Déterminants de l’appropriation des logiciels Open source (logiciel libre) : une étude exploratoire au sein des PME camerounaises

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in African economies. In Cameroon, they represent an important engine for growth and job creation. Building on the work of Rogers (2003) on the diffusion of innovation and that of Mahlatse et al., (2021) on the adoption of technologies, our present research aims to explore the key determinants of the appropriation of Open Source (OS) software within Cameroonian SMEs. Through 18 semistructured interviews conducted with SMEs in the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors, we analyzed, through the transcripts, the factors that influence their decision to appropriate or not these OS solutions. The results of this research highlight several factors that influence the appropriation of Open Source software by Cameroonian SMEs. Among them, we can cite the adequacy of open source offerings to the specific needs of SMEs, the costs associated with their appropriation, trust in the technology, the perception of their ease of use, the contribution of the community around the OS project, the support of institutional actors, as well as access to training. This research contributes to the literature in management science by providing an indepth analysis of the dynamics of appropriation of OS software by SMEs in an African context. Our results emphasize the importance of a multidimensional approach, linking SME support organizations, actors in the digital ecosystem, and public decision-makers, to promote the appropriation of OS software.