Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Social networks among small agribusinesses in Nigeria

Social networks among small agribusinesses in Nigeria Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT) among small indigenous agribusinesses operating in southeast Nigeria. The study emphasises the role played by social networks in the process of innovation and technology diffusion. Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted utilising a qualitative approach. The authors conducted semi‐structured interviews with agribusiness proprietors and data were subsequently analysed using template analysis. Findings – Based on interviews of 27 small indigenous agribusinesses proprietors, the major findings from the interviews appear to point to four major social imperatives that impact on ICT diffusion in developing countries. Research limitations/implications – The main objective of the authors is to show how interaction between different actors and their engagement in the social process plays a major role in ICT diffusion. In particular, the authors highlight the role played by cultural imperatives in sustaining the diffusion of innovation process. Originality/value – The incorporation of social network theory in innovation and technology diffusion scholarship is recent and very much at the developmental stage. Its contribution has however been accentuated by the role enterprises play during the diffusion process. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Society and Business Review Emerald Publishing

Social networks among small agribusinesses in Nigeria

Download PDF
15 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/social-networks-among-small-agribusinesses-in-nigeria-chVJZZVCyR
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
1746-5680
DOI
10.1108/17465681111170975
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT) among small indigenous agribusinesses operating in southeast Nigeria. The study emphasises the role played by social networks in the process of innovation and technology diffusion. Design/methodology/approach – The research was conducted utilising a qualitative approach. The authors conducted semi‐structured interviews with agribusiness proprietors and data were subsequently analysed using template analysis. Findings – Based on interviews of 27 small indigenous agribusinesses proprietors, the major findings from the interviews appear to point to four major social imperatives that impact on ICT diffusion in developing countries. Research limitations/implications – The main objective of the authors is to show how interaction between different actors and their engagement in the social process plays a major role in ICT diffusion. In particular, the authors highlight the role played by cultural imperatives in sustaining the diffusion of innovation process. Originality/value – The incorporation of social network theory in innovation and technology diffusion scholarship is recent and very much at the developmental stage. Its contribution has however been accentuated by the role enterprises play during the diffusion process.

Journal

Society and Business Review – Emerald Publishing

Published: Oct 4, 2011

Keywords: Nigeria; Developing countries; Agriculture; Small businesses; Information technology; Social networks; Agribusinesses

References

  • How to search a social network
    Adamic, L.; Adar, E.
  • Removing the fuzziness from the fuzzy front‐end of services innovations through customer interactions
    Alam, I.
  • Ideals and behaviour: a comment on Ibo respect patterns
    Arth, M.
  • The determination and analysis of constraints in resource use efficiency in multiple cropping systems by small‐holder farmers in Ebonyi state, Nigeria
    Awoke, M.; Okorji, C.
  • The alignment of technology and structure through roles and networks
    Barley, S.
  • Notes on the Ibo country and the Ibo people, Southern Nigeria
    Basden, G.
  • Among the Ibos of Nigeria
    Basden, G.
  • A multiple theory analysis of a diffusion of information technology case
    Baskerville, R.; Pries‐Heje, J.
  • A qualitative study of the relationship between clinician attributes, organization and patient characteristics on implementation of a disease management programme
    Brazil, K.; Cloutier, M.; Tennen, H.; Bailit, H.
  • Copy protection robs the future
    Bricklin, D.
  • The Rise of Network Society
    Castells, M.
  • E‐business and E‐commerce Management: Strategy Implementation and Practice
    Chaffey, D.
  • Critical incident technique
    Chell, E.
  • Information and communication technology penetration in Nigeria: prospects, challenges and metrics
    Chiemeke, S.; Longe, O.B.
  • The psychoanalytic relationship between leaders and followers
    Cluley, R.
  • Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
    Creswell, J.W.
  • Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology
    Davis, F.D.
  • Networking for marketing advantage
    Dennis, C.
  • Differential effects of experience, subjective knowledge and objective knowledge on sources of information used in consumer wine purchasing
    Dodd, T.H.; Laverie, D.A.; Wilcox, J.F.; Duhan, D.F.
  • Information technology and rural market performance in central India
    Goyal, A.
  • Relationships between the perceived characteristics of e‐extension and barriers to its adoption
    Harder, A.; Lindner, J.R.
  • Issues and barriers affecting the development of e‐commerce on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries: a Nigerian perspective
    Illesami, A.
  • Motivation and individual differences in learning: an integration of developmental, differential and cognitive perspectives
    Kanfer, R.
  • What is a ‘good investment climate’?
    Khan, M.H.
  • Reassembling the Social Network Theory
    Latour, B.
  • Social network, football fans, fantasy and reality: how corporate and media interests are invading our life world
    McLean, R.; Wainwright, D.
  • E‐commerce diffusion in small Island countries: the influence of institutions in Barbados
    Molla, A.; Taylor, R.; Licker, P.S.
  • Why organisations adopt information system process innovations: a longitudinal study using diffusion of innovation theory
    Mustonen‐Ollila, E.; Lyytinen, K.
  • Chieftaincy among the Igbo: a guest on the center‐stage
    Nwaubani, E.
  • The network construct in entrepreneurship research: a review and critique
    O'Donnell, A.; Gilmore, A.; Cummins, D.; Carson, D.
  • International supply chain management in an internet environment: a network‐oriented approach to internationalisation
    Overby, J.W.; Min, S.
  • E‐commerce: the challenge for UK SMEs in the twenty‐first century
    Quayle, M.E
  • Diffusion of Innovations
    Rogers, E.M.
  • Love thy neighbour? Evidence from ethnic discrimination in information sharing within villages in Côte d'Ivoire
    Romani, M.
  • Social Network Analysis: A Handbook
    Scott, J.
  • Skill shortage: concepts, measurement and policy response
    Shah, C.; Burke, G.
  • The use of interactive cost of production in extension and teaching agribusiness
    Shehata, S.; Badrie, N.
  • Towards agricultural marketing reforms: web services orchestration approach
    Sorathia, V.; Laliwala, Z.; Chaudhary, S.
  • Effects of government programmes to raise milk prices: academic economists and public policy
    Sumner, D.A.
  • Social network analysis for organizations
    Tichy, N.; Tushman, M.; Fombrun, C.
  • Electronic Commerce: A Managerial Perspective
    Turban, E.; Lee, J.; King, D.; Chung, M.
  • Theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: four longitudinal field studies
    Venkatesh, V.; Davis, F.D.
  • Horizontal innovation networks: by and for users
    Von Hippel, E.
  • The application and adaptation of a diffusion of innovation framework for information system
    Wainwright, D.; Waring, T.S.
  • Drivers and impediments in adoption of internet in UK agricultural businesses
    Warren, M.
  • Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications
    Wasserman, S.; Faust, K.
  • Aggregated click‐through data in homogeneous user communities
    Wu, M.; Turpin, A.; Zobel, J.
  • Economic value added: a primer for European managers
    Young, D.