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The effective measurement of SME e-commerce performance in the Western Cape
Author(s)
Daniel, Nolan Eric
Date Issued
2011
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
The importance of e-commerce for SMEs has been well established. However, it
remains an area of strategic concern amongst organisations across all industries.
Furthermore, there is distinct lack of strategic planning in the majority of SMEs.
Performance measurement has been identified as an important mechanism for making
strategic decisions and it has been suggested that organisations align their strategic
planning with their performance measurement systems. However, a large percentage
of SMEs have no formal performance measurement systems in place. This has
therefore been identified as a potential growth area for SMEs on which the success of
the informal sectors depends.Despite the importance of SMEs throughout all economies, to-date limited research
has been conducted on SMEs and e-commerce performance measurement. The aim
of the present study was to investigate the manner in which the lack of e-commerce
performance measurement is influencing the effective management of SMEs in the
Western Cape province of South Africa. To achieve this aim, an electronic survey,
investigating various aspects of e-commerce performance measurement, was compiled
and sent via electronic mail to SMEs of various industries in the Western Cape. A total
of 31 SMEs responded. Results indicated that the majority (67.7%) of SMEs in the
Western Cape were not currently measuring their e-commerce performance. It was,
however, considered highly important to a large percentage of the respondents and
65% of the respondents indicated that they do plan to measure e-commerce
performance in the future; however, they need to overcome a number of obstacles to
do so. These obstacles were identified and a list of e-commerce performance
measurement critical success factors was compiled to guide SMEs in future strategic
planning.The present research has proved that SMEs in the Western Cape Province of South
Africa are no different from the rest of the world in that they are lagging behind their
larger counterparts in terms of e-commerce performance measurement and therefore
are lagging behind in terms of strategic concern and the ultimate growth of the
organisation is therefore at risk. E-commerce performance measurement is thus an
important area that SMEs need to align with their organisations‟ strategy.
remains an area of strategic concern amongst organisations across all industries.
Furthermore, there is distinct lack of strategic planning in the majority of SMEs.
Performance measurement has been identified as an important mechanism for making
strategic decisions and it has been suggested that organisations align their strategic
planning with their performance measurement systems. However, a large percentage
of SMEs have no formal performance measurement systems in place. This has
therefore been identified as a potential growth area for SMEs on which the success of
the informal sectors depends.Despite the importance of SMEs throughout all economies, to-date limited research
has been conducted on SMEs and e-commerce performance measurement. The aim
of the present study was to investigate the manner in which the lack of e-commerce
performance measurement is influencing the effective management of SMEs in the
Western Cape province of South Africa. To achieve this aim, an electronic survey,
investigating various aspects of e-commerce performance measurement, was compiled
and sent via electronic mail to SMEs of various industries in the Western Cape. A total
of 31 SMEs responded. Results indicated that the majority (67.7%) of SMEs in the
Western Cape were not currently measuring their e-commerce performance. It was,
however, considered highly important to a large percentage of the respondents and
65% of the respondents indicated that they do plan to measure e-commerce
performance in the future; however, they need to overcome a number of obstacles to
do so. These obstacles were identified and a list of e-commerce performance
measurement critical success factors was compiled to guide SMEs in future strategic
planning.The present research has proved that SMEs in the Western Cape Province of South
Africa are no different from the rest of the world in that they are lagging behind their
larger counterparts in terms of e-commerce performance measurement and therefore
are lagging behind in terms of strategic concern and the ultimate growth of the
organisation is therefore at risk. E-commerce performance measurement is thus an
important area that SMEs need to align with their organisations‟ strategy.
Additional information
Dissertation (M Techy( Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011
Subjects
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