SAC Research

This project will examine the problems faced by agri-business entrepreneurs in sourcing, processing and using pertinent and timely business support information to make efficient and effective entrepreneurial decisions. It builds on previous exploratory research at SAC where literature and ICT sources have been reviewed to establish hypotheses.

The first results of the project will be a mapping of the current information needs, the demands and the current supply of business information to rural SMEs. The results and findings will be evaluated and communicated with focus groups to provide direction for the project in deciding the specification of the most appropriate tools and methods to be developed in the project.

The project, by providing solutions to common problems of running SMEs in peripheral areas, can help address issues relating to distance, economic diversity and sustainability of populations, and are of interest to a wide variety of end-user businesses in rural areas.

Restricted access to information, support and markets may limit people's business opportunities, but Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as e-mail, internet, CD-ROMs, mobile technologies can open up virtual markets, can provide training and information sources, allowing entrepreneurs to expand business possibilities.

Information is now recognised as the fourth business resource along with land, labour and capital and lack of information is a major part of the uncertainty in the entrepreneurial decision making process. In an increasingly digital world, the majority of information supplied to rural businesses is driven by the supplier’s perception of what is needed and rarely founded on the clear analysis of end-user needs.

Moreover, skills gaps, digital exclusion and poor connection with the ‘Knowledge Economy’ are identified by many as the barriers to sustainable development of rural businesses.