The success of e-commerce startups: an empirical study in Vietnam

Quoc Trung Pham; Dinh Khang Pham

doi:10.5585/iji.v9i3.20233

Authors

Quoc Trung Pham Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (VNU-HCM) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4197-3725
Dinh Khang Pham Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (VNU-HCM) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6793-9029

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5585/iji.v9i3.20233

Keywords:

E-commerce, Startups, Entrepreneur, Success, Founder, E-service.

Abstract

Objective of the study: Although many e-commerce startups have been established in recent years, there is a high rate of business failure in start-up community. In addition, e-commerce in Vietnam is still at a beginning stage with many potentials and risks. The research aims to find impact factors which lead to the success of e-commerce startups in Vietnam.

Methodology/approach: The qualitative method was applied to identify appropriate measurement scales. Then, the quantitative questionnaire survey was leveraged to test the research framework based on data from local e-commerce startups.

Originality/Relevance: This research focuses on evaluating the impact of founder factors, e-service factors, and external factors on the success of startups in Vietnam.

Main results: Research findings show that four factors have significant contribution to e-commerce startups’ success including risk-taking propensity, achievement orientation, reliability of e-service quality, and e-networking. Among the four, risk-taking propensity is the most contributed factor in e-commerce startups’ success.

Theoretical/methodological contributions: The study helps to test the measurement scales and contributes an empirical study regarding to the success of startups in a developing country like Vietnam.

Social/management contributions: Managerial implications for e-commerce incubators, entrepreneurs, and government are also recommended to improve the success rate of e-commerce startups in Vietnam.

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Author Biographies

Quoc Trung Pham, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (VNU-HCM)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quoc Trung is a Head of Simulation Lab. of the School of Industrial Management. He is a former Vice Dean of School of Industrial Management of Hochiminh City (HCMC) University of Technology, Vietnam. He has been working in Department of Management Information System since April 2005. From 2001 till now, he was a visiting lecturer at several universities of Vietnam, such as: HCMC University of Foreign Language and Information Technology, HCMC National University, Lotus University, HCMC University of Economics... His current research focus includes information retrieval system, management information system, decision support system, knowledge management system, e-commerce, e-learning, innovation, etc. He has published and spoken on topics in information technology, MIS and knowledge management. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Information Technology from HCMC University of Natural Science, and his PhD.in Economics from Kyoto University.

Dinh Khang Pham, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (VNU-HCM)

Master, Manager at Intel Products Vietnam. MBA, School of Industrial Management. Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (VNU-HCM) – Vietnam

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