Internet and E-commerce Adoption among SME Non-Traditional Exporters Case Studies of Ghanaian Handicraft Exporters
Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The Internet has become an extremely important modern day technology for business. The use and application of Internet based technologies in commerce, is claimed to be undergoing extraordinary growth, with the World Wide Web said to be significantly altering the manner that traditional commerce is undertaken. The use of the Internet for export marketing enables export firms to leapfrog the conventional stages, as it removes all geographical constraints, permits the instant establishment of virtual branches throughout the world, and allows direct and immediate foreign market entry to the smallest of businesses. The purpose of this study was to describe and assess the role of the Internet to the handicraft exporters in Ghana and to gain better understanding of how non-traditional exporters, especially, the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have adopted the Internet and e-commerce. Again their levels of Internet and e-commerce adoption in their business activities were also assessed. The study was a qualitative research and was conducted using interview guide to conduct interviews in two companies for the case studies. The data was analysed using within case and cross case analysis to identify how the companies fared, the similarities and differences that existed between the companies with respect to the factors that can affect their Internet and e-commerce adoption as well as their levels of Internet and e-commerce adoption. The conclusion of this study was that most of the SMEs in the developing countries are at the e-mail adoption level with just a few at the Internet presence. Moreover, some of the small exporting handicraft firms as well as other exporting firms from other sectors in Ghana have not fully adopted Internet and e-commerce for their exporting activities.
Authors: Elizabeth Dorothy Eshun, Theresa Taylor
Language: English
Subfield: Business and International Management
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2183152740