The Impact of Open Data Implementation on Entrepreneurship Ability in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This article conducts an experimental investigation on the impact of national open data implementation (ODI) on entrepreneurship ability in sub-Saharan Africa based on epistemological predispositions. With the commitment of 150 countries and organization to open data, this study is founded on the theory of planned behavior that behavioral intention can be induced by background variable categorized as personal, social, and informational. In a bid to validate the informational impact, this study is aimed at determining how much of entrepreneurship ability (EAB) is explained by open data implementation (ODI) in sub-Saharan Africa. This study analyzes secondary data from 22 sub-Saharan African countries, using regression analysis. Result shows that open data implementation has a negative nonsignificant impact on entrepreneurship ability in the continent. It is no surprise that Open Data Barometer (ODB), which is the official open data assessing body, posits that there is need for improved open data implementation in sub-Saharan Africa for economic development purposes. Therefore, this study recommends further research on open data implementation as a national data governance initiative to identify opportunities for entrepreneurial impact in sub-Saharan Africa similar to those observed in Europe and other parts of the world. The findings have implications for policymakers and stakeholders seeking leverage to improve entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa through open data implementation.