Adoption of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Industrial Firms in Cameroon
Date
2021-07-12
Authors
Fambeu, Ariel Herbert
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Economic Research Consortium
Abstract
The ICT revolution is already a reality for firms in developed countries and in
many developing ones, especially that there is now solid evidence of how it has
improved productivity and growth. But at the same time, the ICT penetration
rate is still low in African firms. Using data on industrial firms in Cameroon, the
present study is an attempt to establish the determinants of ICT adoption in the
country. It uses a negative binomial model and a probit model selection bias
correction. It transpires from the study’s econometric results that the size of the
firm, the human capital of its employees, the proportion of its employees who are ICT-literate, its organizational practices, its manager’s qualities, and its regional
location are the determinants of its ICT adoption rate. However, their discriminatory
effect diminishes over time. From the study’s results, lessons can be drawn that can
guide the development of an ICT diffusion policy, not only for the firms in Cameroon,
but also for those in other similar African countries with a slow rate of ICT diffusion.