Int. J. Technoentrepreneurship, Vol. 3, No. 2, 2016 127
Copyright © 2016 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Antecedents and outcomes associated with social
media use in customer relationship management
of Thai microenterprises
Pakamon Sasatanun and
Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol*
International College,
National Institute of Development Administration,
118 Moo3, Sereethai Road,
Klong-Chan, Bangkapi,
Bangkok 10240, Thailand
Email: pakamon.sasatanun@stamford.edu
Email: peerayuth.c@nida.ac.th
*Corresponding author
Abstract: The present study investigated some antecedents and outcomes
associated with the social media use intensity for customer relationship
management (CRM), using the survey data collected from the sample of 217
entrepreneurs of some small retail shops in Thailand. The data were analysed
by using the partial least squares regression. Regarding the antecedents, the
results indicated that the intensity of social media use for CRM tended to be
highly significant for the entrepreneurs who emphasised the service
differentiation strategy, but not for those who emphasised the cost leadership
strategy. Also, the positive relationship between the competitive pressure to use
social media in business and the intensity of social media use for CRM was
supported. Regarding the outcomes, the analysis indicated that the intensity of
social media use for CRM was positively related to cost reduction and market
expansion outcomes which, in turn, were positively linked to higher firm
performance satisfaction.
Keywords: social media; CRM; customer relationship management; generic
strategy; micro enterprises; competition; firm performance.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sasatanun, P. and
Charoensukmongkol, P. (2016) ‘Antecedents and outcomes associated
with social media use in customer relationship management of Thai
microenterprises’, Int. J. Technoentrepreneurship, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp.127–149.
Biographical notes: Pakamon Sasatanun is a PhD candidate at the
International College of the National Institute of Development Administration.
She is also a Lecturer at the Stamford International University, Thailand.
Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol is a Lecturer at the International College of the
National Institute of Development Administration. He received his PhD in
International Business from the Texas A&M International University.
His research interests are broadly in the areas of international business,
strategic management, and managerial psychology.