Researching the adoption of ICT in Ethiopia: a case study of small hotels in Addis Ababa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the difficulties encountered when researching the adoption of information and communications technology (ICT) by small hotels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and to indicate how some of these difficulties were overcome.Design/methodology/approach – The background and theoretical framework of the research project is described, and the research difficulties analysed in the context of the literature and of experience elsewhere in Africa. Issues such as informed consent are considered from different cultural perspectives.Findings – The conclusion is that an understanding of the political, economic and cultural context is essential to the carrying‐out of a successful research project in Ethiopia, and that these same factors are likely to have a major influence on the diffusion of ICT within the country.Practical implications – An Ethiopian case study is of particular interest because unlike Tanzania, Kenya and much of the rest of Africa, the country's telecommunicati...