An Exploration of Factors Influencing the Adoption of ICT Enabled Entrepreneurship Applications in Namibian Rural Communities

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2108.09789v4
• Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2022 07:19:43 GMT
• Title: An Exploration of Factors Influencing the Adoption of ICT Enabled Entrepreneurship Applications in Namibian Rural Communities
• Authors: Elizabeth Ujarura Kamutuezu, Heike Winschiers-Theophilus and Anicia Peters
• Abstract summary: This study investigated the factors affecting the adoption of ICT enabled services by rural entrepreneurs. It was found that the five main factors affecting the adoption of digital services by rural entrepreneurs are a lack of awareness of digital services, electricity, skills to navigate smart devices, high cost of both devices and mobile internet and cybercrime. We recommend a tailor-made training program for rural entrepreneurs which includes raising awareness of digital services and associated benefits.
• Score: 2.7112466003950897
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
• Abstract: Digital services have the potential to improve rural entrepreneurs' access to wider markets and increase their competitiveness among other benefits. Moreover, during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in which movement and physical contacts have been limited, businesses relied much on digital services. However, many Namibian rural entrepreneurs have not been able to use digital services to maintain their livelihood. Therefore, this study investigated the factors affecting the adoption of ICT enabled services by rural entrepreneurs. The study applied a cross-sectional survey of 77 respondents comprising 14 rural entrepreneurs and 63 rural community members from four sites. It was found that the five main factors affecting the adoption of digital services by rural entrepreneurs are a lack of awareness of digital services, electricity, skills to navigate smart devices, high cost of both devices and mobile internet and cybercrime. We recommend a tailor-made training program for rural entrepreneurs which includes raising awareness of digital services and associated benefits, capacity building on digital skills and best practice for cybersecurity. In addition, we propose that the Namibian Government should enhance digital inclusion through a policy initiative to reduce the cost to make both data and smart devices affordable for the poor and rural communities.

Related papers

• Smart-optimism. Uncovering the Resilience of Romanian City Halls in Online Service Delivery [0.0]
  This study assesses the adaptability of Romanian city halls to digitalization. It uses 23 indicators for measuring e-service dissemination within local contexts. The research reveals notable progress in the digital transformation of services over time.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-10-19T19:52:13Z)
• Enhancing ICT Literacy and Sustainable Practices in the Hospitality Industry: Insights from Mnquma Municipality [0.0]
  This study explores the role of ICT literacy and sustainable practices in influencing ICT adoption among small-scale players in the hospitality industry in rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A random sample of 21 small-scale players (BnBs, guest houses, and non-serviced accommodations) was selected. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Kruskal-Wallis H Test to examine differences in ICT usage levels.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-09-17T19:41:34Z)
• Wireless Crowd Detection for Smart Overtourism Mitigation [50.031356998422815]
  This chapter describes a low-cost approach to monitoring overtourism based on mobile devices' wireless activity. The crowding sensors count the number of surrounding mobile devices, by detecting trace elements of wireless technologies. They run detection programs for several technologies, and fingerprinting analysis results are only stored locally in an anonymized database.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-02-14T13:20:24Z)
• Enhancing Accessibility of Rural Populations through Vehicle-based Services [0.9217021281095907]
  Mobile clinics offer a cost-effective solution to enhance spatial accessibility for the rural population. Our integrated approach utilizes GIS data and an accessibility scaling factor to assess spatial accessibility for rural populations. This approach aids decision-makers, including fleet operators, policymakers, and public authorities in Sub-Saharan Africa, during project evaluation and planning for mobile facilities.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-02-02T09:28:17Z)
• A Comprehensive Picture of Factors Affecting User Willingness to Use Mobile Health Applications [62.60524178293434]
  The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence user acceptance of mHealth apps. Users' digital literacy has the strongest impact on their willingness to use them, followed by their online habit of sharing personal information. Users' demographic background, such as their country of residence, age, ethnicity, and education, has a significant moderating effect.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-05-10T08:11:21Z)
• Future Computer Systems and Networking Research in the Netherlands: A Manifesto [137.47124933818066]
  We draw attention to CompSys as a vital part of ICT. Each of the Top Sectors of the Dutch Economy, each route in the National Research Agenda, and each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals pose challenges that cannot be addressed without CompSys advances.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-05-26T11:02:29Z)
• Bridging the Urban-Rural Connectivity Gap through Intelligent Space, Air, and Ground Networks [68.8204255655161]
  Connectivity in rural areas is one of the main challenges of communication networks. We highlight the latest works on rural connectivity, discuss the solutions for terrestrial networks, and study the potential benefits of nonterrestrial networks. We discuss the rural connectivity challenges and highlight the latest projects and research and the empowerment of networks using AI.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2022-02-25T13:40:35Z)
• Smart Village: An IoT Based Digital Transformation [1.1816942730023885]
  The smart village is a concept that improves the traditional rural aspects with the help of digital transformation. There exist many opportunities to design a low-cost, secure, and efficient technical ecosystem. This article identifies the key application areas, where the IoT can be applied in the smart village.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-06-07T16:16:33Z)
• Skills-based on technological knowledge in the digital economy activity [0.0]
  This study covers seven micro-regions of Minas Gerais in Brazil, organized in 89 municipalities, with 69% urban population and 31% rural. The data used consisted of 4,361 observations obtained in the Brazilian government's public repositories, organized into panel data, and analysed using partial least squares, micro-regional spatial regression, and identification patterns with machine learning.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-02-02T19:03:53Z)
• Urban Sensing based on Mobile Phone Data: Approaches, Applications and Challenges [67.71975391801257]
  Much concern in mobile data analysis is related to human beings and their behaviours. This work aims to review the methods and techniques that have been implemented to discover knowledge from mobile phone data.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-08-29T15:14:03Z)
• Smart Urban Mobility: When Mobility Systems Meet Smart Data [55.456196356335745]
  Cities around the world are expanding dramatically, with urban population growth reaching nearly 2.5 billion people in urban areas and road traffic growth exceeding 1.2 billion cars by 2050. The economic contribution of the transport sector represents 5% of the GDP in Europe and costs an average of US $482.05 billion in the U.S.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-05-09T13:53:01Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.