Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Oct:135:28-39.
doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.06.005. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Mobile apps for SME business sustainability during COVID-19 and onwards

Sandip Rakshit  1 , Nazrul Islam  2 , Sandeep Mondal  1 , Tripti Paul  1
Affiliations

Mobile apps for SME business sustainability during COVID-19 and onwards

Sandip Rakshit et al. J Bus Res. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are struggling to cope with the business uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines how SMEs in developing economies have used mobile apps to improve their business efficiency during the pandemic. We aim to recognize effective measures and actions taken by SMEs that have turned to mobile-app-based business to improve their sustainability during the crisis. The study bridges a literature gap by extending the Theory of Consumption Values and the Theory of Planned Behavior to SMEs that incorporate mobile-app-based business. Data was collected from 343 SMEs from three Industrial Development Corporations (IDCs) in India. Using the covariance-based structural equation modeling method, we investigated the efficiency of a conceptual model of mobile-app-based business for SMEs. The results revealed that consumer choice behavior, perceived behavior control, subjective behavior control and attitude towards the mobile app all influence SMEs' decision-making and business strategy. As such, SMEs need a powerful mobile-app-based business network to succeed in the entrepreneurial business process. Using instrumental variable analysis, we discovered that increased mobile app usage significantly improves SMEs' long-term efficiency. The analysis provides several theoretical and managerial ramifications.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Mobile Apps; Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME); Structural Equation Modeling; Sustainable business.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A conceptual framework from the perspective of TCV and TPB theories.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Actual and modified models of TCV and TPB theories.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Hypothesized structural equation model showing the relationships between constructs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Aitken R., Watkins L., Williams J., Kean A. The positive role of labelling on consumers’ perceived behavioural control and intention to purchase organic food. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020;255
    1. Ajzen I. Theory of planned behavior. Organization Behavior and Human Decision Process. 1991;50(1):179–211.
    1. Archambault, D., Greene, D., Cunningham, P., & Hurley, N. (2011). ThemeCrowds: Multiresolution Summaries of Twitter Usage.
    1. Ardito L., Raby S., Albino V., Bertoldi B. The duality of digital and environmental orientations in the context of SMEs: Implications for innovation performance. Journal of Business Research. 2021;123(September 2020):44–56.
    1. Arif Anjum D. Impact of Technology Adoption on the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in India. The Journal of Social Sciences Research. 2018:857–867. (Special Issue 5)

LinkOut - more resources