determinants of modern automobile technology adoption among mechanics in micro and small

133 Pages·2017·1.14 MB·English

DETERMINANTS OF MODERN AUTOMOBILE TECHNOLOGY
ADOPTION AMONG MECHANICS IN MICRO AND SMALL
ENTERPRISES IN KENYA

KENNEDY OJUCKU MAIRURA

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Entrepreneurship)

JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

2017

Determinants of Modern Automobile Technology Adoption among
Mechanics in Micro and Small Enterprises in Kenya

Kennedy Ojucku Mairura

A Thesis Submitted in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Entrepreneurship in the Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology

2017
DECLARATION

This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other
university.

Sign: ___________________________ Date: ________________

Kennedy Ojucku Mairura

This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as university
supervisors.

Sign: ____________________________ Date: ________________

Dr. Patrick Karanja Ngugi
JKUAT,Kenya

Sign: ____________________________ Date: ________________

Prof. Christopher Kanali
JKUAT,Kenya

ii
DEDICATION

This thesis is specially dedicated to my parents.my wife Purity, my children and my
siblings
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Patrick Ngugi Karanja from the School of
Entrepreneurship, Procurement and Management and Prof. Christopher Kanali from
the Department of Bio-mechanical Environmental Engineering Department, Jomo
Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology for their guidance, encouragement
and support while writing this thesis. I would also wish to thank all my respondents
for their cooperation, without whom, this piece of work would not have been
possible. Much thanks to my parents and siblings who tirelessly sacrificed in
monetary terms to make sure I complete my PhD program successfully. I wish to
thank my wife Purity and Madam Monicah Kamau who persevered and tolerated my
impatience whenever it came to typesetting, editing the drafts and organizing this
final document. Lastly, I commend my research assistants for the job well done.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................. ii
DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................. iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ v
LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ x
LIST OF APPENDICES................................................................................................ xi
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................... xii
DEFINITION OF TERMS .......................................................................................... xiii
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. xvii
CHAPTER ONE.............................................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of the study ............................................................................................. 1
1.1.1 Micro and Small Enterprises ....................................................................................... 2
1.1.2 Technology Adoption .................................................................................................. 4
1.1.3 Models of Technology Adoption ................................................................................. 5
1.1.4 Micro and Small Automobile Enterprises in Kenya .................................................... 8
1.2 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................... 10
1.3 Study Objectives ....................................................................................................... 11
1.3.1 General Objective ...................................................................................................... 11
1.3.2 Specific Objectives .................................................................................................... 11
1.4 Study Hypotheses ...................................................................................................... 11
1.5 Justification of the Study ........................................................................................... 11
1.6 Scope of the Study .................................................................................................... 12
1.7 Limitation of the Study ............................................................................................. 13
CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................... 14
LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................. 14
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 14
2.2 Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................. 14
2.2.1 Theories of Technology Diffusion and Adoption ...................................................... 14
2.2.2 Technology Acceptance Model ................................................................................. 15
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2.2.3 The Innovation Decision Process Theory .................................................................. 17
2.2.4 The Perceived Attributes Theory ............................................................................... 17
2.3 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................. 21
2.3.1 Relative Advantage of a Technology ......................................................................... 22
2.3.2 Compatibility in Innovations ..................................................................................... 23
2.3.3 Complexity of a Given Technology ........................................................................... 24
2.3.4 Observability of a Technology .................................................................................. 24
2.3.5 Technology Adoption ................................................................................................ 25
2.4 Empirical Literature .................................................................................................. 28
2.4.1 Degree of Relative Advantage of a Technology ........................................................ 28
2.4.2 Level of Compatibility of a Given Innovation ........................................................... 30
2.4.3 Perceived Complexity of a Technology ..................................................................... 31
2.4.4 Observability of Innovations ..................................................................................... 32
2.5 Critique of Literature ................................................................................................. 33
2.6 Research Gaps ........................................................................................................... 35
2.7 Summary of the Literature ........................................................................................ 36
CHAPTER THREE ...................................................................................................... 38
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 38
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 38
3.2 Research Philosophy ................................................................................................. 38
3.3 Research Design ........................................................................................................ 39
3.4 Target Population ...................................................................................................... 39
3.5 Sampling Techniques and Sample Size .................................................................... 40
3.6 Data Collection Procedures ....................................................................................... 42
3.6.1 Instrumentation .......................................................................................................... 42
3.7 Pilot Study ................................................................................................................. 43
3.7.1 Reliability .................................................................................................................. 44
3.7.2 Validity ...................................................................................................................... 44
3.8 Data Analysis and Presentation ................................................................................. 44
3.9 Statistical Model of Analysis .................................................................................... 45
CHAPTER FOUR ......................................................................................................... 49
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................................... 49
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4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 49
4.2 Response Rate ........................................................................................................... 49
4.3 Pilot Study Results .................................................................................................... 49
4.3.1 Reliability .................................................................................................................. 50
4.3.2 Validity ..................................................................................................................... 50
4.4 Demographic Information ......................................................................................... 51
4.4.1 Education Level of the Respondents ......................................................................... 52
4.4.2 Formal Technical Training ........................................................................................ 53
4.4.3 Area of Specialization for the Mechanics .................................................................. 54
4.4.4 Experience of the Mechanics ..................................................................................... 55
4.5 The Influence of Relative Advantage on Adoption of Modern Automobile
Technology ...................................................................................................................... 55
4.6 Influence of Compatibility in Adoption of Automobile Technology ....................... 61
4.7 Influence of Perceived Complexity on Adoption of Automobile Technology ......... 66
4.8 Influence of Observability on Adoption of Automobile Technology ....................... 73
4.9 Logistic Regression Analysis and Testing of the Hypotheses .................................. 76
4.9.1 Logistic Regression Analysis .................................................................................... 76
4.9.2 Relative advantage .................................................................................................... 78
4.9.3 Compatibility............................................................................................................. 79
4.9.4 Complexity ................................................................................................................ 79
4.9.5 Observability ............................................................................................................. 81
4.10 Revised Conceptual Framework ............................................................................. 81
CHAPTER FIVE ........................................................................................................... 83
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................... 83
5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 83
5.2 Summary of Major Findings ..................................................................................... 83
5.2.1 Relative Advantage ................................................................................................... 83
5.2.2 Compatibility............................................................................................................. 84
5.2.3 Complexity ................................................................................................................ 84
5.2.4 Observability ............................................................................................................. 85
5.3 Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 86
5.4 Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 86
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5.4.1 Recommendation for Future Research ....................................................................... 87
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 88
APPENDICES ............................................................................................................. 107

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