Information technology adoption by small and medium enterprises: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Information technology (IT) has impacted firms in different industries. IT adoption is just as impactful for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Despite the number of studies investigating outcomes and IT adoption, there is a lack of consensus regarding the most relevant factors associated with IT adoption by SMEs (e.g. drivers and IT adoption). The study investigates the main antecedents, outcomes, and moderators of IT adoption by SMEs. A meta-analysis was conducted, integrating the findings from 59 studies. Data were analyzed by integrating meta-analysis and regression approach (MASEM). The results showed that the dimensions of TAM (usefulness and ease of use) and perceived compatibility have the strongest correlations among the nine antecedents. The findings indicated that resources and market turbulence were the main predictors of IT adoption in SMEs when testing only the direct relationships (MASEM). IT adoption significantly impacted outcomes, and SMEs from countries with low uncertainty avoidance presented stronger effects of IT adoption on firm outcomes. This research contributes to the literature by (i) addressing prior studies’ conflicts about antecedents and outcomes of SMEs IT adoption, (ii) integrating different theoretical approaches, and (iii) generating insights for managers and public policy institutions responsible for the survival and development of SMEs.

RÉSUMÉ

Les technologies de l’information (TI) ont eu un impact sur les entreprises de différents secteurs. L’adoption des TI a un impact tout aussi important pour les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME). Malgré le nombre d’études examinant les résultats et l’adoption des TI, il n’y a pas de consensus concernant les facteurs les plus pertinents associés à l’adoption des TI par les PME (par exemple les déterminants et l’adoption des TI). L’étude examine les principaux antécédents, résultats et modérateurs de l’adoption des TI par les PME. Une méta-analyse a été réalisée, intégrant les résultats de 59 études. Les données ont été analysées en intégrant une approche de méta-analyse et de régression (MASEM). Les résultats montrent que les dimensions du TAM (utilité et facilité d’utilisation) et la compatibilité perçue ont les corrélations les plus fortes parmi les neuf antécédents. Ils indiquent aussi que les ressources et les turbulences du marché sont les principaux prédicteurs de l’adoption des TI dans les PME lorsque l’on ne teste que les relations directes (MASEM). L’adoption des TI a eu un impact significatif sur les résultats et les PME des pays où l’évitement de l’incertitude est faible ont présenté des effets plus forts de l’adoption des TI sur les résultats des entreprises. Cette recherche contribue à la littérature en (i) abordant les études antérieures sur les antécédents et les résultats de l’adoption des IT par les PME, (ii) intégrant différentes approches théoriques et (iii) générant des idées pour les gestionnaires et les institutions de politique publique responsables de la survie et du développement des PME.

Keywords:

• IT adoption
• SME
• SME outcomes
• meta-analysis

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Adoption des TI
• PME
• résultats des PME
• méta-analyse

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of CNPq and Capes (CAPES/PROEX N° AUXPE: 1636/2018) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fernando de Oliveira Santini

Fernando de Oliveira Santini is an Associate Professor of Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) and Adjunct Professor for Woxsen School of Business (Woxsen University). His research interests include marketing issues (Consumer Behavior; Branding; Retailing Strategies) and quantitative methods (Meta-analysis; Temporal Series). He has published papers in several academic journals and conferences, including Journal of Academy Marketing Science; Journal of Business Research; Journal of Consumer Behaviour; European Management Journal. Fernando has authored more than 120 scientific articles in Journals and conference proceedings.

Celso Augusto de Matos

Celso Augusto de Matos received his PhD at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Head of the Graduate Business Program at Unisinos Business School, Unisinos University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. His research interests include marketing and consumer behavior in B2B and B2C contexts. His work has been published in Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Service Research, The Service Industries Journal, International Journal of Bank Marketing, among others.

Wagner Junior Ladeira

Wagner Junior Ladeira is an Associate Professor of Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) and Adjunct Professor for Woxsen School of Business (Woxsen University). His research interests include marketing issues (Consumer Behavior; Retailing Strategies) and quantitative methods (Experimental studies). He has published papers in several academic journals and conferences, including Journal of Academy Marketing Science; Journal of Business Research; Journal of Consumer Behaviour; European Management Journal. Wagner has authored more than 150 scientific articles in Journals and conference proceedings.

William Carvalho Jardim

William Carvalho Jardim is an Master Student of Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS). His research interests include marketing and IT issues. He has published papers in several academic journals and conferences, including Journal of Business Research; Journal of Marketing Management and British Food Journal.

Marcelo Gattermann Perin

Marcelo Gattermann Perin is a professor and researcher at the Fundação Getulio Vargas's Sao Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP), São Paulo, Brazil. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2002). His research interests and publications are on strategic orientations, innovation management, university–industry relations, and sustainability. His work has been published in several international journals of marketing and management.