{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T12:05:27Z","timestamp":1765886727896,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2002,8,1]],"date-time":"2002-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1028160000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2002,8,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>The Internet has been called the technology of the century because it is expected to reduce the development gap between developing countries and developed ones. This article examines the validity of that assertion. The researcher examines Internet use at two levels. The first level is the macrolevel of issues of Internet connectivity in developing countries and the second level is the microlevel of the usability of the World Wide Web (WWW) for information management in a developing country, Botswana. The two research methodologies of content analysis and case study were used for this study. The findings of this study are that entrepreneurs found a Website easy to use, but while there is a need for macropolicy to create national and global environments for using the Internet sustainable connection should not be universal, but should rather be based on the information management needs of a target population. Inherent infrastructural and socio\u2010technical challenges should then be tackled as part of the effort to create a sustainable Internet usage.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1108\/00012530210443357","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2002,11,8]],"date-time":"2002-11-08T16:57:55Z","timestamp":1036774675000},"page":"251-259","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["The Internet as an information conduit in developing countries: an investigation of World Wide Web usability among small and medium textile enterprises in Botswana"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"54","author":[{"given":"Buhle","family":"Mbambo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Johannes C.","family":"Cronj\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"unstructured":"Futurist (2000), \u201cCyber citizenship gains in developing countries\u201d, Futurist, Vol. 34 No. 5, pp. 19\u201021.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B1"},{"unstructured":"Haddad, H. and MacLeod, S. (1999), \u201cAccess to medical and health information in the developing world: an essential tool for change in medical education\u201d, CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, Vol. 160 No. 1, pp. 63\u20105.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B2"},{"doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hegener, M. (1995), \u201cE\u2010mail from the bush\u201d, World Press Review, Vol. 42 No. 4, pp. 11\u201012.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B3","DOI":"10.1016\/1353-4858(95)90166-3"},{"unstructured":"Hoffman, T. (2000), \u201cUN global e\u2010commerce challenges abound\u201d, Computerworld, Vol. 34 No. 28, pp. 12\u201014.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B4"},{"unstructured":"Jensen, M. (2001), Internet Status in Africa, available at: http:\/\/www.sn.apc.org (accessed 28 February 2001).","key":"key2022031819563534000_B5"},{"unstructured":"Kirkman, G. and Sachs, J. (2001), \u201cSubstract the divide\u201d, World Link, January\/February, pp. 60\u20104.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B6"},{"unstructured":"Kole, E. (1999), Supporting Small Enterpise With New Technology, available at: www.xs4all.nl\/ ekole\/public\/toolart.html (accessed 28 February 2001).","key":"key2022031819563534000_B7"},{"unstructured":"Kole, E. (2000), Cyber Democracy: A Condition Not An Outcome, available at: http:\/\/www.xs4all.nl\/ ekole\/public\/cyberdem.html (accessed 28 February 2001).","key":"key2022031819563534000_B8"},{"unstructured":"Mansell, R. and When, U. (1998), Knowledge Societies: Information Technology for Development, Oxford University Press, Oxford.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B9"},{"doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mbambo, B. (1996), \u201cVirtual libraries in Africa: a knight in shining armour?\u201d, IFLA Journal, Vol. 22 No. 3, pp. 229\u201032.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B10","DOI":"10.1177\/034003529602200310"},{"unstructured":"Mchombu, K.J. (1998), Impact of Information on Rural Development: Background, Methodology and Progress, available at: www.idrc.ca\/books\/focus\/783\/mchombu.html (accessed 28 February 2001).","key":"key2022031819563534000_B11"},{"unstructured":"Menou, M.J. (1993), Measuring the Impact of Information Development, International Centre for Research Development, Ottawa.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B12"},{"doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ngwainmbi, E.K. (2000), \u201cAfrica in the global info\u2010supermarket\u201d, Journal of Black Studies, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 519\u201021.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B13","DOI":"10.1177\/002193470003000404"},{"unstructured":"Ochieng, R.O. (2000), \u201cGlobal information flows\u2019\u2019, Library Management Journal, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 215\u201016.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B14"},{"unstructured":"Reinecke, J. (2000), \u201cInformation technology as a tool for training\u201d, paper presented at Africa University Day, 15\u201021 October 2000, University of Botswana, Gaborone.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B15"},{"unstructured":"Schram, W. (1996), Mass Media and National Development, Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B16"},{"doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thapisa, A.P.N (2000), \u201cThe impact of globalisation on Africa\u201d, Library Management, Vol. 21 No. 4, pp. 170\u20107.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B17","DOI":"10.1108\/01435120010693988"},{"unstructured":"Ticoll, D. (2000), \u201cIt takes an infrastructure\u201d, Tele.com, Vol. 5 No. 16, pp. 86\u20107.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B18"},{"unstructured":"UNDP Panel of Experts (2001), ICT for Development, available at: http:\/\/www.undp.org\/info21\/new\/ n\u2010ecosoc.html (accessed 28 February 2001).","key":"key2022031819563534000_B19"},{"unstructured":"United Nations Public Information (1999), Internet and Developing Countries, available at: www.org.esa\/coordination\/ecosoc\/itforum (accessed 28 February 2001).","key":"key2022031819563534000_B20"},{"unstructured":"World Bank (1998), World Development Report, World Bank, Washington, DC.","key":"key2022031819563534000_B21"}],"container-title":["Aslib Proceedings"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/00012530210443357","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/00012530210443357\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/00012530210443357\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T11:36:22Z","timestamp":1753356982000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/ajim\/article\/54\/4\/251-259\/63311"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2002,8,1]]},"references-count":21,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2002,8,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/00012530210443357"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/00012530210443357","relation":{},"ISSN":["0001-253X"],"issn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"0001-253X"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2002,8,1]]}}}