Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Business Administration

Advisor

Ronald Black

Abstract

Mobile technology business leaders from many mobile technology companies practice digital apartheid when improving rural farmers' communication and technology infrastructure in developing countries. Mobile technology business leaders who do not effectively plan mobile technology infrastructure deployment to rural farmers and herders are at a high risk of failure. Grounded in adaptive structuration theory of technology, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies mobile technology business leaders used to improve the mobile technology infrastructure for rural farmers and herders in the United Republic of Tanzania. The participants comprised three mobile technology business leaders from three different mobile technology businesses located in the United Republic of Tanzania who efficiently implemented business strategies to improve mobile technology infrastructure for rural farmers and herders of the United Republic of Tanzania. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, direct observations, and a review of company documents provided by participants. The thematic analysis process was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged: cost of technology improvements, plans to implement infrastructure, and training and development. The key recommendations for mobile business leaders are building partnerships amongst mobile technology companies to raise capital and involve customers in their business models. The implication for positive social change includes improving access to mobile technology infrastructure to provide strategies for improving socioeconomic outcomes in and among poor rural farmers and herders' communities.

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