MOBILE PHONE USAGE AMONG WOMEN TRADERS IN TANZANIA: A CASE OF WOMEN TRADERS AT KARIAKOO AREA, DAR-ES-SALAAM
Main Article Content
Abstract
The evolution and growth of mobile phones has a huge impact on social interactions and on economic progress worldwide .Tanzania, like any other developing country, has incorporated mobile technologies in its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a facilitating agent for development. However, despite an increasing research on the importance of mobile technologies for SMEs development, there is still lack of studies on women’s use of mobile phones for entrepreneurship activities in Tanzania. Therefore, the study aimed at exploring the nature of mobile phone usage among women traders, benefits, as well as challenges that prevent them from using mobile phones for their advantage. This paper applies the theory of emancipation to understand the usage of mobile phones among women traders at the Kariakoo area in Tanzaniathat isgrounded on Critical Social Theory (CST). The study employed qualitative techniques where,purposive sampling technique was used. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and analyzedby being transcribed, coded and presented based on categories and emerged major themes.
Article Details
References
Babar, A., Shaw, J., & Vicziany, M. (2008, July 1-3). Mobile Phone Access and Usage among Female Microentreprenuers in Bombay City Today. Melbourne.Bångens, L., & Söderberg, B. (2011). Mobile Money Transfers and usage among micro-and small businesses in Tanzania.SPIDER. The Swedish Program for Information and Communication Technology in Developing Regions.Boateng, R., Hinson, R., Galadima, R., & Olumide, L. (2014). Preliminary insights into the influence of mobile phones in micro-trading activities of market women in Nigeria. Information Development, 30(1), 32-50.Chhachhar, A. R. (2013). Information Communication Technology for Agriculture Development. Journal of American Science, 9(1), 85-91.Donner, J., & Escobari, M. (2010). A review of Evidence on Mobile Use by Micro and Small Enterprises in Developing Countries. Journal of International Development, 22, 641-658.Donya, R. K., & Kumah, A. E. (2011). Cellular Phone Usage and Productivity among Emplyees in A Ghanian SME: An Assessment. International Journal of Computing and ICT Research, 5(1), 21-34.Esselaar, S., Stork, C., Ndiwalana, A., & Swarray, M. (2007). ICT Usage and Its Impact on Profitability of SMEs in 13 African Countries. Information Technologies and International Development, 4(1), 87-100.Evanjeline, E. (2008). A Case Study about Cell-Phone Use by People in rural Kenya.Bachelor Degee Thesis, Vaxjo University, School of Mathematics and Syestems Engineering. Retrieved April 15, 2017, from http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:205909/FULLTEXT01.pdfFrancis, J.J., Johnston, M., Robertson, C., Glidewella, L., Entwistlec, V., Eccles, M. P., & Grimshaw, J. M. (2010). What is an adequate sample size?Operationalising data saturation for theory-based interview studies. Psychology & Health, 25(10), 1229-1245.Huang, H. (2008). The Impact of Mobile Devices on SMEs in Auckland,New Zealand.Komunte, M. (2015). Usage of Mobile Technology in Women Entreprenuers: A case study of Uganda. The African Journal of Information Systems, 7(3), 52-74.Komunte, M., Rwashana, A., & Nabukenya, J. (2012). Comparative Analysis of Mobile Phone Usage among Women Entrepreneurs in Uganda and Kenya. African Journal of Computing & ICT, 5(5), 74-86.Kuhn, K. D. (2014, November 30th). EMMIA Full Report.2015.PDF. Retrieved from EUROPEAN Mobile and Mobility Industries ALLIANCE: http://www.mobilise-europe.mobi/files/static_pages_files/files/EMMIA%20Full%20Report_2015.pdfKwakwa, P. A. (2012). Mobile Phone Usage by Micro and Small Scale Entreprises in SemiRural Ghana. International Review of Managementand Marketing, 2(3), 156-164.Melchioly, S. R., & Saebo, O. (2010). ICTs and Development: Nature of Mobile Phones usage for SMEs Economic Development-An Exploratory Study in Morogoro, Tanzania. ICI and Development-Research voices from Africa. International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP).Technical Commission 9-Relationship Between Computers and Society.Workshop at Makerere University.Uganda.22-23 March 2010.Kampala: Internation Federation for Information Processing.Njau, J. E., & Njuga, G. O. (2015). Mobile Phones Usage in Micro Enterprise in Tanzania and its Impact on Their Performance A Case of Micro Enterprises in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 3(6), 1047-1057.Rabayah, K., & Qalalwi, K. (2011). The Impact of Mobile Telephony on Developing Countries Enterprises: A Palestinian Case Study. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, 46( 4), 1-20.Reuters. (2015, April 16th). Tanzania Mobile Phone subsribersjump by 16 pct in 2014/Reuters.Retrieved October 31st, 2016, from Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/tanzania-telecomunications-idUSL5N0XD37P20150416Venkatakrishnan, V. (2013). Mobile Phones and Micro and Small Entreprises (MSE) Performance and Transformation in Dodoma,Tanzania. REPOA Annual Research Workshop held at the Ledger Plaza Bahari Beach Hotel, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania April 9-10-2013.Dar Es Salaam: REPOA.