A Digital Infrastructure Perspective for Accelerated Rural Entrepreneurship | Chapter 8 | Contemporary Research in Business, Management and Economics Vol. 8

 

Within the technological context associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) as well as the technological implications of the Covid-19 pandemic, digitalization has increased. Given that rural entrepreneurs have traditionally lagged behind in many facets of competitiveness, the purpose of this study was to explore the question: How can digital infrastructure accelerate small business entrepreneurship in a rural community in the Eastern Cape Province? The study was based on a qualitative design related to participant observations and document analysis. Participating in a meeting between entrepreneurs, academics and Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) officials and analyzing the discussion areas and behaviours of participants allowed the objectives of the study to be achieved. It was found that virtual infrastructure development excited the respondents and inspired the business and developmental aspirations of participants. Participants provided that digital infrastructure development in rural Eastern Cape would foster economic development, close the digital divide, widen small enterprise development models, ensure inclusive economic participation and create new business opportunities. It was also provided that digital infrastructure creates entrepreneurial linkages that would promote business ecosystems in rural areas and foster general economic advancement in rural areas. This study resulted in the need to recommend government to increase digital support and investment in rural areas.

 

Author(s)details:-

 

Dr. Nteboheng Patricia Mefi
Department of Administration and Information Management, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa.

 

Samson Nambei Asoba
Department of Administration and Information Management, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa.

 

Please See the book here :-  https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/crbme/v8/8109E

Investigating the Demographics and Mobile Phone Technology Used by University Students in Nairobi, Kenya | Chapter 05 | Innovations in Science and Technology Vol. 3

 The purpose of this study was to look at the moderating effect of demographic characteristics on the use of mobile phone technology by undergraduate public university students in Nairobi, Kenya. The purpose of the study was to see if demographic features had a moderating effect on undergraduate university students' use of mobile phone technology.

The media technological determinism theory was used as a theoretical framework in this study. 246,871 undergraduate university students from Nairobi's six public universities made up the target group. It was decided to employ a quantitative study design. Self-administered questionnaires were utilised as data gathering tools. Purposive sampling was employed to create a sample size of 573 undergraduate students for this investigation. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics before being processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.

Findings: The usage of mobile phone technology by undergraduate university students was not influenced by demographic characteristics, according to the findings. According to the findings, demographics had little bearing on the association between undergraduate public university students and levels of mobile phone technology use.

Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy that is Unique: Because this study focused on undergraduate university students in Nairobi, Kenya's public universities, the researcher suggests that a follow-up study be conducted among postgraduate students and also among private colleges to see if demographic characteristics influence mobile phone technology use.

Author(S) Details

Onyango Christopher Wasiaya
Department of Media Technology & Applied Communication, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya.

Sikolia Geoffrey Serede
United States International University, Kenya.

Mberia Hellen Kinoti
School of Communication & Development Studies, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya.

View Book:- https://stm.bookpi.org/IST-V3/article/view/5456