Sustainable BOP Markets: Role of ICT in development of Inclusive Supply Chain Linkages in SMEs in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52461/sabas.v7i1.4387Keywords:
Inclusive Supply Chain Linkages, Sustainability, Base of the Pyramid (BOP), Information and Communication Technology (ICT)Abstract
This research examines the significance of ICT in developing supply chain linkages for Pakistani SMEs. We propose that use of ICT mediates the favourable relationship between access to ICT and inclusive supply chain linkages in Pakistani SMEs' BOP market business operations. This research surveyed 500 Pakistani SME owners, executives, and workers to test the concept. Using SMART Partial Least Square (PLS) software, SEM was used to analyse data. The research found that SMEs in Pakistani BOP markets utilize ICT to mediate the relationship between ICT availability and inclusive supply chain links that maintain BOP markets. ICT's influence on inclusive supply chain linkages at BOP in Pakistani SMEs' business operations are validated experimentally in the research. This study empirically tests a concept that SMEs' use of ICT mediates the beneficial relationship between access to ICT and their inclusive supply chain linkages.
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