Success Factors of Internet Use for Exporting by Greek Companies during the Period of the Financial Crisis
Πλήρης Αναφορά του Άρθρου
Azaria, A.C., Houdeloudi, E. and Hajidimitriou, Y.A. (2014), “Success Factors of Internet Use for Exporting by Greek Companies during the Period of the Financial Crisis”, MIBES TRANSACTIONS International Journal, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 13-30. (ISSN 1790-9899)
Abstract
Internet seems to provide Greek companies with new opportunities to escape the ongoing financial crisis by enhancing their existing export activities or by targeting new foreign customers. The main focus of this study is twofold: a) to identify the factors of successful Internet use for exporting purposes, and b) to assess the overall influence of the financial crisis in Greece on Internet use for exporting activities. Data were gathered via a self-administered mail survey of 77 Greek exporting companies identified as having a corporate website (fully operational) for at least 18 months prior to the collection of the questionnaires. The findings indicate that the level of IT and Internet literacy within the firm have a significant positive impact on export performance of Greek companies. The level of management’s entrepreneurial orientation and enthusiasm in promoting Internet use and foreign customers’ need for personal contact with the firm also had a significant positive impact on export performance. Finally, the results revealed that the vast majority of the companies were already using Internet for exporting purposes before 2009, and they were either positively or not at all influenced by the financial crisis in terms of Internet use for their exporting activities.
Keywords: Internet, Exporting, Financial Crisis, Success Fcators, Greece
