Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic
Background: This study is motivated by the scarcity of empirical literature from developing countries on the small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and supply chain resilience (SCR) nexus during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jtscm.co.za/index.php/jtscm/article/view/747 |
| _version_ | 1811210652242411520 |
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| author | Shallone Munongo David Pooe |
| author_facet | Shallone Munongo David Pooe |
| author_sort | Shallone Munongo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: This study is motivated by the scarcity of empirical literature from developing countries on the small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and supply chain resilience (SCR) nexus during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Objectives: The study assessed the current level of 4IR adoption amongst Zimbabwean SMEs, investigated the drivers thereof and analysed the effect of 4IR technologies on SMEs’ SCR amidst the COVID-19-induced disruptions.
Method: The study employed a quantitative research approach where data were collected through an online cross-sectional survey of 318 SME owners or managers in Zimbabwe. The logit regression model using the IBM SPSS software was utilised for the main estimation.
Results: The study revealed that the adoption of 4IR technology amongst Zimbabwean SMEs is still low owing to high costs and ignorance of some SME owners or managers. However, personal innovativeness, education, information and communication technology (ICT) literacy, security and ICT ease of use were the main drivers for the adoption of 4IR technology. A positive link was established between 4IR adoption and SCR.
Conclusion: This study contributes to the nascent literature on fostering SME SCR through the adoption of 4IR technologies by SMEs from developing countries, in particular. The study recommends collective efforts by all relevant stakeholders to raise awareness about 4IR technology and enhance ICT literacy whilst addressing 4IR-enabling infrastructure and internet access costs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:59:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4e52f1f76aa4d43be6d7329d055c945 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-8789 1995-5235 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:59:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4e52f1f76aa4d43be6d7329d055c9452022-12-22T03:47:02ZengAOSISJournal of Transport and Supply Chain Management2310-87891995-52352022-11-01160e1e1110.4102/jtscm.v16i0.747302Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemicShallone Munongo0David Pooe1Department of Business Management, College of Business and Management, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgDepartment of Business Management, College of Business and Management, University of Johannesburg, JohannesburgBackground: This study is motivated by the scarcity of empirical literature from developing countries on the small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and supply chain resilience (SCR) nexus during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Objectives: The study assessed the current level of 4IR adoption amongst Zimbabwean SMEs, investigated the drivers thereof and analysed the effect of 4IR technologies on SMEs’ SCR amidst the COVID-19-induced disruptions. Method: The study employed a quantitative research approach where data were collected through an online cross-sectional survey of 318 SME owners or managers in Zimbabwe. The logit regression model using the IBM SPSS software was utilised for the main estimation. Results: The study revealed that the adoption of 4IR technology amongst Zimbabwean SMEs is still low owing to high costs and ignorance of some SME owners or managers. However, personal innovativeness, education, information and communication technology (ICT) literacy, security and ICT ease of use were the main drivers for the adoption of 4IR technology. A positive link was established between 4IR adoption and SCR. Conclusion: This study contributes to the nascent literature on fostering SME SCR through the adoption of 4IR technologies by SMEs from developing countries, in particular. The study recommends collective efforts by all relevant stakeholders to raise awareness about 4IR technology and enhance ICT literacy whilst addressing 4IR-enabling infrastructure and internet access costs.https://jtscm.co.za/index.php/jtscm/article/view/747smescovid-19 pandemic4ir adoptionsupply chain resiliencedeveloping countries |
| spellingShingle | Shallone Munongo David Pooe Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management smes covid-19 pandemic 4ir adoption supply chain resilience developing countries |
| title | Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Small and medium enterprises’ adoption of 4IR technologies for supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | small and medium enterprises adoption of 4ir technologies for supply chain resilience during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | smes covid-19 pandemic 4ir adoption supply chain resilience developing countries |
| url | https://jtscm.co.za/index.php/jtscm/article/view/747 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shallonemunongo smallandmediumenterprisesadoptionof4irtechnologiesforsupplychainresilienceduringthecovid19pandemic AT davidpooe smallandmediumenterprisesadoptionof4irtechnologiesforsupplychainresilienceduringthecovid19pandemic |