Page 44 - IJSA, Vol. 7, No 1, 2024

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 7, No. 1, 2024
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. Health Care Sciences

ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Digitalisation Factors Influencing the

Dynamic Capabilities of Small and Medium
Enterprises in the Healthcare Sector

Authors’ Contribution: 1 ABCDEF 2 ABCDEF
A – Study design; Makelana P. , Kekwaletswe R. ,
B – Data collection; Segooa M. A. 1 ABCDEF
C – Statistical analysis; 1 Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
D – Data interpretation; 2 University of Johannesburg, South Africa
E – Manuscript preparation;
F – Literature search; Received: 28.04.2024; Accepted: 20.05.2024; Published: 30.06.2024
G – Funds collection
Abstract
Background and Digitalization is problematized as one of the ways to improve dynamic capabilities
Aim of Study: of healthcare sector small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their strive to stay
competitive in today’s digital society. Digitalisation and dynamic capability are
current key issues in both academia and practice due to the recent advances in
information and communication technologies. Nonetheless, there is inadequate
research informing what and why digitalisation can be leveraged to enhance the
dynamic capabilities (DC), in the context of SMEs in healthcare sector.
The aim of the study: to explore and explain factors influencing DC of healthcare
SMEs in South Africa.
Material and Methods: The study employed task-technology fit theory as a lens to explain digitalisation
factors influencing the DC of SMEs. To achieve the aim of the study, a deductive
approach was followed. The study population was healthcare sector SMEs, in
South Africa. The sampling frame was 384 randomly selected SMEs, in a self-
administered survey.
Results: The empirical results show that SME performance (β=0.132, p<0.05), task-
technology fit (β=0.052, p<0.05), internet access (β=0.235, p<0.05), customer
service (β=0.057, p<0.05), information sharing (β=0.022, p<0.05), innovation
(β=0.125, p<0.05), and data security (β=0.427, p<0.05) are highly significant in
the digitalisation of DC of SMEs. While cost saving (β=0.178, p>0.05) was found
to be less significant.
Conclusions: The study has explained and shown that appropriating technology to task during
digitalisation is key to enhancing dynamic capabilities, in the context of South
African healthcare sector SMEs. The cost of digital technology is a none factor.
Subsequently, digitalization is a people-driven transformation journey.
Keywords: digitalisation, dynamic capabilities, task-technology fit, small and medium
enterprises, healthcare sector, South Africa.
Copyright: © 2024 Makelana P., Kekwaletswe R., Segooa M. A. Published by Archives of
International Journal of Science Annals
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2024.1.4
Conflict of interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests
Peer review: Double-blind review
Source of support: This research did not receive any outside funding or support
Information about Makelana Penuel (Corresponding Author) – https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0986-
the authors: 1117; [email protected]; Doctor of Computing, Lecturer, Department of
Informatics, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
Kekwaletswe Ray – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3455-3127; Professor, School of
Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Segooa Mmmatshuene Anna – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4190-8256; Doctor
of Computing, Lecturer, Department of Informatics, Tshwane University of
Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.

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