technology adoption and its overall application in co-operatives in the region is generally low
and that the main reasons for this include conservatism, costs and ignorance. The results and the
situations also vary. He observed two situations where
–
some highly automated financial co-
operatives and the completely non-automated agricultural primary co-operatives. ICT is
increasingly becoming an essential tool for efficient operations of investments and co-operatives
should be encouraged to use this technology (Ministry of Co-operative Development and
Marketing, 2008). The Ministry of co-operatives through its policy document on investment
notes that many co-operatives are not computerized while others are partially computerized; and
recommends that CODIC be activated to fulfill its core mandate of developing and assisting the
co-operative movement to acquire compatible computer software for their operations at a
competitive price; and that to save on costs, Saccos should link up with private ATM service
providers, e.g Pesa Point or alternatively utilize Cooperative Bank ATM service which has a
country wide network.

15
The researcher in this case will investigate the effect IT on growth and establish why some
societies have adopted IT if at all it has a positive effect on growth.
In a competitive market, members will increasingly seek providers who serve them best.
Competition is the situation in which people or organizations compete with each other for
something that not everyone can have. Therefore the underlying principle for any competitive
situation is scarcity.
It therefore follows that any person or organization that wishes to engage
into productive activity, will not only have to content with the acquisition of scarce factors of
production, ever changing state of technology but also with a determinate market with its ever
changing tastes and preferences.
The essence of competition is to win as others lose (Hollensen,
2003).
One of the earliest concepts of technology strategy was provided by Maidique and Patch (2008).
They conceptualize technology strategy based on three dimensions, namely type of technology;
level of competence; timing of technology introductions; level of investment; organization and
policies, and source of technology. Type of technology or technology selection is associated to
the distinctiveness and the value of technologies that the firm specializes in. Level of
competence refers to how specialize the firm is in its technologies. Timing of technology
introduction equates to introducing a technology ahead of competitors. Level of investment is
related to financial resource allocations whereas organization and policies are associated with
implementation of strategy (Spital and Bickford, 2002). Source of technology on the other hand
refers to mode of technology acquisition, whether it is internal R and D, external R and D or
others. These are methods or ways to pursuing technology strategies (Spital and Bickford, 2002).


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- Summer '15
- Alex
- ........., Cooperative, SACCOs