Title: Critical factors inhibiting information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in Côte d'Ivoire: a study of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in metropolitan Abidjan

Authors: N'Doli Guillaume Assiélou; Mario Bourgault

Addresses: Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Mathematics and Computing Laboratory, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire ' Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3A7, Canada

Abstract: The paper aims to investigate and categorise the barriers influencing information and communication technology (ICT) adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A questionnaire-based survey was used to collect data from 77 owners/managers of SMEs in metropolitan Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. A research framework based on the technology-organisation-environment-individual-economy (T-O-E-I-E) model was used to guide the research effort. The results suggest that technological, economic and environmental factors such as unreliable basic fixed internet, cybercrime, a lack of government support and a high cost of access to fixed broadband internet are the most significant barriers to ICT adoption in the sample. Manufacturing firms had the most difficulties adopting ICTs; smaller enterprises also had more difficulties. The findings of this study offer valuable insights to SME owners/managers, policy-makers, financial institutions and local ICT companies wishing to understand why SMEs are slow to adopt ICTs, and actions that can be taken to strengthen the level of ICT adoption among SMEs.

Keywords: ICT adoption; small and medium-sized enterprises; T-O-E-I-E; barriers; critical factors; Côte d'Ivoire.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.135975

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2024 Vol.24 No.1, pp.19 - 49

Received: 28 Sep 2022
Accepted: 06 Jan 2023
Published online: 11 Jan 2024 *

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