Title: The effect of ICT infrastructure on business performance of micro and small enterprises in Yemen: the moderating effect of social media marketing

Authors: Sabri Shaker Ashoor Bin-Obaidellah; Noor Fadhiha Mokhtar; Nur Aishah Awi; Safiek Mokhlis

Addresses: Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia ' Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia ' Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia ' Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract: This study aims to examine the effect of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure on the performance of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Yemen and evaluate the moderating impact of social media marketing (SMM) adoption. A literature dissection on ICT infrastructure on business performance of MSEs was conducted to develop a structural model and generate the scale items. Collected data was obtained by distributing a questionnaire to 384 managers/owners of manufacturing MSEs in Yemen and analysed using a structural equation model with the partial least square method using SmartPLS version 3.2.7 software. The study found that ICT infrastructure positively impacts the performance of SMEs. SMM also has a significant impact on the performance of MSEs. Furthermore, the results indicate that SMM does not moderate the relationship between ICT infrastructure and business performance. There are many studies on business performance, but few on the micro and small manufacturing enterprise sector and the impact of ICT infrastructure and SMM on its performance.

Keywords: business performance; social media marketing; SMM; micro and small enterprises; MSEs; information and communication technology infrastructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2023.132590

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2023 Vol.18 No.1, pp.44 - 67

Received: 10 Nov 2021
Accepted: 29 Nov 2021
Published online: 30 Jul 2023 *

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