| dc.description.abstract | ABSTRACT
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been accepted as the engine of economic
growth and for promoting equitable development. Information Communication
Technology (lCT) is a major driving factor to change in many sectors of the economy
including SMEs. There are a number of studies on adoption of ICT by SMEs, some of
these studies have explored role of SMEs managers in ICT adoption and others have
investigated factors influencing adoption ofICT. However none of these studies explored
the fact that these factors influence decision by SMEs managers to adopt ICT. Moreover
there is little empirical evidence on role of ICT adoption in improving SMEs operations
and level of usage of ICT resources by SMEs in CBD, Kisumu city. It is on this
background that the study was designed to explore factors influencing decision by SMEs
managers to adopt ICT in CBD, Kisumu city. The study was guided by the following
objectives; to investigate factors influencing decision by SMEs mangers to adopt ICT, to
analyze the role of ICT adoption in improving SMEs operations and to establish level of
usage of ICT resources by SMEs. The study employed descriptive research design and
targeted 400 formally registered SMEs. Systematic random sampling was used to select
195 managers from the target population and purposive sampling was used to select key
informants. Primary data was collected through survey for the managers of sampled
SMEs, interview schedule for the key informants and observation. Secondary data was
collected through review of literature. Data was analyzed through cross tabulation, chi
square, t-test and percentages. Results were presented using contingency tables. The
study established that 100% of SMEs managers who do not adopt ICT can not use a
computer and 75% of SMEs managers that adopt ICT expect benefit from adoption. The
research found out the mean difference of communication after and before adoption of
leT is 47.76, with associated t statistics of 29.4378. The study further established that
88% of SMEs use desktop computers, 91% use application software, 84% use E mails
and 81% use password. Ability of SMEs managers to use computers was found to
influence decision by SMEs managers to adopt ICT, however, level of education does not
influence decision by SMEs managers to adopt ICT. To increase the number of SMEs
that adopt ICT, the study recommends that more SMEs managers to be trained on the
usage of computer | en_US |
