Navigating business challenges through affordable technologies : The use of self-directed learning among Hispanic entrepreneurs in Indiana

Abstract

Hispanic or Latino immigrant entrepreneurs contribute to the local economies in the US by developing different businesses, mainly in the service sector, such as construction, food, hospitality and related businesses. Despite these reasons for being an entrepreneur, most Hispanic immigrants lack formal business training and use their self-directed learning (SDL) skills to learn and guide their business activities. As a result, SDL supports Hispanic immigrant entrepreneurs to respond to the conditions of their environment, negotiate the learning process and assume responsibility for their learning. In this regard, the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) can be a tool to foster their SDL capacity. This qualitative study highlights how affordable technologies such as Google, smartphone applications, YouTube and social media support immigrants’ SDL efforts. The study explored the lived experiences of four Hispanic immigrant entrepreneurs in the Midwest on how they use their SDL skills to access affordable technologies for continuous learning. Through a series of semi-structured interviews, three themes emerged: digital literacy, digital lifelong learning, and digital language learning strategies. Their narratives highlight the importance of affordable technologies in the learning process for Hispanic immigrants in Indiana. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.