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Institutional Support for Collective Learning: Cluster Development in Kenya and Ghana
Author(s) -
OyelaranOyeyinka Banji,
Lal Kaushalesh
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
african development review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1467-8268
pISSN - 1017-6772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8268.2006.00142.x
Subject(s) - information and communications technology , icts , business , the internet , function (biology) , cluster (spacecraft) , developing country , knowledge management , service (business) , private sector , economic growth , industrial organization , public relations , marketing , economics , political science , computer science , world wide web , evolutionary biology , biology , programming language
The study analyses the role of institutional infrastructural and collective learning in adoption of new technologies. The data for the study come from the Suame cluster in Ghana and the Kamukunji and Kariobangi clusters in Kenya. The clusters are dominated by micro and small enterprises (MSEs). The findings of the study suggest that policy measures need to be taken by governments in developing countries to improve the performance of MSEs. It is found that greater participation of the private sector is required in setting up training and information service centres within clusters. These institutions could provide need‐based skills for better usage of new technologies. This is more relevant for information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as e‐mail and the Internet. These institutions could also be useful in searching function‐ and job‐specific ICT tools which are not only expected to be efficient but cost effective. Such collective cluster initiatives are expected to result in better cluster performance.