Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Growth for SMEs in Ghana

本书首先建立了影响加纳中小企业发展的因素的概念模型与研究假设，在分析已有理论与模型优缺点的基础上，对模型进行了测试。其数据样本涵盖了制造业、服务业、零售业、建筑业等领域的国有与民营企业。本书提出，绩效预期、信息通讯技术创新以及公司特征是加纳中小企业经营者在进行公司信息通讯技术创新时最需要关注的三项重要因素。社会影响、促进因素以及外界压力等变量也都会对中小企业的发展产生显著的正向影响。 ICT Innovation is widely acknowledged in enhancing the performance of a firm’s competitiveness and sustainable growth. Yet there has been limited research on investigating the antecedents to ICT Innovation utilization and its impact on the growth of SMEs in emerging economies. The book assesses the impact of the use of ICT Innovation on the growth of SMEs in Ghana. A conceptual model consisting of eight research hypotheses and two control variables are developed and tested based on 326 owners or managers of Ghanaian SMEs from manufacturing, service, retail, wholesale, construction and beyond. The research is generated by using SPSS multiple regression, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) , Pearson Correlation analysis, and AMOS a Structural Equation Model(SEM). The key analysis indicates a positive and significant effect on the use of ICT Innovation on the growth of SMEs in Ghana. The study demonstrates that the antecedents: Performance Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Factor and External Pressure have positive and significant effects on the use of ICT Innovation. Our findings also reveal that with or without the mediating effect of ICT Innovation utilization, the antecedents: Performance Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Factor, Personal Innovativeness, Firm Characteristics and External Pressure make significant and positive contributions to SMEs’ growth. The book has bridged the theoretical gap by assessing the effect of antecedents on ICT Innovation utilization and its effects on SMEs’ growth. In the area of practical application, the book indicates that Performance Expectancy, Utilization of ICT Innovation and Firm Characteristics are what Ghanaian SMEs should enhance most in the application of ICT Innovation for SMEs’ growth in Ghana.