Assessing the Effectiveness of ICT to Enhance Strategic Management in the Firm: A Case of saving and credit cooperatives in Nyagatare District, Rwanda (Published)
This research examines the effectiveness of information and communication technology (ICT) in enhancing strategic management in saving and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) located in the Nyagatare district of Rwanda. The study aims to achieve three objectives: evaluating the impact of ICT infrastructure on strategic management, identifying how ICT integration contributes to daily operational activities, and determining the influence of ICT skills and training on service delivery and customer satisfaction. The data for this study was collected through surveys, interviews, and document analysis from various SACCOs in the Nyagatare district. The findings reveal that ICT infrastructure has a positive effect on strategic management, data analysis, and decision-making processes. The integration of ICT improves operational activities by automating tasks, streamlining processes, and providing personalized services. Additionally, ICT skills and training play a crucial role in enhancing service delivery and customer satisfaction. However, the study also highlights challenges such as limited infrastructure and the need for training. It emphasizes the importance of addressing infrastructure limitations and investing in staff training to maximize the benefits derived from ICT implementation.
Keywords: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Saving and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), Small and Medium-Enterprises (SMEs)
Knowledge and Information and Communication Technologies: Its effect on the Innovation of the Mexican Small Medium Enterprises (Published)
The main purpose of the study is to analyze the relationship between knowledge and technological management and innovation practices in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The 412 companies that participate in the study are located in the Northwest region of Mexico and have 10 to 250 employees. The data collection was through a structured survey aimed at the managers of each SME. The field work was carried out during the months of May to November of the year 2017. For the analysis of the data and the verification of the hypotheses the Structural Equation Model (SEM) based on the variance was used through the Partial Least Square (PLS). The findings corroborate that the knowledge that exists within companies, is crucial to improve technology management and to increase innovation practices that are developed in the SME. In addition, we find that the Technological Management is contributing significantly in the consecution of greater practices of Innovation. Our study contributes to the development of the theory based on resources and capabilities (RBV).
Keywords: Innovation, Knowledge, Small and Medium-Enterprises (SMEs), external knowledge, internal knowledge, technological management