Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Daphne Halkias

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa is not yet ready to embrace the digital and the fourth industrial revolution, and there remains a literature gap about technology readiness and effective technology diffusion to support a circular economy transition in West and East African countries. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to describe African public leadership experts' views on how sub-Saharan African leaders can enable technology readiness and the technology diffusion needed for a successful transition to a circular economy. A multiple case study design was used to collect data from a purposeful sample of 14 African public leadership experts. Semistructured interviews, archival data, and reflective field notes supported study findings through data triangulation. This study is framed by two key concepts: Rogers's concept of diffusion of innovations and Grafström and Aasma's concept of the circular economy. Twelve themes emerged from the data analysis with six coding categories grounded in the conceptual framework: (a) African public leaders’ technology readiness, (b) African public leaders enabling technology readiness for a circular economy transition, (c) African public leaders’ adoption of technology, (d) African public leaders enabling technology diffusion for a circular economy transition, (e) African public leaders’ professional preparation for a circular economy transition, and (f) African public leaders’ willingness to adopt a circular economy transition. This study's results may drive positive social change by informing African public leaders on the knowledge needed to enact policies on technology diffusion to support a circular economy transition and their nation's sustainable development.

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