The Potential of Technology within the Agribusiness Industry in the Emerging Market of Ghana

Download Article

DOI: 10.21522/TIJMG.2015.08.01.Art004

Authors : Richard Asante

Abstract:

This article examines the potentials of an appropriate technology with which the Ghana Agribusiness industry can leverage to boost the living conditions of the industry dependent people, increase the sector’s contribution to GDP, and equip local firms with resources to stand the international competition and to offer multinational firms information required during their globalization endeavours. This will be strategic to maximise the opportunities and manage constraints. Moreover, many business constraints exist. Some are poor technological infrastructure, institutional voids, bribery, corruption, bureaucracy, and poorly trained human capital. There was a critical examination of extant studies by several scholars and researchers related to the study’s objective. The review’s primary focus is to establish strong conceptual, theoretical, and empirical support for this study. These included segments that dealt with the conceptual framework review of competitive advantage and theoretical reviews of the Network Theory. Structured as the third segment is the empirical review. This entails an in-depth review of extant studies related to the three-pronged objectives, with the aim of either rejecting or accepting the underlying framework in such studies. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the primary data collected via focus group discussion and in-depth interviews. In-depth examination of participants’ responses revealed that though the majority (18), 82% of the participants indicated the adoption of technology in the workplace, whiles a few suggested partial or near adoptions.

References:

[1] Amankwah-Amoah et al.2020; (2014). Solar Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Challenges and Opportunities of Technological Leapfrogging. Thunderbird International Business Review. 57. 10.1002/tie.21677. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268983770_Solar_Energy_in_Sub-Saharan_Africa_The_Challenges_and_Opportunities_of_Technological_Leapfrogging.

[2] Hoepner, A.G.F., Li, Q., Muzanenhamo, (2020) Penelope, Corporate Social Irresponsibility of African Firms Across the Continent: Does Leave the Path of Social Responsibility Hurt Shareholder Value? https://ssrn.com/abstract=3245952 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3245952.

[3] Adner, R., & Kapoor, R. (2010). Value Creation in Innovation Ecosystems: How the Structure of Technological Interdependence Affects Firm Performance in New Technology Generations. Strategic Management Journal, 31 (3), 306-333. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smj.821.

[4] Balogun, J., & Johnson, G. (2004). Organizational Restructuring and Middle Manager Sensemaking. The Academy of Management Journal, 47(4), 523–549. https://doi.org/10.2307/20159600.

[5] Sołoducho-Pelc, Letycja. (2014). Competitive Advantage: The Courage in Formulating Objectives and Expansiveness of a Strategy. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 150. 271-280.10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.09.058. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272392001_Competitive_Advantage_The_Courage_in_Formulating_Objectives_and_Expansiveness_of_a_Strategy.

[6] Hakravarthy, B.S. (1986) Measuring Strategic Performance. Strategic Management Journal, 7,437-458. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250070505.

[7] Ramdani, B., Binsaif, A., Boukrami, E. (2019). Business model innovation: a review and research agenda. New England Journal of Entrepreneurship. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Business-model-innovation%3A-a-review-and-research-Ramdani-Binsaif/618cf13429b7be3ab0c7346bd32ccf2541cb1d3f.

[8] Ramdani B., Binsaif A., Boukrami E., Guermat C. (2020). Business models innovation in investment banks: a resilience perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Management. 10.1007/s10490-020-09723-z. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342245568_Business_models_innovation_in_investment_banks_a_resilience_perspective#pf8.

[9] Bstieler, L., Gruen, T., Akdeniz, B., Brick, D., Du, S., Guo, L., Khanlari, M., McIllroy, J., O’Hern, M., & Yalcinkaya, G. (2018). Emerging Research Themes in Innovation and New Product Development: Insights from the 2017 PDMA-UNH Doctoral Consortium. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 35(3), 300–307. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12447.

[10] Al-Debei, M. M., & Avison, D. (2010). Developing a unified framework of the business model concept. European Journal of Information Systems, 19(3), 359–376. https://doi.org/10.1057/ejis.2010.21.

[11] Garcia, R., & Calantone, R. (2002). A literature review is a critical look at technological innovation typology and innovativeness terminology. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 19(2), 110–132. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-5885.1920110.

[12] Diaconu, Mihaela. (2011). Technological Innovation: Concept, Process, Typology, and Implications in the Economy. Theoretical and Applied Economics. XVIII (2011). 127-144. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227364059_Technological_Innovation_Concept_Process_Typology_and_Implications_in_the_Economy.

[13] Fagerberg, Jan. (2018). Innovation, Economic Development, and Policy. 10.4337/9781788110266. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324891483_Innovation_Economic_Development_and_Policy.

[14] Fagerberg, J. (2013). Innovation - a New Guide. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Innovation-a-New-Guide-Fagerberg/338e301677b9e2379449901cabc4c1ba8f90f939.

[15] José A. Pedraza-Rodríguez, Peter Bolcha, Luna Santos-Roldán. (2021) from strategies to innovation: an empirical study from Spain. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management 33:2, pages 134-147.

[16] OECD/Eurostat (2018), Oslo Manual 2018: Guidelines for Collecting, Reporting and Using Data on Innovation, 4th Edition, The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities, OECD Publishing, Paris/Eurostat, Luxembourg, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264304604-en.

[17] Chang, Victor, Wills, Gary and Baudier, Patricia (2021) Impacts and investigations of disruptive technologies for Industry 4.0. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/request_doc?docid=2234362.

[18] Mohibul, A.(2008)Internationalization Process of SME: Strategies and Methods https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:121500/FULLTEXT01.pdf.

[19] Sharma, D., & Blomstermo, A., 2003. “The internationalization process of Born Globals: A network view,” International Business Review, Vol. 12, pp. 739-753.

[20] Adner, R., & Kapoor, R. (2009). Value Creation in Innovation Ecosystems: How the Structure of Technological Interdependence Affects Firm Performance in New Technology Generations (SSRN Scholarly Paper ID 1353582). Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1353582.

[21] Bstieler, L., Gruen, T., Akdeniz, B., Brick, D., Du, S., Guo, L., Khanlari, M., McIllroy, J., O’Hern, M., & Yalcinkaya, G. (2018). Emerging Research Themes in Innovation and New Product Development: Insights from the 2017 PDMA-UNH Doctoral Consortium. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 35(3), 300–307. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12447.

[22] Chowdhury, S., Azziz-Baumgartner, E., Kile, J. C., Hoque, Md. A., Rahman, M. Z., Hossain, Md. E., Ghosh, P. K., Ahmed, S. S. U., Kennedy, E. D., Sturm-Ramirez, K., & Gurley, E. S. (2020). Association of Biosecurity and Hygiene Practices with Environmental Contamination with Influenza A Viruses in Live Bird Markets, Bangladesh. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(9), 2087–2096. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2609.191029.

[23] World Bank Group (2017). Leapfrogging: the key to Africa’s development? From constraints to investment opportunities. Retrieved on March 2, 2020, from http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/121581505973379739/pdf/Leapfrogging-the-key-to-Africas-development-from-constraints-to-investment-opportunities.pdf.

[24] Li, Shaomin, et al. “Corporate Social Responsibility in Emerging Markets: The Importance of the Governance Environment.” MIR: Management International Review, vol. 50, no. 5, 2010, pp. 635–654. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41426815 Accessed 15 July 2021.

[25] Fagerberg, J., Martin, B. R., & Andersen, E. S. (2013). Innovation Studies: Evolution and Future Challenges. Oxford University Press.

[26] World Bank. 2015. Big Data Solutions: Innovative Approaches to Overcoming Agricultural Challenges in Developing Nations by Harnessing the Power of Analytics. World Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/26436 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO

[27] Ball, V.E., Butault, J.P., Carlos, S.J.M. and Mora, R. (2010). Productivity and international competitiveness of agriculture in the European Union and the United States, Agricultural Economics 41, 611–627.

[28] Amankwah-Amoah, J., Debrah, Y. A., Yu, W., Adomako, S., & Danso, A. (2020). Technology strategies in emerging economies: emerging issues, challenges, and new research. Elsevier B. V: Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2 (1), p. 1.

[29] Adner, R., & Kapoor, R. (2009). Value Creation in Innovation Ecosystems: How the Structure of Technological Interdependence Affects Firm Performance in New Technology Generations (SSRN Scholarly Paper ID 1353582). Social Science Research Network.

https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1353582.

[30] Boso, N., Adeleye, I., Ibeh, K., & Chizema, A. (2019). The internalization of African firms: opportunities, challenges, and risks. Thunderbird International Business Review, 61 (1), pp. 5-12.

[31] Abramovitz, M. 1956. Resource and output trends in the United States since 1870. American Economic Review, Papers, and Proceedings, 46 May: 5-23.

https://www.fao.org/3/x9447e/x9447e03.htm#TopOfPage.

[32] Kothari (2004). Research methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi; New age international (P) Limited, publisher http://www.sciepub.com/reference/233432.

[33] Kumar, R. (2011) Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners. 3rd Edition. Sage, New Delhi. https://www.scirp.org/(S(oyulxb452alnt1aej1nfow45))/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID=1971596.

[34] Bonache, J. and Festing, M. (2020) ‘Research paradigms in international human resource management: An epistemological systematization of the field,’ German Journal of Human Resource Management, 34(2), pp. 99–123. Doi: 10.1177/2397002220909780.

[35] Creswell, JW. 2014. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. https://www.scirp.org/(S(i43dyn45teexjx455qlt3d2q))/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID=1964849.

[36] Creswell, JW. & Poth, CN. (2018) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design Choosing among Five Approaches. 4th Edition, Sage Publications, Inc., Thousand Oaks.

https://www.scirp.org/(S(lz5mqp453edsnp55rrgjct55))/reference/reference papers.aspx?referenceid=2155979.

[37] Yin, R.K. (2016). Qualitative Research from Start to Finish, Second Edition. New York: The Guilford Press. ISBN: 978-1-4625-1797-8. 386 pp. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcsr.12144.

[38] Lohfeld, W. (2008). Review: Sharlene Hesse-Biber & Patricia Leavy (2006). The Practice of Qualitative Research. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-9.1.363.

[39] Nyumba, T., Wilson, K., Derrick, C., & Mukherjee, N., (2018) The use of focus group discussion methodology: Insights from two decades of application in conservation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9(1), pp. 20-32.

[40] Overlien C, Aronsson K and Hyden M (2005) The focus group interview as an in-depth method? Young women are talking about sexuality. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 8(4): 331–344. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0021909619857098.

[41] Nowell, L.S., Norris, J.M., White, D.E. and Moules, N.J. (2017) Thematic Analysis: Striving to Meet the Trustworthiness Criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406917733847.

[42] Boso, N., Adeleye, I., Donbesuur, F., & Gyensare, M. (2019). Do Entrepreneurs Always Benefit from Business Failure Experience? Journal of Business Research, 98, 370–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.01.063.

[43] Amankwah‐Amoah J., Albert D., (2019), and Samuel A. "Entrepreneurial orientation, environmental sustainability, and new venture performance: Does stakeholder integration matter? “Business Strategy and the Environment 28.1: 79-87. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bse.2191.

[44] Banjo R. (2021), Environmental sustainability engagement of firms: The roles of social capital, resources, and managerial, the entrepreneurial orientation of small and medium enterprises in Vietnam, Business Strategy, and the Environment, 10.1002/bse.2743, 30, 4, (2194-2208).