Women business owners’ adoption of information and communication technology
| Pages | 331-345 |
| Published date | 14 November 2016 |
| Date | 14 November 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JSIT-07-2016-0048 |
| Author | Jalleh Sharafizad |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information systems,Information & communications technology |
Women business owners’
adoption of information and
communication technology
Jalleh Sharazad
School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to investigate the uptake and usage patterns of information and
communication technologies (ICTs) by women small business owners (SBOs).
Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 women
SBOs who were recruited through purposeful sampling methods. Interview data on communication
technologies participants used were broken down into six main categories: internet search, internet
advertising, online transactions, telephone, email and fax. Participants were also asked questions
regarding proximity between them and different business contacts, and whether technology inuenced
how they communicated with these individuals.
Findings – All participants had moved up from having a basic website to transacting goods and
services online. ICTs were used to acquire tangible and intangible resources as well as for informal
learning. Geographical distance between SBOs and individuals within their business and convenience
of ICT failed to affect participants’ preference for face-to-face communication with key business
contacts.
Research limitations/implications – This study has limitations that tend to be commonly found in
exploratory studies, such as a small sample size. However, the ndings lay the groundwork for future
quantitative studies that examine the potential inuence of other factors, such as gender and culture, on
adoption of ICT by SBOs.
Originality/value – This study responds to a call for research that develops a more nuanced
understanding of how women SBOs use ICTs in their business. The ndings can be used by
policymakers and development agencies in their teaching and training interventions.
Keywords Information and communication technology, Small business,
Women small business owners
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Policies stemming from investments in new knowledge, globalisation and global
markets, and advances in information and communication technology (ICT), are the
main reasons for the emergence of the entrepreneurial economy and the growth of small
business. This in turn has resulted in small business and entrepreneurship becoming the
focus of research and discussion, both internationally and in Australia (Still and Timms,
2000;Storey and Greene, 2010;Walker and Webster, 2004,2007).
The use of ICT by small and medium-sized businesses has enabled these entities to
grow through access to new markets and administrative efciencies (Qureshil et al.,
2011). Many small business owners (SBOs) with limited resources use ICT to bring
about increased business competitiveness and increased productivity and sales through
access to new markets, products and services (Matthews, 2007). ICT provides business
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1328-7265.htm
Information
and
communication
technology
331
Received 23 July 2016
Revised 23 July 2016
Accepted 13 August 2016
Journalof Systems and
InformationTechnology
Vol.18 No. 4, 2016
pp.331-345
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1328-7265
DOI 10.1108/JSIT-07-2016-0048
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