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Digital channels diminish SME barriers: the case of the UK

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Digital channels diminish SME barriers: the case of the UK. / Stankovska, Ivana; Josimovski, Saso; Edwards, Christopher James.
In: Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2016, p. 217-232.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Stankovska, I, Josimovski, S & Edwards, CJ 2016, 'Digital channels diminish SME barriers: the case of the UK', Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2016.1164926

APA

Stankovska, I., Josimovski, S., & Edwards, C. J. (2016). Digital channels diminish SME barriers: the case of the UK. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 29(1), 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2016.1164926

Vancouver

Stankovska I, Josimovski S, Edwards CJ. Digital channels diminish SME barriers: the case of the UK. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja. 2016;29(1):217-232. Epub 2016 May 5. doi: 10.1080/1331677X.2016.1164926

Author

Stankovska, Ivana ; Josimovski, Saso ; Edwards, Christopher James. / Digital channels diminish SME barriers : the case of the UK. In: Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja. 2016 ; Vol. 29, No. 1. pp. 217-232.

Bibtex

@article{6840a65c971b4ca2a68c0ebd7db0adfc,
title = "Digital channels diminish SME barriers: the case of the UK",
abstract = "This article investigates the usage of digital channels by UK small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and assesses the impact caused on their strategic marketing position. The research is based on statistical analysis of 66 surveyed SMEs in the context of the digital era. Despite indications from the relevant literature about the reluctance of SMEs to adopt advances in technological communication, the research reported indicates a high level of usage of digital channels, especially social media (SM). The web 2.0 technologies that facilitate the new digital channels are standardised, interactive, ubiquitous and cheap. These features change the way how companies communicate and shift fundamental marketing and business concepts. Due to this shift, the SMEs{\textquoteright} barriers for technology adoption, including lack of financial resources, knowledge and skills, are diminishing. The latter, supported also by the research findings, increases the impact of SMEs bringing them closer to the large corporations in the global marketplace. The study is significant because it extends previous knowledge on technology adoption, with findings about the adoption of digital channels by SMEs, but more importantly, it opens up a novel insight into strategic literature for SMEs.",
keywords = "Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption, small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)social media (SM), web 2.0, marketing strategy, UK",
author = "Ivana Stankovska and Saso Josimovski and Edwards, {Christopher James}",
year = "2016",
doi = "10.1080/1331677X.2016.1164926",
language = "English",
volume = "29",
pages = "217--232",
journal = "Economic Research-Ekonomska Istra{\v z}ivanja",
issn = "1331-677X",
publisher = "Faculty of Economics and Tourism 'Dr. Mijo Mirkovic'",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Digital channels diminish SME barriers

T2 - the case of the UK

AU - Stankovska, Ivana

AU - Josimovski, Saso

AU - Edwards, Christopher James

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - This article investigates the usage of digital channels by UK small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and assesses the impact caused on their strategic marketing position. The research is based on statistical analysis of 66 surveyed SMEs in the context of the digital era. Despite indications from the relevant literature about the reluctance of SMEs to adopt advances in technological communication, the research reported indicates a high level of usage of digital channels, especially social media (SM). The web 2.0 technologies that facilitate the new digital channels are standardised, interactive, ubiquitous and cheap. These features change the way how companies communicate and shift fundamental marketing and business concepts. Due to this shift, the SMEs’ barriers for technology adoption, including lack of financial resources, knowledge and skills, are diminishing. The latter, supported also by the research findings, increases the impact of SMEs bringing them closer to the large corporations in the global marketplace. The study is significant because it extends previous knowledge on technology adoption, with findings about the adoption of digital channels by SMEs, but more importantly, it opens up a novel insight into strategic literature for SMEs.

AB - This article investigates the usage of digital channels by UK small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and assesses the impact caused on their strategic marketing position. The research is based on statistical analysis of 66 surveyed SMEs in the context of the digital era. Despite indications from the relevant literature about the reluctance of SMEs to adopt advances in technological communication, the research reported indicates a high level of usage of digital channels, especially social media (SM). The web 2.0 technologies that facilitate the new digital channels are standardised, interactive, ubiquitous and cheap. These features change the way how companies communicate and shift fundamental marketing and business concepts. Due to this shift, the SMEs’ barriers for technology adoption, including lack of financial resources, knowledge and skills, are diminishing. The latter, supported also by the research findings, increases the impact of SMEs bringing them closer to the large corporations in the global marketplace. The study is significant because it extends previous knowledge on technology adoption, with findings about the adoption of digital channels by SMEs, but more importantly, it opens up a novel insight into strategic literature for SMEs.

KW - Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption

KW - small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)social media (SM)

KW - web 2.0

KW - marketing strategy

KW - UK

U2 - 10.1080/1331677X.2016.1164926

DO - 10.1080/1331677X.2016.1164926

M3 - Journal article

VL - 29

SP - 217

EP - 232

JO - Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja

JF - Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja

SN - 1331-677X

IS - 1

ER -