Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya
Western theories dominate research on digital innovation in the Global South, neglecting contextual differences. Further, current research lacks focus on how structured versus unstructured innovation environments affect digital innovation success in these contexts. This study's investigation and fin...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Department of Information Systems
2025
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613261445201920 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mutegi, Lorna |
| author2 | Van Belle, Jean-Paul |
| author_browse | Mutegi, Lorna Van Belle, Jean-Paul |
| author_facet | Van Belle, Jean-Paul Mutegi, Lorna |
| author_sort | Mutegi, Lorna |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Western theories dominate research on digital innovation in the Global South, neglecting contextual differences. Further, current research lacks focus on how structured versus unstructured innovation environments affect digital innovation success in these contexts. This study's investigation and findings centre on the phenomenon of ‘digital innovation success', focusing on digital startups and innovators in Kenya. The study has two objectives: to isolate the enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success in Kenya and to compare the success factors between structured versus unstructured innovation environment. This study uses multiple cases with semi-structured interviews, document reviews, and media analysis. Kleine's Choice Framework was used as the core theoretical lens, from which a conceptual model that guided data analysis was developed. The framework enabled visualisation of digital innovation success systemically and holistically as a development outcome that digital innovators in the Global South strive to achieve. The framework was also used to identify and evaluate the conditions (agency and structure resources) under which digital innovation success opportunities emerge within structured and unstructured environments, thereby revealing their differences and similarities. The study findings in respect of the first objective revealed Entrepreneurship Support Organisations and Innovation Intermediaries as the most influential contextual factor on digital innovation success in Kenya. Results for the second objective revealed structured environment as a significant enabler of success in Kenya but warns against assuming all structures are neutral. The study's first theoretical contribution is an explanation of contextual enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success in the Global South. Second, a theoretical demonstration of how Kleine's Choice Framework can be used as a lens for Information Systems research and for building a conceptual model. The study's first practical contribution is that digital innovators can make informed decisions on the innovation environment that best fits their strengths and startup needs. Second, government and policy makers can better tailor their support for each environment. Further, the study highlights the difference between startups and MSMEs, urging tailored policies for digital startups. Third, investors can leverage the study findings to invest strategically in digital innovation ventures in the Global South. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41827 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:19.547Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Department of Information Systems |
| publisherStr | Department of Information Systems |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41827 Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya Mutegi, Lorna Van Belle, Jean-Paul Digital Innovation Digital Innovation Success Digital Entrepreneurship Digital Startup Innovation Technology Innovation Innovation Success Barriers Enablers Context in Innovation Ecosystems Choice Framework Western theories dominate research on digital innovation in the Global South, neglecting contextual differences. Further, current research lacks focus on how structured versus unstructured innovation environments affect digital innovation success in these contexts. This study's investigation and findings centre on the phenomenon of ‘digital innovation success', focusing on digital startups and innovators in Kenya. The study has two objectives: to isolate the enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success in Kenya and to compare the success factors between structured versus unstructured innovation environment. This study uses multiple cases with semi-structured interviews, document reviews, and media analysis. Kleine's Choice Framework was used as the core theoretical lens, from which a conceptual model that guided data analysis was developed. The framework enabled visualisation of digital innovation success systemically and holistically as a development outcome that digital innovators in the Global South strive to achieve. The framework was also used to identify and evaluate the conditions (agency and structure resources) under which digital innovation success opportunities emerge within structured and unstructured environments, thereby revealing their differences and similarities. The study findings in respect of the first objective revealed Entrepreneurship Support Organisations and Innovation Intermediaries as the most influential contextual factor on digital innovation success in Kenya. Results for the second objective revealed structured environment as a significant enabler of success in Kenya but warns against assuming all structures are neutral. The study's first theoretical contribution is an explanation of contextual enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success in the Global South. Second, a theoretical demonstration of how Kleine's Choice Framework can be used as a lens for Information Systems research and for building a conceptual model. The study's first practical contribution is that digital innovators can make informed decisions on the innovation environment that best fits their strengths and startup needs. Second, government and policy makers can better tailor their support for each environment. Further, the study highlights the difference between startups and MSMEs, urging tailored policies for digital startups. Third, investors can leverage the study findings to invest strategically in digital innovation ventures in the Global South. 2025-09-16T08:44:51Z 2025-09-16T08:44:51Z 2025 2025-09-16T07:41:54Z Thesis / Dissertation Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41827 en eng application/pdf Department of Information Systems Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Digital Innovation Digital Innovation Success Digital Entrepreneurship Digital Startup Innovation Technology Innovation Innovation Success Barriers Enablers Context in Innovation Ecosystems Choice Framework Mutegi, Lorna Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya |
| title_full | Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya |
| title_short | Enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success: a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in Kenya |
| title_sort | enablers of and barriers to digital innovation success a comparative study of structured versus unstructured technology innovation environments in kenya |
| topic | Digital Innovation Digital Innovation Success Digital Entrepreneurship Digital Startup Innovation Technology Innovation Innovation Success Barriers Enablers Context in Innovation Ecosystems Choice Framework |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41827 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mutegilorna enablersofandbarrierstodigitalinnovationsuccessacomparativestudyofstructuredversusunstructuredtechnologyinnovationenvironmentsinkenya |