Title: Implementation of e-commerce innovation on small enterprises in Nigeria

Authors: Blessing Funke Ajao; Timothy Oyedepo Oyebisi; Helen Olubunmi Aderemi

Addresses: Department of Science Policy Research and Innovation Studies, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria ' Department of African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation (AISPI), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria ' Department of Management and Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper contributes to debates on technological adoption in the informal sector. It identified and categorised the elements of e-commerce as an innovation among microenterprises. It also assessed the level of innovativeness on the use of e-commerce and determined the effects of adoption on firms' performance. Primary data was collected from 387 microenterprises engaged in furniture works, leather products, clothing and textiles from three states in Nigeria through the use of questionnaire. The result showed that majority (62.4%) adopted e-commerce in their business and categorised it more as marketing (66.7%) or organisational innovation (62.4%). Adoption had positive and significant on performance. The study established that ecommerce adoption improves firm performance; however SSEs still lags in their level of adoption. There is therefore the need for SSEs to be sensitised to enhance total institutionalisation of e-commerce.

Keywords: microenterprises; e-commerce adoption; innovation; level of adoption; firms' performance; Nigeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2019.104139

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2019 Vol.38 No.4, pp.521 - 536

Received: 01 Sep 2017
Accepted: 24 Jan 2018
Published online: 20 Dec 2019 *

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