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The development of a mobile money service: an exploratory actor-network study

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  • Godfried B. Adaba
  • Daniel Azerikatoa Ayoung

Abstract

Mobile money has received ample academic and practitioner attention as a means to improve access to financial services in developing countries. However, there is a paucity of empirical studies examining mobile money development from a socio-technical stance. Based on an exploratory cross-sectional field study conducted at three sites in the Upper East region of Ghana, this paper attempts to understand the dynamics of the development and diffusion of a mobile money service from an actor-network theory (ANT) perspective. Data from semi-structured interviews with the principal stakeholders (supplemented by documentary evidence) were analyzed using grounded theory coding techniques and the emergent themes interpreted through the lens of the “moments of translation” (Callon, M. (1999). Some elements of a sociology of translation: Domestication of the scallops and the fishermen of St Brieuc Bay. In M. Biagioli (Ed.), The science studies reader (pp. 67–83). London: Routledge) framework of ANT. The study found that a mobile network operator has built a nascent network of composite social and material stakeholders to offer mobile money services despite significant challenges. Although the actor-network is still evolving and mobile money has yet to reach critical mass, there is evidence of growing uptake. This paper highlights the value of ANT as a lens for exploring the diffusion of innovations in information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) research.

Suggested Citation

  • Godfried B. Adaba & Daniel Azerikatoa Ayoung, 2017. "The development of a mobile money service: an exploratory actor-network study," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 668-686, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:titdxx:v:23:y:2017:i:4:p:668-686
    DOI: 10.1080/02681102.2017.1357525
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olga Morawczynski & Mark Pickens, 2009. "Poor People Using Mobile Financial Services : Observations on Customer Usage and Impact from M-PESA," World Bank Publications - Reports 9492, The World Bank Group.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alhassan Abdul-Wakeel Karakara & Evans S. Osabuohien, 2022. "Threshold effects of ICT access and usage in Burkinabe and Ghanaian households," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(3), pages 511-531, July.
    2. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2023. "Bank accounts, bank concentration and mobile money innovations," Working Papers 23/019, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    3. Hazra, Ummaha & Priyo, Asad Karim Khan, 2020. "Mobile financial services in Bangladesh: Understanding the affordances," MPRA Paper 117852, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Kabengele, Christian & Hahn, Rüdiger, 2021. "Institutional and firm-level factors for mobile money adoption in emerging markets–A configurational analysis," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    5. Nkosikhona Theoren Msweli & Tendani Mawela, . "Financial Inclusion of the Elderly: Exploring the Role of Mobile Banking Adoption," Acta Informatica Pragensia, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 0.
    6. Coffie, Cephas Paa Kwasi & Hongjiang, Zhao, 2023. "FinTech market development and financial inclusion in Ghana: The role of heterogeneous actors," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    7. Nkosikhona Theoren Msweli & Tendani Mawela, 2021. "Financial Inclusion of the Elderly: Exploring the Role of Mobile Banking Adoption," Acta Informatica Pragensia, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2021(1), pages 1-21.

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