provides a platform for SMMEs to understand their risk management performance. On the
other hand, the perceptions reflect the orientations of developing SMMEs' e-commerce
adoption such as: how to provide SMMEs with a better understanding of obtaining the benefits
from e-commerce adoption? How to help SMMEs to manage e-commerce related risks? In
conclusion, this research study proposed a model to assist SMMEs to understand
e-commerce related risks in order to obtain the maximum benefits of e-commerce adoption.
channel for small businesses to be benefIted. However, due to their nature, it is challenging to
involve e-commerce in small businesses; some new risks arise that typically are not
adequately addressed in SMMEs' (Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises) established risk
management programs. Therefore, to obtain the benefits from e-commerce adoption, SMME
owner/managers need to identify and manage these risks.
Identifying SMME owner/managers' perceptions of e-commerce related risks, and how they
manage them is crucial for ascertaining the factors that affect the successful small business
e-commerce adoption, as their perceptions influence their decision-making process. This
research identified South African SMME owner/managers' perceptions of e-commerce related
risks, and their effects on e-commerce and SMMEs' development. The investigation was
conducted by using a quantitative research methodology, drawing on the data obtained from a
sample of 50 questionnaires, and the 17 interviews out of the 50, by using qualitative research
methodology to achieve the research objectives.
The SMME owner/managers' perceptions imply that they are unaware of e-commerce related
risks, they lack risk management attention to and skills in e-commerce related risks and their
businesses, which can affect the development of e-commerce adoption and SMMEs. The
perceptions also exhibited the SMME owner/managers' attitudes to risk-taking; the research
provides a platform for SMMEs to understand their risk management performance. On the
other hand, the perceptions reflect the orientations of developing SMMEs' e-commerce
adoption such as: how to provide SMMEs with a better understanding of obtaining the benefits
from e-commerce adoption? How to help SMMEs to manage e-commerce related risks? In
conclusion, this research study proposed a model to assist SMMEs to understand
e-commerce related risks in order to obtain the maximum benefits of e-commerce adoption.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007
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