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Working framework
The study of information needs and seeking behaviour falls within what has been generally referred to as user studies (Mchombu 1994, Wilson 1999, Jorosi 2006). According to Jorosi (2006:98) the field of information behaviour falls within mainstream user studies, spanning over four decades during which many researchers have been trying to understand the information behaviour of various types of groups of users. Information needs and information seeking have been the subject of many studies resulting in several models that explain human behaviour in the seeking and searching for information, and how information needs arise. The models include: the information behaviour model by Wilson (1981), information seeking by Wilson (1981; 1999), Dervin (1986), Ellis (1989) and Kulthau (1993) and information searching and retrieval by Ingwersen (1996). A conception of information seeking as a process in which information needs are pursued, or in which problem solving takes place, is found in each of these models at some or other level (Foster 2004:228).
Models are needed for various purposes and in research they provide guidance in setting research questions and formulation of hypotheses (Jarvelin & Wilson 2003:1). Wilson and Walsh (1996) explain that information seeking is usually a result of the recognition of some need perceived by the user. The demands for information are usually placed upon formal or informal sources or services, resulting in failure or success to find information. There are intervening variables such as psychology, demography, that are role related or interpersonal and environmental that can impact on information use. This study attempted to explore the suitability of these models in designing a suitable business information service for the SMME sector in Namibia, and more specifically it used Wilson’s General Model of Information behaviour (1996).
In the field of user studies of information behaviour for small, medium and micro enterprises in developing countries, the literature is very much limited with few studies reported. The majority of studies in this field are based on western experiences and do not help us much in our understanding of how small enterprises look for and use business information. However, what western studies have provided us with are the theoretical frameworks on which we can base our own studies of various user groups’ information needs and seeking patterns. And the ultimate goal is to design information delivery systems that work and are sustainable.
This study investigates information needs and seeking patterns as a basis for the design of a sustainable business information delivery service in the SMME sector in Namibia. In order to achieve this overall goal of the study, Wilson’s General Information behaviour Model (1996) was used to investigate how small, medium and micro enterprises information needs arise, how they seek information and the kinds of barriers that they face in seeking information. Wilson’s model pictures the cycle of information need and seeking, and how various intervening variables can help or impede successful information searching. The variables provided in Wilson’s model are important in this study as the model has also been used to inform the design of business information delivery services for the Namibian SMME sector. Wilson’s model is discussed in Chapter
CHAPTER 1 – OVERVIEW
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH.
1.5 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND CONCEPTS
1.6 STRUCTURE OF THESIS
1.7 CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW.
2.1 INTRODUCTION .
2.2 EXISTING INFORMATION BEHAVIOUR MODELS
2.3 WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS INFORMATION NEEDS OF SMMEs?.
2.4 WHAT ARE THE SMMEs’ INFORMATION SEEKING PATTERNS?.
2.5 WHAT BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS EXIST TO MEET THE BUSINESS INFORMATION NEEDS OF SMMEs?.
2.6 WHAT ARE THE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS FOR BUSINESS INFORMATION SERVICES TO SMMEs?
2.7 WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF ICT UTILISATION IN THE SMME SECTOR?
2.8 THE STATE OF e-READINESS OF THE SMME SECTOR IN NAMIBIA
2.9 HOW DO BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS DISSEMINATE BUSINESS INFORMATION TO SMMEs THROUGH ICTs?
2.10 HOW DO SMMEs USE ICTs TO ACCESS, STORE AND EXCHANGE BUSINESS INFORMATION?.
2.11 THE DESIGN OF A BUSINESS INFORMATION DELIVERY SERVICE.
2.12 CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER 3 – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 RESEARCH PROCEDURE
3.3 SAMPLING PROCEDURES.
3.4 RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY IN SURVEY RESEARCH
3.5 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS .
3.6 THE PILOT STUDY.
3.7 DATA COLLECTION PROCESS.
3.8 DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS
3.9 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
3.10 CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER 4 – ANALYSIS OF THE DATA
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 BUSINESS INFORMATION NEEDS OF SMMEs IN NAMIBIA.
4.3 BUSINESS INFORMATION SERVICES FOR SMMEs IN NAMIBIA.
4.4 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 5 – INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA.
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 WHAT ARE THE BUSINESS INFORMATION NEEDS OF SMMEs?
5.3 WHAT ARE THE INFORMATION SEEKING PATTERNS OF SMMEs?
5.4 WHAT ARE THE CURRENT BUSINESS INFORMATION SERVICES FOR
SMMEs?
5.5 WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF ICT UTILISATION IN THE SMME SECTOR?
5.6 HOW CAN BUSINESS INFORMATION SERVICES IN THE SMME SECTOR
BE IMPROVED?.
5.7 CONCLUSION
CHAPTER 6 – PROPOSED STRATEGIC MODEL FOR THE DELIVERY OF BUSINESS INFORMATION SERVICES IN THE SMME SECTOR IN NAMIBIA
CHAPTER 7 – FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
8. REFERENCES.
9. APPENDICES.
