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Factors that influence ICT adoption by small and medium enterprises : a case study of SMEs in Thika municipality
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Kiveu, Mary Nafula |
| Copyright Year | 2011 |
| Abstract | The SME sector is important in the social economic development of Kenya and is perceived as an engine for growth. However, SMEs seem ill equipped to confront the challenges of globalization, whose hallmark is leT and information a major determinant of competitiveness. Whereas large enterprises have embraced leT to gain a competitive edge, evidence relating to leT adoption and use by SMEs has suggested a slow response and limited progression. The research was therefore carried out to find out the level of leT adoption and factors influencing the adoption and use by SMEs in order to enhance adoption. A crosssectional survey of 75 SMEs in Thika Municipality was carried out; Stratified random sampling was used to draw the sample out the total population of 240 SMEs. Structured questionnaires were used as the instrument of data collection and were administered to the owners/managers of the enterprises. Data was collected in two weeks and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the survey indicated that leT adoption measured by the adoption index was higher than expected with an average index of 68 %. The mobile phone was the most common JeT and most frequently used, followed by the computers, fixed phones and lastly the fax. Most enterprises used JeT for basic applications i.e. communication and office automation. Usage of more advanced leT tools and applications was very low and only 28% of the enterprises had a web page. Such kind of leT applications may not be sufficient to address the challenges faced by the sector. JeT adoption was to a great extent influenced by internal factors to the enterprises as compared to external factors. These factors are leT knowledge and skills of the manager/owner and employees, Identified need for leT/ perceived usefulness of leT in the enterprise, Availability offunds, Type of market and customers, Type of business operations. Efforts to enhance adoption should befocused on the internal factors and could include Stepping up JeT awareness and training among SMEs owners, employees and stakeholders, Formulating policies that support JeT adoption by the sector, Subsiding the cost of leT purchase and maintenance, JeT providers coming up with customized leT products and applications for SMEs. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/123456789/1193/Mary%20Nafula.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=3 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
