The Internet and Emerging E-commerce: Challenges and Implications for Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

As businesses move to establish closer links in the global marketplace with their stakeholders via the Internet, a new set of requirements and demands are being placed on managers everywhere, especially in the sub-Saharan African region. This paper examines the Internet environment in sub-Saharan Africa and presents challenges and implications of the Internet and emerging e-commerce for sub- Saharan Africa's managers. It explores how the emerging global information infrastructure should be levered to shape managerial initiatives. Among the suggestions for management are: lobbying governments to adopt favorable policies, promoting an understanding of the Internet and its potential uses and/or benefits, formulating and articulating an Internet strategy, forming strategic alliances for Internet cost savings and access, and using the Internet as a catalyst in marketing and commercial efforts.