TY - JOUR
T1 - Technology for street traders in Tanzania
T2 - A design science research approach
AU - Mramba, Nasibu
AU - Apiola, Mikko
AU - Kolog, Emmanuel Awuni
AU - Sutinen, Erkki
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Authors. Published by Taylor & Francis and NISC (Pty) Ltd.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - The informal sector employs the major part of workers in developing countries. Street trading is a common form of informal work. Despite its huge economic value in developing countries, little research is being done to improve street traders’ empowerment and entrepreneurship. Also, development informatics is over-focused on social development and under-focused on economic development. This study takes a design science research (DSR) approach in order to identify barriers for street traders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that can be addressed with technology. As a follow-up to our previous qualitative study, a questionnaire was administered to a sample of (N = 285) street traders. The data was analysed using mixed methods. The results show that street traders operate in a challenging environment, and make most of their decisions based on tacit knowledge. Traders are restrained by unreliable business information, weak business strategies, and access to capital. A variety of technology innovations, such as customer-client matchmaking, and record keeping are proposed to directly address the daily challenges of street traders. Future technology projects form exciting possibilities for technology experts, students, and scholars globally. The expected future implications of this project are increased STI capacities, economic growth, and human development.
AB - The informal sector employs the major part of workers in developing countries. Street trading is a common form of informal work. Despite its huge economic value in developing countries, little research is being done to improve street traders’ empowerment and entrepreneurship. Also, development informatics is over-focused on social development and under-focused on economic development. This study takes a design science research (DSR) approach in order to identify barriers for street traders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that can be addressed with technology. As a follow-up to our previous qualitative study, a questionnaire was administered to a sample of (N = 285) street traders. The data was analysed using mixed methods. The results show that street traders operate in a challenging environment, and make most of their decisions based on tacit knowledge. Traders are restrained by unreliable business information, weak business strategies, and access to capital. A variety of technology innovations, such as customer-client matchmaking, and record keeping are proposed to directly address the daily challenges of street traders. Future technology projects form exciting possibilities for technology experts, students, and scholars globally. The expected future implications of this project are increased STI capacities, economic growth, and human development.
KW - Design science research (DSR)
KW - Developing countries
KW - Entrepreneurship
KW - ICT4D
KW - Informal workers
KW - Innovation
KW - Street traders
KW - Street vendors
KW - Tanzania
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85006494162&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/20421338.2016.1147208
DO - 10.1080/20421338.2016.1147208
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85006494162
SN - 2042-1338
VL - 8
SP - 121
EP - 133
JO - African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development
JF - African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development
IS - 1
ER -