Exploring the Elements Influencing the Behavioral Adoption of E-Commerce by Chinese Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Abstract

This study investigated the behavioral adoption of electronic commerce (EC) among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in China. This was undertaken by integrating the Technological, Organizational, and Environmental (TOE) framework into the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The data generated from 349 SMEs were analyzed with SPSS and SmartPLs 3.0 via the utilization of the structural equation modeling (SEM) procedure. The results reveal that while the environmental factor was a positive predictor of the performance expectancy of EC among SMEs, it does not, however, encourage the adoption of EC. Again, while the knowledge factor was not significant in driving the performance expectancy of EC, it was a significant determinant of the adoption of EC among SMEs. Also, the study found that organizational factor was a positive predictor of both performance expectancy and the adoption of EC by SMEs. The technological factor was not a significant predictor of the intention to use EC but was significant in determining the performance expectancy of EC. Finally, the study demonstrated that the performance expectancy of EC was a significant predictor of the behavioral adoption of EC. The managerial and research implications of these findings are deliberated.