A Study of the Relationships between Economic and Cultural Factors and Network Readiness: A Focus on Africa’s Regions

Current literature abounds with evidence of how developed economies utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) for socio-economic development. On the other hand, less developed economies, including those in Africa continue to struggle with the use and diffusion of ICT. Such research, often under the theme of the digital divide, usually treats Africa as a monolith. Not much evidence has been advanced to debunk or reify such claims. This study investigates the readiness of African’s countries/regions for the networked world. The degree of preparation of a nation or region to participate in and benefit from ICT for socio-development is assessed by the Networked Readiness Index. It has been suggested that cultural and economic considerations are critical in how nations adopt technological innovations. Few have investigated the relationships between economic and national cultural factors and network readiness in the context of Africa’s regions. The paucity of research in this area is the motivation for this study. Accordingly, a conceptual model highlighting the relationships between the aforementioned factors was developed. Using data obtained from the World Bank and Hofstede’s work, we tested relevant hypotheses. The findings indicated that the dimensions of national culture as well as economic indicators of a country/region do have positive relationships with its network readiness. More importantly, salient regional differences across Africa are revealed. Implications of the study and areas for future investigation are discussed.