APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND ACCESS TO BUSINESS INFORMATION BY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN WESTERN UGANDA

Authors

  • Constant Okello-Obura
  • Diana Kacunguzi
  • Justin Kidaaga

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/0027-2639/847

Keywords:

business information services, small and medium enterprises, Western Uganda, information and communications skills

Abstract

Realising the central role that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play in the economic growth of a country and the value of information and communications technology (ICT) application in business transactions, it was found prudent to: investigate the ICT skills of SMEs; identify the ICTs utilised, problems SMEs face when using ICTs as sources and means of access to business information; establish the kind of business information accessed from resource centres/ telecentres, public libraries and Internet cafes; and propose strategies to improve on business information access among the SMEs in western Uganda. The study came about after the realisation that there was insignificant growth in businesses among SMEs in western Uganda compared to other parts of the country despite western Uganda being more peaceful than northern Uganda. The study used a quantitative approach with a total of 89 respondents; and established, among others, that most SMEs in western Uganda use mobile phones to transact business and very few use the Internet. SMEs find difficulties in accessing almost all relevant business information. The study recommends the need for establishing telecentres, public libraries and Internet cafes to create business information access portals in order to promote access to relevant business information.

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References

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Published

2016-01-25

How to Cite

Okello-Obura, Constant, Diana Kacunguzi, and Justin Kidaaga. 2015. “APPLICATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND ACCESS TO BUSINESS INFORMATION BY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN WESTERN UGANDA”. Mousaion: South African Journal of Information Studies 33 (1):153-74. https://doi.org/10.25159/0027-2639/847.

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