2008•Ghana Library JournalOpen access

Information Needs and Preference for Information Delivery Channels of Small and Medium-scale Enterprise Operators in Ghana

Theresa Larteley Adu

Open full text 0 citations

Abstract

This study in vestigated the information needs and information seeking behaviour of SME operators in Ghana using a questionnaire (n = / 89), with a response rate of 47. I%. Over 50% of the respondents across all sub-sectors indicated an urgent need for information in all the business areas specified apart from land/premises, new staff and parent company. Gender of entrepreneur, educational background, ownership type and size of enterprise influenced different aspects of information needs, with gender influencing needs such as how to create better product and the educational background influencing information on export market and international/aws and regulations. The two most preferred means of obtaining information were SDI and online databases with thepossibility of conducting research in a documentation centre being the least preferred. Lack of adequate training for information specialists in entrepreneurship in Ghana might have accounted for the wide information needs gap in this study and calls for specialist training for business information practitioners in Ghana.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

This study in vestigated the information needs and information seeking behaviour of SME operators in Ghana using a questionnaire (n = / 89), with a response rate of 47. I%. Over 50% of the respondents across all sub-sectors indicated an urgent need for information in all the business areas specified apart from land/premises, new staff and parent company. Gender of entrepreneur, educational background, ownership type and size of enterprise influenced different aspects of information needs, with gender influencing needs such as how to create better product and the educational background influencing information on export market and international/aws and regulations. The two most preferred means of obtaining information were SDI and online databases with thepossibility of conducting research in a documentation centre being the least preferred. Lack of adequate training for information specialists in entrepreneurship in Ghana might have accounted for the wide information needs gap in this study and calls for specialist training for business information practitioners in Ghana.

Why it matters

A significance statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

This study in vestigated the information needs and information seeking behaviour of SME operators in Ghana using a questionnaire (n = / 89), with a response rate of 47. I%. Over 50% of the respondents across all sub-sectors indicated an urgent need for information in all the business areas specified apart from land/premises, new staff and parent company. Gender of entrepreneur, educational background, ownership type and size of enterprise influenced different aspects of information needs, with gender influencing needs such as how to create better product and the educational background influencing information on export market and international/aws and regulations. The two most preferred means of obtaining information were SDI and online databases with thepossibility of conducting research in a documentation centre being the least preferred. Lack of adequate training for information specialists in entrepreneurship in Ghana might have accounted for the wide information needs gap in this study and calls for specialist training for business information practitioners in Ghana.

Key concepts: Preference, Scale (ratio), Information needs, Knowledge management, Business, Computer science, World Wide Web, Geography

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Information Needs and Preference for Information Delivery Channels of Small and Medium-scale Enterprise Operators in Ghana — Research Paper | ScholarLens