Bridging the Digital Gender Gap: Assessing the Digital Maturity of Women-led MSMEs in Ghana

Abstract

This study focuses on measuring the digital maturity of Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana, specifically comparing the relative maturity of women-led. The research was motivated to determine the digital maturity of women-led MSMEs and provide recommendations for improvement. We examined the widely-held view that men have better access to and make better use of communication technologies than women. It also sought to address the gender gap in access to technology and its impact on women's social and economic empowerment. The research used a Digital Maturity Model to assess the digital maturity of MSMEs, considering dimensions such as people and skills, strategy and organization, sales and customer involvement, and process and operations. The model provides descriptive, prescriptive, and comparative insights and serves as a diagnostic and decision-making tool. We adopted a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative data collection tools; surveys and qualitative data collection through literature review and focus group discussions. With a convenience sample of 160 MSME owners in selected geographical locations, the findings have been used to craft information for stakeholders and provide recommendations for bridging the gender gap in digital maturity.