DETERMINANTS OF INTERNET-BASED TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN NIGERIAN INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS

The adoption of Internet-based Technological Innovations (IBTI) by firms within industrial clusters has been reported to enhance technological and economic gains especially in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era. Using appropriate standard methods, this study investigates the determinants of the adoption of IBTI among 343 firms in Nigerian industrial clusters. The result revealed that the determinants such as the performance expectancy (β = 0.392), effort expectancy (β = 0.607) and price value (β = 0.266) were positive and relevant in influencing the adoption of IBTI, while other drivers such as the attitude toward using the technology (β = – 0.109), service provider’s credibility (β = – 0.039), facilitating conditions (β = – 0.106) and economic flexibility (β = – 0.078) were negative, but also significantly determine the adoption of IBTI by the industrial firms. Thus, the availability of technological infrastructure to support industrial firms’ performance and attitudes toward using these innovations are most critical, while the proper utilization of the innovation requires understanding the impacts of cluster patterns and dynamics.