Digital literacy in a post Coronavirus era: a management perspective for small businesses in Africa

https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v1i3.410
Published: Feb 29, 2020

Abstract:

Purpose: This study examined how small businesses in Africa can use technology to grow and sustain their businesses in a post-Covid-19 world. The paper looked at various digital skills needed by these businesses to navigate and profit from the digital space's massive opportunities. It also ascertained the challenges facing them from keying into the digital ecosystem. The place of technology in the fight against Covid-19 was also highlighted.

Research methodology: This study is a qualitative review study.

Results: The study concluded that possessing some form of digital skills by business owners and employees could be the difference between a competing and a non-competing organization.

Limitations: The work did not use methodology as it is a qualitative review study that limited the study's generalizability.

Contribution: This work represents a current work in digital technology and how it relates to pandemic situations and economic challenges, especially in Africa.

Keywords: Digital, Technology, Covid-19, Small businesses, Management, Skills

Keywords:
1. Digital
2. Technology
3. Covid-19
4. Small businesses
5. Management
6. Skills
Authors:
1 . Arachie Augustine Ebuka
Department of Business Administration, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
2 . Hope Ngozi Nzewi
Department of Business Administration, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
3 . Emejulu Gerald
Department of Cooperative Economics and Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
4 . Kekeocha Mary Ezinne
Department of Business Administration, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
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How to Cite
Ebuka, A. A., Nzewi, H. N. ., Gerald, E. ., & Ezinne, K. M. . (2020). Digital literacy in a post Coronavirus era: a management perspective for small businesses in Africa. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 1(3), 203–212. https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v1i3.410
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Issue & Section
Vol. 1 No. 3: February
Articles
References

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    Gelles, K., & Petras, G. (2020). How ventilators work and why Covid-19 patients need them to survive coronavirus USA Today.

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  1. Ananiadou, K., & Claro, M. (2009). 21st century skills and competences for new millennium learners in OECD countries. OECD Education Working Papers, 41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/218525261154, accessed 30 December 2018.
  2. Aviram, A., & Eshet-Alkalai, Y. (2006). Towards a theory of digital literacy: three scenarios for the next steps. European Journal of Open, Distance E-Learning. [Online]. Available from: http://www.eurodl.org/.
  3. Bell, T., & Shank, J. (2008). Digital literacy, definition and resources. What is digital literacy? http://cleach.wordpress.com/what-is-digital-literacy/ Accessed 10/03/12
  4. Bhavya, R., & Sambhav, S. (2020). Role of mobile communication with emerging technology in COVID'19. Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering, 9(3), 3338-3344.
  5. Boyaci, ?. D. B., & Atalay, N. (2016). A scale development for 21st century skills of primary school students: A validity and reliability study. International Journal of Instruction, 9(1), 133–148.
  6. Campbell, J. D. (2006). Changing a cultural icon: the academic library as a virtual destination. www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno. Accessed 13/05/12
  7. Bawden, D. (2008). Origins and concepts of digital literacy. Digital literacies: concepts, policies and practices. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 17-32.
  8. Emiri, O. T. (2015). Digital literacy skills among librarians in university libraries in the 21st century in Edo and Delta states, Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 4(8), 153-159.
  9. Erlanitasari, Rahmanto & Wijaya (2019). Digital economic literacy micro, small and medium enterprises (SMES) go online. Informasi, 49(2), 145-156.
  10. Gelles, K., & Petras, G. (2020). How ventilators work and why Covid-19 patients need them to survive coronavirus USA Today.
  11. Haleem, A., Vaishya, R., Javaid, M., & Khan, I. H. (2019). Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in orthopaedics: an innovative technology to embrace J Clin Orthop Trauma, 10.1016/j.jcot.2019.06.012.
  12. Hiller, A. S., Casey, M. P., & Shea, N. K. (2017). Digital literacy for the 21st century encyclopedia of information science and technology, fourth edition. Published in the United States of America by Igi global information science reference (an imprint of IGI Global). DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-2255-3.ch194 https://datareportal.com/global-digital-overview#:~:text=Roughly%204.66%20billion%20 people%20around,twelve%20months%20to%20October%202020 (retrieved 05/01/2021).
  13. Janssen, J., Stoyanov, S., Ferrari, A., Punie, Y., Pannekeet, K., & Sloep, P. (2013). Experts’ views on digital competence: commonalities and differences. Computers & Education, 68, 473–481.
  14. Jenkins, H. (2009). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
  15. Jun, F., & Pow. J. (2011). Fostering digital literacy through web-based collaborative inquiry learning--a case study. Journal of Information Technology Education, 10.
  16. Kaeophanuek, S., Na-Songkhla, J., & Nilsook, P. (2018). How to enhance digital literacy skills among information sciences, students. International Journal of Information and Education Technology, 8(4), 292-297.
  17. Laar, E. V., Deursen, A. J.A.M., Van Dijk, A. G. M., & Haan, J. (2019). Twenty-?rst century digital skills for the creative industries workforce: Perspectives from industry experts. First Monday, 24(1-7).
  18. Littlejohn, A., Beetham, H., & McGill, L. (2012). Learning at the digital frontier: A review of digital literacies in theory and practice. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 28, 547-556.
  19. Macleod, H. (2005). What role can educational multimedia play in narrowing the digital divide?, Int. J. Edu. Dev. using ICT, 1(4). [Online] Available from: http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu//.
  20. Manogaran, G., Thota, C., Lopez, D., & Sundaraseka, R. (2017). Big data security intelligence for healthcare industry 4.0. Cybersecurity for Industry, 4.0, Springer, Cham, 103-126.
  21. Martin, A. (2006). A European framework for digital literacy, Digital Kompetanse, 2, 151-161.
  22. Nawaz, N. (2019). Artificial Intelligence interchange human intervention in the recruitment process in Indian software industry. 2019 International Journal of Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering (IJATCSE), 8(4).
  23. Ojeomogha, T. O. (2019). Digital literacy and entrepreneurial returns among small business owners in Lagos State, Nigeria. Education & Science Journal of Policy Review and Curriculum Development, 9(2), 1-11.
  24. Ojiagu, N. C., Nzewi, N. H., & Arachie, A. E. (2020). Accountability and transparency in nation building: a covid-19 experience in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Public Policy and Administration Research, 7(1), 23-33. https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide/ (retrieved 05/01/2021).
  25. Tinio, V. L. (2002). ICT in education, in proceedings of UNDP for the benefit of participants to the World Summit on the Information Society, UNDP’s regional project, the Asia-Pacific Development Information Program (APDIP), in association with the secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). [Online] Available from: http://www.apdip.net/publications/ iespprimers/eprimer-edu.pdf.
  26. United Nations Development Programme. (2020). Covid-19 pandemic: Humanity needs leadership and solidarity to defeat the Coronavirus. Retrieved from: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/coronavirus.html.
  27. van Deursen, A. J. A. M., & van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2010). Measuring internet skills. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 26(10), 891–916.
  28. Vrana, I. (2007). Changes required by ICT era are painful sometimes, In Proceedings of CAUSE98, an EDUCAUSE conference, [Online] Available from: http://www.educause.edu/copyright.html.
  29. Warschauer, M., & Tina, M. (2010). New Technology and digital worlds: analyzing evidence of equity in access, use, and outcomes. Review of Research in Education 34, 179–225.
  30. Wims, P., & Lawler, M. (2007). Investing in ICTs in educational institutions in developing countries: An evaluation of their impact in Kenya. Int. J. Educ. Dev., using ICT, 3(1). [Online] Available from: http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu//.
  31. World Health Organization (2020). Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on Covid-19. (Press release). 11 March 2020. Available online: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19- --11-march-2020.
  32. World Health Organization (2020). Q&A on Coronaviruses (Covid-19). Available online: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/q-a-coronav viruses.
  33. World Health Organization (WHO) (2020). Coronavirus disease (covid-19) advice for the public. https://www.who.int/ emergencies/diseases/novel- corona virus - 2019/ advice- for-public2020.