Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South Africa

This article provides findings from a study, in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, of microenterprises’ experiences and perceptions of use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for general business activities and for acquiring online government business support information. Using t...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Ameer Osman, Donald Flywell Malanga, Wallace Chigona
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: LINK Centre, School of Literature Language and Media (SLLM) 2019-12-01
Series:The African Journal of Information and Communication
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10539/28659
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author Muhammad Ameer Osman
Donald Flywell Malanga
Wallace Chigona
author_facet Muhammad Ameer Osman
Donald Flywell Malanga
Wallace Chigona
author_sort Muhammad Ameer Osman
collection DOAJ
description This article provides findings from a study, in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, of microenterprises’ experiences and perceptions of use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for general business activities and for acquiring online government business support information. Using the capability approach (CA) theoretical framework, the study analysed data from interviews with microenterprise owners and digital government experts. The study found that the microenterprises were adept in their use of ICTs in their businesses, but that they encountered problems in using online government business support information services. These problems were found to be the result of deficiencies in the online services’ content, structure, design, navigation, mobile-friendliness, language usage and bureaucratic requirements.
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spelling doaj.art-0376ff27e5b74d059a269f10594082fb2022-12-21T22:11:45ZengLINK Centre, School of Literature Language and Media (SLLM)The African Journal of Information and Communication2077-72052077-72132019-12-0124123https://doi.org/10.23962/10539/28659Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South AfricaMuhammad Ameer Osmanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0381-6991Donald Flywell Malangahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-6503Wallace Chigonahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1059-811XThis article provides findings from a study, in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, of microenterprises’ experiences and perceptions of use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for general business activities and for acquiring online government business support information. Using the capability approach (CA) theoretical framework, the study analysed data from interviews with microenterprise owners and digital government experts. The study found that the microenterprises were adept in their use of ICTs in their businesses, but that they encountered problems in using online government business support information services. These problems were found to be the result of deficiencies in the online services’ content, structure, design, navigation, mobile-friendliness, language usage and bureaucratic requirements.https://hdl.handle.net/10539/28659microenterprisesdigital governmente-governmentgovernment business support informationgovernment websitesinformation and communication technologies (icts)capability approach (ca)western capesouth africa
spellingShingle Muhammad Ameer Osman
Donald Flywell Malanga
Wallace Chigona
Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South Africa
The African Journal of Information and Communication
microenterprises
digital government
e-government
government business support information
government websites
information and communication technologies (icts)
capability approach (ca)
western cape
south africa
title Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_full Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_fullStr Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_short Realities of Microenterprises’ ICT Use for Business Activities and for Acquiring Online Government Support: A Study in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_sort realities of microenterprises ict use for business activities and for acquiring online government support a study in western cape province south africa
topic microenterprises
digital government
e-government
government business support information
government websites
information and communication technologies (icts)
capability approach (ca)
western cape
south africa
url https://hdl.handle.net/10539/28659
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