Information Access and Uptake as a Strategic Resource for Sustainable Growth of Small-Scale Enterprises: A Resource-Based and Knowledge-Based Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23367237Abstract
Small and medium enterprises play an important role in economic development, but they have difficulty in achieving sustainable growth. This study takes a Resource-Based View and Knowledge-Based View perspective on information access and uptake as strategic resources for sustainable enterprise growth. While information for business is important in making decisions, its value hinges on the likelihood of its acquisition, assimilation and usage by enterprises. Accordingly, the study investigates how information accessibility, acquisition, assimilation, and application capabilities influence the sustainable growth performance of small-scale enterprises. The study adopted a systematic literature review, searching Scopus, Emerald Insight, EBSCO, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2021 and 2026 on information access and uptake and the sustainable growth of small-scale enterprises. From 1,034 articles identified, 17 were selected for final review, and their findings were systematically extracted and synthesized to examine four information capabilities, identify research gaps, and develop recommendations based on the Resource-Based View and Knowledge-Based View. The study revealed that information access, information acquisition, information assimilation and information application are important strategic capabilities that can be used to support small enterprises’ sustainable growth. The study results showed that in relation to information, value is created when the enterprise can have access to, comprehend, combine and utilize the information in business activities. Therefore, it is important for small-scale businesses to enhance access to reliable business information, build up digital and information literacy skills, facilitate knowledge sharing, and integrate information into decision-making. The study also suggests that government agencies and business development organizations offer readily available information services, digital skills training and advisory support to help improve enterprise growth and sustainability.
Keywords: Information Access, Uptake, Sustainable Growth, Information Accessibility, Acquisition, Assimilation, Application
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