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

Folajimi Ashiru; Franklin Nakpodia; Jacqueline J You

doi:10.1007/s10479-022-05049-9

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

Ann Oper Res. 2022 Nov 23:1-29. doi: 10.1007/s10479-022-05049-9. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Folajimi Ashiru¹, Franklin Nakpodia^{2

3}, Jacqueline J You⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Strategy and Leadership, Coventry University, Coventry, UK.
² Accounting Department, Durham University Business School, Durham University, Durham, UK.
³ Department of Financial Intelligence, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
⁴ School for Business and Society, University of York, York, UK.

Abstract

Drawing on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this study explores how emerging digital communication technologies (EDCT) affected SMEs' resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. We employed an inductive and qualitative approach to investigate 42 SME operators in a weak institutional developing country-Nigeria. Our findings show that EDCT played a critical role in activating SMEs' resilience during the crisis through four drivers: facilitating connections and bonding with staff, clients, and suppliers; enabling collaborations; activating process diversification; and enhancing supply chain flexibility. Furthermore, we highlight the distinct ability of Nigerian SMEs to buffer themselves against misinformation arising from the use of EDCT. This study sheds light on an EDCT Diffusion Model for resilience.

Keywords: COVID-19; Diffusion of innovation; Disruptions; Emerging digital communication technologies; Nigeria; Weak institutional environment.