Exploring the Role of Social Networking for Knowledge Acquisition in SME Development: A West African Case Study

The current trend of population growth and economic development in Africa make it necessary to consider the set-up of small and medium size manufacturing enterprises. These enterprises are an important local economic development enabler, creating wealth and alleviating poverty. The transformation of the abundant agricultural resources of the African continent through manufacturing needs to be explored. This thesis addresses the question of how social networking can be used for knowledge acquisition in the set-up and development of manufacturing small and medium size enterprises in West Africa. To this end, the current study has developed a set of frameworks about knowledge acquisition by social networking. These frameworks include an assessment framework and a knowledge gap identification tool, and follow a process that guides the researcher through a step-by-step approach. The research has used the approach of Action Research and has applied the frameworks to an activity-based case study into the set-up and development of a soap manufacturing factory in Guinea. Applying the knowledge assessment framework to the various steps of the case study has led to finding knowledge gap themes that have been addressed via social networking and related tools. They reduce the risks of overlooking some of the associated challenges. This thesis highlights various modes and types of social networking and the challenges related to the African context to inform the choice of the social networking methods and tools utilised at each step of the factory project by the researcher and other key stakeholders