Measuring Mobile Phone Technology Adoption in SMEs

Abstract

Mobile technology has experienced a huge acceptance by many users in the current generation. This is due to the benefits offered through its use by individuals and organisations. Similarly, technology adoption studies have widely been used to uncover factors which determine their adoption in different contexts. Some of the scenarios in technology adoption differ due to the specific technology which is under study. For instance, mobile phone technology differs from other computing technologies in several aspects due to its nature i.e. mobility. These differences come along with some different insights concerning the adoption of mobile phones in a particular context. Highlighting important issues on studying the adoption of mobile technology is necessary, especially in developing countries where SMEs are engaging in the usage of mobile phones to accomplish business processes. Thus, this paper provides set of metrics for measuring adoption of mobile phone technology in SMEs. This qualitative study uses a combination of critical literature reviews and interviews conducted by involving key stakeholders of SMEs in Tanzania. This paper shows that among the existing metrics which are used in measuring adoption of other computing technologies, only value creation metric has more realistic grounds to explain the extent of mobile phones adoption in the context of SMEs.

Assessing the acceptance of mobile phone technology in Tanzanian SMEs

“…7.1 The direct influence of perceived ease of use on perceived usefulness (H1b) This study proposed that employees' perceptions of the PU of mobile phone technology were directly influenced by their perceptions of its ease of use. Certain research regarding the use of mobile phone technology has corroborated this (Gallego, Luna, & Bueno, 2008;Mushi et al, 2017). The role of service quality Table 7 presents the study's findings, which demonstrate that H1a was statistically significant.…”

“…This study proposed that employees’ perceptions of the PU of mobile phone technology were directly influenced by their perceptions of its ease of use. Certain research regarding the use of mobile phone technology has corroborated this (Gallego, Luna, & Bueno, 2008; Mushi et al. , 2017).…”

“…Because ICT is evolving so quickly, SMEs must recognise the need to plan for the future and implement effective change management in their operations. The role of service quality One of the reasons SMEs do not use advanced software and applications is that ICT demands providing users with ongoing upgrades of innovations (Mushi, Jafari, & Ennis, 2017). Another characteristic of SMEs is that they have very little or no budget for ICT (Leea, Kimb, & Chungc, 2002;Mushi, 2018;Prieto et al, 2015).…”

“…One of the reasons SMEs do not use advanced software and applications is that ICT demands providing users with ongoing upgrades of innovations (Mushi, Jafari, & Ennis, 2017). Another characteristic of SMEs is that they have very little or no budget for ICT (Leea, Kimb, & Chungc, 2002; Mushi, 2018; Prieto et al.…”

Acceptance of Mobile Phone Technology in SMEs

“…The usage context of mobile phones by SMEs employees differs from desktop computers (Hourali et al, 2008;Mushi et al, 2017). Mobile phones can thus be used to accomplish the duties of employees regardless of when and where they are located to the head offices, at remote locations or at home (Mushi, 2020).…”