Digital Enterprises in Africa Prof Richard Boateng Joseph

Digital Enterprises in Africa Prof. Richard Boateng Joseph Budu Alfred Sekyere-Mbrokoh Eric Ansong 1

Presentation Outline • Introduction • Africa’s Digital Landscape • Review of Available Literature • Possible Future Research Areas 2

Introduction Digital technologies are creating new enterprise forms in a digital economy. 3

Introduction Digital economy = 3% - 4% of GDP for countries in ‘Global South” (Cory, 2016) 4

Introduction 7% of Mali’s GDP consists of the digital industry (da Silva, 2014) 5

Introduction Only 27% of Africa’s labour force is in digital economy (Fine et al. , 2012) 6

Main Question What is happening with / around Africa’s digital enterprises? 7

Africa’s Digital Landscape KINGS of Africa’s Digital Economy 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Kenya Ivory Coast Nigeria Ghana South Africa (Osiakwan, 2016) 8

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Literature • • 9 AIS Library EBSCO Host Science Direct JSTOR Emerald Insight AJIS Online ITID

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Literature • • • 10 Digital enterprises + Africa Digital firms + Africa Digital businesses + Africa Online businesses + Africa Electronic business + Africa e-business + Africa

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Literature 11

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Literature Just 8 [relevant] academic papers 12

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Literature We augmented practitioner and industry literature e. g. reports, web articles and statistics 13

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Themes a. b. c. d. 14 Business Models Competitions + Awards Policies + Environment Dominant Applications

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Biz Models a. Digital services • • • 15 marketing web design Online job recruitment training advertisement

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Biz Models a. Digital services (cntd) §Cloud computing §Web hosting §Online car auctioning §Product shipment 16

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Biz Models b. Digital development • • • 17 Mobile services Mobile apps E-payment

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Biz Models b. Entertainment • • Online radio / TV Games c. Information-based • 18 Blogging and news

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Products a. b. c. d. 19 Information Transactions Entertainment Convenience

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Awards a. Malawi: Jobonology Mobile App challenge b. Kenya: Kipokezi Apps Challenge c. Tanzania: Digital Changemakers d. South Africa: MTN Business App of the Year 20

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Policies • All the ‘KINGS’ have some policy to encourage digital enterprise. • They also have an implementing agency. 21

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Policies Some of the policies are NOT good. q. High costs of licensing q. Taxes on imports [phone and accessories] q. Random Internet blackouts 22

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Theory (Arguably) no theoretical approach used 23

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – New Areas New research areas come to mind 24

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – New Areas 1. 2. 3. 4. Contributions to development Business Model innovation Project management practices Industry-government collaboration 5. Strategy 25

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – New Areas Case studies of specific business models. 26

Africa’s Digital Enterprises – Conclusion …that we would have more understanding… 27

Key References • • • • 28 Abba-Goni, B. , & Bidan, M. (2016). Mobile phone continent: how the African digital economy is weaving its web in 2 G. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https: //theconversation. com/mobile-phone-continent-how-the-african-digital-economy-is-weaving-its-web-in-2 g-68707 Abdella, A. (2016). 5 things Africa’s leaders can do to drive digital growth. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https: //www. weforum. org/agenda/2016/05/5 -ways-africa-leaders-can-drivedigital-growth/ Africa. com. (2017). Useful Mobile Apps in Africa. Retrieved from https: //www. africa. com/most-popular-mobile-apps-in-africa/ Africabranding. (2015). Africa’s Digital Economy. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //africabranding. com/2015/03/04/africas-digital-economy/ African Business Review. (2013). Top 10 African Social Networks. Retrieved from http: //www. africanbusinessreview. co. za/top 10/1551/Top-10 -African-Social-Networks Atabong, A. B. (2017). Cameroon sabotages own digital economy plan with internet shutdown. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //africanarguments. org/2017/03/10/cameroonsabotages-own-digital-economy-plan-with-internet-shutdown/ Birkelo, P. (2015). Africa Mobile App Challenge. Retrieved from http: //www. gearbox. co. ke/blog/2015/07/africa-mobile-app-challenge Bonorchis, R. (2016). Africa’s Biggest Bank Plans Job Cuts as Customers Go Digital. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https: //www. bloomberg. com/news/articles/2016 -03 -14/firstrand-sfnb-plans-to-cut-jobs-as-south-africa-economy-slows Brand. South. Africa. (2016). South Africa’s digital economy a top global mover in Networked Readiness Index. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https: //www. brandsouthafrica. com/investments-immigration/south-africa-digital-readiness-index CMU. (2016). Fueling the Digital Economy in Africa. Retrieved April 12, 2016, from https: //www. cmu. edu/news/stories/archives/2016/july/digital-economy-africa. html Cory, N. (2016). Is Nigeria undermining its Digital Economy with bad policy decisions? Retrieved from http: //www. itnewsafrica. com/2016/04/is-nigeria-undermining-its-digitaleconomy-with-bad-policy-decisions/ da Silva, I. S. (2014). Mali Digital Plan 2020 to reorganise economy. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //www. biztechafrica. com/article/mali-digital-plan-2020 -reorganiseeconomy/9327/ Dahir, A. L. (2016). Smartphone use has doubled in Africa in two years. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https: //qz. com/748354/smartphone-use-has-more-than-doubled-in-africa-in-two -years/ Diptesh, S. (2017). Making the digital economy more inclusive. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //africanbusinessmagazine. com/sectors/technology/making-digital-economyinclusive/

Key References • • • • 29 Fawcett, K. (2015). Africa’s Digital Banking Boom – Clients Are Winning. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //www. smsgh. com/digital-banking-boom-africa-clients-winning/ Fine, D. , van Wamelen, A. , Lund, S. , Cabral, A. , Taoufiki, M. , Dörr, N. , … Cook, P. (2012). Africa at work: Job creation and inclusive growth. Retrieved May 9, 2017, from http: //www. mckinsey. com/~/media/Mc. Kinsey/Global Themes/Middle East and Africa/Africa at work/b test/MGI_Africa_at_work_August_2012_Full_Report. ashx Gondwe, G. (2015). MHub launches Jobonology Mobile App competition. Retrieved from http: //www. biztechafrica. com/article/mhub-launches-jobonology-mobile-appcompetition/10054/ GSMA. (2015). The Mobile Economy- Sub-Saharan Africa. Retrieved from http: //www. gsma. com/mobileeconomy/archive/GSMA_ME_Sub. Saharan. Africa_2015. pdf Handjiski, B. (2015). Mobile connectivity in Africa has already arrived. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from https: //www. brookings. edu/blog/future-development/2015/03/18/mobileconnectivity-in-africa-has-already-arrived/ Heim, A. (2012). New app competition encourages technology entrepreneurs in Kenya. Retrieved from https: //thenextweb. com/africa/2012/03/05/new-app-competition-encouragestechnology-entrepreneurs-in-kenya/#. tnw_WP 3 M 6 TMe Jackson, T. (2015). 5 startups chosen for Mobile West Africa app developer competition. Retrieved from http: //disrupt-africa. com/2015/04/5 -startups-chosen-for-mobile-west-africaapp-developer-competition/ Lamb, J. (2016). The Impact of Digital Infrastructure in Africa. Retrieved from http: //www. microbyte. co. uk/news/impact-digital-infrastructure-africa/ Linington, D. (2015). Top mobile apps made in Africa. Retrieved from http: //www. itnewsafrica. com/2015/07/top-mobile-apps-made-in-africa/ Malakata, M. (2015). Catching up to other African nations, Zambia plans mobile infrastructure initiative. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //www. pcworld. com/article/2909012/catching-up-to-other-african-nations-zambia-plans-mobile-infrastructure-initiative. html Matinde, V. (2016). Nigeria’s digital economy can nurture Africa’s tech industry. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //www. idgconnect. com/abstract/17581/nigeria-digital-economynurture-africa-tech-industry Mcilhone, M. (2015). Huawei plans to promote Africa’s digital economy by building a better connected Africa. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http: //africanbrains. net/2015/12/09/32894/ MTN. (2016). App of the year. Retrieved from http: //www. appoftheyear. co. za/ Mulligan, G. (2016). Apply now for Tigo’s Digital Changemakers’ competition. Retrieved from http: //disrupt-africa. com/2016/10/apply-now-for-tigos-digital-changemakerscompetition/

Q&A @Joseph Budu jbudu@st. ug. edu. gh 30