Adapting emerging digital communication technologies for resilience: evidence from Nigerian SMEs

Area of Science:

• Business Administration
• Information Systems
• Development Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
• Emerging digital communication technologies (EDCT) offered potential solutions for business continuity and resilience.
• Understanding the role of EDCT in SME resilience is crucial, especially in developing countries with weak institutional frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of emerging digital communication technologies (EDCT) on the resilience of SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify the mechanisms through which EDCT facilitated SME resilience.
• To examine the unique challenges and adaptive strategies of SMEs in Nigeria concerning EDCT adoption and misinformation.

Main Methods:

• An inductive and qualitative research approach was employed.
• Data were collected from 42 SME operators in Nigeria.
• The study drew upon the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to frame the analysis.

Main Results:

• EDCT significantly enhanced SME resilience by facilitating connections with stakeholders (staff, clients, suppliers).
• Key drivers of resilience included enabling collaborations, process diversification, and supply chain flexibility through EDCT.
• Nigerian SMEs demonstrated a notable capacity to mitigate misinformation risks associated with EDCT.

Conclusions:

• EDCT are vital tools for enhancing SME resilience, particularly in crisis situations.
• A model for the diffusion of EDCT for resilience in SMEs, considering contextual factors, is proposed.
• The findings offer insights for policymakers and businesses on leveraging digital technologies for sustainable operations in developing economies.