e-business adoption and use among African women-owned SMEs: an analytical study in Nigeria

This paper examines the factors that influence adoption and use of ICTs for business purposes (e-business) among women-owned small and medium enterprises (WOSMEs) in sub-Saharan Africa. SMEs are central to socio-economic development in Africa, but relatively little is known about e-business, particularly among African women entrepreneurs. Therefore, this study surveyed 140 WOSMEs in Nigeria, using questions shaped by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Findings show that perceived usefulness seems to play the strongest single role in e-business adoption and use decisions within this demographic. Awareness of e-business technologies and availability of resources serve as enablers; market forces serve as a driver; and lack of infrastructure and resources function as impediments to adoption and use of e-business. These findings suggest that governments, development organisations or private sector actors seeking to increase e-business adoption rates among WOSMEs in Africa should focus on 1) e-business awareness-raising initiatives including use of e-business ambassadors; 2) developing mobile products and services that address specific communication and information needs across the value chain; and 3) increasing access to supporting resources and infrastructure.