| Abstract: | ABSTRACT
Small and medium-sized businesses have a significant impact on a country's economic growth and development. Also, developing a global market without barriers can provide many opportunities for businesses. In developing countries, e-commerce can be seen as an opportunity for SMEs to compete with larger businesses, as well as to have access to identifying lower-cost sources in the international market. Nevertheless, this study will aim to increase knowledge on the process of e-commerce acceptance by SMEs. Such a result will be achieved through the development of an empirical study focused on small and medium-sized enterprises in the Republic of North Macedonia. The increase of relevant knowledge will be realized through the identification and analysis of the main factors, which have an impact on its acceptance. Initially, the thesis identifies the main factors according to the literature, identifying relevant theories widely accepted in obtaining the advancement of new technology. Data from the companies included in the study will be congregated through a quantitative questionnaire, influencing that the method chosen for data analysis will be the statistical method. The study included 72 small and medium-sized businesses, mostly identified in the northwestern part of North Macedonia. The questionnaire was distributed electronically and physically to the relevant business owners or managers, so the sample in this survey were the managers of Macedonian SMEs. The results of the questionnaire were initially analyzed with descriptive data, linear regression analysis, and Cronbach’s Alpha measurement of the questionnaire. With the results acquired from the questionnaire, but also from online sources, we accomplished to answer the research questions raised in this study as well as testing the hypotheses that were raised on the basis of research questions. To verify these results, we have also conducted an interview with 10 managers, a qualitative component to the analysis. In parallel, the relevant data about the e-commerce usage and its benefits as well as challenges of the SME-s in EU countries is presented. Then, the results, for the indicators that could be compared, were matched with those from the survey in the Republic of North Macedonia’s SME’s. In conclusion, the decision to accept e-commerce, according to the respective results, is influenced by the characteristics of the business and the expected benefits of ecommerce programs. However, the level of use of e-commerce is not very high, based on the opportunity offered in the market in North Macedonia, also influenced by low customer demand for specific products or services. The results of the thesis provide significant information for SME development policy makers and their executives, to analyze the level of acceptance of new technologies, benefits of using and application of these new technologies, and the factors that influence its adoption. Keywords: e-commerce, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), acceptance/adoption of e-commerce. |
EBSCOhost
World Bank
EconBiz
De Gruyter
OpenEdition
European Respiratory Journal
Mathematical Sciences Publishers Journals
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