Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the motivation, influences, and perceived effect of information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in Botswana organizations. While a conceptual model of the adoption process in developed countries has been studied, not much empirical studies have been undertaken. This paper is an attempt to bridge this gap. Specifically, the paper addresses five questions: What motivated organizations in Botswana in their decision to adopt ICT in their operations? What factors, internal and external, influenced the adoption decision? Which sources did the organizations contact for information on the adoption of ICT? What is the relative importance of those influencing/motivating factors and information sources? What are the perceived effects of adoption? Design/methodology/approach -The study was carried out using a survey method. The main instrument is a personally administered questionnaire that was based on items obtained and adapted from literature. Data were collected from a judgment sample of 29 business and public sector establishments, drawn from nine towns and cities of Botswana. The respondent in each organization was either the IT manager or the chief executive. The initial stage of the adoption process is examined by identifying, in the sample Botswana organizations, the internal and external proponents of the ICT adoption process, the sources from which organizations seek technical information, their perceived relative importance in the process, and the effect of adoption on organizations' activities.Findings -The study found that ICT application in Botswana was still at an elementary stage, mainly communications and recordkeeping. In terms of motivation and influence, the competitive motive and internal sources of information and influence were dominant and that the overall effect of ICT adoption on several organizational activities was moderately positive. Originality/value -The identification of the key sources of influence and information for the adoption of ICT helps ICT marketing companies to target their marketing efforts more specifically, and services offered limited to basic needs that are relevant to the use to which ICT is currently applied in Botswana. Widespread adoption of ICT has turned it into a kind of "hygiene" factor rather than a "motivator". In spite of the positive effect adoption has on various activities of adopting organizations, adoption benefits are matched by similar benefits of competing organizations, thus conferring no competitive advantages. It is only in the absence of adoption that those organizations adopting enjoy such competitive advantage.

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This paper provides insights into modern retailing, its challenges and implications for retail management in developing countries. On average 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted with retail managers in food, furniture and clothing sectors in thirteen locations across the country. Interviews were followed by two focus groups consisting of retail managers and stakeholders from relevant government departments and support institutions. Findings reveal that influx of large foreign retailers in developing countries has made it difficult for both foreign and indigenous retailers to enjoy competitive advantage. Consumer sophistication also makes it challenging for retailers to meet consumer demands. The lack of local sources of supply, unskilled labour, small population, high rental charges, poor infrastructure, inflation and fluctuating currency increase retailers' costs in an attempt to stay competitive. Finally, product quality declines, bureaucracy in decision-making, poor store image and pressure to meet sales targets, were perceived as common challenges by retailers.This study underscores the dilemma that retailers in developing countries face because of modernization. However, for a more comprehensive assessment, future research could extend to other sub-sectors like electronics, hair salons, auto repairs and the informal sector. A retail association working closely with government to explore means for overcoming retail challenges needs to be established. This study makes a unique contribution by assessing perceptions of retail managers from diverse sectors such as food, clothing and furniture, whereas other studies have concentrated on food retail. This study also focuses on implications of modern retailing in a developing country that has recently experienced substantial transformations that attracted large foreign retailers.

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This paper is a study of the effect of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) on marketing practices of manufacturing industry in Nigeria. Data for the study were collected through a questionnaire and depth interview of chief executives or senior managers. The data were analysed on a``before'' and``after'' basis using a Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The major findings of the study were that manufacturing industries: adjusted only their marketing operations, not their production structure; attained higher sales, productivity and profitability; did not increase their exports, use of local materials, or employment. The study concluded that SAP was not capable of achieving the objectives envisaged because of the underdeveloped characteristics of the economy. It recommended a more fundamental re-engineering of the economy in order to achieve the desired objectives.