Internet banking deployment in a sub-Saharan African country: A socio-technical perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand how the socio-technical environment in a sub-Saharan African (SSA) country shapes internet banking functionality deployment. Research on internet banking in SSA has focused more on adoption, use and diffusion and less on how the socio-technical environment shapes functionality deployment. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigates the case of an internet banking functionality deployment in the SSA context of Ghana. The study employs socio-technical theory with external environment as analytical lens and qualitative interpretive case study as methodology. On the social side, low internet banking competition, unclear regulations, physical signature requirements and perceived online fraud were found to have shaped the functionality deployment. On the technical side, improved internet access and lack of online payment infrastructure were found to have shaped the functionality deployment. The conclusion offers implications for research, practice and policy as well as recommendations for further research. Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.