Abstract:

In today’s industrial revolution 4.0 era, entrepreneurs need to keep up with latest technology to remain competitive and profitable. While some songket cottage entreprenuers and weavers in Malaysia are well equipped with information and communication technology skills that had elevated them to the world marketplace, the majority of them are still struggling with basic knowledge of what technology can do to their business as a whole. Those who master intrinsic tacit knowledge of songket weaving do appreciate the wonders offered by ICT advancement. This paper unveils the feedbacks gathered from songket entrepreneurs and weavers on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in upgrading their cottage based business to a high end sophisticated entrepreneurial catapult. Utilising qualitative case study method, the research provides an insight into technology assimilation among the rural entrepreneurs based on Rogers’ innovation diffusion theory in the light of technology adoption perspective. The research also observes how the songket entrepreneurs and weaver benefit from the technology advancement in the whole process of producing and marketing this long standing cottage industry. The findings of this study show a various level of technology adoption and institutionalisation within the respondents. They also respond differently to the possible new technology innovation that reflects various level of readiness to adopt new technology to be incorporated as part of their business tool. The data from this research could benefit the policy makers as well as the related agencies to chart suitable support and training activities to level up the status of songket cottage entrepreneurs and weavers in Malaysia