Suchergebnisse

To date, relatively few studies have examined information and communication technologies (ICT) use in the subset of SMEs known as micro-enterprises. Even fewer have looked at agricultural micro firms. The study presented here compares ICT use among micro-enterprises and SMEs in the agricultural sector. Results indicate extensive use of computers and the Internet, especially for basic ICT functions like email, online purchasing and online business-related research, regardless of firm size. Website ownership is less widespread; larger SMEs are more likely than micro-enterprises to have a website. A number of other ICTs are used similarly by both groups. Among different sized micro-enterprise firms, larger micro-enterprises are more likely than smaller ones to have a website and to conduct financial activities online. However, growth does not result in different adoption rates among micro-enterprises for most internet ICTs. The study also investigates micro-enterprise use of emerging social technologies such as instant messaging, chat, blogging, etc. Perceptions of ICT benefits are also discussed.

AbstractThis article examines micro‐enterprise development (MED) programmes of non‐government organisations (NGOs) in two developing countries, Bangladesh and Indonesia, to explore understandings of success from the perspectives NGO managers and beneficiaries. Interviews were conducted with managers from 20 MED NGOs, and individuals and groups of beneficiaries from four of the NGOs. A review of the NGOs' publicly available documents was also undertaken and compared with interview data. The findings reveal NGOs' understandings of success at the organisational‐level‐emphasised organisational development. However, NGOs' interpretations of success at the programme level focused primarily on short‐term outputs rather than long‐term outcomes and impacts, with limited follow‐up by NGOs. Implications include potential misconceptions regarding understandings of success from an internal (NGO) versus external perspective, and the need for long‐term monitoring to understand how sustainable NGOs' programme outcomes actually are.