A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF SMES ATTITUDES TOWARDS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Globally, there is a growing trend towards high dependence on knowledge, information, IT skills and application of these resources within business environments. It is alarming that many small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria are either unwilling or slow at integrating effective IT innovations and practices as indicated by reduced rate of IT expert engagements, trendy preference for hiring computer biased non-professionals to drive IT function as well as infusion of IT units into other departments. This paper therefore discusses these attitudes of SMEs towards IT as bases for recommending remedial approaches to the phenomenon. While the research questions addressed the extent to which inadequate financing, competence, limited knowledge, management perception, nature of business and resistance to change constitute major factors contributing to these attitudes, it posits that trend reversal can be achieved through competitive IT education, adaptive IT framework for SMEs, establishment of IT office as a statutory requirement for SMEs, adequate funding, etc. The study employs a descriptive research design using 100 randomly selected registered SMEs across all sectors of the Nigerian economy. Simple percentages, mean distribution and Chi-Square were used in the statistical analysis to predict factors influencing the undesirable SMEs’ attitudes towards IT. The research results identify management perception as the greatest factor contributing to SMEs’ attitudes. Therefore, this paper is relevant and of interest to all who have a stake in Nigeria’s emerging knowledge based economy.