THE ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY TO AN ENHANCED SME GROWTH; A SURVEY OF SMES IN AMUKURA TOWN, BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Background: The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in uplifting the overall economic status of a nation in uplifting people’s living standards and industrial development. The SME sector in Kenya contributes over 70% of new jobs created annually. Most research on SME growth had concentrated on external factors influencing them like infrastructure. Little research considered the effect of internal factors on SME growth. Therefore, this article gives the positive effect that adoption of current technology as an internal factor, has had to an enhanced growth of SMEs. The study is important to entrepreneurs who would wish to grow their enterprises through the adoption of varied technology within their reach.
Methodology: A survey of 56 SMEs in Amukura town was conducted using a descriptive research design that found out that there is a significant correlation between the adoption of technology and the growth of SMEs.
Results: Further, the various kinds of technology like, use of internet, computers, mobile money transfer among others had individually and collectively enhanced growth of enterprises. It is worth noting therefore that those enterprises that embrace the current technological advancement are bound to experience a quick growth as compared to those that do not. Entrepreneurs should, however, be careful in adopting a certain kind of technology based on their capacity to have them and also based on its applicability on that particular locality and industry if they are to achieve a competitive advantage over others.
Keywords: Adoption of technology, Small and Medium Enterprises growth, self-service technologies, Enterprise, Amukura
References
Kazdin, A. E. (2021). Research design in clinical psychology. Cambridge University Press.
Lecerf, M., & Omrani, N. (2020). SME internationalization: The impact of information technology and innovation. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 11(2), 805-824.
Siedlecki, S. L. (2020). Understanding descriptive research designs and methods. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 34(1), 8-12.
Sroufe, R. (2017). Integration and organizational change towards sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 162, 315-329.
Yunis, M., Tarhini, A., & Kassar, A. (2018). The role of ICT and innovation in enhancing organizational performance: The catalysing effect of corporate entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Research, 88, 344-356.
