An analysis of information communication technology adoption and performance of rural based business projects (case of Kibwezi District -Makueni County)

Abstract

These rural based projects play a major part in sustaining domestic and regional economic growth and are important agents for alleviating poverty in developing countries. Recent studies have demonstrated that Information and Communication Technologies (lCT) play a pivotal role in rural development. While ICT has long been regarded as a very important aspect of communication, planning, resource allocation and scheduling, monitoring and evaluation, few studies if any have hardly disccused the relationhsip between ICT adoption and performance of rural based business projects. This therefore necessiated the need to carry out this study with reference to rural based business projects in Kibwezi district. The study answered the questions of the extent to which ICT is applied in the implementation of rural based projects in terms of project planning, communication, resource allocation and scheduling , monitoring and evaluation. The study was of benefit to all Project stakeholders as it evaluated the role of ICT in determing project performance and devising strategies for adoption and use of ICT in different project stages. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The study was done to examine the relationship between ICT adoption and performance of rural based business projects in Makueni County, Kibwezi District. Stratified sampling techniques was used to select 33 projects officials and 39 project beneficiaries as actual respondents representing 60% of targeted population of 120 members. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as the instrument of data collection. Data was then collected by dropping the semi-structured questionnaires to identified respondents after seeking official authorization from relevant entities. After three days the filled questionnaires were picked for data coding and entry into SPSS program. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented inform of charts and frequency tables. ICT based project planning strategies were most favoured by 40% of the respondents compared to 60% who were moderate. All the respondents rated ICT based communication methods highly effective modes in project management with 83% underscoring that project performance is attributed to effective communication. ICT adoption objectively facilitates resource allocation mechanisms that provide an automated provisioning of resources. Project performance enhancement due to effective monitoring and evaluation through adoption Of ICT systems was favored by 73% against 27% of the respondents.