Digital divide: accessing digital technologies for firms in BOP countries

IF 3.1 3区管理学 Q2 COMPUTER SCIENCE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Online Information Review Pub Date : 2023-09-14 DOI:10.1108/oir-05-2023-0213

Ewuradjoa Mansa Quansah

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose Digital technologies (DTs) are key and essential in firms and communities. Countries in low-income areas, such as Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) contexts, struggle with digital development. To understand how firms in BOP countries access DTs, a qualitative study was conducted to provide insight into how firms in these contexts access DTs and the challenges they face while accessing these technologies. Design/methodology/approach An in-depth qualitative study was done, which included semi-structured interviews with digital enterprises. In total, 12 chief executive officers (CEOs) and owners of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) from Ghana and Nigeria were interviewed. NVivo 12 Pro was used for thematic analysis. Findings Four main findings were identified as follows: (1) how firms in BOP contexts access DTs, (2) the challenges in accessing DTs, (3) factors considered when selecting a technological provider in BOP contexts and (4) solutions and recommendations to the challenges identified. From the results, cost, low technological infrastructure, high transaction costs, regulatory issues, lack of trust, poor digital skills and lack of support were among the barriers to accessing DTs in BOP contexts. Research limitations/implications Governments and stakeholders of firms in BOP contexts need to be intentional with their digitalization development to ensure digital inclusion. Originality/value The study developed a synopsis of the factors involved in accessing DTs in BOP contexts and is the first to conceptualize firm digital access in BOP contexts. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-05-2023-0213

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数字鸿沟:国际收支国家企业获取数字技术

数字技术在企业和社区中是关键和必不可少的。低收入地区的国家，如金字塔底部的国家，在数字化发展中举步维艰。为了了解防喷器国家的公司如何使用直接技术，进行了一项定性研究，以深入了解这些国家的公司如何使用直接技术以及他们在使用这些技术时面临的挑战。设计/方法/方法进行了深入的定性研究，其中包括对数字企业的半结构化访谈。总共采访了来自加纳和尼日利亚的12位首席执行官和中小企业所有者。使用NVivo 12 Pro进行主题分析。研究发现了以下四个主要发现:(1)防喷器环境下的公司如何获取直接传输技术;(2)获取直接传输技术的挑战;(3)在防喷器环境下选择技术提供商时考虑的因素;(4)针对所发现挑战的解决方案和建议。从结果来看，成本、低技术基础设施、高交易成本、监管问题、缺乏信任、糟糕的数字技能和缺乏支持是在防喷器环境下使用DTs的障碍。研究局限/影响:在BOP背景下，政府和企业利益相关者需要有意识地进行数字化发展，以确保数字化包容。该研究概述了在防喷器环境下访问dt所涉及的因素，并首次将防喷器环境下的公司数字访问概念化。同行评议本文的同行评议历史可在:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-05-2023-0213

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Online Information Review 工程技术-计算机：信息系统

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

16.10%

发文量

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： The journal provides a multi-disciplinary forum for scholars from a range of fields, including information studies/iSchools, data studies, internet studies, media and communication studies and information systems. Publishes research on the social, political and ethical aspects of emergent digital information practices and platforms, and welcomes submissions that draw upon critical and socio-technical perspectives in order to address these developments. Welcomes empirical, conceptual and methodological contributions on any topics relevant to the broad field of digital information and communication, however we are particularly interested in receiving submissions that address emerging issues around the below topics. Coverage includes (but is not limited to): •Online communities, social networking and social media, including online political communication; crowdsourcing; positive computing and wellbeing. •The social drivers and implications of emerging data practices, including open data; big data; data journeys and flows; and research data management. •Digital transformations including organisations’ use of information technologies (e.g. Internet of Things and digitisation of user experience) to improve economic and social welfare, health and wellbeing, and protect the environment. •Developments in digital scholarship and the production and use of scholarly content. •Online and digital research methods, including their ethical aspects.