An Analysis of Factors Affecting the Adoption of ICT By MSMEs in Rural and Urban Jamaica

Researchers argue that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) play a pivotal role in national and regional economies. These companies play a major part in sustaining domestic and regional economic growth and are important agents for alleviating poverty in developing countries. It has been suggested that the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) increases richness, reach and the ability of local SMEs to participate in the digital economy. However the concept of the internal digital divide suggests that the pattern of ICT diffusion vary between urban and rural area with rural areas adopting ICT at a slower rate. This research-in-progress will compare the adoption patterns of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in two regions: urban and rural Jamaica. Five hundred MSME will be sampled and Rogers Innovation Diffusion Theory will be used as the base theory for the study. The results of the research will have the potential to assist the Jamaican government in implementing programs and policies to increase the adoption and diffusion of ICT in rural areas. The results of the study will also be used to create ICT training programs for MSMEs in Jamaica.