Actors and emerging information, communications and technology (EICT) adoption: A study of UK small and medium services enterprises’

• Main Authors: Sunday Chinedu Eze, Vera Chinwendu Chinedu-Eze, Adenike Oluyemi Bello
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-01-01
• Series: Cogent Business & Management
• Subjects: smes; ict; adoption; actor-network theory; technology adoption
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2018.1480188

This paper aims to understand the role of actors in the adoption of emerging Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) using the Actor-Network Theory (ANT). The use of ANT helps identify a diverse range of actors and their role and influence in the dynamic process of emerging ICT’s adoption in UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study adopts a qualitative approach to investigate how UK services SMEs are engaged in emerging ICT adoption by focusing on the role of actors in the process. Data were gathered through unstructured and semi-structured interviews with managers, IT experts, government agencies, and customers. Using ANT, the roles of various human and nonhuman actors in a four-stage dynamic adoption process are examined. The findings reveal the critical and dynamic roles of various actors in the socio-technical network. Although SME managers play the decisional role in emerging ICT adoption, their views and decisions are constantly influenced by various other human and nonhuman factors. The roles and interactions of all actors are dynamic, depending on the adoption stages.