Understanding dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption in UK service SMEs: an actor-network approach

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyAlthough literature reveals that significant efforts have been made to study ICT adoption and diffusion, the diversity of research in terms of theory and methodology is very low. Most studies have relied on traditional adoption theories (e.g., TAM and DOI) and these theories are not capable of providing rich explanantion on how the adoption and post-adoption develop over time. It is argued here that ICT adoption involves multi-dimensional and complex issues. These issues range from how various roles played by actors in emerging ICT are accounted for to ensuring successful adoption. Therefore, this research aims to advance our understanding of emerging ICT adoptions in SMEs from a dynamic process perspective. The specific objectives of this research are to: establish the stages of the dynamic process, identify the key actors and their roles, explore the critical factors affecting the emerging ICT adoption process, identify the challenges and provide recommendations and implications for stakeholders in promoting future adoption and diffusion in UK SMEs. The research adopts a social-technical approach that challenges the ideas of the mainstream thinkers. More specifically, it adopts Actor Network Theory (ANT). The key ANT concepts that influenced the empirical investigation are inscription, translation, framing and stabilisation. The research adopted a qualitative method using face to face interviews. Two rounds of data collection were undertaken. The first round started with a theoretical review, the analysis of relevant literature, and unstructured interviews mainly with small business managers. Eleven interviews were carried out. The second round of interviews was semi-structured with key human actors identified in the first round of interviews. A total of fifteen interviews were conducted. They included the small business manager; SMEs service sector customers, government agencies, SMEs consultants, and IT vendors. The aim was to further explore the dynamic adoption process, the roles and challenges of actors and to validate the outcomes of the findings. The analysis was guided by a hybrid approach of thematic analysis using NVivo software. The study proposed and validated a conceptual framework that illustrates the dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption in SMEs from the Actor Network Theory perspective. This framework helps to understand the adoption process, actors involved, actors’ roles and interactions, and the critical factors. Using the key concepts of ANT as the basis of the investigation, the findings identify a number of key activities associated with the adoption process. These activities include: problem assessment and evaluation, concept generation and evaluation, concept specification, product outsourcing /role delegation, misalignment and alignment of interests, product trial, product modification, adaptation, and impact and problem redefinition. These activities reveal that adoption of emerging ICT in a small business context is not constant, straightforward and certain; instead it is unpredictable, dynamic, and an on-going and reiterative process. ANT concepts were further used to analyse and categorise 20 roles that different actors play, 15 critical factors influencing emerging ICT adoption in SMEs, and the challenges facing actors. While all of these roles, factors, and challenges are critical, in this study, the findings reveal that monitoring and legislation are the most recurring roles at each stage. Furthermore, ease of use, managerial time, shared support, customer focus and adoption costs are the factors affecting the success of multiple stages (three stages). Finally, the thesis presents the contributions and implications for both research and practice in future adoption and diffusion

Examining emerging ICT's adoption in SMEs from a dynamic process approach

Purpose – This paper aims to advance information and communication technologies (ICT) adoption research and practice by examining and understanding the emerging ICT adoption in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from a dynamic process perspective using actor-network theory (ANT). Design/methodology/approach – This study employs a qualitative approach to investigate how services SMEs are constantly engaging in ICT adoption for improving business performance. Two rounds of interviews were conducted with 26 interviewees. Data collected from the unstructured and semi-structured interviews were analysed to understand the dynamic adoption process, actors involved and their interactions. Findings – The findings reveal the recursive and dynamic nature of the emerging ICT adoption process and the constant interactions and negotiations of various actors. Underpinned by the key concepts of ANTand validated by the empirical data, a framework is developed to depict the stages of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption, the actors involved and the associated key activities. Research limitations/implications – Qualitative research is interpretive in nature and the size of the sample used is limited. These limitations require caution for the generalization of the findings. The framework can be further validated across a wider population using mixed methods combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Practical implications – Emerging ICT adoption has moved from a simple adopters’ participation process to involving various actors that constantly interact and influence the process. SMEs manager can be influenced by and influence the technology advancement. As a result, SMEs need constantly interact with various human and non-human actors to keep up with the new ICT development and benefit from the emerging opportunities. Originality/value – The research focuses on the emerging ICT adoption in SMEs from the dynamic process perspective using ANT. It advances ICT adoption research and practice by developing a framework to depict the dynamic and interactive nature of ICT adoption process, and the actors involved and their interactions in the adoption process. Keywords Adoption, Technology adoption, Actor-network theory, Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Paper type Research pape

Intellectual Property Rights in Nigeria:A Critical Examination of the Activities of the Nigerian Copyright Commission

Academic work like a paper written, a play, an engineering design, an invention, an art work, a poem, a novel, a research output, a process designed to accomplish a task, a computer program or software, breed of crop or livestock, a service symbol, a song or piece of music etc., are products of the intellect and therefore referred to as intellectual properties. Intellectual properties, because of their intangible nature, are more vulnerable to stealing and illegal appropriation. As such, creators of such works need some form of right and protection to prevent other persons from illegally appropriating their intellectual assets. Such form of protection is often referred to as Intellectual Property Rights. Nevertheless, Nigeria do not vigorously enforce intellectual property laws, making illegal copying, or piracy, a major threat to the credibility of the nation?s integrity. The main objective of this study is to explain the basic concept of Intellectual Property as a form of protection for authors in Nigeria, give an overview of the activities of the Nigerian Copyright Commission and proffer recommendations for an improved implementation of copyright laws in Nigeria. Keywords- Intellectual Property, Nigerian Copyrights commissio

Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the Financial Performance of Listed Deposit Banks in Nigeria

In this study, we examine the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the financial performance of Nigerian listed deposit banks. We collected secondary data from the annual reports and accounts of 14 banks between 2010 and 2017. We employed the Tobin Q quantitative method for the analysis. We adopted the theoretical framework of pecking order theory since the analysis of the impact of FDI on the financial performance of these banks are both inward and outward FDI. The Tobin Q method was used as the dependent variable and FDI as an independent variable. Board size, firm size, equity capital and reinvested earnings were all financial performance indicators employed to test the impact of FDI on the financial performance of the banks on understudy in Nigeria. The result of the data analysis and findings showed that FDI had contributed positively to the development and performance of the deposit banks over the period under consideration. Our theoretical findings suggest a positive relationship between FDI and profit maximization. This support the FDI theory that banks or organisations are financed partly with debt-equity, both used by the banks to balance the cost and benefit financing decisions by the management. In the case of the empirical findings, the results of hypothesis testing show a significant effect on the banks‟ financial performances. Given these results, we conclude that FDI has made a positive impact on the development and financial performances of the listed deposit banks under study which resulted in some of the banks‟ growth from local banks in Nigeria into some of the leading international banks in Africa

Strategic roles of actors in emerging information communication technology (EICT) adoption in SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are involved in emerging information and communication technology (EICT) adoption by concentrating on the adoption process and the role played by various actors in the process. Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption research, especially in SMEs, has moved from a simple adopters’ participation process to involving diverse actors that continually interact and influence the process. SMEs need to constantly interact with various human and non-human actors to keep up with the EICT adoption. However, this has proved difficult. Design/methodology/approach – This study adopted a qualitative method to examine the dynamic process of EICT adoption in service SMEs in the UK, and deployed both unstructured and semi-structured interviews in two separate rounds with 26 participants drawn from Crunch Online Database and Luton Business Directory. The participants include managers, customers, government agencies, SMEs consultants and information technology (IT) vendors, with the help of purposeful random sampling. Findings – The study develops a framework informed by actor network theory (ANT) concepts and found that using ANT to examine the process of adoption helps to unveil the recursive nature of the process and the roles of actors which vary from one stage to another. The finding reveals that adoption of EICT is not straightforward; rather, it is evolutionary and dynamic, and small business managers’ play an important role in the process amidst other actors influence. The framework supports businesses of all types. Although ICT applications are influenced by diverse actors including IT experts, customers and vendors, the decision of SME managers regularly shape the values and beliefs of other actors if adequate information are conveyed by the numerous actors. Therefore, adoption of EICT is embraced faster by organizations, especially small businesses, if diverse actors are committed in conveying the right information to the key actors, thereby helping them tomake adequate decision, and streamline their business processes. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited by its focus and other factors. Studying the opinions of small service UK SMEs limits the power of generalizing the identified causal relationships; therefore, extended measures are required on accounts of environmental, cultural, geographical and sectorial differences. While some errors seemed unavoidable when measures appear subjective and prone to common error biases, the study advised on recognizing the overriding influence of the roles at each stage of the adoption process to be proactive in committing resources

Examining information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in SMEs

Purpose – Since the 1980s, a substantial number of theories have contributed extensively to information and communication technology (ICT) adoption. Much of such theories regarded ICT adoption as a one-off action as they specifically focus on factors affecting decision making at one decision point. They tend to play down on the fact that as adoption decision progresses through stages, they are supposedly influenced by the same or different factors. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamic process of ICT adoption using the concepts of dynamic capabilities. Design/methodology/approach – This study used qualitative approach to gain in-depth insight into the dynamic and evolutionary process of emerging information and communication technology (EICT) adoption in UK small service SMEs. Unstructured and semi-structured interviews were conducted in two separate rounds with 26 participants drawn from Crunch Online Data Base and Luton Business Directory. The participants were selected from a sample of 65 drawn from extended classification of professional service businesses proposed by Ramsey et al. (2008). They include managers, government agencies, SMEs consultants and IT vendors; and then purposeful random sampling and snowball sampling were used. Findings – The study developed a framework from the concept of dynamic capabilities and found that using the concept of dynamic capabilities to examine the process of EICT adoption helps to unveil the recursive nature of the process and how the factors vary at both single and multiple stages of adoption. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited by its focus and other factors. Studying the opinions of small service UK SMEs limits the power of generalizing the identified causal relationships; therefore, extended measures are required on accounts of environmental, cultural, geographical and sectoral differences. While some errors seemed unavoidable when measures appear subjective and prone to common error biases, the study advised on recognizing the over-riding influence of the factor(s) at each stage of the adoption process in order to be proactive in committing resources. Originality/value – This work focuses on emerging ICT adoption in SMEs from the dynamic and evolutionary process perspective using the concept of dynamic capability. It advances ICT adoption research by developing a framework to depict that ICT is not a one-off event, rather it is dynamic and interactive in nature and factors influencing adoption vary from one stage or the other

AGRIPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIAN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS

Sustainable agriculture has remained a subject of debate in Nigeria for decades without tangible results. Between 2001 and 2007, agricultural sector accounted for 40 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and 51 percent of job creation. However, in 2015 agriculture accounted for only 17.77% of Nigeria’s GDP (National Bureau of Statistics, 2015). These figures are indications that agriculture has not met the need of the country, and reveal the dwindling nature of the sector. The declining nature of agriculture calls for a new strategy that will support agricultural development in Nigeria. This paper aims to advance agripreneurship education in Nigerian Universities by attempting to develop a curriculum that will trigger agriprenuership taught classes in Universities in Nigeria in attempt to increase youth and farmers participation in agripreneurship and improve the agricultural sector in general

REVISITING ICT ADOPTION THEORIES AND CHARTING A PROGRESSIVE PATH FOR FUTURE ICT ADOPTION RESEARCH IN SMES

This paper attempts to develop an integrated framework that aims to challenge researchers on a progressive path for future ICT adoption research especially in SMEs. The paper accessed major databases of a number of top IS journals in the field and reviews previous theories used to study ICT adoption, examine the progress made so far, and the limitations of these theories in an attempt to develop a framework, that aims to challenge researchers and aid further contributions in this IS field. The study developed a framework informed by three theories; Structuration theory (ST), Actors Network Theory (ANT) and Adaptive Structuration theory (AST) and argues that using such integrated theory to examine the process of ICT adoption will help to unveil the recursive nature, entities involved and the kind of research approach that may be applied. Hence, for research in this area to be progressive, entities in the framework must be considered amidst other influence. The framework also suggests adoption of ICT will be embraced faster by organizations especially small businesses if the entities involved are committed in conveying the right information thereby supporting SMEs in making adequate decisions. This work provides further insight into ICT adoption framework that may advance future research in the field of ICT adoption, assist SMEs in adopting and implementing ICT overtime. This is relevant given that the complexities associated with the adoption of ICT is becoming worrisome and SMEs have limited knowledge on issues relating to emerging ICTs. The framework may motivate SMEs in understanding diverse actors, factors and social structures affecting ICT adoption better and how to cope with them. The framework serves as an analytical instrument in explaining ICT adoption process and its outcomes characterized by conflicting views

Determinants of dynamic process of emerging ICT adoption in SMEs–actor network theory perspective

While traditional theories of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption have been deployed to study ICT adoption in the past, these theories considers ICT adoption as static and rely on conceptualising factors as variables and predicting their levels of outcome at a single decision stage. Although much has been credited to these theories, they have continuously ignored the fact that as decisions to adopt are made and challenged along the adoption process, such decision can be influenced by the same, different or combination of factors at different stages of the adoption process. This paper aims to examine ICT adoption from a dynamic process perspective and to explore the key determinants and how these differ from one stage of the adoption process to another