Motivation, influences, and perceived effect of ICT adoption in Botswana organizations

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the motivation, influences, and perceived effect of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in Botswana organizations. While a conceptual model of the adoption process in developed countries has been studied, not much empirical studies have been undertaken. This paper is an attempt to bridge this gap. Specifically, the paper addresses five questions: What motivated organizations in Botswana in their decision to adopt ICT in their operations? What factors, internal and external, influenced the adoption decision? Which sources did the organizations contact for information on the adoption of ICT? What is the relative importance of those influencing/motivating factors and information sources? What are the perceived effects of adoption? Design/methodology/approach -The study was carried out using a survey method. The main instrument is a personally administered questionnaire that was based on items obtained and adapted from literature. Data were collected from a judgment sample of 29 business and public sector establishments, drawn from nine towns and cities of Botswana. The respondent in each organization was either the IT manager or the chief executive. The initial stage of the adoption process is examined by identifying, in the sample Botswana organizations, the internal and external proponents of the ICT adoption process, the sources from which organizations seek technical information, their perceived relative importance in the process, and the effect of adoption on organizations' activities.Findings -The study found that ICT application in Botswana was still at an elementary stage, mainly communications and recordkeeping. In terms of motivation and influence, the competitive motive and internal sources of information and influence were dominant and that the overall effect of ICT adoption on several organizational activities was moderately positive. Originality/value -The identification of the key sources of influence and information for the adoption of ICT helps ICT marketing companies to target their marketing efforts more specifically, and services offered limited to basic needs that are relevant to the use to which ICT is currently applied in Botswana. Widespread adoption of ICT has turned it into a kind of "hygiene" factor rather than a "motivator". In spite of the positive effect adoption has on various activities of adopting organizations, adoption benefits are matched by similar benefits of competing organizations, thus conferring no competitive advantages. It is only in the absence of adoption that those organizations adopting enjoy such competitive advantage.

SME social media use: A study of predictive factors in the United Arab Emirates

“…This indicates that the decision to adopt social media among the SMEs in the study was not based on the benefits of the technology. This is contrary to some previous research that has found relative advantage to be an important factor influencing organizational technology adoption (e.g., Iyanda & Ojo, ; Rogers, ; Vishwanath, ). Consistent with previous research, this study may explain why a substantial number of organizations that have adopted social media have not realized the benefits of the technology (Chui et al, ).…”

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“…Interestingly, however, the results for MM tools (as well as SCC tools) showed no difference with respect to top management support; a possible explanation for this would be the earlier finding that suggested partners within the supply chain affirm pressure to adopt these tools, thereby increasing top management's commitment to them. Inversely, SR tools showed significant differences between the 2 sets of countries for top management support; this contrasts with previous studies [27,39,42] that did not find top management support to be a significant barrier to e-business tool adoption in developing countries. OTD tools showed significant differences in terms of top management support and employee resistance to change but no differences were found for lack of in-house knowledge / skills or lack of training; this could be explained due to the ease of use of some of these tools (e.g.…”

“…In terms of drivers, the results for MM tools suggested that normative and mimetic pressures are stronger on organizations in developing countries; this agrees with the findings of some previous studies [39] and suggests that both competitors and partners across the supply chain are able to pressurize these organizations to implement particular tools to suit their individual goals and needs. The increased focus on MM tools by organizations in developing countries could also be down to the geographical distance between themselves and their customers, whereby there is an increased need to ensure product availability and reduce shortages.…”

Technology Motivation in E-Marketing Adoption Among Malaysian Manufacturers

“…The primary motivation of businesses to adopt new technologies is the anticipated benefits these technologies would bring to the company (Iyanda & Ojo, 2008;Rogers, 2003;Vishwanath, 2009). This argument resonates with Chengalur-Smith and Duchessi's (1999) synthesis of technology implementation process (TIP) models that proposed the stages in technology acceptance where the final stage consists of management accessing the technology's benefits for approval.…”