An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Disruptive Technology Adoption Among Zimbabwean Small and Medium Enterprises in and Around Harare, Gweru, and Bulawayo

In taking advantage of the digital revolution, disruptive technology, which is capacitated by enhancements in computing capacity and Internet bandwidth, not only has the potential to overcome many challenges faced by small-to-medium enterprises but also offers innovative opportunities to create new markets. Identified as a research gap, this paper outlines the state of disruptive technology adoption, estimates its perceived importance, identifies factors that affect its adoption, and gauges government support for providing a conducive environment in randomly selected rural and urban Zimbabwean SMEs. Semi-structured interviews with owners and staff of 12 rural and 12 urban SMEs in and around Harare, Gweru, and Bulawayo were conducted using a qualitative and exploratory approach. Results show its use to be limited, with only two rural and four urban SMEs using disruptive technology. Major factors which limit their use are poor mobile infrastructure, electricity, and the cost of services. Outside four, all urban respondents acknowledged the importance of disruptive technology, with three linking potential usefulness to their business processes. Rural respondents were less convinced, with responses ranging from uncertain, could be, to no need. Other factors identified were poor cash flow, limited knowledge, and no financial support. Despite policies in place, a total absence of government support was reported. The results paint a bleak picture of the current and potential trajectory of disruptive technology adoption in these Zimbabwean SMEs.