Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Infrastructure - Business Environment Institutions: The Case in Poland
Purpose: The article aims to analyse the process of digitisation of support services provided to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by selected business environment institutions (BEIs), particularly focusing on e-services and mobile services. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research seeks to answer specific questions regarding the form and extent of support and the impact of funding from, inter alia, European Union programmes on the investment of BEIs and the correlation with the development of the digitalisation of the support provided and the expansion of the markets served. The study utilizes a combination of CAWI and CATI methods. Purposive sample - n=238, return rate in the first stage = 42%, in the second stage = 75%. The study employed a statistical test for two structure indicators to assess the significance of the effects resulting from the relationship between the examined features. The research aimed to determine whether the value of a structure indicator, representing the percentage of entities providing e-services or mobile services, differed significantly between groups categorized based on a binary feature related to the use of funding in a specific manner or to a specific extent. Findings: The study provides empirical evidence of the importance of funding and cooperation for digitisation efforts in the provision of services by BEIs. Furthermore, it highlights the significant role of mobile and e-services in expanding into trans-regional markets, emphasising the mutually beneficial relationship between digitalisation and market expansion for SMEs. The results of the research allowed the identification of initial assumptions for supporting the digitisation of services provided by BEIs to meet the changing expectations and needs of SMEs. Practical Implications: The research contributes to the discourse on the current role of BEIs in providing support to SMEs, particularly in the rapidly changing business environment, and highlights the significance of fostering innovation, cooperation, and networks in supporting SME development. Originality/value: This study's originality lies in its examination of the evolving relationship between BEIs and SMEs, particularly in the context of online and mobile services. It seeks to verify the hypothesis that the form of support and communication through digital channels are crucial elements of cooperation between BEIs and SMEs.