Title: The moderating influence of perceived usefulness in the adoption of technology by small and medium enterprises (SMEs): a comparative analysis between Malaysia and Nigeria

Authors: Haim Hilman Abdullah; Shahmir Sivaraj Abdullah; Rajoo Ramanchandram; Maharazu Ibrahim

Addresses: School of Business Management, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010UUM Sintok, State of Kedah, Malaysia ' School of Business Management, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010UUM Sintok, State of Kedah, Malaysia ' School of Business Management, College of Business, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010UUM Sintok, State of Kedah, Malaysia ' Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Kaduna State University, 110001 Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract: This study is a cross-national comparative study conducted on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kedah, Malaysia, and Kaduna, Nigeria, as entrepreneurial behaviour and culture differ among nations. It investigated the moderating influence of perceived usefulness (PU) on the relationship between entrepreneurial behaviour (EB) and culture (EC) and technology adoption (IntAdo) among SMEs in both countries with entrepreneurs as samples. Using SPSS 26 and SPSS Process Macro Version 3.5.3 by Andrew Hayes, the study found that the moderating effect of perceived usefulness on the combined relationship of entrepreneurial behaviour and culture on technology adoption among entrepreneurs managing SMEs in Kedah, Malaysia, was statistically insignificant at p = 0.0973 (above p = 0.05), whereas it was statistically significant at p = 0.0264 (below p = 0.05) in Kaduna, Nigeria. This study contributes to knowledge on differing dynamics when adopting technology in different countries. The study does not imply that its exhaustive as other factors may need to be identified by further research.

Keywords: perceived usefulness; entrepreneurial behaviour; entrepreneurial culture; intention to adopt; technology adoption model.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2021.123566

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2021 Vol.14 No.5, pp.705 - 728

Received: 18 Mar 2022
Accepted: 31 Mar 2022
Published online: 27 Jun 2022 *

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