E-Business as a Tool for Managing the Value Chain of Educational Institutions: A Case Study of Ho Polytechnic in Ghana

This article is an investigation of the application of e-business to the value chain of Ho Polytechnic and an assessment of efforts being made by the institution to use e-business as a tool for managing the value chain activities of the institution. The article reviews available literature on value chain and e-business, and assesses the challenges and constraints facing Ho Polytechnic in the bid to apply e-business to its value chain activities as a strategy for reducing cost, improving efficiency and maximising productivity. Questionnaires were administered among 100 management and academic staff to find answers to the research questions. Key management staff were interviewed about the ICT agenda of the Polytechnic. A major finding of the research is that Ho Polytechnic continues to undertake the bulk of its value chain activities manually. Unreliable Internet connectivity has frustrated attempts to apply e-business. To confront these constraints, the Polytechnic has crafted an ICT Policy; contracted SocketWorks Global to re-engineer, automate and upgrade its value chain operations and to train staff in the use of the automated and re-engineered facilities. The study recommends the application of e-business as a tool for managing the value chain activities of Ho Polytechnic, but calls for a review of the contract with SocketWorks Global if the application of e-business is to succeed in achieving the desired impact. Key words: E-Business, institutional challenges, value chain management