Effect Of Information Communication Technology On Efficiency Of Electronic Fund Transfer In Kenya ( Case Study Of Mpesa-safaricom)

Abstract

Firms have to respond strategically to environmental factors in order to be sustainable (Hamel &Prahalad, 1993). One of the environmental influences to a business arises from ICT. Increased competition threatens the attractiveness of an industry and reducing the profitability of the players. It exerts pressure on firms to be proactive and to formulate successful strategies that facilitate proactive response to perceived and actual changes in the competitive environment. A company has competitive advantage whenever it has an edge over its rivals in secunng customers and defending against competitive forces (Thompson & Strickland, 2002). Public opinion and individual norms and values have changed and society's expectations and the demands it makes to companies are now higher than before. In less than three decades, ICT has become established as a distinct discipline to add value to organizations. There is little disagreement about the strategic importance of Information Communications Technology in organizations today. Indeed, the potential use of ICT as a competitive weapon to gain competitive advantage has already become a popular cliche. Literature in this area abounds with a number of frameworks for identifying and categorizing these opportunities. There is however a notable absence on effect of ICT on the efficiency of electronic funds when viewed from the prism of computer self-efficacy, security, infrastructure and costs and risks. This is the viewpoint that inspires this research that I endeavour to undertaken. This research aims to shed light on these four variables in relation to the effect of ICT on the efficiency of electronic fund transfer.