International Journal of Information Technology and Business Management

29th December 2014. Vol.32 No.1

© 2012-2014 JITBM & ARF. All rights reserved

ISSN 2304-0777 www.jitbm.com

IMPEDIMENTS OF E-COMMERCE ADOPTION AMONG SMALL AND

MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN TANZANIA: A REVIEW
Joel D.Rumanyika1, Robert Galan Mashenene2
College of Business Education (CBE)-Dodoma Campus, Department of ICT and Mathematics1
P.O Box 2077 Dodoma, Tanzania
College of Business Education (CBE)-Dodoma Campus, Department of Marketing2
P.O Box 2077 Dodoma, Tanzania
Email: [email protected] q
*
Corresponding author Email: [email protected]
Abstract:
One of the great challenge facing SMEs performance in Tanzania is how to adopt and use ICT related technologies
and particularly e-commerce technology. This study examined the impediments of e-commerce adoption among
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania. Variables including poor telecommunication infrastructure,
poor e-commerce security systems, lack of information technology (IT) education and training, weak government
policy, high taxes imposed on e-commerce services, poor e-readiness and socio-cultural beliefs, lack of capital, lack
of IT experts, abrupt technological changes and lack of clear communication standards were identified and
measured using quantitative approach. An intensive literature review involving twelve (12) recent (2010-2014)
related literatures was conducted to find out the impediments of e-commerce adoption among SMEs in Tanzania.
Frequencies and percentages of ten (10) studied variables were computed and presented in a table and bar graph.
The findings show that poor telecommunication infrastructure, poor e-commerce security systems, lack of IT
education and training, poor e-readiness and socio-cultural beliefs and lack of IT experts are significant
impediments of e-commerce adoption among SMEs in Tanzania. The study recommends that policy makers should
view these impediments as interrelated obstacles of e-commerce adoption among SMEs in Tanzania which need
integrated effort and strategies when addressing them.
Key words: Impediments, E-commerce Adoption, Small and Medium Enterprises,
Tanzania

INTRODUCTION progress by encouraging beneficial ICT activities in

all sectors through providing a conducive framework
Adoption of e-commerce among SMEs seems to be a
for investments in capacity building and in promoting
remedy in creation of businesses opportunities for
multi-layered co-operation, knowledge sharing
Tanzanian local and international investors. E-
locally as well as globally [39].
commerce adoption is a cost effective way to reach
global players, gaining market share, streamlining a Although the SME sector is important to the socio-
wide spectrum of business processes and technology economic development of Tanzania, studies have
for competitive advantage utilizing revealed that it is under-performing due to a
telecommunication networks, improving multitude of impediments facing it [30]. One of the
relationships, advantageous to early adopters, willing main impediments facing SMEs in Tanzania is poor
to change and improve communication internally and usage of ICTs and its related technologies [23]. For
externally, ensuring sufficient resources and skilled- example, Tanzania is said to have a low internet
staff [27]. Tanzania like any other developing penetration rate with 14% in comparison to mobile
countries in the world, has taken a number of penetration with 74% [5]. Until June 2012, the
measures to promote ICT usage in different sectors country had 5.6 million internet users which is
including SME sector. For instance, development of merely 13% of the entire Tanzanian population which
2003 National Information and Communications prove the grounds for the digital divide syndrome in
Technologies Policy, the policy that aims at the country [13].
enhancing nation-wide economic growth and social

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 International Journal of Information Technology and Business Management
29th December 2014. Vol.32 No.1
© 2012-2014 JITBM & ARF. All rights reserved

ISSN 2304-0777 www.jitbm.com

There have been limited studies in Tanzania perceptions about new or existing software or other
concerning e-commerce and SMEs. Most studies technological solution. It gives a good picture about
investigate general ICTs and SMEs [14]. On the other how the users or potential users evaluate the solution
hand, a few studies which have related e-commerce and its adequateness in general [28]. TAM posits two
and SMEs in Tanzania have tended to generate factors, Perceived Usefulness (PU) is defined as the
multiple impediments which sometimes differ from degree to which an individual believes that using a
one another. For instance, [3] reveals that lack of particular system would enhance his or her job
telecommunication infrastructure, lack of qualified performance without regarding other limitations and
staff to develop and support e-commerce sites, lack Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) which is defined as
of skills among consumers needed in order to use the the degree to which a person believes that using a
internet, lack of timely and reliable systems for the particular system would be free of effort, this
delivery of physical goods, low bank account and describes users’ expectations of how easy the
credit card penetration, low income and low application is to use [6]. In this study TAM is used to
computer and internet penetration. [14] points out explain which impediments affect the users’
that lack of awareness for e-commerce and related perceptions from using a certain system by which
technologies, social-cultural beliefs, high costs through using it their job performance will be
associated with investment in e-commerce enhanced and will be free of effort. E-commerce
infrastructure effective, poor laws to combat offers opportunities to dramatically improve the way
cybercrime and protect consumer privacy and poor that businesses interact with both their customers and
government policy. [34] indicates that lack of suppliers, to make business negotiations faster,
sufficient system security, poor reliability, standards cheaper, more personalized, and more responsive
and communication protocols, insufficient [37]. TAM theory summarizes that an individual’s
telecommunication bandwidth, the software behavioral intention to adopt a particular piece of
development tools are still evolving and changing technology is determined by the person’s attitude
rapidly, difficulties in integrating the internet and e- toward the use of the technology. Attitude, in turn, is
commerce software with some existing application determined by eliminating of vulnerable risks which
and data base, the need for special web servers and in this study are referred as impediments. TAM
other infrastructures, some e-commerce software and suggests that perceptions or beliefs regarding an
hardware are incompatible with some operating innovation are instrumental when developing
systems or other components, lack of trust and user attitudes that will lead to system utilization behavior.
resistance. However, such numerous e-commerce The relevancy of TAM this study is that the adoption
adoption impediments identified might be difficult to of e-commerce among SMEs can be influenced by
tackle them at once due the limited resources facing PU and PEOU.
the country. As the result, such impediments continue Empirical Literature Review
to persist without solutions. This study aims at
assessing the main critical impediments facing e- Impediments of E-Commerce Adoption among
commerce adoption among SMEs in Tanzania and SMEs
finally proposes strategies which will enable policy Worldwide, there have been a number of studies
makers and other business practitioners to mitigate concentrating on the aspects of the technology
these impediments through prioritization of the adoption; however, there are few studies studying the
available resources in the country. adoption and utilization of e-commerce in SMEs
[26]. A study of [3] indicates that low acceptability
within the sector, poor customers’ preferences, poor
LITERATURE REVIEW security, inadequate technical infrastructure, cost and
Theoretical Literature Review lack of competence in e-commerce are barriers for e-
commerce adoption in Turkey. References [26] and
Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used to
[36] point out that manager willingness and relative
guide this study. TAM was proposed by Fred David
advantage are significant factors affecting the e-
in 1989 by adapting the Theory of Reasoned Action
commerce adoption in Malaysia. Reference [35]
(TRA) developed by Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975 [18].
shows that distrust is one of the main direct reasons
TAM has been widely used when investigating users’
for low level of e-commerce adoption in Serbia.

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ISSN 2304-0777 www.jitbm.com

According to [36], the existing culture of a company Additionally, the study of [21] on State of Mobile
affects the resistance of employees, which in turn Banking in Tanzania and Security Issues points out
negatively affects the e-commerce adoption in that mobile phones security is the hindrance for
Malaysia. Reference [17] survey in Kenya identifies mobile banking. Accordingly, the study reveals that
that SMEs failure to adopt e-commerce is due to great number of mobile phones is more vulnerable to
limited resources whereby, financial, human and attacks as it happens to computers. This poses
technological resources affect the adoption of e- obvious security risks, especially for mobile device
commerce to a great extent with mean of 4.41 and platforms which may turn to restrictions or
4.46 with significant standard deviations respectively. limitations on third-party applications which may
Budget constraints also had a mean of 4.5 with involve transactions. Since these devices can be used
significant standard deviation [17]. for sending and receiving email, browsing the web,
online banking and commerce, social networking,
In Tanzania, there are few studies which have storing and modifying documents, remotely
concentrated in the impediments of e-commerce accessing data, recording audio and video, make
among adoption among SMEs. According to FITSP them to be susceptible to mobile malware, viruses
[9] on the Mobile Money in Tanzania Use, Barriers which can potentially eavesdrop on user activities,
and Opportunities, the common impediments for e- steal sensitive information, destroy stored
commerce adoption include insufficient information, deactivate or activate applications or
understanding of the services (m-money) whereby disable a device. This situation makes mobile phones
55% of m-money users were unaware of the service, prone to attacks as the result it becomes an
72% claimed problems on how m-money agents impediment to mobile phone transactions.
handled transactions services without considering
customer privacy and 49% were unable to withdraw Selected Studies on E-Commerce Adoption among
money because the provider’s network was down. SMEs in a Tanzanian Business Environment
Moreover, reference [19] reports that m-commerce
adoption in Tanzania is faced by challenges such as In order to address the impediments of e-commerce
network failure during withdrawing and transferring adoption among SMEs in Tanzania, a number of
money (56%), high charges per transaction (33%) studies as shown in (Table 1.0) were selected and
and most customer lack knowledge of using M-Pesa intensively reviewed and thereafter, the variables for
services as they usually forget password and others this study were extracted and measured accordingly.
transfer money to wrong accounts or persons.
Table 1.0: Selected Previous Studies in a Tanzanian Business Environment and Major Findings
Author and Title Major Research Findings
[31]. Adaptation and Barriers of E-commerce i) Lack of telecommunications infrastructure, ii) lack of qualified
in Tanzania Small and Medium Enterprises staff to develop and support e-commerce sites, iii) lack of skills
among consumers, iv) lack of timely and reliable systems for the
delivery of physical goods, v) low bank account and credit card
penetration, vi) low income, vii) low computer and Internet
penetration.
[34].The Prospects and Barriers of E- i) Lack of sufficient system security, ii) poor reliability,
Commerce Implementation in Tanzania standards and communication protocols, iii) insufficient
telecommunication bandwidth, iv) the software development
tools are still evolving and changing rapidly, v) difficulties in
integrating the internet and e-commerce software with some
existing application and data base, vi) the need for special web
servers and other infrastructures, vii) some e-commerce software
and hardware are incompatible with some operating systems or
other components, viii) lack of trust and user resistance, ix)
channel conflict, x) lack of touch and feel from online (social-
cultural beliefs) and xi) lack of experts

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29th December 2014. Vol.32 No.1
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ISSN 2304-0777 www.jitbm.com

[33]. State of Tanzania e-readiness and e- i) Poor physical and network infrastructures, ii) inadequate
commerce: Overview, Information human resources, iii) absence of required rules, iv) high taxes
Technology for Development placed on e-commerce infrastructure such as computers, v)
transaction charges, vi) weaker policy commitment on the part of
the government, vii) computer illiteracy among the Tanzanian
entrepreneurs, viii) security threats of e-commerce systems, ix)
various regional rules (protocols)

[15]. “E-Commerce Institutionalization is not i) Government resistance to technological changes, ii) unclear
for us”: SMEs perception of E-Commerce in government policy in the involvement of internet related
Tanzania transactions, iii) lack of trust from e-commerce websites
supervisors, iv) difficulties in credit card payments, v) lack of
ICT expertise, vi) inadequacy of the website and the e-commerce
infrastructure, vii) lack of human resources specifically ICT
experts, viii) lack of confidence to employ e-commerce
transactions, ix) lack of e-readiness and x) lack of ICT training.
[14]. E-commerce and Small and Medium i) Lack of awareness for e-commerce and related technologies,
Enterprises (SMEs) in Least Developed ii) social-cultural beliefs i.e. SMEs belief lies in the use of
Countries: A case of Tanzania bargaining, iii) high costs associated with investment in e-
commerce infrastructure, iv) poor laws to combat cybercrime
and protect consumer privacy, v) poor government policy i.e.
government did not demonstrate strong commitment to promote
e-commerce, vi) lack of consumer and business partners e-
readiness vii) high prevalence of mobile technology use; that is
fast replacing the possibility of wired e-commerce, viii) lack of
ICT experts, ix) lack of support from IT firms and IT education,
x) e-commerce hardware and software incompatibility, xi)
unreliable telecommunication infrastructure.
[25]. Technology adoption in tourism i) Fear of international competition to consumers, ii)
industry: A case of wireless technology infrastructural and connectivity problems, iii) information on
(WiMAX) for Tanzania. internet is prone to malicious attacks, such as eavesdropping and
data theft, identity theft, piracy and password-related threats, as
well as viewed in transit, iv) lack of timely and reliable systems
for e-commerce information delivery.
[8]. M-Commerce in Sub Saharan Africa: A i) Lack of awareness of the opportunities offered by m-
case of Tanzania. commerce, ii) false impression about aspects such as safety, iii)
lack of online assistance to customers, iv) social-cultural beliefs
such as feel and touch, v) lack of trust on e-commerce systems.
[28]. Survey of Mobile Phone Usage Patterns i) Lack of awareness on the benefits received as regarding the
Among Street Vendors in Dar es salaam City usage of e-commerce infrastructure, ii) language barrier on the
Tanzania. menu in mobile phone, iii) lack of training on mobile phone
usage in business, iv) mobile phone software and hardware
incompatibility.
[32]. Challenges of mobile-phone money i) Lack of capital, ii) unavailability of network coverage, iii )
transfer services’ market penetration and mobile money payment systems arrangement, iv) transaction
expansion in Singida District, Tanzania. charges, v) Lack of information and understanding among non-
users, vi) Fraud issues and unfaithful workers.
[24]. The State of Commercial Bank i) Reconciliation delay of e-transactions, ii) theft of transactions,
Transactions in Current Mobile Phone iii) network challenges.
Banking Market: A Case of Dodoma.

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Unpublished Dissertation for the Award of

Postgraduate Diploma in Business
Administration of the College of Business
Education Tanzania.
[4]. Mobile Money Transfers and usage i) Poor network coverage, ii) large amount charged for
among micro and small businesses in transactions, iii) lack of security arrangement, iii) lack of
Tanzania knowledge and capacity to transact.
[29]. Factors Affecting Quality of Services i) Inadequate network infrastructure, ii) lack of fairness from
(QoS) in Tanzania Cellular Networks. service, iii) little efforts taken by the government in enforcing the
national agreed standards, iv) lack of reliable end-to-end systems,
v) geographical terrain, vi) low quality of handsets, vii) poor
government monitoring on standards, viii) lack of subscriber’s
skills and training.
Source: Compiled from Literature Review, 2014

METHODOLOGY commerce security systems, iii) lack of information

technology education and training, iv) weak
Methodology government policy, v) high taxes imposed on e-
This paper uses a quantitative approach in which commerce services, vi) poor e-readiness and socio-
descriptive analysis was adopted. An intensive cultural beliefs, vii) lack of capital, viii) lack of IT
literature review was conducted in order to extract experts, ix) abrupt technological changes, x) lack of
the most frequent identified impediments of e- clear communication standards. In this study, the
commerce adoption in Tanzania. Variables in this decision for the impediments of e-commerce
study were identified from twelve (12) selected adoption to be significant was confined to only
literatures in a Tanzanian business environment in variables with scores at least 50% ([22]; [26]; [11]).
order to measure the extent of impediments of e-
commerce adoption in Tanzania. These literatures Conceptual framework
were selected based on their relevance to the topic Based on the literature review, the study developed a
under study and timeliness in which literatures were conceptual framework with independent variables
restricted within 5 recent years (2010-2014) since which in this paper are impediments (poor
[22] adopted the same approach. A sample of 12 telecommunication infrastructure, poor e-commerce
literatures was viewed sufficient for statistical security systems, lack of information technology
analysis since [26] used a sample of 12 literatures to education and training, weak government policy,
draw up the conclusion. From the literatures, ten (10) high taxes imposed on e-commerce services, poor e-
variables which appeared frequently were identified readiness and socio-cultural beliefs, lack of capital,
and analyzed descriptively and presented in a table lack of IT experts, abrupt technological changes and
after computation of frequencies and percentages. lack of clear communication standards) of e-
Ten (10) hypotheses were formulated from ten (10) commerce adoption (dependent variable) among
identified variables. These variables are i) poor SMEs in
telecommunication infrastructure, ii) poor e-
Tanzania.

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Independent variables Dependent variable

(E-Commerce Impediments)

 Poor telecommunication infrastructure

 Poor e-commerce security systems
 Lack of IT education and training
 Weak government policies
E-Commerce
 High taxes imposed on e-commerce services
Adoption
 Poor e-readiness and Socio-cultural beliefs
Among SMEs in
 Lack of capital
Tanzania
 Lack of IT experts
 Abrupt technological changes
 Lack of clear communication standards

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework

Source: Developed from Literature Review

Hypotheses H6: There is a negative relationship between poor e-

Based on the literature review, the impediments readiness and socio-cultural beliefs and e-commerce
facing e-commerce adoption among SMEs in adoption among SMEs.
Tanzania can be hypothesized as follows: H7: There is a negative relationship between lack of
H1: There is a negative relationship between poor capital and e-commerce adoption among SMEs.
telecommunication infrastructure and e-commerce H8: There is a negative relationship between lack of
adoption among SMEs. IT experts and e-commerce adoption among SMEs.
H2: There is a negative relationship between poor e- H9: There is a negative relationship between abrupt
commerce security systems and e-commerce technological changes and e-commerce adoption
adoption among SMEs. among SMEs.
H3: There is a negative relationship between lack of H10: There is a negative relationship between lack of
IT education and training among consumers and e- clear communication standards and e-commerce
commerce adoption among SMEs. adoption among SMEs.
H4: There is a negative relationship between weak
government policies and e-commerce adoption
among SMEs.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Based on the intensive literature review carried out,
H5: There is a negative relationship between high
the most extracted e-commerce adoption
taxes imposed on e-commerce services and e-
impediments are presented in Table 2.0. The sign (X)
commerce adoption among SMEs.
shows that the variables have been found to be
critical e-commerce impediment in the articles
selected and intensively reviewed in this study.

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Table 2.0: Impediments of E-Commerce Adoption among SMEs in Tanzania

Author (s) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
PTI PESS LITET WGP HT PESC LC LITE ATC LCCS

[31] X X X X
[34] X X X X X X
[33] X X X X X X X
[15] X X X X X X X
[14] X X X X X X X
[25] X X X X
[8] X X X X X
[28] X X X X
[32] X X X X
[24] X X
[4] X X X X
[29] X X X X X X X
Source: Compiled from literature review, 2014
Key: [1] PTI=Poor telecommunication infrastructure, [2] PESS=Poor e-commerce security systems, [3]
LITET=Lack of IT education and training [4] WGP=Weak government policy, [5] HT=High taxes imposed on e-
commerce services, [6] PESC=Poor e-readiness and Socio-Cultural beliefs, [7] LC=Lack of capital, [8] LITE=Lack
of IT experts, [9] ATC=Abrupt technological changes, [10] LCCS=Lack of clear communication standards.

Based on Table 2.0, the most extracted variables are presented in Table 3.0 to show the frequency and percentage
of variables studied.
Table 3.0: Frequencies and Percentages of E-Commerce Impediments Adoption among SMEs in Tanzania
Variables Frequency Percent
Poor telecommunication infrastructure 12 100***
Poor e-commerce security systems 11 91.7***
Lack of IT education and training 10 83.3***
Weak government policies 4 33.3
High taxes imposed on e-commerce services 4 33.3
Poor e-readiness and socio-cultural beliefs 6 50.0***
Lack of capital 2 16.6
Lack of IT experts 6 50.0***
Abrupt changes in technology 3 25.0
Lack of clear communication policies 3 25.0
Source: Compiled from Literature Review, 2014
Key: ***=significant

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Figure 2: Frequencies showing Impediments of E-Commerce Adoption among SMES in Tanzania

Percentage

E-Commerce Impediments

The results (Table 3.0 and Figure 2) indicate that On the other hand, if the IT infrastructure is
poor telecommunication infrastructure (100.0%), improved, network failure will be eliminated and
poor e-commerce security systems (91.7%), lack of reliable and timely service delivery will be enhanced.
IT education and training (83.3%), poor e-readiness As the result, this will be used as a firm’s competitive
and socio-cultural beliefs (50.0%) and lack of IT advantage. The study of [20] supports this argument;
experts (50.0%) are impediments of e-commerce e-commerce can enhance selling online and help
adoption in Tanzania. This means that H1, H2, H3, H6 better understand customers. Accordingly, this study
and H8 are significant and accepted while H4, H5, H7, using Dell as the case study reports that Dell
H9 and H10 are insignificant and rejected. For the case succeeded in achieving competitive advantages
of poor telecommunication infrastructure, it can be through the deployment of IT-enabled supply chain
explained that whenever the IT infrastructure is poor, management (SCM) and effective e-commerce by
a lot of associated impediments may arise. For which attributed to its direct-sales model in mass
instance, network failure and delay of services customization. Also, the study of [26] indicates that
delivery and other related inconveniences. As the relative advantage is a significant factor in e-
result, customers will tend to withdraw themselves commerce adoption in Malaysia since most of
from using e-commerce and instead will opt for the companies want to increase return of investment.
traditional systems of transactions. These findings are
consistent with those in [29], [4] and [32] which For the case of poor e-commerce security systems, it
indicate that inadequate network infrastructure is the can be explained that whenever the security of e-
challenge of e-commerce adoption in Tanzania and it commerce system becomes poor, most of customers
tends to affect the quality of services offered online. using e-commerce will tend to stop using it with the

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fear to lose their transactions and information. As the factors such as inadequate IT education and training.
result, the traditional systems of effecting These findings are consistent with those in [1] study
transactions will dominate. Moreover, unsecure e- which reveals that culture has the impact on e-
commerce will tend to discourage potential readiness for e-government in Yemen. Also, these
customers to adopt the system and there is a great findings relate with lack of e-readiness, socio-cultural
likelihood to spread negative word of mouth about e- beliefs and lack of awareness on benefits received as
commerce systems. These findings are supported by regarded to the usage of e-commerce infrastructure
those of [38] study which points out that security ([28]; [14]; [8]).
issues like identity theft and financial fraud have
effect on e-commerce growth and there is a need to Regarding lack of IT experts, leave users in a
develop secure communication networks in order to dilemma of either to accept or reject such technology
attract and successfully retain customers. since they lack understanding of how to interact with
Accordingly, the same study suggests that software it and the benefits accrued from that technology.
developers must develop software measures like According to TAM, the users’ decision to accept or
encryption, digital signatures, biometrics, virus reject particular technology depends on PU and
protection, etc which will help to foster customer PEOU. In fact, PU and PEOU will only be easily
satisfaction and trust on e-commerce usage and understood by users through training which is offered
adoption. Also, these findings are in harmony with by IT experts. Since it has been noted from the
those in [ 12] study which shows that e-banking findings that, lack of IT education and training is one
insecurity systems give users a false sense of security of the impediments of e-commerce in Tanzania. It is
as the result users may be frustrated. The study now evident that, lack of IT experts is also an
suggests that technology should be an added impediment of e-commerce adoption since
convenience and secured and not prohibit them from availability of IT education and training is the
accessing their information. function of IT experts. These findings are supported
with those in [14] study which indicates that lack of
Regarding lack of IT education and training, this can IT experts is one of barriers of e-commerce adoption
be explained that lack of education and training in Tanzania.
denies users from acquiring the required
competencies and confidence of using e-commerce. CONCLUSION AND
There are individuals who perceive use of e-
commerce to be difficult and risky due to lack of IT RECOMMENDATIONS
education and training. IT education and training not The purpose of this paper was to examine the
only give competencies and confidence to users but impediments of e-commerce adoption among SMEs
also it creates awareness about the benefits and in Tanzania. This paper concludes that poor
challenges associated with the use of e-commerce. telecommunication infrastructure, poor e-commerce
Generally, these findings are supported with those of security system, lack of IT education and training,
[22] which finds out that inadequate business training poor e-readiness and socio-cultural beliefs and lack
is the most critical business constraint affecting the of IT experts are significant impediments limiting the
potential growth of SMEs in Tanzania. Also, these adoption of e-commerce in Tanzania. However, poor
findings are similar to those in [2] and [16] studies in telecommunication infrastructure (100.0%), poor e-
Nigeria which show that literacy amongst SMEs is commerce security systems (91.7%) and lack of IT
generally low and often SMEs do not have access to education and training (83.3%) are the most critical
professional advice to address complex ICT issues. In significant impediments of e-commerce adoption in
other words, the poor technical knowledge and lack Tanzania followed by poor e-readiness and socio-
of expertise of ICT in SMEs deprives SMEs of cultural beliefs (50.0%) and lack of IT experts
benefiting from new developments and in turn slows (50.0%).
their growth.
The implication of these findings is that urgent and
For the case of poor e-readiness and socio-cultural serious measures should be taken by policy makers in
beliefs, this can be explained as poor e-readiness is order to curb these impediments by prioritizing the
affected by individual’s cultural beliefs and social strategies following the intensity of the impediments.

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