Mobile Technology Use by Rural Farmers and Herders

Mobile Technology Use by Rural Farmers and

Herders

Section 1: Foundation of the Study

Rural farmers and herders suffer from technology bias. Although most developing

countries' populations are rural farmers and herders, mobile technology business leaders

have not adequately invested in the mobile technology infrastructure for rural farmers and

herders as they have among urban communities. Leaders from many mobile technology

companies practice digital apartheid when it comes to improving the communication and

technology infrastructure of rural farmers in developing countries (Barnard-Ashton et al.,

2018). The systematic exclusion of specific populations from technological

advancements has inhibited farmers' and herders' progress in developing countries.

Background of the Problem

Farmers and herders from developing countries need mobile technology to

improve their agricultural activities (Oppedahl, 2019). Agriculture is the backbone of

most African economies; as such, most development agency leaders are concerned about

herders' and farmers' access to the technology they can use to enhance agricultural

productivity (Mavhunduse & Holmner, 2019). But mobile technology leaders lack

strategies for improving the infrastructure to enhance farmers' and herders' use of mobile

technology. Mobile technology business leaders are unsuccessfully planning and

deploying robust mobile technology infrastructure to rural farmers and herders struggling

to keep up with agricultural productivity. When technology infrastructure is inadequate,

businesses do not have access to markets (Cunguara & Darnhofer, 2011). Rural farmers

in developing countries often do not get to enjoy the benefits of their agricultural

businesses because they lack adequate technology to communicate with their customers

(Muhumuza et al., 2018). Until mobile technology industry leaders invest more in rural

mobile infrastructure, developing countries will continue to experience food shortages.

Problem Statement

Mobile technology company leaders struggle to deploy mobile technology

infrastructures such as cellphone towers and internet hotspots to rural farmers and herders

(Kabbiri et al., 2018). Fifty-seven percent of farmers and 55% of herders in the United

Republic of Tanzania do not have access to mobile technology services due to the lack of

adequate infrastructure for rural farmers and herders (Echanove & Steffen, 2015). The

general business problem is that some mobile technology businesses do not plan mobile

technology infrastructure deployments to rural farmers and herders, resulting in a loss of

revenue and profits. The specific business problem is that some mobile technology

business leaders lack strategies to improve mobile technology infrastructure to rural

farmers and herders.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that

mobile technology business leaders use to improve mobile technology infrastructure to

rural farmers and herders. The targeted population consisted of three mobile technology

business leaders from three different mobile technology organizations with successful

mobile technology infrastructure strategies in the United Republic of Tanzania. The

results of this study may contribute to social change by providing strategies for

improving mobile telecommunications services, thus improving communications in and

among poor rural farmers and herders communities.

Nature of the Study

The three research methods are qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods

(Almalki, 2016). I used a qualitative approach for this study, which provides flexibility

and more powerful knowledge of the interaction between researchers and participants

(Antwi & Hamza, 2015). With qualitative methods, researchers explore open-ended

questions, opinions, or perceptions (Yin, 2018). Using a qualitative method enabled me to

observe the responses from business leaders using open-ended questions as a method of

collecting data and identify themes or patterns. In quantitative methodology, researchers

test different hypotheses and theories (Saunders et al., 2015). Quantitative designs were

not appropriate for this study because I did not test correlations or differences between

variables. The mixed-methods approach requires both qualitative and quantitative

methods to address more complex research questions (Taguchi, 2018), which made it also

not appropriate for my study.

I used a qualitative multiple case study design for my research. Researchers use

multiple case studies to address a situation, provide a rich context for understanding, and

draw conclusions about a phenomenon (Llerena et al., 2019). A single case study design

is about collecting data from a single source that may be susceptible to favoritism and not

providing the extra validity that a multiple case study produces (Yin, 2018). A multiple

case study was the best choice because I used three mobile technology companies in the

United Republic of Tanzania to explore their strategies to improve mobile technology

infrastructure to rural farmers and herders.

Other designs were considered but not chosen. Researchers use ethnography to

learn about the lives, cultures, or situations of a group or community (Yang, 2017).

Phenomenological research uncovers the perceptions, perspectives, understanding, and

feelings of people with lived experiences of a phenomenon. Phenomenological

researchers articulate and evoke dimensions of concepts and continuously reevaluate the

need to theorize, categorize, and expand upon those concepts (Adams & Manen, 2017).

Ethnography and phenomenology were not appropriate designs for this study because the

focus was not on group cultures or the personal meanings of participants' lived

experiences.

Research Question

What strategies do mobile technology business leaders use to improve the mobile

technology infrastructure to rural farmers and herders?

Interview Questions

1. What strategies do you use to improve mobile technology infrastructure for rural

farmers and herders?

2. How do you select areas to implement your mobile technology infrastructure

strategies?

3. What steps do you take to ensure you apply correct and needed mobile

technology infrastructure strategies in rural areas?

4. How do you communicate your mobile technology infrastructure implementation

strategies to your intended customers?

5. What barriers or restrictions do you experience when implementing mobile

technology infrastructure strategies in rural areas?

6. What additional information can you provide on strategies to improve mobile

technology infrastructure in rural areas?

Conceptual Framework

I used adaptive structuration theory (AST) as the study's conceptual framework.

AST is considered as one of the top three theories researchers use for group

communications (Almeida, 2015). Anthony Giddens introduced AST in 1979 as the

production and reproduction of social systems through members' use of rules and

resources in interaction (Almeida, 2015). Another theorist known as M. Scott Poole came

on later to develop the AST to align it with the technological development that many

leaders were looking for to improve their productivity (Schmitz et al., 2016). Poole's

focus was to improve Gidden's original definition of the theory and make AST more

adaptive to different rules and resources that technology requires (Ajjan et al., 2016).

Researchers use AST to develop theoretical improvements for advancing

computing infrastructure (Ajjan et al., 2016). AST presents the social structures, rules,

and resources provided by technologies and institutions as the basis for human activity.

AST can also be used as a tool that connects structural potentials of technology and

elements of technology impacts. Scholars widely use AST to study the evolution-in-use

of advanced adaptation and change at the group or organizational level (Schmitz et al.,

2016).

Researchers use AST to facilitate understanding of the types of structures

provided by advanced technologies and the structures that emerge in human action when

people interact with these technologies (Poole & DeSanctis, 1992). Scholars who use

AST incorporate technological learning changes at the micro, global, and organizational

levels. I used the AST framework to study the mobile technology progress that mobile

technology business leaders may apply to improve the mobile technology infrastructure

for rural farmers and herders.

Operational Definitions

Mobile technology infrastructure: Mobile technology infrastructure is the

telecommunication systems support vital for improving communication between users

(Altamirano & van Beers, 2018).

Developing countries: Developing countries are countries with less economic and

technological infrastructure compared to others (Wright, 2016).

Rural farmers and herders: Rural farmers and herders are people who earn their

livelihood by growing crops and rearing livestock far from urban populations

(Mwamfupe, 2015).

Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations Assumptions

Assumptions are the necessary beliefs included in a doctoral study that

researchers cannot verify (Walby, 2015). Assumptions may affect a study's outcome;

accordingly, researchers should treat assumptions as risks. There were three assumptions

in this study. The first assumption was that rural farmers and herders needed robust

mobile technology infrastructure to work on farms. The second assumption was that the

participants were willing to share their information, knowledge, and experiences. The

third assumption was that participants would answer all questions openly and truthfully

without reservations.

Limitations

Limitations are possible obstacles that may impact a study's outcome (Levitt et

al., 2017) as well as impede the discoveries of research (Marshall & Rossman, 2016).

There were four limitations to this study. The first limitation was the dependence on the

availability of participants and their willingness to participate in my study. The second

limitation was the coordination, scheduling, and meeting time constraints from

participants when collecting data. The third limitation was that participants might not

have been willing to share strategic decisions for fear of disclosing information to their

competitors. The fourth limitation was that participants might have struggled to

remember all the details of the strategies their respective leaderships used to implement

mobile technology infrastructure.

Delimitations

Delimitations are boundaries a researcher creates to maintain the scope and size of

the research (Knapp, 2016). There were four delimitations in this study. The first

delimitation was that three mobile technology business leaders come from three different

mobile technology organizations within the United Republic of Tanzania. The second

delimitation was that I only interviewed top organization leaders who are involved in

improving rural mobile technology infrastructure. The third delimitation was that each

organization had an average net worth of approximately $200 million. The fourth

delimitation was that each organization is a publicly listed organization with public

operations data.

Significance of the Study Contribution to Business Practice

Mobile technology business leaders can provide mobile technology infrastructure

to reduce operating costs by building a direct line of communication among rural farmers

and herders, their vendors, and their customers. Farmers can use mobile technology to

understand how to prevent price distortion, the nominal rate of assistance, and how to add

value to their products with the relative price margin (Nsabimana & Amuakwa-Mensah,

2018). Most industry leaders apply digital technologies in some way to their product

manufacturing, services, provision, or business processes (Global System for Mobile

Communications, 2017). Technology industry leaders may use the strategies, processes,

and tools from this study to improve their strategic business approaches for providing

mobile technology infrastructure for rural farmers and herders in developing countries,

such as the United Republic of Tanzania, to increase business profitability.

Implications for Social Change

The strategy development of mobile technology infrastructure by mobile

technology business leaders may simplify the way farmers and herders communicate with

one another within and outside their communities. Rural farmers and herders can use

mobile technology to learn more about their lives, their products, and the relationships

they build with their customers and suppliers (Dellinger et al., 2018). Mobile technology

services are another way for rural farmers and herders to improve farming operations

within their communities.

A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies

mobile technology business leaders use to improve rural mobile technology

infrastructure. Fifty-seven percent of farmers and 55% of herders in the United Republic

of Tanzania do not have access to mobile technology services due to the lack of adequate

mobile technology infrastructure for rural farmers and herders (Echanove & Steffen,

2015). Farmers and herders need to access mobile technology to improve farming.

To gain an understanding of mobile technology infrastructure to rural farmers and

herders, I completed an extensive academic literature review of articles accessed from

Walden University's Library, including the databases EBSCOhost, ProQuest Central, and

ABI/INFORM Global, and I searched for resources using Google Scholar. Keywords

searched were mobile technology infrastructure, mobile farming technology, and mobile

technology leaders, AND rural mobile technology. This literature review contains 84

sources of peer-reviewed articles. Among these articles, 56 were peer-reviewed research

articles published in the last five years.

Adaptive Saturation Theory (AST)

The conceptual framework for this study was Gidden's 1979 AST. Gidden's AST

includes different outcomes, such as efficiency, quality, consensus, and commitment

(Rains & Bonito, 2017). Gidden defined efficiency outcome as the driving force

researchers like because they can expect to get reliable results from their research.

Researchers generally utilize AST when studying technological systems' improvements

because they want to identify inconsistent findings in their studies by focusing on some

of the variables that may help explain those inconsistencies (Gopal et al., 1992).

Researchers find AST as a practical theory that they can adapt and use in their research

processes because the user has profound domain control and accommodate a new

technology (Adler et al., 2011). Efficiency is popular in the AST because researchers may

refine their existing ways of doing research and get noticeable improvements in their

studies (Schmitz et al., 2016).

Researchers also find AST as a useful framework due to its group structures and

their influence on interaction and decision-making amongst group members (Niederman

et al., 2008). AST is essential in the field of technology because stakeholders use it to

examine the process by which organizations set up their rules and regulations, utilize

resources, accomplish goals, and adjust or evolve to match with the industry (Niederman

et al., 2008). AST is about asserting organizational structures that are formed for the

technology industry researches (Niederman et al., 2008). Each organization member of

the technology industry has the responsibility of improving such technology and bring it

forward for other members to study, interact, and share resources (Niederman et al.,

2008). AST is most associated with the relationship between researchers' inputs, such as

innovations and resources, and outputs such as technology or feedback (Niederman et al.,

2008).

Other than researchers, many who adopt AST use the theory for inter-professional

collaboration and coordinated teamwork to achieve high-quality results to advance their

works (Barrett, 2018). AST adapters also utilize the theory to alter the technology

artifact's capabilities and reinterpret workplace tasks because they become a

commonplace reality in many businesses (Schmitz et al., 2016). AST emphasizes the

confluence of two trends: the increasing phenomenon of user-driven adaptation and

increasing technology attention (Schmitz et al., 2016). Through AST methodology, those

with no special technical skills can be invited to manipulate and modify information

technology (IT) capabilities such as mobile computing devices to achieve their goals

(Schmitz et al., 2016). The technology that has been developed through the AST

framework has allowed average users to have the power to use them are such as editable,

interactive, reprogrammable, flexible, and transformable mobile devices such as cell

phone, two-way radios, tablets, and computers (Schmitz et al., 2016). Thus, the

traditional role for mobile device users has changed from that of a customer who waits

for the final product to use to a more of an active role performing direct adaptations and

giving feedback during design and implementation (DeSanctis & Poole, 1994). Mobile

business leaders may rely on the AST framework to incorporate the innovation of

technology and users' adaptation of such technology to improve the mobile technology

infrastructure of their customers.

Additionally, AST has been useful for leaders who are not always technologically

inclined. Technologically inclined leaders can benefit from AST within the

organizational structures. The theory has been most effective in analyzing organizational

communication and group decision-making (Barrett, 2018). AST has also been a tool to

explore the structures advanced technologies have introduced into the industry and the

structures that have emerged from people interacting with such technologies (Barrett,

2018). The theory may help business leaders understand and expand the scope of their

influence as group members within their organizations (Barrett, 2018), which allows

technology adoption to be viewed as a dynamic process (Furumo & Melcher, 2006). The

process involves a paradigm shift in technology as organizations move from legacy to

digital systems (Furumo & Melcher, 2006). During this transition, many managers who

are not guided by the AST framework often report disappointment in progress, generally

associating problems with limitations of interactions between researchers and consumers

(Furumo & Melcher, 2006).

Technology stakeholders rely on the AST to achieve their goals because they have

different values, beliefs, attitudes, customs, behaviors, problem-solving approaches, and

jargon that require a good quality consensus when adopting new technologies (Barrett,

2018). AST brings consensus to the technology industry because researchers rely on one

another for technological advancements (DeSanctis & Poole, 1994). Improvement of

mobile technology infrastructure, where most farmers and herders live, may rely on the

AST framework to invent technological devices that farmers and herders may utilize for

their productivity. For farmers to continue to expand and be successful, technology needs

to be implemented. Though AST has considerable explanatory potential, the frequency of

its use among technology researchers and its commitment to advance technology

innovations have led to researchers relying on it compared to other theories available in

the industry (Chin et al., 1997). Alternative technological theories

In this section, a few alternative theories are reviewed on how they relate to

technological infrastructures in rural communities. Researchers use many different

theories that focus on how mobile leaders improve the infrastructure of rural farmers and

herders. The altercasting theory, protection motivation theory (PMT), information

infrastructure design theory (IIDT), and actor-network theory (ANT) are four alternative

theories that provide alternatives for the business problem to improve mobile technology

infrastructures to rural farmers and herders. These four theories all have different aspects

of how best to improve mobile technology within rural communities.

Altercasting Theory

The altercasting theory is unique because the proponents of this theory believe

that people can be persuaded to behave in a specific role (Pratkanis & Gliner, 2004). The

theory focuses on both the social aspect and the ego of a person. Altercasting theory is a

theory of persuasion that was created by sociologists Eugene Weinstein and Paul

Duetschberger in 1963 (Senar, 1982). The purpose of this theory is to find the role that

best fits another person and persuade them to take on that role. The theory relies on the

concept of encouragement and demonstrates an identity with whom one is interacting,

which is consistent with a person's own goals (Pratkanis & Gliner, 2004). Through

societal, psychological, and unnoticed manipulation, an individual's likelihood of playing

out a specific social role is more likely to occur (Pratkanis & Gliner, 2004). Advancement

of technology infrastructure occurs when people of different talents, personalities, and

technological acumen get together to promote the change. Altercasting theory is about

revealing peoples' egos that may affect technology advancements.

Furthermore, altercasting can be divided into two key groups: manded and tact.

Manded altercasting theory can be defined as not wanting to change behavior but openly

deciding the other person's role (Pratkanis & Gliner, 2004). However, tact altercasting

theory is more passive. A person does not say anything directly, but they change their

behavior to suggest a role to the other person (Pratkanis & Gliner, 2004). Altercasting

theory is known as a manipulative theory and focuses on how people take on different

social roles and start to view themselves how other people view them. The alignment of

this theory is often when a person strives to conform to the expectations of others so that

they can fit in society (Senar, 1982). Altercasting theory may be dangerous if misused

due to its promotion of self-interest by leaders. However, under the AST theory, leaders

do not manipulate other people; instead, they encourage people's efficiency, quality,

consensus, and commitment.

Protection motivation Theory

The PMT was developed by Rogers in 1975 (Brooks & Bubela, 2020). PMT

focuses on how individuals protect themselves when they are around a perceived threat

through the cognitive mediation process (Brooks & Bubela, 2020; Xing et al., 2019).

Proponents of PMT focus on a person's emotional state and how it influences their

attitude (Miraja et al., 2019). PMT advocates have also used the theory to describe human

behavior in individuals, families, and the parent-child unit to show how a person may

react when faced with serious decisions to make (Miraja et al., 2019). PMT emphasizes

four key components that are supposed to protect a person from danger: (a) the danger is

serious, (b) a person is personally defenseless to the danger, (c) the coping reaction is

efficient in averting the danger, and (d) a person who has the ability to handle the

response (Miraja et al., 2019). PMT focuses more on reactions instead of how to continue

advancing technologically.

Business leaders are expected to make mobile technology infrastructure

improvement decisions while not being afraid of personal repercussions (Westcott et al.,

2017). Having a PMT mindset, these leaders may not implement adequate measures that

could help improve mobile technology. PMT is about helping individuals build and

reinforce their response and self-efficiency and translate knowledge into safer behavior

(Westcott et al., 2017). PMT is about explaining the cognitive mediation process of

behavior change in terms of threat and coping appraisal of an induvial and their ability to

protect oneself. In contrast, AST focuses on how leaders may improve the lives of people

collectively.

Information Infrastructure Design Theory

The IIDT focuses on telecommunications networks, databases, and other

procedures managed by different specialists (Knol & Yao-hua, 2018). The purpose of this

theory is to bridge the connection between people and wireless communication systems

(Knol & Yao-hua, 2018). The infrastructure within a business is important to ensure

optimal business performance (Eikebrokk & Iden, 2017). People benefit from IIDT by its

efforts to dramatically increase the number and heterogeneity of included components,

relations, and their dynamic and unexpected interactions in IT solutions (Hanseth &

Lyytinen, 2016). Technology researchers have been relying on IIDT to utilize complex IT

systems as artifacts and denote them with generic labels of information infrastructures so

that people can find the use of those technologies (Hanseth & Lyytinen, 2016). From a

technical viewpoint, designing a complete IT project involves discovering, implementing,

integrating, controlling, and coordinating increasingly heterogeneous IT capabilities

(Hanseth & Lyytinen, 2016). Having a combination of the three components allows

farmers and herders the ability to expand their technological knowledge.

Furthermore, IIDT focuses on shared resources between communities and people

to share resources and deliver information services (Eikebrokk & Iden, 2017). IIDT also

focuses on increasing awareness of the potential improvement of the information system's

stakeholders' ability to work with others with little theoretical work, which directly

guides executive information systems design. (Walls et al., 1992). This theory

incorporates a combination of principles to design and implement information

infrastructures (Knol & Yao-hua, 2018). Though this theory bridges the connection

between people and communication systems, AST is about allowing leaders to explore

strategies to install effective infrastructures for rural farmers and herders (Chin et al.,

1997). However, for this study, I chose AST because AST focuses on implementing

mobile technology infrastructures to rural farmers and herders.

Actor network Theory

The ANT is rooted in both science and technology studies. According to Heeks

and Stanforth (2015), ANT is the relationship between an underdeveloped society and

technology; societies with access to technology tend to be more advanced. Because ANT

proposes an alternative understanding of actors, networks, and theory, there have been

critiques that it is weak in studying cultural imaginations, power relations, and scale

(Jóhannesson & Bærenholdt, 2020). For instance, technology is a great asset to

developing countries to ensure economic advancement (Heeks & Stanforth, 2015). But

ANT does not offer a satisfactory theory that actors can use because of its limited power

to maneuver in the technology industry, caused by a lack of ability to explain the

existence and working of economic markets between society and technology (Callon,

1999). ANT does not always focus on technological advancements as much as economic

advancements.

In addition to these critiques of ANT, researchers tend to disagree about the ANT

because it is controversial. ANT focuses on the connections between human feelings and

inanimate objects (Heeks & Stanforth, 2015). These relationships constantly change as

networks shift. The ANT is excellent in investigating technology infrastructures. Nothing

is more intensely connected, more distant, more compulsory, and more strategically

organized than a computer network; however, that is not the basic metaphor of an ANT

(Latour, 1996). The ANT may lack all characteristics of a technical network; it may be

local, have no required paths, or no strategically positioned nodes. Still, it can be used to

align between actors and technology (Latour, 1996). Though ANT is great for technology

infrastructures, it lacks the relationship between strategies and infrastructure

implementation.

Summary of Framework

In summary, IT theories have been used in developing the best strategies to

improve the infrastructure of rural farmers and herders. No IT theory is valid and

applicable in every circumstance (Chin et al., 1997). There is no ideal IT theory;

however, the AST theory combines the understanding of advanced infrastructure

and the needs of rural farmers and herders and provides strategies to leaders to

fulfill those needs (Chin et al., 1997). Since AST combines the needs for rural

farmers and herders and strategies for leaders, it aligns best with my study.

Technology Implementation

Mobile technology is a crucial variable in improving the technological

infrastructure for rural farmers and herders. But technological advancement in a specific

area requires alignment between the overall concept of the task and the input of

individual characteristics, differences, and backgrounds of people tasked with

accomplishing the goal (Gopal et al., 1992). Group work from mobile technology

business leaders is needed to improve mobile farming technology (Gopal et al., 1992).

Advancing mobile technology is a crucial step to improving technology and making it

accessible to farmers and herders.

However, mobile technology can be an overwhelming concept for rural farmers

and herders. Most rural farmers and herders are slow to understand and adopt new

technologies on the market to improve their farming (Yigezu et al., 2018). The lack of

understanding can lead to rural farmers and herders lacking strategies needed to increase

production. Furthermore, this affects farmers because the low and slow adoption of

improved agricultural technologies among smallholders often impedes technological

development and promotion efforts to rural farmers and herders (Yigezu et al., 2018). But

gaining access to technology will allow farmers and herders to improve their knowledge

to advance their farming.

Infrastructure to rural farmers and herders. While technology is crucial to

advancing farming, other areas also need to be improved. Technology implementation

alone does not provide organizations with the answers and benefits that business leaders

are looking for to resolve their problems (Turner et al., 2019). Implementing precision

technology, however, can be a challenge for rural farmers and herders. Training different

elements of mobile technology infrastructure for customers can be a challenge for rural

farmers and herders. Aubert et al. (2012) completed a study and indicated the difficulties

of modeling precision agriculture and its implementation, drawing on theories of

technology acceptance and diffusion of innovations. Aubert et al. (2012) also discovered

that the voluntary implementation of precision farming in sustainable farming did not

show positive results in Canadian rural farmers; instead, it had a negative effect. Shrimp

farmers perceive mobile phones as a tool for capacity development and extension

services in shrimp farming (Anand & Kumaran, 2017). Rural farmers and herders would

benefit from enhanced information access with a dedicated mobile app that shows

dynamic disease diagnostics, frequently asked questions, and farm input calculation

modules with the scope for two-way interaction (Anand & Kumaran, 2017). Having all

the technical information in one area makes it easier for rural farmers and herders to

understand.

Another area that rural farmers and herders need to analyze is soil composition.

Variation is important when evaluating the performance of soil management

recommendations, integrating aspects of production risk management within the

formulation of recommendations, and proposing alternative approaches to implement

agronomic farming (Vanlauwe et al., 2016). The primary factor that hindered technology

use and its adoption was limited access to improved technologies, such as an enhanced

variety of seeds and associated packages (Vanlauwe et al., 2016). Although nearly half of

the farming population on average has adopted various improved technologies, another

half has not yet started benefiting from these technologies (Vanlauwe et al., 2016).

Technology introduction and dissemination initiatives have primarily been campaign

bases with little consideration of sustainability issues (Vanlauwe et al., 2016). Significant

data processes of cloud-based and high-performance computing in farming development

are essential to know where and how to adjust farming policies (Lokers et al., 2016).

Suppose rural farmers and herders gain access to modern technology. In that case, they

could use that technology to collect and analyze vital information for implementing

different agricultural policies because of the sheer volume of data collected (Lokers et al.,

2016). The benefits of the technology to enhancing farming are interminable.

Some of the areas that technology may help rural farmers improve include

different farming services. Suppose rural farmers want to lead the farm landscape in the

world. In that case, they need adequate access to knowledge, information, and other

necessary services, including access to mobile phone technology, to improve farming (Fu

& Akter, 2016). Rural farmers often used substandard farming practices due to a lack of

information, knowledge, inputs, and management (Fu & Akter, 2016). Farmers

transmitted information through radio, television, and satellite-based systems, but they

could not voice their problems directly to experts for solutions (Fu & Akter, 2016). Rural

farmers with access to mobile phones used their phones to send and receive text messages

and make calls (Fu & Akter, 2016). With the advancement of mobile phones, rural

farmers need to utilize those advancements to improve their farming.

Communication systems are another way rural farmers may enhance their

knowledge of farming and technology. The Digital Green in India is an innovative video

communication system, a combined technology with social organizations to improve the

cost-effectiveness of existing agricultural extensions (Fu & Akter, 2016). Many poor

rural farmers are unaware of modern mobile technology when technological innovations

came onto the market (Fu & Akter, 2016). Mobile phone technology infrastructure

presented farmers with both audio and video functions that provide most of the basic

needs of the poor and two-way communication between farmers and agricultural services

providers (Fu & Akter, 2016). Rural farmers and herders must better understand how

relevant modern IT is to their production activities and their lives (Fu & Akter, 2016).

Agricultural participants need tactics to understand and follow the overall farming service

deliveries used by technology leaders.

Impact on rural farmers and herders. Farmers with greater economic resources

may adopt more technology and may obtain the knowledge needed to improve farming.

Farmers and herders with larger farms are more willing to adopt new technologies

advised by technology industry leaders, spend more time and money pursuing

agricultural knowledge, and pay more attention to productive technology rather than

process technology (Hu et al., 2019). According to Roberts et al. (2002), farmers who

rent their cropland are less likely to adopt any advanced technology methods such as

precision farming techniques, even when it has the potential to be more productive

because it costs more to invest in technology than they can afford. Precision farming

techniques are methods used to focus on scarce resources, especially as it pertains to land

geographical characteristics. Roberts et al. (2002) noted that investing in precision

farming technology has the potential to earn the rural farmer a more significant profit

through higher production, but that depends on the improvements of mobile technology

infrastructure, which ultimately affects crop profitability. When looking at implementing

advanced technology, farmers need to implement a cost/benefit analysis to determine if

the implementation of the benefit exceeds the cost.

If the benefit exceeds the cost, then rural farmers may implement precision

farming to continue expanding. Precision farming needs continued expansion, and

training in the technology is paramount (Shruthi et al., 2017). The purpose of precision

farming is to bring awareness to farming communities in Karnataka, India, about the

technology in production and productivity of crop yields. The biggest hurdle for business

leaders is the expensive equipment necessary to install technology infrastructures to

perform adequate precision farming techniques in rural farmers' regions. Due to food

demands and the global need to improve rural farming activities, mobile business leaders

should improve their strategies with modern technology (Bilali & Allahyari, 2018).

Farmers use IT to transition to agro-food sustainability by increasing resource

productivity, reducing inefficiencies, decreasing management costs, and improving food

chain coordination (Bilali & Allahyari, 2018). Asfaw et al. (2012) suggested that

agricultural research and technological improvements are crucial to increasing

agricultural productivity, reducing poverty, and meeting demands for food without

irreversible degradation of the natural resource base. Technological improvements affect

more than farming.

Husbandry is an essential element in the food supply chain; therefore, it is

important to improve technology infrastructures. The rural herders need to receive

training about technology infrastructure and how to facilitate the process of storing milk

for more extended periods before sending the milk to the markets to improve rural

businesses (Bilali & Allahyari, 2018). Rural herders could use IT such as the Internet of

things (IoT), BP Neural Network, and Amazon AWS to design a raw milk monitoring

and warning system in the cloud to improve their milk storage capacity and increase

profit (Ma et al., 2018). Modern technological advancements help lead the way for rural

farmers and herders to control their farming and livestock remotely through systems like

GPS locators, imaging swaths of land, and computer monitoring systems for remote

control through sensors (Guo, 2019). These advancements aid in preventing human error

and waste by controlling for fertilizer application, irrigation controls, medical

distributions, as well as sensing for pests, weeds, and diseases (Rehman et al., 2017).

Automating these functions saves rural farmers and herders time and money.

The lack of technology in farming and husbandry may create a wealth gap

between rural farmers and herders, and others. Researchers studied the improvement in

the quality, timeliness, and trustworthiness of the wealth gap information related to

mobile technology. Wealth gap issues constitute a significant constraint for farmers and

herders in less wealthy nations (Mittal et al., 2009). Striking a balance between the

policies of food security and improving the income levels of rural farmers and herders to

improve productivity and profitability is the driving influence behind Mittal et al. (2009)

studying mobile phone use to improve farm productivity and rural incomes. Mittal et al.

(2009) were hesitant towards trying new farming strategies, even with proper access to

reliable methodologies. Mittal et al. (2009) identified constraints that hold many rural

farmers and herders back, such as insufficient availability of critical resources, inadequate

irrigation, poor physical access, inadequate crop storage, and lack of formal credit.

Improving technology may reduce the wealth gap amongst rural farmers because of the

increased access to resources.

Ethiopia is one country that lacks critical resources and inadequate irrigation.

Rural farmers in Ethiopia travel far from their farms to sell their products (Tadesse &

Bahiigwa, 2015). Often, rural farmers do not have access to the information needed to

make smart decisions about business strategies for their products (Tadesse & Bahiigwa,

2015). Rural farmers incur high market searching costs, which caused many small rural

farmers to produce a limited range of goods (Tadesse & Bahiigwa, 2015). Many rural

farmers and herders lack the money to invest in mobile technology infrastructures, which

causes many rural farmers and herders to produce products for home consumption

(Tadesse & Bahiigwa, 2015). Rural farmers and herders may not use mobile technology

devices to search for information because they may not be able to access relevant

information; accordingly, few rural farmers and herders use mobile technology devices

for information searching (Tadesse & Bahiigwa, 2015). Rural farmers and herders use

mobile technology for their basic needs because many are unaware of phone capabilities.

The United Republic of Tanzania is another country that has insufficient

availability of resources. Rural farmers and herders in the United Republic of Tanzania

rely on mobile phone technology to communicate amongst themselves, and others are

connected to conduct their agricultural businesses (Nyamba & Mlozi, 2012). According

to the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), small rural farmers and

herders all across the country could benefit from vast upgrading of the information and

communication technology (ICT) sector in Tanzania (Nyamba & Mlozi, 2012).

Currently, asymmetry information about agriculture, rural farmers and herders limits their

ability to sell their products and buy raw materials (Nyamba & Mlozi, 2012). There are

minor ICT improvements in some parts of Tanzania, whereby rural farmers and herders

owning mobile phones have enhanced their communication amongst themselves and

other agricultural stakeholders around the country (Nyamba & Mlozi, 2012). While the

improvements are minor, they affect farmers' productivity.

Application of mobile phone technology. Mobile phone technology enhances

technology through several factors. Nyamba and Mlonzi (2012) identified factors

influencing the use of mobile phone technology in communicating agricultural

information. Nyamba and Mlozi (2012) investigated how rural farmers and herders use

the technology, how technology helps farmers and herders confront business challenges,

and their attitudes towards using the technology. Nyamba and Mlozi (2012) observed

three objectives: the extent of mobile phone ownership, the extent of agricultural

information farmers and herders sends and receive using their mobile phones, and

identifying socioeconomic factors influencing mobile phone use in communications. The

three objectives affect how much knowledge and technology influence farmers and

herders.

One area that is affected by the lack of education is rural farmers and herders

regions in Tanzania. Farmers and herders in Tanzania, especially those in rural areas and

females, are mostly uneducated and need to know how to access agricultural inputs or

resources, such as technologically modern farming tools, and how to use them (Isaya et

al., 2016). Tanzanian rural farmers and herders rely on radios and extension workers sent

to their farms by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Cooperatives (Isaya et

al., 2016). Radio and agricultural extension workers are the primary sources of

agricultural information for rural female farmers (Isaya et al., 2016). The Ministry of

Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives should provide community radios,

introductions to modern technology as the primary source of information dissemination

to rural farmers and herders, and solar-powered radios free of charge subsidized cost to

rural households (Isaya et al., 2016). Providing these essential tools will allow rural

farmers and herders to benefit from technology.

Implementing technological infrastructures allows rural farmers and herders to

improve their knowledge. Technological development could create an interplay between

the evolving nature of rural lifestyles and rural enterprises (Small, 2017). Rural residents

can use foresight endeavors, though fallible, as a springboard for recognizing and

realizing emerging opportunities and potential mitigating threats through technology.

Residents of rural farming communities must be aware of technological improvements to

strategically prepare for a digital future and enhance their resilience and adaptability to

inevitable change (Small, 2017). Responsible technological development and business

practices are vital for agricultural value chain participants to promote the increased trust

and collaboration required to fully realize the potential benefits of digital agriculture

(Small, 2017). Advancing technological infrastructure ensures continuous expansion for

rural farmers and herders.

Implementing technology has caused an increase in use amongst larger farmers

and herders. There has been a rapid expansion of mobile technology use among rural

farmers (Duncombe, 2016). Agricultural and rural workers need efficient mobile

technology services to overcome high costs and access capital, markets, and technical

inputs; rural farmers and herders need mobile technology to compete successfully and

contribute to productivity growth in their communities (Duncombe, 2016). Rural farmers

and herders need help from adequate mobile business leaders to learn and adapt similar

concepts of improving mobile technology infrastructure in the same ways as urban areas

(Duncombe, 2016). Rural farmers and herders in high-potential areas need adequate

mobile technology services and mobile technology infrastructure to increase production,

contribute to economic growth, and reduce poverty (Duncombe, 2016). Rural farmers and

herders do not have the resources to expand their technical knowledge without adequate

infrastructures.

Rural farmers are a crucial part of the farming industry; therefore, it is important

to provide adequate resources to improve their farming. Wyche and Steinfield (2016)

studied the importance of rural farmers and herders having access to mobile technology

in the rural Republic of Kenya. Wyche and Steinfield (2016) found that a rural farmer or

a herder owning a mobile device increases a chance of income growth by 70% because

they will have access to more farming information outside of the community. Wyche

and Steinfield (2016) emphasized the importance of mobile technology investment in

rural farmers and herders like those in the Republic of Kenya because they reduce the

burden of resources from their government. Rural farmers and herders with adequate

knowledge of mobile technology can reduce their reliance on their local governments.

Rural farmers may benefit from technology by providing information that traders

may need to make informed decisions. However, introducing mobile technology in areas

may be complicated, even if researchers see more significant rewards (Gelaw et al.,

2016). Rural farmers can use mobile technology to improve coffee market transactions

while maintaining excellent quality. The most challenging issue threatening agriculture

for rural farmers and herders in developing countries is collecting timely data on disease

spread and the effectiveness of on-farm control methods Nakato et al. (2016). Mobile

technology will allow farmers and herders to see how diseases are spreading in their

fields.

Having access to technology that can monitor different aspects of farming may

improve crop production. Many rural farmers and herders lack agricultural technology

improvement initiatives such as weather forecasting, irrigation monitoring, disease

diagnosis, and integrated pest management to improve their farming (Jain, Kumar, &

Singla, 2015). Rural farmers and herders need technological solutions for tractability,

robustness, and low-cost solutions with a tolerance of imprecision and uncertainty to their

products (Jain et al., 2015). Mobile business leaders should introduce technological tools,

such as voice message delivery systems that transport voice messages between rural

farmers, experts, and SMS, to simplify communication between rural farmers and herders

(Jain et al., 2015). Applications of mobile farming technology infrastructure have

indicated the potential to minimize the complicated manual traceability data recording

process for rural farmers and herders if mobile technology business leaders invest in rural

farmers and herders (Jain et al., 2015). Mobile applications can reduce the number of

time farmers and herders spend manually performing the tasks.

Once mobile applications are implemented, rural farmers and herders may see a

growth in the economic performance of their farms. Rural farmers and herders could

increase productivity and revenue by using improved agricultural technology (Cunguara

& Darnhofer, 2011). Statistical data analyzed from surveys of rural households in

Mozambique show that technology has improved maize seeds, granaries, tractor

mechanization, and animal traction (Cunguara & Darnhofer, 2011). Rural farmers who

use mobile technology increase farming and husbandry productivity and reduce food

insecurity, and, as a result, produce a marketable surplus, which results in increased

household income (Cunguara & Darnhofer, 2011). Improved usage of agricultural

farming and husbandry technologies leads to increased productivity in smallholder

agriculture, increased household income, and reduced poverty (Cunguara & Darnhofer,

2011). Furthermore, mobile technology will increase their economy.

Communication improvements with mobile technology. Another area that can

help rural farmers and herders is communication. Rural farmers and herders can harness

information and communication technologies for more efficient, productive, and

profitable farming enterprises (O'Grady & O'Hare, 2017). Rural farmers' use of

decisionsupport tools, including models of different farming activities on their own or

combined with other models, is attainable and provides a radical innovation for farming

management practice, especially for rural farmers and herders (O'Grady & O'Hare,

2017). Another way a rural farmer could use small farming technology is to protect the

environment (O'Grady & O'Hare, 2017). Herders may use small farming technology to

forecast milk production and predict feed intake and lactating dairy cows (O'Grady &

O'Hare, 2017). Despite the benefits of harnessing sophisticated simulation models, small

farming efficacy for everyday rural farm management is somewhat limited (O'Grady &

O'Hare, 2017). Limited small farming efficacy in everyday rural farming is due to

technological complexity, lack of time, and farmers' and herders' concern that they will

not increase profits relative to their efforts (O'Grady & O'Hare, 2017). Technologies

supporting smart farms provide rural farmers and herders with opportunities to construct

and apply beneficial farm-specific models (O'Grady & O'Hare, 2017). Small farming

ICT helps rural farmers and herders identify different opportunities.

Mobile technology applications may also help rural farmers and herders find the

best resources. Rural farmers and herders who want to sell their products must search for

the right market, the right price, the right buyer, and the correct product standards and

grades (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018). Rural farmers and herders travel frequently, and their

activities require them to repeatedly load and unload their products to display to buyers

and brokers (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018). Rural farmers and herders can use ICT to help

facilitate the adoption of modern agriculture advancements (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018).

Therefore, rural farmers and herders must continue to embrace new information and

technological infrastructure (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018). However, relatively few rural

farmers and herders use mobile phones for information searches due to a lack of relevant

information accessible through mobile phones (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018). Cautious

farmers might use mobile phone technology to identify potential buyers over larger

geographic areas and at crucial moments, thereby reducing price risk and potentially

increasing the net benefits of the technology (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018). Mobile phones

can provide other services to local farmers, such as information distribution from a

central location for all farmers in the region (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018). The

establishment of vegetable information centers can provide an interface between

agricultural stakeholders by channeling adequate and timely information so farmers can

reduce the cost of cabbages, which indicates the need for robust mobile technology in

rural farming (Minkoua Nzie et al., 2018). Mobile phones can provide benefits in areas

where rural farmers experience increased production transaction costs (Minkoua Nzie et

al., 2018). The added experiences increase rural farmers' knowledge, which increases

production.

Rural India lacks adequate resources to improve farming in poor rural

communities. Substantial demand for agricultural information exists in rural India; there

is, however, a digital divide between rich and poor farmers (Cole & Fernando, 2016).

Wealthier farmers are more likely to use a technology provided by companies that charge

higher fees (Cole & Fernando, 2016). If farmers know about informational inefficiencies

and lack information, a considerable demand for high-quality agricultural information

will result (Cole & Fernando, 2016). The lack of information may reduce the profitability

of rural farmers.

Therefore, it is crucial to have applications in mobile technology easily accessible

to rural farmers and herders. Rural farmers and herders need access to technological

applications, such as Avaaj Otalo links, that connect farmers with different supporting

agencies that provide high-quality agricultural information (Cole & Fernando, 2016).

Farmers and herders can use application platforms to access crucial agricultural

information without spending extended time calling their local information centers (Cole

& Fernando, 2016). Rural farmers and herders benefit from using toll-free mobile

phonebased technology to receive timely agricultural information from expert

agronomists and the farmers' peers.

Many industries have successfully used smartphone systems, which shows how

vital it may be for rural farmers and herders. An efficient, automated smart system

prioritizes the environment and animal care and alerts farmers when a problem occurred

(Deokar et al., 2018). One available smart technology system could provide almost all

animal husbandry requirements, such as feed and water, biogas exhaustion, fire detection,

and real-time monitoring. The installed system will use automated sensors (water level,

temperature, motion, biogas) connected to a microcontroller to monitor and refill

components of the farm (Deokar et al., 2018). If the water level goes down, the water

pump turns on to fill the water container; if the level of feed decreases, the motor turns on

to refill the feed; if there is an excess of biogas emission, cleanup occurs; and if the fire

sensor module detects a fire, it turns on the fire alarm (Deokar et al., 2015). Rural herder

can feed all animals on the farm remotely from anywhere in the world by using a mobile

application (Deokar et al., 2018). An essential feature of all smart technology is the

ability to send an alert message to the system application when a problem occurs (Deokar

et al., 2018). Rural herders could reduce time, energy, and labor costs by integrating

smart technology into husbandry facilities (Deokar et al., 2018). Animated instructional

videos depicting postharvest technologies can provide low-literate farmers in developing

countries with necessary information through mobile devices (Maredia et al., 2018). The

videos show rural farmers how to use different applications in technology.

Africa has a shortage of technology to help reduce time, energy, and labor costs.

Many African countries lack the resources to utilize modern irrigation systems (Howell et

al., 2018). Rain-fed agriculture is the leading resource in many African agricultural

societies; rural farmers could improve agricultural outputs with accurate mobile

technology to help weather forecasting (Howell et al., 2018). Mobile technology may

help rural farmers solve the problem. Mobile technology is also a very affordable

alternative for problem-solving. Therefore, mobile business leaders need to educate rural

farmers and herders about mobile technology use (Howell et al., 2018). Mobile business

leaders and governments should work with rural farmers to simplify the infrastructure

and provide rural farmers and herders access to frugal technology. Once the technology is

in place, rural farmers and herders can less expensively access information about

governmental regulations, new agricultural technology, weather data, and other

necessities (Howell et al., 2018). Hence technological infrastructures are crucial for the

advancements of farming.

Sub-Saharan Africa is one region that has seen the benefits of mobile technology.

Mobile phone usage in sub-Saharan Africa has immensely increased, with small-scale

farmers using their devices to connect with diverse stakeholders in the agricultural value

chain (Misaki et al., 2016). Young farmers in Chamwino, Tanzania, use mobile phones

more than older farmers (Misaki et al., 2016). Buyers and sellers of agricultural products

often live great distances from one another (Misaki et al., 2016). Small-scale farmers can

use mobile phone technology to hire labor, price intelligence, procure farm inputs, seek

technical assistance from the extension or expert agents, and obtain weather information,

among other uses (Misaki et al., 2016). Regional rural farmers face technological

challenges; accordingly, researchers must work with people in the technology industry to

improve technology access to small-scale farmers (Misaki et al., 2016). Once the

technology has been advanced, communication with smaller farmers will increase.

The need for improvements in technological infrastructure expands beyond rural

farmers and herders. Farmers, traders, and policymakers can use mobile phones to obtain

information about efficient markets (Ogbeide & Ele, 2015). However, leaders from some

Sub-Saharan countries limit data usage, which makes it difficult for rural farmers and

herders to procure knowledge (Ogbeide & Ele, 2015). When they can access data,

younger rural farmers benefit more from mobile technology due to curiosity about their

farming activities (Ogbeide & Ele, 2015). Young rural farmers in sub-Saharan Africa

seek market and weather information more than any other agricultural activity (Ogbeide

& Ele, 2015). Being able to check the market and weather within the application saves

time.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Control Systems

Artificial intelligence is a type of technology that can benefit rural farmers and

herders. Artificial intelligence-based control systems may enable the development and

synthesis of a smart climate controller for precision farming in greenhouses (Njoroge et

al., 2018). Multiple experts have introduced various technological advancements in the

farming sector to improve precision farming activities. Rural farmers and herders may

have access to remote farming technologies, such as hyperspectral image analysis using

support vector machine and artificial neural network, to detect and classify weeds in

cornfields and control nitrogen application for weed management (Njoroge et al., 2018).

Rural farmers may use neural network-based algorithms to predict hourly soil moisture

requirements, such as the Scaled Conjugate Gradient and Quasi-Newton Broyden–

Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno, for wireless sensor, network-based precision farming

(Njoroge et al., 2018). While these technologies are available, many rural farmers and

herders are either unable to afford the technology or the training needed to use the

products. The majority of precision technologies are crucial for rural farming activities if

farmers implement them quickly and effectively (Njoroge et al., 2018). Rural farmers

may use advanced techniques and tools, such as wireless sensor technology and soft

computing techniques, to produce resources considered unsustainable solutions (Njoroge

et al., 2018). Researching different techniques utilizing technology saves time and makes

it easier to compare different strategies.

IoT and cloud computing are crucial tools used by mobile technology business

leaders to simplify the integration of the supply chain between modern technology to

farming and husbandry (Pivoto et al., 2018). For example, field experts in Brazil often

believe that rural farmers and herders will receive opportunities to use robots and

artificial intelligence to increase productivity (Pivoto et al., 2018). Farmers' education,

ability, and skills to understand and handle small farming tools may be problems that

leaders from both sides of the technology must address. Lower-income rural farmers and

herders can adopt technology to connect scientific literature and the integration of supply

chain and production system environments to improve farming activities (Pivoto et al.,

2018). Improved farming activities help farmers increase production.

Infrastructure in Rural Farming

Mobile Infrastructure concepts. Mobile infrastructure is an essential component

of improving productivity and crop yield. Technology infrastructure is a valuable source

of agricultural information if farmers and herders have access to adequate mobile

technology infrastructure (Aldosari et al., 2017). Rural farmers and herders are

recognized as equally weighing forces of innovation in the mobile technology

framework; their participation in knowledge sharing is often limited if mobile

infrastructure leaders do not provide technical support (Aldosari et al., 2017). Many rural

farmers and herders contribute to mobile technology infrastructure to use such

technology to produce their products (Aldosari et al., 2017). Dolinska (2017) mentioned

that many rural farmers and herders in developing countries are more engaging in mobile

technology implementation into their agricultural activities under good leadership than

designing such technology or shaping the technology process. Mobile business leaders

need to have robust mobile technology strategic policies such as data sharing, easy to

operate devices, and cheaper broadband transmissions to their followers, especially in

rural farming communities, because such technology policies will help farmers

effectively utilize their mobile devices (Kalaba, 2016). Farmers that can utilize mobile

technology may benefit from networking and utilizing the tools.

Networking and technological infrastructure allow rural farmers and herders to

discuss strategies with other rural farmers and herders. Rural farmers and herders will be

able to send and receive farming information to one another or with their vendors and get

access to different agricultural from all around the world through their mobile devices

(Aldosari et al., 2017). To determine the area's infrastructural capability is to test the

feasibility of that technology (Tomlinson et al., 2009). Mobile phones can be used for

geological surveys and data gathering through their application software to help the

region's population (Tomlinson et al., 2009). Tomlinson et al. (2009) studied comparative

technology use, such as mobile phones vs. personal digital assistants, to measure data loss

and upload difficulties in rural South Africa. Tomlinson et al. (2009) noted comparisons

between technologies and their usability and a geographic region's ability to sustain the

technology's infrastructural requirements. Once the correlation is established, the same

technology can improve farmers' and herders' agricultural activities within the region

(Tomlinson et al., 2009). The implementation of this mobile technology helps rural

farmers and herders focus on their region.

Another way that researchers have utilized technology is score matching.

Researchers use propensity score matching as a statistical technique to estimate the

effects of a policy or other interventions within an area (Eastwood, 2019). For example,

small rural farmers in Kirinyaga district in Central province, a horticultural export

region in Kenya, face various constraints, including limited price information and

export market opportunities, lack of reliable production contracts, and limited access to

credit (Ogutu et al., 2014). Nongovernmental business leaders introduced a program

called DrumNet to provide smallholder rural farmers organize into farmer groups with

incentive packages and access to credit and marketing services (Ogutu et al., 2014).

Business leaders expanded the DrumNet program to other areas, such as the Bungoma

and Migori districts in the Western and Nyanza provinces (Ogutu et al., 2014).

Business leaders developed a series of partnerships involving output buyers, a credit

provider (commercial bank), several agro-input retailers, and smallholder farmers

(Ogutu et al., 2014). However, regional business leaders failed to improve mobile

technology infrastructure to provide smallholder farmers access to the information

(Ogutu et al., 2014). The lack of information causes rural farmers and herders to fall

behind compared to larger farmers.

The Republic of Kenya is another country that has implemented different

technological strategies. Ogutu et al. (2018) argued that rural farmers in the Republic of

Kenya could increase the adoption of pro-nutrition technologies such as biofortified crops

if industry and government leaders are willing to invest in technology that can be used to

collect, analyze and utilize data from areas where currently that technology does not exist.

Ogutu et al. (2018) focused on increasing nutrients to a wider group of Kenyans but warn

that the technology needed for pro-nutrition improvements may not increase farming

productivity, which can be problematic to some rural farmers. Farmers tend to adopt any

new technology rapidly that will bring them more revenue, biofortified crops take time to

grow, and that can bring a concern to Kenya's farmers (Ogutu et al., 2018). The longer the

crop takes to produce, the longer it takes a farmer to show a profit.

Within the broader IT industry, there is the argument of innovative technologies

and applications as a new source of sustainability that can lend itself to competitive

mobile technology advantages. Baumüller (2017) suggested that competitive mobile

technology innovation to develop supply is high to meet the demands of the technology

industry's need towards a sustainable future. Baumüller (2017) also used agent-based

modeling to discuss components and architectural innovation as inducing hyper-turbulent

environments caused by IT-based strategic actions and collective-level inducements that

mobile business leaders could use to improve the productivities of their customers. These

productivities help enhance farmers' crops and network capabilities.

One way that some farmers have been able to advance is a mobile service system.

Zheng et al. (2010) engineered a smart mobile service system using a wireless sensor

network called Zigbee technology augmented with GPS and geographic information

systems using customized PDAs and a host PC. The host PC monitored several farming

PDA terminals, exchanged data, visualized that data, and offered irrigation

decisionsupport based on real-time information and farmland irrigation models through

the sensor network. These smart mobile service systems are crucial to agricultural

activities worldwide because they simplify an existing process that farmers and herders

have to go through to manage their operating costs.

The software has been designed and easily accessible to android and iPhone users.

Karkhile et al. (2015) designed an application to increase cultivation and merchandise

using android mobile phones. The software focuses on getting market updates of

different products necessary to plan a crop yield. Karkhile et al. (2015) also augmented

cell phones with weather forecasting apps and how best to sell their product on the global

market. Software like Karkhile et al. (2015) was designed to help many farmers and

herders get accurate agricultural information so farmers and herders can make informed

decisions about their businesses. The software can aid in different strategies by analyzing

different potential outcomes.

Rural Niger has a good example of rural farmers and herders that do not utilize

cell phones to their full potential. Aker and Ksoll (2016) mentioned cell phone

technology has mixed reviews about improving the lives of rural farmers in Niger.

Mobile technology is widely available to many people all around Niger, and farmers

utilize that technology to their advantage. Still, many rural farmers and herders have not

been benefited from having the technology available to them (Aker & Ksoll, 2016).

Industry and government leaders have a duty of teaching rural farmers and herders how

to use the technology to benefit people who need it to improve their agricultural activities

(Aker & Ksoll, 2016). Educating the rural farmers and herders on using this technology is

just one step needed after implementation.

Nigeria is another example of a country that does not take advantage of mobile

phone applications. Ogunniyi and Ojebuyi (2016) note that farmers in southwest Nigeria

use mobile phone technology for agribusinesses. Rural farmers in that area depend on

mobile technology to get information about growing their rice, cassava, maize, and other

cash crops (Ogunniyi & Ojebuyi, 2016). Electricity supply has been a big problem that

hindered the effective use of mobile phones business for agribusiness in the area

(Ogunniyi & Ojebuyi, 2016). Ogunniyi and Ojebuyi (2016) argued that government

leaders should improve infrastructure, especially electricity supply in rural areas, to

enable rural farmers to use mobile phone technology effectively for agribusiness

activities to ensure sustainable agricultural development. Improving the technology

infrastructure is one area of improvement that would benefit farmers and herders.

Qualitative studies often show the impact of strategies implemented over time.

Kumar and Shimi (2017) performed a qualitative study to learn about the impact mobile

technology can have on environmental sustainability and global climate change in

farming communities. Kumar and Shimi (2017) used solar-powered moisture sensors to

help manage an automated water pump to cut down on human error and water waste.

Kumar and Shimi (2017) discussed how information collected from solar-powered

sensors is sent to mobile devices that, when processed, improve water consumption.

Engineering of the system includes using the GSM system to allow farmers to control

emergencies or perform manual alterations if necessary.

China is an example of a country that has utilized mobile technology and

applications to increase crop productivity. Cai and Yan (2019) studied how Chinese

leadership has introduced technology to help small wheat, rice, and maize farmers

consolidate their farming activities into bigger farms to compete with other

middleincome countries like Brazil and Ukraine (Cai & Yan, 2019). Chinese leaders'

strategies included temporarily allocating some farmers to different farmlands and

provided farming technology to increase efficiency (Cai & Yan, 2019). Chinese leaders

were sending farmers to areas that they were not accustomed to cause perennial

problems that were not expected in their farming, which failed the project (Cai & Yan,

2019). Looking at how other countries implement the strategies, mobile technology can

help advance farming in Tanzania.

The Republic of Kenya is an example that has utilized mobile technology to

improve its husbandry productivity. Gichamba et al. (2012) studied mobile application

designs for use in dairy farming in rural Kenya. Gichamba et al. (2012) focused on the

implications of mobile systems technology use in agriculture, in this case, dairy farming.

Gichamba et al. (2012) also presented their application model for designing such

applications and the data security measures taken to maintain accuracy and reliability.

Gichamba et al. (2012) suggested that once industry and government leaders direct their

attention to implementing mobile system technology, Kenyan rural farmers and herders

will benefit significantly by having access to a broader range of information about their

farming. Implementing technology infrastructures gives small farmers the ability to

expand and develop new strategies.

Cloud-based technology is another area that allows farmers and herders to

interact. Narendran et al. (2018) also conducted a qualitative study about a

multifunctional engineering system using cloud-based technology for mobile systems that

farmers and herders can utilize in their farming activities. The process uses arithmetic

logic algorithms and machine learning to automate sensor technology to reduce

deficiencies and waste by automating watering, plowing, and seeding. Narendran et al.

(2018) utilized technology that did not depend on internet availability at all times. Rural

farmers and herders can input and store all operational commands to mobile devices, and

the command will apply to the system once a device receives an internet connection. The

synchronization of the commands and results could be stored in cloud technology.

Leadership Strategies and Technological Infrastructure.

Leadership strategies are important to help countries build effective technological

infrastructures. Kiani and Seyyedabbasi (2018) suggested that mobile business leaders

should embrace the idea of investing heavily in IoT technology to rural poor farming

communities because of their cost-effectiveness in the long term. The majority of rural

farmers plant different crops on a small farm, and each crop has its irrigation method and

scheduling (Kiani & Seyyedabbasi, 2018). IoT technology is about providing a rural

farmer an opportunity to monitor all farm activities through sensors installed all around

the farms (Kiani & Seyyedabbasi, 2018). Sensors will transmit data about weather

requirements, soil classifications, and other surrounding details that farmers will use after

passing through computer systems (Kiani & Seyyedabbasi, 2018). The sensors will

transmit the information to the application, which allows the farmers to retrieve

information quickly.

Information systems (IS) strategies are another software system that mobile

business leaders can implement. Organizational leaders regard IS strategies as a

significant organizational perspective on the investment, deployment, and use of such

systems (Nan & Tanriverdi, 2017). Organizations such as Google and Amazon can grow,

and others such as AOL and Nokia can fade due to their strategic execution of strategies

in the technology industry (Nan & Tanriverdi, 2017). The competition in the technology

industry influences business leaders to search for the best talent wherever they can find to

improve their organizations’ portfolios and gain more market share (Nan & Tanriverdi,

2017). Many software options rural farmers and herders need to identify their needs and

strategies to determine which software will be the best that fits their requirements.

Farming is crucial to many economies because it helps maintain food sources.

Farming is the economic backbone of many developing African countries (Gichamba &

Lukandu, 2012). Despite agriculture being the primary source of income for many

Africans, lack of adequate data to improve their farming slows down their success

(Gichamba & Lukandu, 2012). Agricultural technology becomes critical in developing

countries such as Rwanda because there is no adequate leadership structure that could

lead the younger generation that is attracted to technology, which will improve farming in

their countries (Gichamba & Lukandu, 2012). The rural farmers and herders of the

younger generation learn about mobile technology and innovation through their efforts

and use that technology available such as cellphones, tablets, and other handheld

communication or computing devices to satisfy their technology need while farming

(Gichamba & Lukandu, 2012). In developing countries such as Rwanda, the rural

younger generation of farmers and herders utilize Short Message Service (SMS)

application known as eSoko to help interaction between farmers, agricultural vendors,

and other farming stakeholders (Gichamba & Lukandu, 2012). Mobile Technology

Industry and business leaders can utilize mobile technology such as M-learning to learn

different farming techniques from farming experts who are not readily available for the

rural farmers in countries like Rwanda (Gichamba & Lukandu, 2012). Mobile phone

technology provides the opportunity to access, learn, and utilize agricultural information

to rural farmers and herders in developing countries such as the Republic of Kenya

(Gichamba & Lukandu, 2012). Rural farmers and herders need to have the ability to

choose and implement the proper software.

Technological infrastructure in developing countries. Differences in

developing countries significantly influence the preferences of farmers interested in

advanced techniques and mobile training. Guiné et al. (2016) identified how farmers in

different countries obtain information in organic farming and decide who would become

trainees for mobile learning techniques. Farmers that qualify for the training tend to be

more comfortable with the implementation of technology.

A unique technique for understanding and training suggested by Nakano et al.

(2018) is the cost-effective farmer-to-farmer socio-relational sharing of information. In

this study, Nakano et al. (2018) selected smallholder rice farmers in the United Republic

of Tanzania to monitor their social and geographical networks. Nakano et al. (2018) used

agricultural training and diffusing new technology through social networks to increase

productivity and increase wealth through mobile techniques.

Sri Lanka is another country that has implemented different types of software.

Researchers studied other rural farmers in Sri Lanka for their use and sharing capacity of

free and open-source software to promote sustainable farming knowledge (Jayathailake et

al., 2017). Jayathailake et al. (2017) studied rural communities interacting collectively to

share advanced knowledge of agricultural techniques. Jayathailake et al. (2017) obtained

informative results from their study that helped improve the technology that farmers and

herders could use to interact with one another and sell their products to markets with

higher profits. IT, a widely utilized tool for progress and development, is a means for

rural farmers to improve their businesses (Syiem & Raj, 2015). People may find positive

impacts both direct and indirect from the growth of the IT sector if they successfully

implement mobile device infrastructures (Syiem & Raj, 2015). Technology is continually

advancing, which is why countries need to implement the needed infrastructure.

Applying technology to rural farming has been beneficial to many countries. The

majority of farmers in Tharaka Nithi, Kenya, find ways to apply technology to their

farming activities (Oduor et al., 2018). Rural farmers need information about soil fertility,

water predictability, and market opportunities and would benefit from technology that

provides that information. Rural farmers in Kenya desired more knowledge on applying

ICT interventions to improve profits (Oduor et al., 2018). Rural farmers in Kenya need to

find a software application to help improve technology.

The diversification of technology is another way to improve rural farming and

husbandry. Through smart farming or advanced technology farming, technology

diversification is key to developing sustainable agriculture now and in the future (Walter

et al., 2017). Walter et al. (2017) introduced multiple constraints that need consideration

in studying the use of advanced technology in rural farm development. Some of these

constraints include the following: (a) who owns the data that is being transmitted across

technologies, (b) addressing the responsibility and accountability of new technology, (c)

there is also a high cost of advanced technology and its daily use, (d) is to understand that

there is limited knowledge of advanced technology and smart farming techniques (Walter

et al., 2017). Walter et al. (2017) mentioned that advanced training could lead to an

industry loss of interest as individuals, armed with the knowledge of advanced technology

that will take their new skills into a more lucrative industry.

The channels of mobile technology transmission’s impact on rural farmers and

herders include extension services, adoption of modern technology, and market

participation (Issahaku et al., 2018). Mobile phones and rural farmers indicated improved

productivity when user-farmers used their phones for more than making calls during

production season (Issahaku et al., 2018). In addition, mobile phone ownership and use

significantly correlates with improved agricultural productivity (Issahaku et al., 2018).

Once rural farmers gain access and understand the software, they see an increase in

productivity.

Some communities, however, have implemented the technology but did not see an

increase in productivity. Not all technological advancements introduced to poor

communities produce the expected results (Das et al., 2016). Although nearly half of the

rural farming population has adopted various improved technologies, another half has not

yet started benefiting from the techniques. Rural farmers have limited access to improved

technologies, such as an enhanced variety of seeds and associated packages (Das et al.,

2016). Technology introduction and dissemination initiatives have primarily been

campaign bases with little consideration for sustainability (Das et al., 2016). Therefore, it

is crucial to give farmers and herders access to technology and train them on those

technologies.

Transition

Section 1 includes the fundamental characteristics of a qualitative multiple case

study. I established the conceptual framework and the study’s nature, next introducing the

business problem, the study’s purpose, research question, research method and design,

assumptions, limitations, and delimitations. The literature review comprised research on

the strategies mobile technology business leaders use to improve the mobile technology

infrastructure for rural farmers and herders. Section 2 includes the role of the researcher,

data collection and analysis process, procedures for a multiple case study, and the study’s

critical components. Section 3 will present and interpret the findings obtained from the

data analysis, as well as contained (a) summary, (b) conclusion, (c) recommendations,

and (d) social implications of the study integrated into the conclusion.

Section 2: The Project

Section 2 presents a discussion of the study’s purpose statement, the researcher’s

role, participant selection process, research method and design, and population and

sampling. Section 2 also explores the data collection instruments and data collection

techniques. I also discuss data organizations and the data analysis process. At the end of

this section, I will justify the reliability and validity of my research.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that

mobile technology business leaders use to improve mobile technology infrastructure to

rural farmers and herders. The targeted population consisted of three mobile technology

business leaders from three different mobile technology organizations with successful

mobile technology infrastructure strategies in the United Republic of Tanzania. The

results of this study may contribute to social change by providing strategies for

improving mobile telecommunications services, thus improving communications in and

among poor farmers and herders’ communities.

Role of the Researcher

In qualitative studies, the researcher is often the primary data collection

instrument, and their role is to preserve anonymity and reduce bias in the study. (Yin,

2018). Accordingly, I was the instrument for data collection. As a researcher in this

study, my role included identifying the research methodology and design, selecting

participants, informing each participant about the research process, and collecting and

analyzing data.

The interview process enables a researcher to gain insights from in-depth research

on the identified phenomena (Saunders et al., 2015). I used a multiple case study

methodology and asked participants open-ended questions with follow-up questions to

gather accurate and consistent information. I conducted all semistructured interviews via

secured web video chat applications such as Skype, WhatsApp, and Zoom. In addition to

semistructured, virtual interviews, I collected data from documents and historical records

related to successful strategies for improving mobile technology infrastructure, which

ensured a full compilation of data consistent with the research questions used for this

study.

I was born and raised in the United Republic of Tanzania. I grew up in areas that

lacked mobile technology infrastructure and saw how it affected the businesses of

farmers and herders. I understand how farmers and herders from developing countries

could benefit from access to modern mobile technology. I avoided any direct interaction

with participants outside of the interview sessions to mitigate bias in my data analysis. I

also followed the same interview questions with each participant. Further, I took notes

and compared them with the interview transcripts, and I asked participants to review the

interview summary to confirm that I accurately captured their responses.

One of the responsibilities of an ethical researcher is to handle all sensitive

information with the highest standards (Yin, 2018). I implemented strict ethical rules to

preserve participants' confidentiality and mitigate bias. I requested and obtained approval

from Walden University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) before starting data

collection. I also adhered to the Belmont Report’s protocols and procedures by protecting

participants’ confidentiality, following the informed consent process, and treating all

participants fairly (National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of

Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1979). I informed all individuals that collected

information would remain private and confidential, that their participation was

voluntary, and they could withdraw from the process at any time by sending an email or

calling me.

Participants

Participants in this study were mobile technology business leaders from three

major mobile technology companies in the United Republic of Tanzania. It is the

researcher’s responsibility to set clear standards for participant eligibility (Gentles &

Vilches, 2017) to obtain reliable and qualified participants for a well-researched

qualitative case study (Yin, 2018). The established eligibility criteria were that

participants must (a) work within mobile technology infrastructure in the United

Republic of Tanzania, (b) be consenting adults 18 years of age or older, and (c) be

successful in mobile technology infrastructure strategies in the United Republic of

Tanzania. Obtaining a proper sample size was crucial to providing the information

needed to draw findings from the study.

Upon receipt of IRB approval, I called each company’s representative to ask for a

process of contacting their mobile leaders. A homogenous sampling process may be used

to get participants for research (Saunders et al., 2015), which I used from the list of

participants to ensure that I had appropriate participants for my research study. Then I

contacted each participant by e-mail to ask for their consent to participate in my research

study. I reached data saturation with the three participants I interviewed. Data saturation

occurs when data collection provides no new information or concepts (Yang et al., 2019).

All participants were interviewed through Skype and Zoom online applications. In

addition to participants’ responses, I used company documents and other publicly

available information about mobile technology infrastructure.

Research Method and Design Research Method

Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods are the three standard research

methods (Almalki, 2016). I chose the qualitative method to collect information from

participants through open-ended interview questions due to their relevant views and

experience to my research study. Using qualitative methods provides flexibility,

highlighting the interaction between a researcher and the study participants (Antwi &

Hamza, 2015). A researcher can use a qualitative method for triangulating participants’

opinions and behaviors (Yin, 2018). The qualitative method was the best choice because I

did not want to collect information from participants using a survey or standardized

questionnaire with predetermined responses.

In contrast, quantitative methodology lacks flexibility in exploring strategies for

testing different hypotheses and theories (Saunders et al., 2015). Quantitative

methodology was not appropriate for this study because I did not intend to look for

correlations or differences among variables nor to test any theory. A mixed-methods

approach requires both qualitative and quantitative methods to address more complex

research questions that include the statistical analysis of variables (Taguchi, 2018). I did

not plan to test quantitative theories; therefore, mixed-methodology was also not

appropriate for my study.

Research Design

Researchers who choose the qualitative method for their studies can select from

ethnographic, narrative, phenomenological, and case study designs (Saunders et al.,

2015). A single case study design is used by researchers if there are extreme or deviant

cases that highlight special circumstances that can point at special problems or the

opposite (Gammelgraad, 2017). The single case study was not appropriate for my study

because it would have restricted the amount of information I could collect to draw

conclusions. Conversely, a multiple case study design is used by researchers to address a

situation and provide a rich context for understanding and drawing conclusions about a

phenomenon (Llerena et al., 2019). I used qualitative multiple case study for a broader

understanding of strategies used by business leaders across multiple organizations.

Ethnographic, narrative, and phenomenological designs were not suitable for this

research study. Ethnographic research centers on the lives, cultures, or situations of a

particular group or community (Yang, 2017). Ethnography was not appropriate for my

study because I did not explore social relationships based on a particular culture.

Researchers use narrative design to tell a story about the information they collect, which

made that design not suitable for this study (Caron & Belo Reyes, 2018). Finally,

scholars use phenomenology to understand experiences, events, and occurrences related

to a specific phenomenon (Darvin, 2018). Phenomenology was not a good fit for my

study because I did not explore a unique phenomenon through participants’ lived

experiences.

Population and Sampling

Researchers study individuals from a sample to generalize a population (Jordan,

2018). The overarching population for this study was three mobile technology business

leaders from three mobile technology companies in the United Republic of Tanzania. I

used homogenous sampling to select a proper representation of the population (Robinson,

2014). Homogenous sampling is participant selection in which researchers choose

individuals who meet the designated criteria and are easily accessible (Callaghen, 2019).

Achieving data saturation strengthens the researcher’s knowledge and standpoint from

various aspects, especially when setting and following the methodological framework of

research (Hagaman & Wutich, 2017). But larger samples in a qualitative study do not

guarantee data saturation (Yin, 2018). The eligibility for my study was solely based on

the level of experience and expertise of participants with successful mobile technology

infrastructure strategies in the United Republic of Tanzania. Participants also needed to

have experience across various technology platforms.

Ethical Research

A researcher must adhere to ethical principles to protect the dignity, rights, and

welfare of participants. Ethical issues are inherent in any research, and it is a researcher’s

responsibility to understand and address them accordingly (Satalkar & Shaw, 2019). I

followed all the ethical rules and standards during my study. After receiving IRB

approval to advance to participant recruitment (approval no. 01-12-21-0747561), I

contacted three mobile companies’ representatives to ask for permission to contact their

mobile business leaders. I sent an introductory email with my contact information and a

background of my study to potential participants so they can knowledgeably provide their

permission before their interviews. I reminded participants of their rights to withdraw or

stop the interview at any time without penalty. There was no compensation for

participating in the study. I sent a copy of each participant’s transcribed interview data for

review to ensure accuracy.

Additionally, the Belmont Report provides guidelines for protecting the rights of

all research subjects or participants (Miracle, 2016). Accordingly, this was a high-level,

ethically sound case study to comply with the IRB and the Belmont Report. I protected

the confidentiality of all data and participants through their companies’ confidentiality

agreements by substituting the names of my participants with alphabetical designations to

ensure their confidentiality and privacy (see Joslin & Muller, 2016). Researchers who

hide participants’ identities remove ownership of the study from the person and focus on

the topic (Surmiak, 2018).

Data Collection Instruments

I was the primary data collection instrument in this qualitative study. My primary

means of collecting information were interviews, observations, and documents requested

from participants as well as publicly available materials about mobile technology

infrastructure, which followed the typical methods of qualitative data collection (Yin,

2018). I conducted semistructured interviews using open-ended interview questions

through web chat applications, recorded each interview, and took notes to capture any

tone or body language changes. I analyzed the notes and materials gathered during the

interviews and direct observations, all information received from participants, and other

publicly accessible information.

Researchers can use semistructured interviews to collect information, observe,

and engage participants in open-ended conversations without room for topic exploration

or follow-up queries (Yin, 2018). I scheduled the interview at a place and time that was

convenient for each participant. Interview protocol is an important tool a researcher may

use to ensure a study’s validity and reliability (Yin, 2018). In this study, I went over the

interview protocol (see Appendix A) with each participant to enhance the study's

credibility. An interview with a participant may cover a broader topic if a researcher

allows participants the freedom to share their knowledge and experiences (Quynh &

Nguyen, 2015). I started the interviews with the same six questions (see Appendix B) in

the same order to all participants to enable participants to share their knowledge and

experiences and allow for any follow-up questions if needed for clarifications.

Researchers use direct observation to pick up unspoken cues from participants and

improve data collection (Lloyd & Wehby, 2018). I observed and documented physical

and nonverbal cues from participants during the interviews. During the interview, I also

noted nonverbal behavior and changes in tone. Document analysis is a way for a

researcher to collect data by interpreting documents, deepening the meaning, and

understanding a topic (Saunders et al., 2015). An example of document analysis was the

materials that I gathered during the semistructured interviews and direct observations.

Furthermore, the information that I received from my participants and other

publicly available information was reviewed for validity and accuracy. Data

Collection Technique

Semistructured interviews are useful for qualitative researchers to gather crucial

information from participants (Yin, 2018). In this study, I conducted semistructured

interviews with all three participants from three mobile technology companies beginning

with the same six interview questions (see Appendix B). I contacted three mobile

companies’ representatives and provided a confidentiality agreement to get permission to

contact their mobile business leaders. I shared information about my study, process, and

benefits to the company with the potential participants via telephone and e-mail. For

those who responded, I scheduled interviews at a place and time convenient to each

participant. I requested participants’ permission to audio record our conversation before

beginning the interviews. I reminded participants of their rights to withdraw or stop the

interview at any time without penalty. There was no compensation for participating in the

study. A productive case study interview should last from 30 to 45 minutes (Yin, 2018).

Accordingly, I allotted 60 minutes for each interview to provide participants enough time

to relate their experiences and expertise on the topic. I conducted the interviews via

Skype and Zoom online chat applications. Following each interview, I conducted

member checking by sending each participant their interview summary for their review

and confirmation that I captured their answers to questions accurately. The

semistructured interview process was advantageous to my study because participants

shared their in-depth knowledge, experience, and expertise that were useful to improving

mobile technology infrastructure in rural areas.

Researchers use direct observation to document participants’ nonverbal behaviors

displayed while speaking (Navarro, 2019). Direct observation techniques are a means to

collect more information during interviews (Navarro, 2019). Yin (2018) suggested that

researchers use a journal to write down observations during interviews to avoid bias

during the analysis. I took notes on what I observed during the interviews. Direct

observation may help the researcher learn more about a researched topic from individuals

in their natural settings (Rahman, 2020). The advantage of using a direct observation

technique was the ability to directly observing and evaluating all unspoken cues from

participants when they shared their knowledge, experience, and expertise related to this

study. Direct observation may be problematic to a researcher when participants are not

used to being watched every move they make while doing their jobs (Renz et al., 2018).

A disadvantage was participants feeling uncomfortable with somebody observing their

every gesture or facial expression, thus making them not want to provide in-depth

elaborations to their responses.

Document analysis is a data collection technique whereby a researcher studies,

analyzes, understands, and makes conclusions from all the information collected through

semistructured interviews and direct observations (Nugroho et al., 2018). A researcher

needs to review the documentation collected during the interviews and direct

observations to arrive and findings and themes. I reviewed and analyzed the collected

documentation, such as notes taken during interviews, transcripts generated from the

interviews, company documents provided by participants, other publicly available

material from companies’ websites, and other research sources to establish themes. Data

Organization Technique

Semistructured interviews, direct observation, and document analysis were the

three data collection methods selected for this study. I organized all the collected data in

various electronic folders for easy access and audits. I scanned handwritten notes and

other related paper documents I received from participants into electronic files.

Andruszkiewicz et al. (2019) suggested that research data is a tremendous investment and

that preservation initiatives should be at the top of a researcher’s mind. Yin (2018)

recommended safeguarding research data for future use and audits. I stored all paper

documents and saved all electronic files on a USB drive in a locked cabinet in my home

office. Five years after completing my study, I will shred all paper documents and destroy

the USB drive with electronic files per Walden University data retention guidelines.

Data Analysis

I analyzed all the data I collected which includes, mobile technology strategies

that business leaders use to improve the technology infrastructure to rural farmers and

herders. A researcher has a wide range of analysis tools from which to choose (Yin,

2018). Researchers can use multiple software tools to analyze qualitative research data,

such as NVivo, SmartLook, or Dovetail. Scholars can use these analytical tools to explore

data, find patterns, ensure eligibility and validity, and ask and answer what-if questions

from the collected data (Padgham et al., 2019). Hetenyi et al. (2019) emphasized the

importance of analyzing the collected research data because that data is the only link

between the theoretical statements and the reality of the studied topic. I used NVivo 12 to

develop a data theme, Microsoft Word, and Excel to perform a data analysis process.

A researcher can use various types of triangulation to facilitate research validity

and integrity (Thurmond, 2001). I used data triangulation to analyze the data about the

strategies business leaders use to improve mobile technology. Data triangulation happens

when a researcher utilizes more than one method of information verification of the

findings and results (Jacek, 2015). I utilized data triangulation by using semistructured

interviews, direct observation, and document analysis. I used the content analysis method

to examine the data I collected during this study. Content analysis is a method of

determining research patterns by reviewing documents, videos, or audios (Guo, 2019).

Using content analysis in analyzing the collected data is to ensure data saturation (Guo,

2019). I applied content analysis as I reviewed all interview transcripts and

participantprovided documents to identify emerging words, themes, or concepts.

Reliability and Validity

Assessing the reliability and validity of results requires a researcher to make

decisions about the trustworthiness of the research, the appropriateness of the methods

undertaken, and the integrity of the conclusions (Noble & Smith, 2015). I selected a

vigorous process to assure the study’s reliability and validity. Data reliability and validity

are intended to make a qualitative research study trustworthy (Yin, 2018). Data reliability

means the data is accurate and consistent across time, meets the intended purposes, and is

not subject to inappropriate modification (Emek-Savas et al., 2019). Data validity

depends on whether the study’s design and method are appropriate and capture

participants' points of view (Carlozzi et al., 2019).

Reliability

Reliability means reaching a level of consistency over a period of time (Noble &

Smith, 2015). I chose a qualitative multiple case study design to collect data to answer

my research question. Participants were three mobile business leaders from three mobile

companies who provided insight into the strategies for the improvement of mobile

technology infrastructure in rural areas. I used member checking and data triangulation to

ensure the reliability and accuracy of my data. Participants may review copies of the

transcribed notes from their interview recordings, provide detailed interview responses,

and verify the interpretive accuracy of the data (Birt et al., 2016). After I finished

transcribing each semistructured interview, I sent each participant their transcript for

review to ensure I accurately captured their responses and intent to the interview

questions.

Validity

Validity in qualitative research study means the appropriateness of the processes,

tools, and data (FitzPatrick, 2019). Researchers conducting qualitative studies should

incorporate credibility, confirmability, and transferability within their studies (Johansson,

2019). I cross-checked participants’ responses with the additional materials I received

from the mobile companies for validity. Precision supports the establishment of

credibility, conformability, and transferability, which makes the study valid (Yin, 2018).

Credibility. A credible research study should have all documents and analytic

processes available that a researcher used for participants and peer review (Rosenthal,

2016). Establishing credibility, member checking, triangulation, and data saturations are

strategies that can be beneficial to a researcher to increase the credibility of the study

(Yin, 2018). Member checking is the process whereby a researcher goes back to research

participants to verify the authenticity of the research outcomes (Naidu & Prose, 2018).

According to Yang et al. (2019), data triangulation is achieved by utilizing multiple data

sources to collect research information accordingly. Apart from data interpretation and

transcript reviews, I asked research participants for any additional materials they might

have related to the study topic. Data saturation is when a researcher exhausted all

available resources, and no more new information can be extracted (Connelly, 2016).

Confirmability. The degree to which other researchers can corroborate the

study’s results indicates a study’s confirmability (Johnson et al., 2019). Yin (2018)

suggested that researchers record and safely keep all the documents they will use during a

research study. Confirmability means that the data and interpretations of the findings are

derived from data and are not biases or misinterpretations of the researcher (Korstjens &

Moser, 2017). In my study, I kept a detailed reflective journal to ensure that all

information has been preserved from all responses from participants to mitigate my

personal bias.

Transferability. The ability to apply results to other populations without

affecting the contexts of the study indicates a study’s transferability (Malterud et al.,

2016). A researcher cannot fully substantiate that findings are appropriate to other studies

(Carnevale, 2016). In my research study, I have documented interview questions,

methods, designs, samplings, and techniques that future researchers can use outside of

my sample group.

Transition and Summary

The objective of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies

mobile technology business leaders use to improve rural mobile technology

infrastructure. In Section 2, I presented information about the researcher’s role,

participation criteria, and research method and design. I also explained ethical standards,

data collection instruments and techniques, and the reliability and validity of my research

case study. In Section 3, I will provide my study findings and how these findings could

contribute to professional practice implementation, the study’s potential impact on social

change, a recommendation for action, and the conclusion.

Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change

Introduction

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies

mobile technology business leaders use to improve mobile communication infrastructure

for rural farmers and herders. To understand these strategies, I conducted interviews with

three mobile company business leaders from three different mobile technology businesses

in the United Republic of Tanzania. The business leaders were selected with homogenous

sampling through business associations and word of mouth.

After I completed collecting data, I compiled all the raw data to identify themes

with a coding system. I used NVivo 12 software for data coding and analysis to identify

the emergent themes and answer my research question. Based on the triangulation

methodology from the data I collected, three thematic categories surfaced regarding

strategies that mobile business leaders use to implement mobile technology infrastructure

to rural farmers and herders: (a) cost of technology improvements, (b) infrastructure

implementation plans, and (c) training and development. In this section, I present my

study's findings and explain how the findings apply to professional practices and impact

on social change. This section also includes recommendations for action, my reflection,

and the conclusion.

Presentation of the Findings

This qualitative multiple case study was based on the overarching research

question, “What strategies do mobile technology business leaders use to improve the

mobile technology infrastructure to rural farmers and herders?” The conceptual

framework for this research study was the AST. The participants from this study

were three business leaders from three mobile technology companies in the United

Republic of Tanzania. The participants are identified by the alphanumeric codes of

P1, P2, and P3 to ensure confidentiality. The data came from three methods:

semistructured interviews, direct observations to validate collected data from the

interviews conducted and triangulation of the data by documentation analysis. Each

data collection technique was used consistently to improve the quality of the data. I

utilized NVivo 12 software to support the data analysis and member checking

processes to ensure the accuracy of interpretation and data collection. I identified

three strategic themes based on participants interviews that align to the main

research question inquiring about business leaders: strategies to improve mobile

technology infrastructure for rural farmers and herders: (a) cost of technology

improvements, (b) infrastructure implementation plans, and (c) training and

development.

Theme 1: Cost of Technology Improvements

The first theme identified from the data was the costs to fund new and improved

current mobile technology infrastructure in rural areas. All participants affirmed that the

cost it takes to build new and improve rural communities' current mobile technology

infrastructure is too high. P1 mentioned that mobile technology companies often need

extra funds to cover costs for improving technology infrastructure in rural areas because

what exists is insufficient to hold the modern technology demand in the market. P1

provided his company’s internal analysis report, which showed that the United Republic

of Tanzania is such a humongous country with over 945,087 km² (appx 364,900.1 square

miles) in size, and most villages are so scattered that makes the investment very costly.

P1 also indicated that the cost to invest in network coverage leads to mobile companies

only investing in business potential areas that may yield returns in shorter times rather

than just providing service. But, as P2 emphasized, the cost of not funding rural areas

will be significant because it leaves rural farmers and herders suffer by not getting

adequate modern technology services for their businesses. P3 underlined the importance

of rural farmers and herders having affordable network service because they provide a

bulk portion of food consumed by the urban population. Mobile phones are no longer

simple voice communication devices and contain many high-tech features in a single

handset (Ahmad et al., 2019). But although a mobile phone is considered a necessity in

developing countries, in a country like the United Republic of Tanzania that still has

many people living well below the world’s poverty line’s standards, buying a modern

mobile device is considered unnecessary (P2).

P3 emphasized the significant need to manage cost and improve mobile

technology infrastructure in rural areas across the United Republic of Tanzania. P3

referred to rural areas of the country as being the prime target for new customers, but

most companies fail to reach them because of the cost of extending new technology

infrastructure to reach these rural areas. P3 and their company’s leadership team

conducted a business case study to learn the actual cost of capturing the rural market,

which has not been accessed for generations, but currently, their plans are on office

shelves because of the cost required to acquire new cell phone towers and modern

equipment and upgrade old technology, which is almost nonexistent in rural areas. When

asked a follow-up question about the company’s strategy to combat the problem

customers face currently, P3 responded that the mobile network companies tend to opt

for wireless radio technology backhaul mechanisms, which consolidates individual small

sites into one main link then transporting it to a different location close to the existing

infrastructure to reach these rural areas. P2 was not sure if the consolidation practice was

a reliable means in the long run, but companies now use it to provide some services to

remote farmers and herders. Trenched or overhead fiber cables approach is too costly to

accommodate with an unclear return on investment plan (P2). Overall, both P2 and P3

emphasized that mobile companies need a clear, cost-effective strategy to help rural

farmers and herders get modern technology to help with their business activities.

In addition to the importance of technology for rural areas, P2 underscored the

importance of modern mobile technology to most Tanzanians to improve lower-income

people throughout the country. P2 mentioned that his team’s goal is to ensure all

Tanzanian's get access to modern technology in the next two decades while increasing

efficiency and accountability on the business side, but the problem is his company does

not have enough partners who could join them to share the cost needed to help their

efforts of improving the lives of rural farmers and herders. Reaching rural farmers and

herders requires a substantial investment that many organizations cannot do alone (P1).

Joining forces to tackle the cost issue associated with the technology improvement to

rural areas is ideal for all parties involved (P2). Still, the industry’s competitive nature

prevents individual companies from doing so, knowing that industry partners may not

agree with whatever terms may be put forward by one company (P1). P1 pointed out that

there is mistrust amongst stakeholders when money is involved. P1 stated, “If mobile

technology companies are not trusting one another, then they will not provide their

customers with the needed support, which will cause potential customers to suffer.”

Further, when participants were asked about the barriers they encounter when

implementing their strategies, all participants responded that the United Republic of

Tanzania is one of the African countries where investment cost remains high. Investment

costs can be higher in developing countries compared to others. P2 stated that there are

few reasons that the United Republic of Tanzania is still struggling to improve its mobile

technology infrastructure; one is the high cost of conducting business in the country.

Government taxation and license fees are two items pointed out by all participants to

cause a struggle for many businesses. And these two items alone can present a heavy

burden to improve mobile technology all around the country (P2).

The United Republic of Tanzania is still holding onto 18% Value Added Tax and

17% Excise duty, and both these items make investment costs high (P2). Additionally, P3

mentioned that some selective IT and agricultural items have been exempted from excise

duty but do not significantly drop overall costs. A government considers these exempted

items related to mobile technology developments as essentials because they improve

people's lives (P2). Both P2 and P3 agreed that taxes charged for other items that go

along with these "essential items" are astronomical and affect the benefits that have been

expected for mobile technology infrastructure improvements.

All participants mentioned that another item that hinders mobile technology

improvement for Tanzanian's rural population is license fees. P2 mentioned, “Apart from

taxes that companies are required to pay on an annual basis, there are different licenses

and permit fees, when accumulated together, amount to a heavy burden for businesses.”

A government sets up different license fees structure that must be paid on different

government levels (P3). P3 gave an example that companies are required to pay for

multiple licenses such as environmental safety and compensating anybody who may

claim being affected by the company’s equipment installation to improve technological

performance. The compensation process gives ways to bribery, which is still a problem at

all government levels and causes the overall cost to improve technology infrastructure to

get too high (P1). Research suggests that bribery, which is illegal but largely carried out

without impunity and perceived as just a cost of doing business in Africa, has heavy costs

on developing nations and corporations (Adeyeye, 2017). At a national level, government

leaders should go through all tax and fee structures and narrow them down to the

necessary ones and combine them to simplify the approval process (P3).

According to P3, tax rates currently being used by the government also need to be

revisited and restructured to help both sides of the process. P3 mentioned that politicians'

unrealistic tax rates could be negotiated to improve mobile technology infrastructure,

especially for people in rural areas. Additionally, P2 suggested that mobile technology

companies that can prove to have an adequate plan to provide mobile technology services

to rural areas should receive a special tax break for a certain number of years to use those

funds to continue investing in such improvements. Government leaders need to facilitate

a legislative strategy that can simplify mobile technology infrastructure efforts without

enticement. P2 suggested accumulating all fees associated with building the technology

infrastructure into one entity and being managed by one national government agency. P2

continued to state that a national agency can then distribute the fees received to lower

municipal governments to reduce bribery costs that companies must navigate through the

process. All participants mentioned the one government agency proposal managing the

approval process might cut down the bureaucracy that mobile business leaders face when

improving mobile technology infrastructure to rural farmers and herders.

To combat these barriers within their business, participants mentioned different

strategies. P3 mentioned that mobile technology business leaders are engaging

government officials to improve the mobile technology infrastructure and manage costs.

P2 stated that their company is seeking government subsidies to help them strategize a

better cost-effective mechanism that may help reduce costs that they do not have to pass

on to their customers when improving mobile technology infrastructure to rural farmers

and herders. P1 and his leadership team are working on agreements with other foreign

investors to get funds that may help them speed up buying, import, and send equipment

to strategic areas to help them start opening more services. P1 and their company

believe that having foreign investors who can work in partnership with them within the

country may speed up the construction process and make rural farmers and herders

access adequate technology faster. P1 and his leadership team have passed an initial

understanding stage of the negotiations, and now they are working on the cost of the

project and how to handle challenges they may face with their joint venture.

Theme 2: Infrastructure Implementation Plan

The second key theme identified was the planning and implementing of the

mobile technology infrastructure to reach all rural communities. Technology

infrastructure is a huge area that mobile technology companies need to invest in to help

farmers modernize their agricultural machines (Tchernyshev et al., 2018). All participants

emphasized a robust mobile technology infrastructure implementation plan that can

operate in all rural areas that lack adequate mobile technology infrastructure. All

participants also mentioned the responsibility of mobile technology companies for

developing plans to improve mobile technology infrastructure and present them to the

government for discussions and approval.

The approval process that currently exists is susceptible to bureaucracy and

corruption (P3). Bureaucracy is behind any government's good functioning, but once it is

misused, it creates problems that affect intended recipients of services (Khan & Hussain,

2020). P3 mentioned that all mobile technology companies must get approval from a

series of government agencies that may slow down the construction process. In a country

like the United Republic of Tanzania, getting all required approvals to do anything is a

challenge (P1). Furthermore, P1 mentioned that every step of the investment process

requires its permit, and a company must get it before any development project can start.

A government has distributed the entire approval process among its different agencies to

manage mobile technology improvements.

P3 also mentioned multiple challenges mobile companies have when visiting

these government agencies asking for their approvals to start a project. Some challenges,

among others, could be being told that a signatory officer not being in the office went for

lunch and does not know when that person may come back. But, according to P3, “A

company representative cannot move forward with the permit approval process until they

get that signature from a missing government official.” P2 suggested that challenges that

mobile companies face through the approval process may be rectified if mobile business

leaders could sit down with the government leaders and negotiate the process that may

help farmers and herders who live in rural areas get adequate technology for their

businesses.

When asked about the hurdles P2 experiences with their company when

implementing infrastructure plans, a corrupt culture within government officials' ranks

emerged as a serious problem. Many African countries have the perceived acceptance of

a high level of bribery as a way of life (Adeyeye, 2017). The process of getting permits

from all agencies can be daunting at times (P2). Some government officials within these

agencies see the approval process as an opportunity to ask for bribes before approving

permits that are needed by mobile technology companies (P2). If mobile company

representatives do not agree with government officials' bribe advances, their companies

may face long delays and unnecessary scrutiny to receive permits (P3). All participants

agreed that their companies paid bribes requested to shorten the time it takes to pursue

the necessary permits.

All participants mentioned that their companies currently are engaging officials

from different government levels, so they understand the importance of reaching rural

farmers and herders. Mobile companies’ leaders arrange seminars, field trips, and fliers to

promote the importance of technology to rural farmers and herders and involve

government officials in focusing on the need for rural customers to have mobile

technology. Building an adequate mobile technology infrastructure that can help rural

areas communities requires government and technology companies to work together.

Theme 3: Training and Development

The third key theme identified during a data collection process is the importance

of training and development of mobile technology customers. Farmers and herders lack

the proper knowledge needed to actively engage in their policy' improving process

throughout their communities (Gjorgjieska & Ilic, 2020). P1 mentioned that “Most rural

farmers and herders have never been to school, making it challenging to learn modern

technology. When a child is old enough for self-realization of the surroundings, they are

pushed to farming, grazing, or mining to support the family.” P2 emphasized the

importance of training customers early within their communities because many children

grow up without proper education, making them unable to read or write. P2 continued to

mention that when rural people are exposed to technological advancements, they

automatically reject them to avoid confusion. All participants agreed that rural families

become very hesitant about new things because of their uncertainty over the investors'

intentions.

In 2008, the Chinese government established a village educational center in each

village across Ningxia province to allow villagers to learn newer technology to improve

their farming activities (Sun et al., 2019). When business leaders were asked how to train

mobile technology users, P1 stated, “The need to educate rural farmers and herders across

the United Republic of Tanzania is enormous because having adequate technology

simplifies their activities.” Mobile technology improves access to education to be more

accessible, more affordable, more efficient, and more effective in educating the poor in

Africa (Oluwatobi & Olurinola, 2015). Additionally, P2 mentioned that mobile

technology helps rural farmers and herders in their daily farming activities. Mobile

technology also helps farmers and herders make wise financial decisions for themselves

and their businesses because they learn about different ways of managing finances.

P3, as an executive leader of a technology company involved in the mobile

technology infrastructure, has dispatched personnel called extension officers to these

rural areas. Extension officers' responsibilities are building an education network

amongst rural farmers and herders in their geographical areas to educate them on the

importance of investing in learning simple mobile technology to help them in their

farming. Also, P1 stated that their company has invested in rural elementary, middle,

high school, and adult learning centers to provide education on utilizing mobile devices

such as solar-powered laptops, cell phones, and other mobile devices. All three

participants mentioned that having a robust education establishment for all farmers and

herders allowed them to interact with their peers from different villages across the

country better. When mobile technology education is applied to real-life scenarios, rural

farmers and herders tend to hold on to that information to improve their lives.

P1 mentioned that “Training rural farmers and herders about technology,

especially from developing countries, helps improve their learning opportunities more

about their agriculture.” Cultivating new professional farmers through education has been

the key to China's agricultural transformation policy and the only way to develop modern

agriculture in the area (Sun et al., 2019). P2 also emphasized the importance of rural

farmers and herders to learn about mobile technology because they will need it to move

forward with the infrastructure upgrade. Sixty percent of the African population lives in

rural areas (Oluwatobi & Olurinola, 2015). The main reason for many Africans not being

educated is a lack of proximity to schools (Oluwatobi & Olurinola, 2015). P2 mentioned

that the difficulty that rural farmers and herders face could be addressed with the

adequate mobile technology infrastructure to cut down the distance farmers and herders

have to travel to learn. All participants agree that if mobile technology companies invest

heavily in educating rural communities, especially farmers and herders, the importance of

mobile technology, the chance of improving peoples’ lives will grow exponentially and

help such farmers and herders control all aspects of their lives.

Applications to Professional Practice

I revealed three themes shared by 3 mobile technology business leaders in the

United Republic of Tanzania used to improve mobile technology infrastructure for

farmers and herders in rural areas. Rural farmers and herders could learn mobile

technology to maintain their businesses and develop new strategies that lead to long-term

sustainability. Other researchers could use these study findings to form their basis for

future studies.

Through this study's findings, rural farmers and herders could utilize the

technology infrastructure implemented into their areas to help them remain sustainable,

thereby adding revenues to their local economies. Future rural farmers and herders could

benefit from the technology training and using a technology infrastructure to enhance

their businesses. Future business leaders might find the study's themes helpful when

improving mobile technology infrastructure to other businesses such as fishing,

construction, or finance in rural areas.

Implications for Social Change

Fifty-seven percent of farmers and 55% of herders in the United Republic of

Tanzania lack access to mobile technology services due to the unavailability of adequate

mobile technology infrastructure to rural farmers and herders (Echanove & Steffen,

2015). The strategies that mobile technology business leaders shared in my research

study could invoke positive social change by providing rural farmers and herders access

to mobile technology and enhance their understanding to maintain successful businesses

long term. The results of this study could impact positive social change by bringing better

technology to farmers and herders that will help them interact amongst themselves easier

and knowing they are being a part of the global community and fulfill their need to do

work that benefits others.

Recommendations for Action

Mobile technology infrastructure is a problem that impacts the economy in

developing countries. Based on the study findings and exhaustive review of literature, I

provide recommendations to the business leaders in the mobile technology industry,

partnerships and collaboration, incentives, and customer involvement.

Partnerships and Collaboration

Business leaders should join efforts amongst themselves and raise funds to build

needed infrastructures in and around rural areas that may help bring mobile technology

infrastructure closer to the rural farmers and herders. Business leaders should engage

more and secure an agreement with national government officials to utilize tax reliefs to

improve technology infrastructure. I recommend that mobile business leaders should have

adequate skills to identify and apply the appropriate strategies to improve mobile

technology infrastructure to farmers and herders.

Incentives

Mobile business leaders should offer incentives and opportunities to the local

farmers and herders to buy companies’ shares. Farmers and herders might engage more in

industry expansion if they own the companies' shares in their areas. Local farmers and

herders may want to engage more in the technology improvement process when they see

their investments improve their local communities and businesses.

Customer Involvement

Business leaders should maintain open communication with local farmers and

herders. Business leaders should have a clear and quick response system to all inquiries,

recommendations, and feedback from local farmers and herders. Business leaders should

engage local communities during social activities such as national or traditional

anniversaries. Business leaders should invite local farmers and herders’ representatives to

participate in companies’ internal strategy meetings. Business leaders should schedule

frequent strategy meetings with farmers and herders’ representatives and discuss future

business projections and plans for technology improvements within local communities.

Farmers' and herders’ representatives should be included in local management positions

within mobile companies.

My study has revealed that when technology business leaders engage and

strategize their plans, either by joining efforts amongst themselves or involving their

customers, mobile technology upgrades may significantly improve.

Recommendations for Further Research

I used a homogenous sample of 3 business leaders from 3 mobile technology

companies in the United Republic of Tanzania to explore use to improve mobile

technology infrastructure to rural farmers and herders. Three themes emerged from the

use of triangulation methodology: (a) cost of technology improvements, (b) infrastructure

implementation plans, and (c) training and development. The study had four limitations:

first, I depended on participants’ availability and willingness to participate and provide

their business expertise in my study. I experienced challenges in scheduling meeting

times with participants due to differences in time zones which was the second limitation.

I encountered some hesitations from participants’ willingness to share strategic decisions,

fearing disclosing information to their competitors, and lastly, participants had a hard

time remembering details of the strategies they used to implement mobile technology

infrastructure.

In further research, researchers should focus on expanding their studies to include

other rural businesses and accommodate all rural communities. This gap may be an

excellent opportunity for future researchers to explore newer technologies that can help

other rural communities' business sectors such as fishing, hunting, and weaving. The

study was limited to 3 participants. Therefore, future researchers may expand their

participants' group and include more business leaders who may have a broader

understanding of rural businesses' aspects. I recommend future researchers to pursue a

quantitative approach to examine the number of rural farmers and herders who do not

have access to adequate mobile technology due to a lack of mobile technology

infrastructure. Numerical findings on these groups may help businesses and government

leaders further understand the variables with the greatest impact on business profit and

sustainability to people in rural areas. Future researchers could compare mobile

technology infrastructure implementation strategies in rural and urban areas to determine

the best practices.

Reflections

The doctoral study process at Walden University has taught me to be goaloriented,

ambitious, and to never give up. During the process of completing my doctoral study, I

learned a lot about strategies needed by business leaders to improve mobile technology

infrastructure for rural farmers and herders. This process was long, exhausting, complex,

and at times discouraging and arduous. As a researcher, I learned to balance work, family,

and academics, which was easy to become overwhelmed by numerous responsibilities. I

learned a deeper understanding of independent research and gained a more in-depth

insight into conducting a case study and analyzing research data. The level of attention to

detail and the alignment required for scholarly research were not particularly

troublesome, but the perception of the process became quite frustrating.

I am an IT enthusiast. I always like to learn different kinds of technology

practices that can help simplify peoples’ lives. I felt intimidated to interview participants

who were extremely knowledgeable of the research topic, but they were very gracious

and helpful in providing me with abundant information for my research study. This

study validated some of my initial thoughts about mobile technology infrastructure in

rural areas and provided me with a new perspective. I now have a strong appreciation

for business leaders who genuinely attempt to improve mobile technology infrastructure

for rural farmers and herders. The Doctor of Business Administration degree is a

remarkable achievement, and I look forward to facilitating my future ventures.

Conclusion

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies

mobile technology business leaders used to improve mobile technology infrastructure for

rural farmers and herders. Three mobile technology business leaders from 3 businesses in

the United Republic of Tanzania participated in this study. I reached data saturation when

no new theme emerged after the third interview conducted and member checking. Since

improving mobile technology infrastructure improves the businesses of local farmers and

herders, the implementation of efficient mobile technology infrastructure is critical to

local businesses’ survival. The huge cost of funding technology improvements in rural

areas places technology companies at risk of not fulfilling the need of rural customers and

may create problems within rural communities. I learned that implementing a mobile

technology infrastructure is not a simple business problem that can be resolved with just

one or two solutions. The findings from this study indicate that funding for proper mobile

technology infrastructure and training end users are an ongoing challenge in the IT

industry. Business leaders may engage with other technology industry stakeholders to

find meaningful ways to increase innovations and modern techniques.

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