An examination into the impact of e-business adoption on the operational performance of manufacturing SMES in Windhoek, Namibia
| dc.contributor.advisor | Woyo, Elisha | |
| dc.contributor.author | Tirigu, Lee | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-07T08:11:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-07T08:11:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2020 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration Management Strategy | |
| dc.description.abstract | There is an abundance of literature on e-business definitions, ideas, perceptions, benefits, drivers and challenges in general. However, most of the research has focused on larger organisations and a few on SMEs with a greater bias still towards first-world SMEs. In an attempt to redress the balance of research, this paper looks at e-business with a particular focus on manufacturing SMEs in Namibia. The main objective ofthe study was to examine the impact of e-business adoption on the operational performance of manufacturing SMEs in Windhoek. The study used the quantitative research method with a descriptive-explanatory research design. The population was restricted to owners or managers of manufacturing SMEs in Windhoek and the sample was selected using stratified random sampling. 116 semi-structured questionnaires were successfully researcher administered, and research data captured using Microsoft Excel then exported to SPSS version 22 for descriptive and inferential data analysis. It was found that SME and respondents' characteristics with the exception of educational level does not affect e-business adoption. Management choices, expected positive results and ICT infrastructure evolution are major drivers of e-business adoption. Firm size and stakeholder pressure are weaker drivers, while the availability of ICT skilled personnel within a firm and government support were ruled out as possible e-business adoption drivers. There is a high adoption of the general use of computers, emails, Facebook, and financial services platforms. There is low adoption of management and operations systems, online information storage and recently launched social media networks such as Twitter and Instagram. Manufacturing SMEs in Windhoek are still at the infancy stage of e-business adoption. Tested relationships yielded satisfying outcomes consistent with the way they were hypothesised. Recommendations of the study were that more work needs to be done by various stakeholders such as the government, various ministries, academics and SMEs, to ensure effective e-business adoption and use in the future. Lastly, recommendations for future studies were also made and suggested that there should be use of mixed research methods, qualitative research, nationwide research or comparative studies across different geographical zones | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11070/4044 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of Namibia | |
| dc.subject | Manufacturing SMEs | |
| dc.subject | E-business | |
| dc.subject | Operational performance | |
| dc.subject | Windhoek | |
| dc.subject | Namibia | |
| dc.subject | University of Namibia | |
| dc.title | An examination into the impact of e-business adoption on the operational performance of manufacturing SMES in Windhoek, Namibia | |
| dc.type | Thesis |