Developing a Business Model for an ICT-led E-Agriculture in Ghana.

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Title

Developing a Business Model for an ICT-led E-Agriculture in Ghana.

Creator

Salakpi von Yao Simeon

Description

The use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools has been applied in many disciplines, including agricultural sector. Business Model (BM) as an emerging area of research in strategic management over a decade ago, has been used by the researcher together with ICTs to boost value creation and capture; sustainability and traceability in the agricultural sector. The critical success factors and critical design issues in the domain of business models and their interdependencies related to E-Agriculture ecosystem were considered. The main purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of how business models can be defined, redefined, and applied in the agricultural sector as a strategic public management tool.
Consequently, the strong agreement as to the relevance of value creation within organizations, institutions, firms and sectors underlies existing business model literature is undisputable. In considering this context, agriculture is the primary economic growth engine for Ghana and strives to create and deliver value to citizens, businesses and other stakeholders in agriculture ecosystem.
The design, methodology and approach stemming from the multi-faceted applications of the business model concept, the researcher has conducted exploratory research targeting the application of current business model concepts and frameworks regarding agricultural sector in Ghana. The approach involves review of inter-disciplinary literature coupled with conducting empirical studies on ICT issues in Agriculture due to its influence on GDP growth of Ghana.
Findings for the study suggest that both Management and Farmers (crops, fisheries, animal husbandry, forestry and logging) appreciated the need for e-Agriculture (ICT in Agriculture) programme to be pursued and saw it very important to address bottle-necks in the agricultural sector as it brings among others effectiveness and efficiency.
The practical implications among others are that the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) recommends implementation of e-Agriculture in all countries and this makes it unequivocally a useful BM model for agricultural sector worldwide. The proposed model contributes significantly to agricultural practitioners, academics, researchers among others.
Keywords: Business model, value creation, value capture, strategic management, Business system, Critical design Issues and Critical Success factors, Information communication for development (ICT4D) and e-Agriculture

Subject

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) In ICT in Management

Publisher

Ghana Technology University Library

Date

November, 2017

Contributor

Dr. Stephen Asunka