Factors influencing Malaysian small and medium enterprises adoption of electronic government procurement

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Adoption of electronic government procurement (EGP) in the post-introduction phase as the portal was introduced in the early year 2000.

Design/methodology/approach

This study integrated electronic public services into two acceptance theories (the technology acceptance model [TAM] and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology [UTAUT] framework) and having a direct measurement of the criterion. Both TAM and UTAUT models measure the behaviour intention to use and indirectly measure the criterion of actual usage along with behavioural intention. Besides, this study conducted a systematic sampling survey in SMEs located in Klang Valley (the business hub in Malaysia).

Findings

The results confirm that effort expectancy, performance expectancy and social influences had a direct effect on the adoption of EGP in the private sector. Rather than the original UTAUT setup, the behavioural intention would influence user behaviour.

Social implications

The implications and policy recommendations of these findings will be used by both SMEs and the government to improve the EGP delivery.

Originality/value

The gap with this study is at the time the Malaysian Government introduced e-procurement. The SMEs were quite new and had limited knowledge in the e-procurement during the introduction phase. Both SMEs and the government will use the implications and policy recommendations of these findings to improve the EGP delivery in the current post introduction phase.

Citation

Soong, K.-K., Ahmed, E.M. and Tan, K.S. (2020), "Factors influencing Malaysian small and medium enterprises adoption of electronic government procurement", Journal of Public Procurement, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 38-61. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOPP-09-2019-0066