Utilizing social media marketing in a traditional MSME: An insider action research

Date of Publication

11-2022

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Business Administration

Subject Categories

Marketing

College

Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business

Department/Unit

Management and Organization Department

Thesis Advisor

Jaime Cempron

Defense Panel Chair

Pia Manalastas

Defense Panel Member

Frances Jeanne Sarmiento
Fitz Gerald Balba

Abstract/Summary

Many view the adoption of social media in businesses' marketing as the new way of doing business, allowing firms to create more intimate relationships with stakeholders (Brodie et al., 2007). Although there is a growing concern that businesses “must” engage with social media or risk losing out on new opportunities (Drury, 2008), the literary sources are limited in showing guidance on how highly traditional MSMEs, particularly in the Philippines, can overcome distinct challenges and utilize the benefits of social media to manage fundamental stakeholder relations, especially those with the customers.

As such, this study aims to create a firm understanding of the operational aspects around social media’s functionality, the resource levels required to manage it effectively, and the strategic perspective needed to harness the benefits in a meaningful way; thus, seeks to answer the issue of “How can traditional MSMEs transition to a social media-forward marketing strategy to increase their market presence?”

I concluded by presenting an integrated framework that seeks to understand the social media marketing adoption of MSMEs, by referencing related research and the learnings from the two cycles of action research enacted in this study. The proposed framework highlights the importance of uncovering the barriers restricting and factors reinforcing social media adoption, together with understanding the target customers in the platform, which then forms part of the strategic intent and direction of the company, and thereafter influences the four aspects of social media marketing management of the company (i.e., messaging/projecting, monitoring, assessing, and responding), with the presumption that it will be able to positively create an impact on the business.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Internet marketing—Philippines; Small business —Internet marketing—Philippines

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Embargo Period

12-7-2022

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