Table 2 Papers’ research design Authors...

Table 2

Papers’ research design

Authors (year)	Type	Method	Theoretical perspectives	Country/Region studied	Country of authorship	Sample	Industry	Type of digital platform
Ahsan and Musteen (2021)	qualitative	single case study	Cognitive Perspective of International Entrepreneurship	Denmark	U.S.	1 start-up	Manufacturing	Crowdfunding platform
Alarcón-del-Amo et al. (2018)	quantitative	survey, online	Theory of Reasoned Action; Expectancy-Value Theory	Spain	Spain	152 firms¹	All	Social media
Anwar et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, self-administered	Dynamic Capabilities	Pakistan	Germany	213 SMEs	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Aronica et al. (2021)	quantitative	secondary data	Technology-Organization-Environment Framework	Italy	Italy	19,248 SMEs	All	Social media
Caputo et al. (2022)	quantitative	secondary data	Exploration-Exploitation Perspective	Italy	Italy, France	746 SMEs with foreign activities	All	Social media
Cassetta et al. (2020)	quantitative	secondary data (previous survey)	Resource-Based View	Italy	Italy	2,516 SMEs	All	Several
Cassia and Magno (2022a)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities	Italy	Italy	101 exporting SMEs	Food and Beverage	E-commerce platform
Cassia and Magno (2022b)	quantitative	survey, online	Exploration-Exploitation Perspective	Italy	Italy	110 exporting SMEs	Food and Beverage	E-commerce platform
Crespo et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View	Portugal	Portugal	213 INVs	Several	Unspecified
Da Fonseca et al. (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Ecosystems Perspective	Brazil	Brazil	8 SMEs	Manufacturing	Social media
Deng and Wang (2016)	quantitative	secondary data	Early Mover Advantages	Several	China	297,846 export transactions	B2B	E-commerce platform
Dillon et al. (2020)	qualitative	multiple case study	Opportunity Recognition Framework	Australia	Australia	16 small virtual firms	Service	Several
Eid et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey, online	Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Technology Acceptance Model	UK	UAE, Egypt, UK	277 SMEs	B2B	Social media
Elia et al. (2021)	quantitative	secondary data	Resource-Based View	Italy	Italy, UK	102 firms	Design and Furniture, Fashion, Food and Beverage	E-commerce platform
Fan et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, field, and online	Empowerment Theory, Value Chain Theory	China	China	425 MSMEs	Several	E-commerce platform
Fraccastoro et al. (2021a)	qualitative	multiple case study	Internalization Theory, Network Theory	Finland, Sweden, New Zealand	Finland, Sweden	3 SMEs	Beverage	Social media
Fraccastoro et al. (2021b)	qualitative	multiple case study	Grounded Theory	Brazil, Finland, Italy, Poland, US	Finland, U.S.	10 SMEs	B2B Service	Social media
Gabrielsson et al. (2022)	qualitative	single case study	Effectuation, Network Theory	n.a	Finland	1 firm from inception to accelerated growth	Mobile gaming	Gaming Platform
Glavas et al. (2019)	qualitative	multiple case study	Organizational Learning	Australia	Australia	13 SME	Manufact-uring and services	Unspecified
Guo et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, online	Knowledge Management	China	China, Italy	203 multinational SMEs²	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Hervé et al. (2020)	quantitative	secondary data	n.a	Switzerland	Switzerland	190 MSMEs	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Hossain et al. (2021)	qualitative	personal interviews	Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Technology-Organization-Environment Framework	Bangladesh	Bangladesh, Australia	23 small firms	Several	E-commerce platform
Hui (2020)	quantitative	secondary (panel) data	n.a	US	US	e-Bay sellers	n.a	E-commerce platform
Hultman et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey	Network Theory	Kazakhstan	Canada, UK, Sweden, Finland	169 exporting SMEs	Several	Social media
Jean and Kim (2020)	quantitative	survey (personal and telephone)	Resource-Based View	China	Taiwan, US	250 SMEs	All	Unspecified
Jean et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey (personal and telephone)	Transaction Cost Economics	China	Taiwan, S. Korea, US	273 INVs	Hardware, electronics, other	E-commerce platform
Jin and Hurd (2018)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	New Zealand, China	New Zealand	4 SMEs	Natural and Health products	E-commerce platform
Kim and Lee (2016)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View, Transaction Cost Economics	S. Korea	S. Korea	295 firms, mostly SMEs	All	E-commerce platform
Kromidha and Robson (2021)	quantitative	Secondary (panel) data	Signaling Theory	54 countries	UK	4,446 SMEs	All	Social media, Crowdfunding platform
Lee and Falahat (2019)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View	Malaysia	Malaysia	143 SMEs	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Lee et al. (2022)	mixed methods	personal interviews, surveys (e-mail and face-to-face)	Network Theory	China	China, S. Korea, UK	26 SMEs, 250 SMEs	All	Social media, E-commerce platforms
Lee et al. (2023)	mixed methods	personal interviews, surveys (e-mail and face-to-face)	Institutional Theory	China	China, S. Korea, UK	17 INVs, 260 INVs	All	E-commerce platform
Lehdonvirta et al. (2019)	mixed methods	big data analytics, interviews	Transaction Cost Economics, Signaling Theory	Several	UK, South Africa	6 months of transaction records 107 micro providers	n.a	Online labor platform
Mäki and Toivola (2021)	qualitative	Action research, multiple case study	n.a	Finland	Finland	10 SMEs	Several	E-commerce platform
Neubert (2018)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	n.a	Canada	73 startups	Technology	Several
Pereira et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, online	n.a	Portugal	Portugal	310 firms (93% SMEs)	All	E-commerce platform
Qi et al. (2020)	qualitative	single case study	Transaction Cost Economics	Japan, China	China, UK	1 SME	Beauty	E-commerce platform
Reim et al. (2022)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	Sweden, Finland	Sweden, Finland	29 SMEs	Several	Unspecified
Rialp-Criado et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey, online	n.a	Spain	Spain, Norway	337 exporters (67% SMEs)	Several	Social media
Rienda et al. (2021)	quantitative	secondary data	Resource-Based View	UK, Ireland	UK, Ireland	102 SMEs	Fashion	Social media
Singh et al. (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Institutional Theory	India	US, UK, India	5 SMEs	n.a	E-commerce platform
Tobiassen and Pettersen (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Network Theory	Norway	Norway	4 Born Globals	Software	Social media
Tolstoy et al. (2021)	quantitative	survey, online	Effectuation Theory	Sweden	Sweden	99 SMEs	Retailing	E-commerce platform
Tolstoy et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, online	Capabilities Perspective	Sweden	Sweden	99 SMEs	Retailing	E-commerce platform
Tolstoy et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, online	Effectuation Theory	Sweden	Sweden	99 SMEs	Retailing	E-commerce platform
Troise et al. (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Resource-Based View, Knowledge-Based View	Italy	Italy, UK, Cyprus, Finland	48 SMEs	Several	Crowdfunding
Vadana et al. (2020)	qualitative	multiple case study	Bricolage Theory	Finland	Finland	3 SMEs	Service	Proprietary platform
Virglerová et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, online	n.a	Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia	Italy, Czech Republic	1,585 SMEs	Several	Social media
Westerlund (2020)	quantitative	secondary data	n.a	Canada	Canada	535 SMEs	All	Several
Williams et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey, online	Knowledge-Based View	China	UK, Canada, China	117 SMEs	High-tech	Social media
Witek-Hadjuk et al. (2022)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	Poland	Poland	4 SMEs	Fashion	E-commerce platform

Authors (year)	Type	Method	Theoretical perspectives	Country/Region studied	Country of authorship	Sample	Industry	Type of digital platform
Ahsan and Musteen (2021)	qualitative	single case study	Cognitive Perspective of International Entrepreneurship	Denmark	U.S.	1 start-up	Manufacturing	Crowdfunding platform
Alarcón-del-Amo et al. (2018)	quantitative	survey, online	Theory of Reasoned Action; Expectancy-Value Theory	Spain	Spain	152 firms¹	All	Social media
Anwar et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, self-administered	Dynamic Capabilities	Pakistan	Germany	213 SMEs	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Aronica et al. (2021)	quantitative	secondary data	Technology-Organization-Environment Framework	Italy	Italy	19,248 SMEs	All	Social media
Caputo et al. (2022)	quantitative	secondary data	Exploration-Exploitation Perspective	Italy	Italy, France	746 SMEs with foreign activities	All	Social media
Cassetta et al. (2020)	quantitative	secondary data (previous survey)	Resource-Based View	Italy	Italy	2,516 SMEs	All	Several
Cassia and Magno (2022a)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities	Italy	Italy	101 exporting SMEs	Food and Beverage	E-commerce platform
Cassia and Magno (2022b)	quantitative	survey, online	Exploration-Exploitation Perspective	Italy	Italy	110 exporting SMEs	Food and Beverage	E-commerce platform
Crespo et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View	Portugal	Portugal	213 INVs	Several	Unspecified
Da Fonseca et al. (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Ecosystems Perspective	Brazil	Brazil	8 SMEs	Manufacturing	Social media
Deng and Wang (2016)	quantitative	secondary data	Early Mover Advantages	Several	China	297,846 export transactions	B2B	E-commerce platform
Dillon et al. (2020)	qualitative	multiple case study	Opportunity Recognition Framework	Australia	Australia	16 small virtual firms	Service	Several
Eid et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey, online	Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Technology Acceptance Model	UK	UAE, Egypt, UK	277 SMEs	B2B	Social media
Elia et al. (2021)	quantitative	secondary data	Resource-Based View	Italy	Italy, UK	102 firms	Design and Furniture, Fashion, Food and Beverage	E-commerce platform
Fan et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, field, and online	Empowerment Theory, Value Chain Theory	China	China	425 MSMEs	Several	E-commerce platform
Fraccastoro et al. (2021a)	qualitative	multiple case study	Internalization Theory, Network Theory	Finland, Sweden, New Zealand	Finland, Sweden	3 SMEs	Beverage	Social media
Fraccastoro et al. (2021b)	qualitative	multiple case study	Grounded Theory	Brazil, Finland, Italy, Poland, US	Finland, U.S.	10 SMEs	B2B Service	Social media
Gabrielsson et al. (2022)	qualitative	single case study	Effectuation, Network Theory	n.a	Finland	1 firm from inception to accelerated growth	Mobile gaming	Gaming Platform
Glavas et al. (2019)	qualitative	multiple case study	Organizational Learning	Australia	Australia	13 SME	Manufact-uring and services	Unspecified
Guo et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, online	Knowledge Management	China	China, Italy	203 multinational SMEs²	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Hervé et al. (2020)	quantitative	secondary data	n.a	Switzerland	Switzerland	190 MSMEs	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Hossain et al. (2021)	qualitative	personal interviews	Diffusion of Innovations Theory, Technology-Organization-Environment Framework	Bangladesh	Bangladesh, Australia	23 small firms	Several	E-commerce platform
Hui (2020)	quantitative	secondary (panel) data	n.a	US	US	e-Bay sellers	n.a	E-commerce platform
Hultman et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey	Network Theory	Kazakhstan	Canada, UK, Sweden, Finland	169 exporting SMEs	Several	Social media
Jean and Kim (2020)	quantitative	survey (personal and telephone)	Resource-Based View	China	Taiwan, US	250 SMEs	All	Unspecified
Jean et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey (personal and telephone)	Transaction Cost Economics	China	Taiwan, S. Korea, US	273 INVs	Hardware, electronics, other	E-commerce platform
Jin and Hurd (2018)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	New Zealand, China	New Zealand	4 SMEs	Natural and Health products	E-commerce platform
Kim and Lee (2016)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View, Transaction Cost Economics	S. Korea	S. Korea	295 firms, mostly SMEs	All	E-commerce platform
Kromidha and Robson (2021)	quantitative	Secondary (panel) data	Signaling Theory	54 countries	UK	4,446 SMEs	All	Social media, Crowdfunding platform
Lee and Falahat (2019)	quantitative	survey, online	Resource-Based View	Malaysia	Malaysia	143 SMEs	Manufacturing	Unspecified
Lee et al. (2022)	mixed methods	personal interviews, surveys (e-mail and face-to-face)	Network Theory	China	China, S. Korea, UK	26 SMEs, 250 SMEs	All	Social media, E-commerce platforms
Lee et al. (2023)	mixed methods	personal interviews, surveys (e-mail and face-to-face)	Institutional Theory	China	China, S. Korea, UK	17 INVs, 260 INVs	All	E-commerce platform
Lehdonvirta et al. (2019)	mixed methods	big data analytics, interviews	Transaction Cost Economics, Signaling Theory	Several	UK, South Africa	6 months of transaction records107 micro providers	n.a	Online labor platform
Mäki and Toivola (2021)	qualitative	Action research, multiple case study	n.a	Finland	Finland	10 SMEs	Several	E-commerce platform
Neubert (2018)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	n.a	Canada	73 startups	Technology	Several
Pereira et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, online	n.a	Portugal	Portugal	310 firms (93% SMEs)	All	E-commerce platform
Qi et al. (2020)	qualitative	single case study	Transaction Cost Economics	Japan, China	China, UK	1 SME	Beauty	E-commerce platform
Reim et al. (2022)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	Sweden, Finland	Sweden, Finland	29 SMEs	Several	Unspecified
Rialp-Criado et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey, online	n.a	Spain	Spain, Norway	337 exporters (67% SMEs)	Several	Social media
Rienda et al. (2021)	quantitative	secondary data	Resource-Based View	UK, Ireland	UK, Ireland	102 SMEs	Fashion	Social media
Singh et al. (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Institutional Theory	India	US, UK, India	5 SMEs	n.a	E-commerce platform
Tobiassen and Pettersen (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Network Theory	Norway	Norway	4 Born Globals	Software	Social media
Tolstoy et al. (2021)	quantitative	survey, online	Effectuation Theory	Sweden	Sweden	99 SMEs	Retailing	E-commerce platform
Tolstoy et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, online	Capabilities Perspective	Sweden	Sweden	99 SMEs	Retailing	E-commerce platform
Tolstoy et al. (2023)	quantitative	survey, online	Effectuation Theory	Sweden	Sweden	99 SMEs	Retailing	E-commerce platform
Troise et al. (2023)	qualitative	multiple case study	Resource-Based View, Knowledge-Based View	Italy	Italy, UK, Cyprus, Finland	48 SMEs	Several	Crowdfunding
Vadana et al. (2020)	qualitative	multiple case study	Bricolage Theory	Finland	Finland	3 SMEs	Service	Proprietary platform
Virglerová et al. (2022)	quantitative	survey, online	n.a	Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia	Italy, Czech Republic	1,585 SMEs	Several	Social media
Westerlund (2020)	quantitative	secondary data	n.a	Canada	Canada	535 SMEs	All	Several
Williams et al. (2020)	quantitative	survey, online	Knowledge-Based View	China	UK, Canada, China	117 SMEs	High-tech	Social media
Witek-Hadjuk et al. (2022)	qualitative	multiple case study	n.a	Poland	Poland	4 SMEs	Fashion	E-commerce platform

Note(s): ¹ Firm size not specified: average 151.84 employees for the whole sample

² Includes firms with up to 1,000 employees, following China’s official definition of an SME

n.a. = not available

Source(s): Created by authors

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