Investigating the impact of organisational resources, entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and big data analytics on business performance of South African E-commerce SMMEs

Mogale, Marungwane

Investigating the impact of organisational resources, entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and big data analytics on business performance of South African E-commerce SMMEs

Thesis / Dissertation

2025

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Information Systems

Faculty

Faculty of Commerce

Abstract

Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are key contributors to economic growth in South Africa. It is important to understand the essential organisational resources (IT Infrastructure, IT human resources and financial resources) and dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) (innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking) that influence the utilisation of big data analytic (BDA) capabilities. It is also important to understand the impact of big data analytic (BDA) capabilities on business performance (productivity and profitability). Leveraging insights from BDA capabilities is believed to create economic value, especially in e-commerce which generates large volumes of data. This study investigated the combined impact of organisational resources and EO dimensions on BDA capabilities, and ultimately on the business performance of South African e-commerce SMMEs. The study uses both the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities view to build a theoretical framework. The study was guided by a conceptual model developed through a literature review and utilised quantitative methods to analyse data collected from SMME owners, partners and managers. A probability simple random sampling technique was used for this study. Data were collected from 288 responses to a questionnaire and were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The findings revealed that IT infrastructure, IT human resources and financial resources have a significant positive impact on BDA capabilities. Furthermore, innovativeness and risk-taking (EO dimensions) enhanced BDA capabilities positively and significantly while another EO dimension, proactiveness, had an insignificant impact on BDA capabilities. The mediation analyses revealed that BDA capabilities fully mediate the relationship between organisational resources and business performance, while the EO dimensions are partially mediated. The study makes important theoretical and practical contributions and future research directions are discussed. A framework is provided that can be tested in future academic studies, specifically in the context of South Africa. Practically, the study indicates areas of investment for South African SMMEs engaged in e-commerce which may support their expansion and long-term sustainability, profitability and productivity. Both the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities view theories are context-sensitive, these findings should be considered limited in their generalizability and relevance to different contexts.

Keywords

SMMEs

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