This study examined socio-economic factors affecting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) e-commerce adoption, focusing on gender, income, and education. Using the 2022 National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas) data, a logistic regression model was employed to analyze key determinants of e-commerce utilization. Additionally, an online survey of 550 MSMEs across 29 provinces was conducted to assess the impact of digitalization on business performance. In comparison, an offline study of 42 MSMEs with low digital adoption provided insights into the barriers hindering digital transformation. A natural experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral interventions in promoting the adoption of e-payments and e-commerce. The main contribution of this study lies in integrating large-scale national survey data with experimental approaches to provide a deeper understanding of digital adoption among MSMEs. Unlike previous studies focusing solely on socio-economic determinants, this research incorporated a digital nudging experiment to examine how targeted incentives influenced e-commerce participation. The findings revealed that digital transformation significantly enhanced MSME performance, particularly in turnover, product volume, customer base, and worker productivity. Socio-economic factors such as gender, household head status, and social media access significantly influenced digital adoption decisions. Behavioral nudging proved effective in increasing MSME participation in e-commerce. Although this study was limited to Susenas 2022 data and survey responses, it bridges a critical research gap by linking socio-economic factors with behavioral interventions in MSME digitalization. The findings offer key insights for policymakers in formulating evidence-based strategies to drive MSME digital transformation and e-commerce growth in Indonesia.

This study explores the impact of digital economy engagement and digital adoption on the entrepreneurship performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, with a specific focus on the PG Mall platform. Through an analysis of SMEs' involvement in digital activities such as e-commerce, digital marketing, and data analytics, the research identifies key factors that enhance business performance. The main objective of this paper is to examines the mediating role of government policies in supporting digital adoption and fostering a conducive environment for digital entrepreneurship. This paper employed a quantitative method to examine the impact of digital economy engagement and digital adoption on the entrepreneurship performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, with a focus on the PG Mall platform. Through data analysis, this research assessed several hypotheses related to the relationship between digital engagement, adoption, and business performance. The findings revealed that the majority of the hypotheses were supported, confirming the positive influence of digital economy engagement and digital adoption on various aspects of entrepreneurship performance. Based on these findings, this paper also proposes a conceptual framework that highlights the elements of digital economy engagement and digital adoption that contribute to SME performance. This framework serves as a valuable guideline for government policymakers, practitioners, and scholars in shaping strategies to foster digital entrepreneurship. It underscores the importance of supportive government policies, such as financial incentives and training, in facilitating the digital transformation of SMEs. By providing a structured approach to understanding the role of digital tools in enhancing business outcomes, the framework offers a foundation for future research and policy development aimed at promoting digital entrepreneurship in an evolving economic landscape.

Today’s automation of the audit process increasingly relies on electronic auditing, especially computer-assisted audit techniques (CAATs), and has become a global necessity. Therefore, this study aims to explore the influence of technological, organizational, and environmental (TOE) factors on audit firms’ adoption of CAATs in developing countries, focusing on Ethiopia. The research employed a quantitative approach and gathered 113 valid responses from certified external auditors in Ethiopian audit firms. The data was then analyzed through the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The findings show that relative advantage and compatibility are the significant technological attributes influencing CAAT adoption in Ethiopian audit firms. Besides, auditors’ information technology (IT) competency was a significant organizational attribute influencing CAAT adoption. Environmental attributes such as the complexity of the client’s accounting information system (AIS) and the professional body support significantly impact the adoption of CAATs. Additionally, the size of an audit firm reduces the impact of clients’ AIS complexity on the adoption of CAATs in Ethiopian audit firms. The findings underscore the significance of CAAT adoption in audit firms and offer valuable insights for policymakers and standard setters in crafting legislation for the Ethiopian audit industry. This study represents the first scholarly effort to provide evidence of CAAT adoption in audit firms in developing countries like Ethiopia.

This research investigates the impact of modern technological methods of knowledge management (KM) and total quality management (TQM) on the performance of faculty members in educational colleges in Jordan. Drawing on a survey conducted with 306 faculty members, the study examines the influence of technology on teaching methodologies and academic quality within the Jordanian higher education context. The study utilizes the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to back up the modern technological methods of knowledge management (KM) and total quality management (TQM) models. The findings reveal a generally positive perception among respondents regarding the beneficial effects of modern technological tools on teaching effectiveness, collaboration, and innovation. Additionally, technology-enhanced TQM practices were found to contribute to improvements in curriculum design, student engagement, and administrative processes. Regression and correlation analyses support significant relationships between technology-enabled KM and TQM practices and faculty performance, highlighting the transformative role of technology in shaping the future of higher education in Jordan. Recommendations are provided for educational institutions to enhance the integration of technology and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement among faculty members.

This paper provides a unique empirical analysis of the effects of political factors on the adoption of PPP contracts in Brazil. As such, it innovates along two different lines: first, political factors behind the adoption of PPPs have been largely ignored in the vast body of empirical literature, and second, there is scant work done on the motives of any kind behind the adoption of PPPs in Brazil. Various economic and financial reasons have been evoked to justify the use of PPPs in general. These include the goal of promoting socio-economic development in a tight public budgetary framework or of improving the quality of public services through the use of economically efficient and cost-effective mechanisms. Any possible underlying political motives, however, have been overlooked in the PPP research. And yet, there is abundant literature suggesting a link between the adoption of PPPs and the ideology of the governing body or the political cycles associated with elections. This study examines the impact of ideological commitment and opportunistic political behavior on the process of PPP contracting in Brazil, including the stages of public consultation, the publication of tender, and the signature of the contract, using federative-level data for the period between 2005 and 2022. Consistent with the outstanding literature, the two hypotheses are tested: first, conservative parties tend to celebrate more PPP contracts than left-leaning parties, and second, the electoral calendar has a significant effect in the process, allowing for opportunistic behaviors. Empirical results suggest that there is little evidence for the relevance of ideological leanings in the process of adopting PPPs in Brazil. Additionally, regardless of ideology, parties significantly choose to enter PPPs at specific points in the electoral cycle, suggesting decisions are influenced by political considerations and electoral strategy rather than by purely financial or ideological considerations. This may pose severe constraints on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the contracts, negatively impacting public governance and leading to protracted costs for taxpayers.

This multiple case study qualitative research examined the impact of adoption and diffusion of innovation on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) growth in the hostile business landscape of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This research is intended to investigate research data and consequent findings based on an interview protocol that was purposefully developed from extant literature, complemented by an initial pilot study of two pharmaceutical SMEs. The researcher conducted 20 interviews, guided by the semi-structured interview protocol offered to the respondents beforehand after sorting their informed consent. The 20 participants represented the different hierarchal levels of the 08 case study of pharmaceutical from the two industrial clusters of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, located at the Hayatabad Industrial Estate, Peshawar, and the Rashkai Industrial Estate, Nowshera. The analysis of the data presented findings and corroborated the research propositions that those SMEs that are structurally entrepreneurial and adopt innovation amenably, are open to mobility and tourism, yield satisfactory results in terms of their growth as compared to those that are inertial and unentrepreneurial. Similarly, the results offer confirmation that the effectiveness of government agencies that are explicitly formed to address the problems of small businesses is insufficient. They rather create hindrances than assistance due to the excessive delays in approving innovative ideas and conceptions by these related organizations and ministries. Moreover, the proposed framework offers pragmatic recommendations to contextualize entrepreneurial culture and innovative structures in SMEs and their essential factors in critical environmental circumstances.