Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Information technology Information superhighway Economic development'

This thesis is concerned with the role of new information and communication technologies (lCTs) in community development. Bhalla and James (1988) have stated, 'The rapidly advancing scientific and technological frontier will inevitably have monumental consequences for the Third World ... Equally predictable, however, is that modem technologies will be deployed in developing countries ... ' With this in mind, questions central to the current research are asked: Is Africa being left behind in the new information revolution? Will the new ICTs aid deVelopment in African countries, and in particular, are local communities going to be empowered or marginalized? Is there room for optimism? To address these questions and investigate the potential of ICTs to aid community development, the author outlines the importance of community development, particularly the role played by small enterprises and women in development (Chapter Two). Further, the chapter looks at the information needs of these economic sectors and the intermediary bodies that have been formed to assist them. Chapter Three seeks to show the importance of technology within the development process, and in particular, the importance of local capacities and local technologies. These are deemed necessary for technology blending which adapts new technologies to local circumstances. In Chapter Four, the author reviews the growth ofICTs and related institutions identifying constraints that have been encountered and how they are being addressed. Significant is the discovery that African telecommunications generate higher profits than those in other parts of the world; this should allow efficiency gains which should permit major expansion in ICTs within current investment levels. Reports on field research carried out in Kenya and South Africa are given in Chapter Five. In both countries, small enterprises and women's development were identified as key players in community development. To this end, intermediary organizations involved in these two areas were identified for study: the Women's Bureau and the Kenya Industrial Estates in Kenya; and the Women's National Coalition, the Small Businesses Advisory Bureau, BRIDGES and Mamelodi in South Africa. Whilst all the organizations were providing benefits to target communities, the South African organizations showed greater capacity for delivering assistance. All demonstrated high management skills and exploited the new opportunities provided through a sound infrastructure and a political will, to extend assistance to local communities in various ways. The final Chapter draws reasoned conclusions pointing out three necessary success factors: infrastructure, management skills and political will. With these three critical factors in mind, the author makes recommendations to government, commerce and industry, agencies serving local communities, international agencies and to researchers. To this end, the thesis makes a contribution of value to all potential stakeholders. It also provides guidance to future researchers into African development.

In the current literature on productivity and economic growth, many studies have explored the relationship between information and communications technology (ICT) and growth. In these studies, ICT capital stock is treated as an individual input in the production process that contributes to output growth. In fact, ICT is found to be a key driver of productivity growth in the developed economies. However, few empirical studies deal with China which has in recent years become one of the world's largest ICT markets and production centres. The lack of empirical work in this field contrasts sharply with the wealth of literature which presents background and descriptive studies of China's high technology sectors that include the telecommunications, the computer and the Internet sectors. This dissertation attempts to fill the void in the literature by examining the role of ICT in China's economy over the past two decades. It aims to develop a framework which emphasizes ICT as a production factor and apply it to interpret China's economic growth. The dissertation contributes to the empirical literature by focusing on the following core aspects underlying the linkage between ICT and economic growth. First, it attempts to estimate the size of China's ICT capital stock using the perpetual inventory method. Second, based on such estimates, the dissertation measures the contribution of ICT to China's economic growth by means of a production function model that segregates ICT from all other forms of capital. Third, the dissertation examines the impact of ICT on technical efficiency in China's regions by applying a stochastic frontier model. Lastly, the dissertation looks at the demand aspect of the ICT industry by estimating and projecting demand for ICT services, namely, the telecommunications and computer markets in China. According to this study, ICT capital is found to be a positive driver for the Chinese economy, and is responsible for about 25% of the country's economic growth, although the percentage varies at different periods. ICT capital is also found to have a positive and significant impact on technical efficiency in the Chinese regions. However, the disparity between the coastal and inland regions in terms of technical efficiency scores is found to be very wide, due to the bulk of ICT investment going into the municipal cities and coastal provinces. It is also found that China may be facing the beginning of a period of strong productivity growth driven by increased investment in ICT, especially innovative investment. Furthermore, projections of demand show that the majority of Chinese citizens will have access to a fixed-line telephone or the mobile phone in five years from now, while about half of the Chinese population is expected to use the computer by 2010.

The focus of the study is the city of Bangalore, in India, which has over the years become a centre for high technology industries, and in the mid-i 990s was home to the largest number of Information Technology (IT) firms in India. This has earned it the title of the 'Silicon Valley of India'. The city's comparative advantage in the IT industry in India emanates from various factors, of which favourable government policy, high quality work force, and the availability of research laboratories are some of its crucial determinants. This research aims to understand the reasons for Bangalore's success in attracting both foreign and domestic IT industries (especially between the mid-i 980s, when the Indian economy showed the initial signs of opening up, and the mid-I 990s), and investigates the extent to which the city can continue to be the most preferred location for IT industry in the country. Three research hypotheses have been tested in this research study. The first is directed towards the global IT industry, and contends that the global IT industry's interest in India goes beyond mere price considerations alone. The second proposes that the success of Bangalore in attracting the IT industries is due to a synergy of factors, which include favourable government policies, availability of skilled professionals, and local presence of research institutes and laboratories. The third hypothesis is guided towards the industry-institution linkage, and argues that there exists a strong link between the IT industry and the research laboratories in Bangalore, which has helped underpin growth in the local IT industry. The empirical analysis was conducted at tm, levels. One at the national level of policy making, and another at the city level. The research is based on both secondary sources of data and primary data collection. The study relied on two types of field surveys, a firm-level survey and a policy makers survey. An understanding of the competitiveness of Bangalore is carried out using a set of indicators which include inter ella level of telecommunications infrastructure, government policies, availability of industrial/office space, skilled labour and specialised services. The study finds that initially the main reason for the industrial growth in Bangalore was to be found in the strong industrial tradition of the region, dating back to the earlier part of the twentieth century and later, by government owned electronics and telecommunication industries that were founded in the city immediately after the country's independence (in 1947). Electronics industries continued to base themselves during the 1 960s and through the I 980s in the city. However, when the Indian economic policy was hberalised from the mid-1980s and more perceptibly after 1991, it was the lnfomiation Technology industries that began to establish themselves in Bangalore primarily to tap the available professional skills, and to make use of the city's existing base as a prominent centre for high technology industries. The research also found that there are strong links between the research institutes and laboratories and the private IT companies in Bangalore especially in R&D related activities. While many of the interviewed companies felt that Bangalore would continue to be the preferred location for the IT industry in the country, they do not rule out the possibility that an impending infrastructure crisis in the city will undermine its competitiveness.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate the enabling role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool to develop the South African economy, taking into account the change in the economy from a primary to a secondary economy and tertiary economy. It also analyses the impact of apartheid on the social and economic conditions in South Africa (SA). The legacy of apartheid is still evident if we look at the underdevelopment of basic infrastructure in the rural areas. The report studies ICT development within seven provinces and reveals that major gaps exist in the development of the rural versus the urban areas. SA has come a long way fifteen years into democracy, having developed in various areas. However, structural challenges, race, gender and economic inequalities are problems that cannot be resolved in the short term but need long term planning to see desired results. The high poverty rate, inadequately skilled workforce and high unemployment rate in SA makes it difficult to convince local communities that there is a need for ICT. Introducing the internet in rural areas for example is also a major challenge due to the poor infrastructural development and the low penetration of fixed line telecommunication services. The generation of ICT infrastructure and access to this technology is a priority for the development of the South African economy. For SA to achieve their development goals, ICT infrastructure needs to be distributed equally. This is one of the goals of the South African government, more specifically of the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA). In order for the South African government to create a competitive ICT sector, changes to the regulations and framework strategies in the telecommunications sector was necessary. The Telecommunication Act of 1996 was extensively criticized because the Telkom monopoly was viewed as a major restraint to competition for ICT development. In 2001, the Telecommunication Act of 1996 was modified to address the inequity in the ICT sector and to make telecommunications more affordable. Furthermore, SA signed the World Trade Organization Telecommunication Agreement to liberalise trade by opening up the world market to competition. There exists a lack of clear national strategy in SA that includes the input of all the stakeholders such as Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME), government departments, private sector etc. The Information Technology (IT) strategy should have timelines with clear guidelines on where the IT industry is going. There is also a need for the identification of focus areas where high growth and development are required. South Africa has the capacity to develop into an ICT leader, but for this to happen the culture must change from being dependent on innovations of developing countries to becoming independent. ICT will not necessarily alleviate poverty, but it is merely an accelerator to develop people by changing information into valuable knowledge to empower communities. Poverty does not only refer to the lack of basic needs like water, shelter and food, but it is also prevalent when people are: • Unable to access property and credit to do business. • Vulnerable and powerless in situations like crime, economic downturns and recessions. • Socially and economically excluded from society. The ICT Charter was developed to address issues such as employment equity, skills development and socio-economic development, as well as to clarify treatment of multinational enterprises. The charter is the Code of Good Practice for the ICT sector. The automation of work processes, machinery and the use of technology has further led to obsolete positions in the workplace. The change in the structure of the South African economy and the emergence of the digital economy has brought about fundamental economic changes. For SA to keep abreast with global developments it must embrace the transformational stages and exploit the market opportunities of the digital economy. The conditions for creating an environment that is conducive to socio-economic growth include investment in ICTs, policies, human resources and a clear IT strategy. These conditions form the pillars on which the framework of this research report is built.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die bemagtigingsrol van inligting- en kommunikasietegnologie (IKT) in die ontwikkeling van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Die oorgang in die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie van ‘n primêre ekonomie na ‘n sekondêre en tersiêre ekonomie word in ag geneem, en die impak van apartheid op die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede word geanaliseer. Die nalatenskap van apartheid is nog steeds sigbaar as ons kyk hoe onderontwikkel die basiese infrastruktuur in landelike gebiede is. Hierdie studie ontleed die ontwikkeling van IKT in sewe provinsies, en dit is duidelik dat daar groot verskille bestaan ten opsigte van IKT-ontwikkeling in landelike gebiede vergeleke met dié in stedelike gebiede. Die Suid-Afrikaanse demokrasie het in die afgelope vyftien jaar baie ontwikkel in verskeie areas. Die resultate van die planne wat geïmplementeer word ten opsigte van strukturele probleme, rasseverdeling en ekonomiese ongelykhede sal egter eers oor die langtermyn sigbaar wees. Die hoë armoedesyfer en die oorwegend onvoldoende geskoolde bevolking, tesame met die hoë persentasie werkloosheid in veral landelike gebiede, maak dit moeilik om hierdie gemeenskappe te oortuig dat daar ‘n behoefte aan IKT bestaan. Dis ook moeilik om tegnologie soos die internet in dié gebiede te vestig weens die agterstand in die ontwikkeling van die nodige infrastruktuur en die klein aantal telefoonlyne wat beskikbaar is. Die ontwikkeling van IKT en toegang daartoe is ’n voorvereiste vir die groei van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Een van die vereistes om dit te bereik is die eweredige verspreiding van IKT-infrastruktuur. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering, en meer spesifiek USAASA (Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa), stel dit gevolglik as een van hulle doelwitte. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het besef dat veranderinge aan die wetgewing rakende die telekommunikasiesektor nodig was om ’n mededingende IKT-sektor te vestig. Die Telekommunikasiewet van 1996 het wye kritiek ontlok, aangesien die monopolie van Telkom geïdentifiseer is as ’n struikelblok in die ontwikkeling van IKT. Die wet is in 2001 hersien, waartydens die ongelykhede in die IKT-sektor aangespreek is, om sodoende telekommunikasie meer bekostigbaar te maak. Suid-Afrika (SA) het ook die World Trade Organisation Telecommunication-ooreenkoms onderteken, wat blootstelling aan internasionale markte en wêreldwye kompetisie verseker. Daar bestaan tans geen duidelike nasionale IKT-strategie wat insette van al die rolspelers, soos Klein- en Medium-Sakeondernemings, regeringsdepartemente en die private sektor, bevat nie. So ’n strategie sal tydroosters met duidelike riglyne aan die IKT-bedryf moet verskaf. Die identifisering van fokusareas waar vinnige groei en ontwikkeling noodsaaklik is, is ’n prioriteit. Suid-Afrika het die vermoë om ’n leier op die gebied van IKT te word, maar die kultuur van afhankliheid van die ontwikkelende lande moet omgeswaai word na ’n kultuur van onafhanklikheid. IKT sal nie noodwendig armoede in SA direk verlig nie, maar dit sal sorg vir die sneller ontwikkeling van mense wanneer inligting getransformeer word na kennis waardeur gemeenskappe bemagtig kan word. Die definisie van armoede is nie beperk tot die gebrek aan basiese lewensmiddele soos water, voedsel en huisvesting nie, maar kom ook voor wanneer mense: • Nie toegang het tot eiendom en krediet om handel te dryf nie. • Weerloos is teen geweld, ekonomiese insinkings en resessies. • Sosiaal en ekonomies afgesny is van die breër samelewing. Die IKT Handves is ontwikkel om ongelykheid op die gebied van indiensneming, vaardigheidsontwikkeling en sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling aan te spreek, en om riglyne vir multinasionale projekte te verskaf. Hierdie ooreenkoms vorm ook die gedragskode van die IKT-bedryf. Outomatisering in die werkplek het gelei tot die afskaffing van talle poste. Strukturele veranderinge sowel as die ontwikkeling van die digitale ekonomie het die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie fundamenteel verander. SA moet hierdie transformasietydperk omarm en in pas met die wêreld bly, en in die proses leer om geleenthede in die digitale ekonomie ten volle te benut. Hierdie ondersoek kyk na die voorvereistes om ’n omgewing te skep waarin sosio-ekonomiese groei kan plaasvind, insluitend beleggings in IKT, menslike hulpbronne, beleidsraamwerke en ’n duidelike IKT-strategie. Die genoemde vorm die fondament waarop die raamwerk van hierdie navorsingstudie rus.

Political and environmental chaos recently experienced in Haiti has damaged the economic sector and telecommunication infrastructure. Developmental data from Haiti show 3 major trends: inadequate social and economic development, insufficient benefits from the global economy, and poorly planned information technology infrastructure (ITI). The specific problem addressed in this study is a knowledge gap in the views of stakeholders within Haiti's national culture on how the country's ITI can be developed to better engage Haiti in 21st century global and digital economy. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the views of 48 expert participants regarding ITI development within Haiti's national culture to better engage Haiti with the 21st century global and digital economy. To satisfy the goal of this exploratory research a case study research design was used, and data were collected from multiple sources including in-depth interviews of 48 participants, observational field notes, and archival documentation. The analysis of the archival data, online surveys, and semi-structured interviews of expert informants revealed that nationwide broadband internet availability has been achieved, which has resulted in internet usage increasing from 2% in 2002 to 12% in 2009. The study participants noted the lack of reliable access to electricity limits the implementation of ITI in the nation. Legislation and financial investment are needed to improve ITI in Haiti. The academic significance and social change implications of the study include filling the knowledge gap of the status of ITI in Haiti, helping the national development of a modernized ITI well-connected to the global economy, and a better quality of life for Haiti's people.

This dissertation explores how Internet use impacts four different measures of economic development using several econometric techniques on multi-country panel data. The economic development outcomes investigated are: per capita GDP, per capita export revenues, per capita market capitalization, and societal well-being as measured by the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Data from the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union, and the United Nations -covering 202 countries over the period 1996 to 2007- are combined to allow for empirical investigation using dynamic panel data and finite mixture model estimation techniques on the total sample and subsamples stratified by country income level. The results suggest that countries benefit differently from increasing Internet use and the magnitude of the effect depends on the income level of the country. In low income countries, additional Internet use has a significant positive effect on per capita GDP and overall welfare, as measured by the HDI. Increasing Internet use has a significant positive effect on all four measures of economic development in countries that have achieved middle income status. Since Internet use affects economic development outcomes differently depending on the income level of the country, the policy recommendations must also vary according to the country's income level.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Television is the favoured news source for most Australians and is regarded as having the potential to influence public opinion. From its inception however, television has been regarded as ill-suited to cover economic and business issues because of a perceived reliance on visual material and an inability to deal with complex issues. This tyranny of vision has been mitigated by technological developments such as electronic news gathering (ENG) and satellites that provide large amounts of varied material as well as improvements in production tools that assist the visual presentation of abstract concepts. The presentation of complex issues has also been enhanced by the increased skills and knowledge among newsworkers. Economic and business news has become a staple in television news programs and has evolved from ritualised reporting of data such as market indices and exchange rates to a genre that shares broader news values such as consequence, conflict, proximity, human interest, novelty, prominence, political controversy and scandal. Economic and business news also shares the normal imperatives of television such as a strong reliance on scheduled occasions and reliable and prolific sources. In between occasions of economic, business and political controversy or scandal, these programs are able to rely on a steady supply of economic, business and investment information. Dedicated economic and business segments and programs and now even whole channels meet two sets of demands. One is those of niche audiences seeking news and information on economic and business conditions, economic debate and policy making, the activities of economic and business leaders and an opportunity to hear and observe economic and business leaders. The other is from broadcasters seeking to maximise their profits by attracting viewers in the AB demographic (those with the greatest disposal income) to otherwise poorly-performing time slots, by broadcasters seeking an inexpensive and dependable supply of programming material and by broadcasters seeking to promote their institutional role and specific programs through presenting material that is followed up by other media. Economic and business reports however, continue to portray issues in a limited way that neglects business’s interaction with workers and the larger social environment. Economic events are often framed as political competition. These reports present a hierarchy of sources and privilege political and business elites. Television news favours debate that is presented by individuals as contrasting causal narratives. Political and economic sources have become adept at presenting brief causal narratives in response to the requirements of television. This approach highlights celebrities and favours the promotion of agency over structure. The increase in total economic and business reporting boosts the interdependence of television and political and economic sources. Technological development is continuing and traditional free-to-air television audiences are being eroded by pay television and the internet. Although these are altering the nature of political, economic and business debate their overall influence is difficult to determine.

This paper presents a theoretical framework along "Classical" lines in which Schumpeter's concept of "Creative Response" is linked to a theory of induced innovation and the concept of technological regimes. We devote particular attention to the role of indivisibilities between factors of production. On the basis of this framework, we study the adoption of early information technologies, such as typewriters, calculators or Hollerith machines in US manufacturing in the period between 1870 and 1930. We show how the presence of a distinct bias in technical change in US manufacturing led to the opening of a window of opportunity for early information technologies, and how the presence of this bias influenced the technological search and adoption process of firms and how this found its final reflection in the rules and heuristics of the new regime. (author's abstract)
Series: Working Papers Series "Growth and Employment in Europe: Sustainability and Competitiveness"

The goal of this project being to provide a unique strategy that integrates new curriculum, instructional methods, and distance technology to position higher education as a key participant in workforce and economic development.

Rural community media are identified as a critical component of the rural community communication process. These SMMEs are however struggling to achieve sustainability and operate effectively due to the various challenges and constraints impacting them. This study seeks to address this by developing a Rural Community Media Mobile Social Networking Framework that will create a virtual community of practice for the purposes of support of rural entrepreneurs in small, medium and macro enterprises (SMMES) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The author has specifically scoped this research to focus on Rural Community Media as a specialised subsegment of entrepreneurs operating in rural areas. The reasons for this decision were in part due to the effect and impact of community media on socio-economic development due to the role they play in enabling access to information and knowledge and giving a voice to poor and isolated communities The study proposes that provision of access to relevant information and knowledge via a mobile social networking framework would assist in cutting implementation costs through utilisation of a platform that is already there (known as rural community media). This study is scoped to focus specifically on rural community media with fieldwork conducted in the province of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In summary the Research Methodology applied is as follows: - Research Philosophy: The interpretive research philosophy was chosen for this study - Research Design: This study will apply qualitative design - Research Approach: The case study approach will be used in the study - Data Collection Techniques: Source data will be comprised of primary and secondary data. Primary data will be collected through implementation of a questionnaire and expert reviews, while the secondary data will be collected through literature review. Hermeneutics will be used as the data collection technique in this study. - Data analysis: Cross-case data analysis will be applied Key findings included that rural community media already utilise mobile technology and social media/networking to conduct business. Rural community media required access to information and knowledge pertaining to internal business process, funding, governance, training and access to skilled resources. Mobile social networking is identified as a suitable vehicle for delivery. A Rural Community Media Social Networking Framework was developed as a result of this study. Framework elements were supported, and in some cases modified, by case study findings and expert review feedback.

Thesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
Prior studies have shown that the information communication technology sector worldwide is perceived as a transformative and enabling tool for the other economic activities to improve citizens’ lives. In a Rwandan context, information communication technology integration in economic sector activities such as tourism, with the adoption of a value chain approach, is thought to be an answer to a number of social and economic challenges, including unemployment, customer care services, and poor information knowledge. In combination with the tourism sector, it is possible that job creation opportunities could benefit unemployed Rwandans, particularly the young, where information communication technology is identified as a business in itself, and an enabling tool to improve inter-economic and crosscutting activities in a growing economy. Despite mixed results from various studies, information communication technology for a tourism village could be an enabling tool for national and regional development, if priority focus on ICT and tourism quality infrastructures is maintained. Research on the evolving nature of the information communication technology sector, through tourism activities in Rwanda, could yield many off-farm jobs besides solely agrarian activities. The study was conducted on an extensive scale, in order to facilitate the generalisation of the results, employing 720 tourism stakeholders’ surveys, ten interviews with government tourism officials, and ten focus group discussions to garner both quantitative and qualitative data. A mixed research method was used to minimise possible research bias and maximise the accuracy of the findings in the four provinces and Kigali City in Rwanda. Of the 720 questionnaires distributed, 615 were usable. Regarding the interviews with government officials, focus group discussions, field observations and secondary data analysis, the researcher found that the information communication technology contribution to tourism stakeholders’ economic lives was at variance with residents’ perceptions in the provinces and districts, and contradicted the information communication technology benefits of connectivity, internet accessibility and usability in their locality. It was also confirmed that information communication technology contributions to tourism stakeholders were at a very low level, where the contribution was limited to telephone subscriptions and their uses, for example for mobile money transfers. The future of information communication technology contributions to tourism stakeholders is positive, if integrated value chain approaches are adopted to benefit poor communities at a tourist destination being visited. A model of an information communication technology village for the development of a tourism village is proposed. This could serve as a catalyst to measure the impacts on both the information communication technology and tourism sectors discussed in this study. More importantly, it was clearly found that the culture of approaching local communities in the process of policy drafting, or any developmental programme, is not present in Rwanda, and this was shown as a critical issue because of the costly nature of implementation of changes. Consequently, this study found that there was potential to support projections for information communication technology policies to achieve the objectives of sustainable development through tourism, promoting rural development, and a reduction of poverty in general
Rwandan Government, through the Ministry of Education

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is widely regarded as a key tool for bringing about development to people who live in underserved areas. Technologies such as mobile phones and Wi-Fi are seen as advantageous because they can be made available to poor places without the cost of building extensive physical infrastructure. However, researchers argue that ICTs have failed to live up to their potential in the context of development. Researchers point out developing countries lack frameworks to guide them through the implementation of ICTs in this context. The objective of this study is to come up with a framework that can be used in rural areas in South Africa to implement ICT projects. The researcher interviewed individuals who have been directly involved in an ICT initiative in a rural setting in the Eastern Cape Province to learn from their experiences. The researcher also studied publications that have been produced from these initiatives in order to gain a richer understanding. The findings of the study show that participants share similar views about how ICT projects should be approached and implemented in rural areas in South Africa. The views are grouped according to similarity into themes and discussed in detail in the study. From these themes a framework that can help implement ICT projects in rural areas is developed.

My project takes place in Korsten four kilometers north of central Port Elizabeth. Korsten is today known as the industrial center of the city and provides job opportunities throughout the whole region. Central Korsten contains the biggest informal market within Port Elizabeth; it is also functioning as a nodal interchange where buses and minibus taxis provide transport within the city as well as nationwide. In 2010 major changes in the transport system will take place as a part of the 2010 world cup program. The city introduces the new Bus rapid transit system, a transportation system based on trunk buses complimented with minibus taxis. Introducing a new bus-system to Korsten will be a great challenge especially concerning Korstens informal identity and tradition. The informal economy is today an integral part of the South African economy and something that most South Africans come in contact with on daily bases. But it is an economy and movement not measurable or regulated by the government. The informal economy got its own rules and traditions and it flourishes in Korsten. It creates job opportunities as well as a possibility to buy everyday goods to a reasonable price, but it also contributes to a hectic and unstructured environment which gives a chaotic impression. This dissertation highlights the informal tradition and its possibility to be an integral part of the modern Korsten. It investigates the meaning of the public space and what role it plays in our cities and how it can be implemented in Korsten.
Available at: erik_tellden(at)hotmail.com +46702267034

Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning ))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
This study comprises a discursive analysis of the underlying assumptions, rhetorical devices and the latent agendas masked within: (i) the burgeoning international ICT, poverty and development literature; (ii) the policy agendas of the major players in international development; and (iii) the ICT, poverty and development discourse of the post-apartheid South African government. The aim of the study is to move beyond the current enthusiasm for derivative description and technological determinism, and to introduce a deeper, more balanced understanding of the relationship between ICT, poverty and development.

Many Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD) projects are established with the overall aim of positively developing the communities they are implemented in. However, the solutions that are provided are often commonly developed without the needs of these communities being sufficiently investigated beforehand. As a result the ICTD strategy of the project ends up not well aligned with the aims and targets of the needs of the community. As a result of this, an appropriate programme theory for the project and relevant impact indicators fail to be adequately developed. Consequently, when an impact assessment is conducted it is often found that the intended effects are not directly linked to the needs of the community or what the community had hoped to gain from the ICTD initiative. The purpose of this research serves to develop a needs-ICTD strategy alignment foundation that supports the identification and formulation of impact assessment indicators. Through this research, a framework is developed to support the alignment of ICTD strategy, the development and the promotion of contextual needs of rural communities and other frequently marginalized areas. The Needs-ICTD strategy alignment framework is composed of eight main components that describe the process that can be used to align ICTD strategy with community needs. These components include: collaboration between the internal and external stakeholders, the development of the community, conducting baseline studies, the needs assessment, the ICTD strategy, linking of the needs-ICTD strategy, and lastly the identification of impact indicators. An interpretive research approach is used to explore and inform the framework through a multi-case study investigation of the Siyakhula Living Lab and two projects in the Systems Application Products (SAP) Living Lab. Two main case study questions drive the exploration of the framework, that being: 1) How are the needs of the community elicited and how is the ICTD strategy aligned to the needs of the community? 2) And, why were the selected approaches chosen for aligning the needs of the community and ICTD strategy? Data for this research was collected qualitatively through interviews, document analysis and participant observation. Key findings indicate that the involvement of internal (local) stakeholders in the development and alignment of ICTD strategy to the needs of the community is still lacking. As a consequence, many community members end up not fully understanding the project objectives and how these objectives aims are to be achieved. The research also finds that ‘solution specific’ projects also fail communities as they focus specifically on one target group and repeatedly fail to assist the community holistically in supporting their information and their community development needs.

Este trabalho buscou identificar como o Brasil está posicionado no contexto internacional da divisão digital assim como também os fatores que influenciam a divisão digital no país. Utilizando dados do cálculo do índice IDI disponibilizados pelo International Telecommunication Union (ITU) para 152 diferentes países obteve-se um modelo de clusterização a partir do aprendizado de Redes Bayesianas que resultou numa distribuição dos países em oito clusters. Este modelo foi alimentado com subconjuntos incompletos de indicadores correspondentes aos componentes do IDI para diversas subdivisões regionais brasileiras (regiões, estados, regiões metropolitanas/interiores dos estados e zonas rural/urbana), conforme a disponibilidade em diferentes fontes como a ANATEL, o IBGE e o CGI.BR. Desta forma foi possível inferir a que cluster mais provavelmente cada subdivisão regional deve pertencer. Enquanto a posição 64 no ranking do IDI coloca o Brasil em uma posição à frente de mais da metade dos 152 países incluídos, a concentração de diversas sub-regiões no sexto cluster coloca a maior parte do país apenas dois níveis acima dos países de pior classificação e a cinco níveis de distância dos melhores classificados. Já a análise dos fatores que influenciam a divisão digital no Brasil utilizou dados fornecidos pelo CGI.BR na obtenção de um modelo diferente de rede Augmented Naive Bayes para cada uma de quatro variáveis representativas de adoção tecnológica: uso da internet, uso do celular, adoção do comércio eletrônico e do internet banking. Como variáveis independentes, os modelos incluíram sexo, faixa etária, grau de instrução, situação de emprego, raça, classe social, zona rural/urbana, região e estado, sendo que as que apresentaram maior grau de influência foram a classe social e o grau de instrução. O conjunto de fatores selecionado demonstrou ser bastante preciso apenas na identificação da divisão digital em relação ao uso de internet, enquanto a utilização do celular, do comércio eletrônico e do internet banking não puderam ser totalmente explicadas, sugerindo a necessidade de mais estudos no sentido de identificar variáveis complementares que influenciem a adoção dessas tecnologias.
This study aimed to identify how Brazil is positioned in the international context of the digital divide as well as the factors influencing the digital divide within the country. A clustering model was obtained by applying Bayesian Networks learning on data for calculating the IDI index provided by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 152 different countries, resulting in the distribution of the countries among eight clusters. This model was fed with incomplete subsets of indicators corresponding to the various components of the IDI for Brazilian regional subdivisions (regions, states, metropolitan areas/state country sides and rural/urban zones), as available from different sources such as ANATEL, IBGE and CGI.BR. This way it was possible to infer the most likely cluster to which each regional subdivision should belong. The 64 IDI ranking position puts Brazil ahead of more than half of the 152 countries included, but with the majority of sub-regions placed in the sixth cluster, most of the country appears just two levels above the lowest ranking countries and five levels away from the top ranked. The analysis of the factors influencing the digital divide in Brazil used data provided by CGI.BR to obtain a different Augmented Naive Bayes network model for each of four variables representing technology adoption: internet use, cell phone use, ecommerce adoption and internet banking adoption. Gender, age, education level, employment status, race, social class, rural / urban areas, region and state were included as independent variables, with social class and education level showing the most influence. The selected factors proved to be quite accurate in identifying the internet use digital divide, while cell phone use, e-commerce adoption and internet banking adoption could not be fully explained, suggesting the need for further studies to identify additional variables influencing the adoption of these technologies.

Agriculture is one of the most important branches of economical development in the Municipality of Klina. The Municipality’s geographical position, climate and earth conditions, as well as the manpower in the territory of enables cultivation of much agricultural cultivation and the growth of high efficiency in the area. Considering all the existing factors and the new factors (to be initiated) of the development which will be based on long term socio-economic development of the municipality of Klina, most important is the agriculture. Making use of and harmonizing the available natural factors, agriculture will secure to the municipality of Klina sufficient food, produce an important overflow of market, and a general growth of the overall income and employment of the inhabitants. Convenient fertile lands, the change of planting structure, adequate appliance of agro technique and watering will create propitious possibilities for increasing agriculture production, notably the development of farming. Agriculture will for a long time be bearer of general socio-economic development in the Municipality of Klina, all it is needed is to set and realize basic purpose, role and direction of agriculture development. This make possible orientation in development and creation of conditions for the alteration of the structure of the fabrication, utilization of the existing possibilities, and finding new ways of development, recommendation of the existing systems and building new watering systems, arranging terrene, increasing land fertility, reorganization of the manufacture and reinforcement of the private sector and execution of the more dynamic increase of trade products, intense urbanization of rural places, fair governing, equipping lands with more qualitative roads for agrarian needs. All this will contribute to more quality and quantity innovation of the existing state. In a direct connection with this is the increase of plan efficiency and the increase of productivity, the plant fabrication with organizing conditions for using more water for watering, larger mechanisms for ii productivity, the expansion of guanos and fertilizers and the application of contemporary agro technical measures. Except the efficiency increase and the assortment of agricultural production, it must be reckoned that the farming should rapidly be developed through the specialization of private sectorfarms, individual mini farms for cultivation of cattle and poultry, milk and dairy products and egg production. Buying stations and depot are necessary as well as the stations that sell cattle food, guanos, agriculture tools and mechanisms, the service for mending these tools, agrarian stations, farming pharmacy, and veterinary stations.
Ferim GASHI, Str. Lakrishte L4 No: 57 10000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosova Office: +381 (0) 38 212 338 Cell: +377 (0) 44 114674; Cell: +386 (0) 49 114674 Fax: +381 (0) 38 212 338 Email: ferimgashi@yahoo.ca Email: ferimgashi@gmail.com Email: ferim.gashi@ks-gov.net

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is an interpretation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development paradigm as explained in the policy document released in October 2001, in terms of Manuel CasteIls ' theory of the Network Society. This research is simply structured into three sections: an explanation and criticisms of NEPAD, an explanation of CasteIls ' theory, and a synopsis of correlations between the two. The NEPAD is a development paradigm aimed at the socio-economic development of the African continent. It is envisioned to be a partnership between the developed world and African leadership to lift the continent from the depths of poverty, corruption and exclusion, in which it now finds itself The document was created through a merger of the Omega Plan, the Millennium Action Plan and the ECA Compact. The main proponents of the initiative are Presidents Mbeki, Obasanjo and Bouteflika. Although NEPAD has been well received internationally, it has come under severe criticism from African civil society. Concern has been raised that NEPAD will serve to further consolidate the neo-patrimonial state and existing elite networks through providing the requested funding; in this context the argument for increased foreign direct investment is especially questioned. The authors of the document are especially criticised for excluding civil society from the drafting process. Due to this lack of consultation, it is argued that NEPAD does not reflect the true will of the African people. The neo-liberal undertones of the document, the recognition of the process of globalisation, and Africa's resulting marginalisation as well as the threat this poses for global security are further points of critique that are explored in this thesis. Manuel CasteIls provides an explanation of the new global economy in his theory of the Network Society. He argues that the dominant system today, is a result of the advances in information and communications technology (ICT) as well as the capitalist pursuit of profit. The new global economy is therefore not only the new dominant international economic system, but also the new historical reality. Against this backdrop, he proposes a Technological Marshall Plan which essentially is a call for massive technological investment into Africa to assist the continent to leap-frog the industrial age and connect with the new global economy. There are several points of correlation between NEPAD and Castells. Essentially NEPAD takes the worldview explained by Caste/Is as its point of departure. NEPAD then builds a development strategy in full coherence with the logic of the theory of the Network Society. NEPAD concurs with CasteIls on the role played by ICT in the process of globalisation. The disarticulation of space and time has led to an instantaneous, global expression of social and economic life, specifically in financial markets and the production process. The result is the inclusion of valuable people and assets into the global network, while the devalued are excluded. Both NEPAD and CasteIls argue that the current state of affairs is both morally wrong and economically and politically unstable. It is therefore, as both ague, in the interests of the developed world to engage in this new partnership. This thesis exposes fundamental correlations between the theory of the Network Society and the New Partnership for Africa's Development.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is 'n interpretasie van die "New Partnership for Africa's Development" (NEPAD) paradigma, soos uiteengesit in die beleids dokument wat in Oktober 2001 uitgereik is, aan die hand van Manuel CasteIls se teorie van die Netwerk Samelewing. Die narvorsing is gestruktureerd in drie seksies: 'n verduideliking van NEPAD en die kritiek daarop, 'n verduideliking van CasteIls se teorie en 'n samevatting van die ooreenkomste tussen die twee. NEPAD is 'n ontwikkelings paradigma, gemik op die sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling van die Afrika kontinent. Dit word voorgehou as 'n venootskap tussen die ontwikkelde wêreld en Afrika leierskap, waarin die kontinent uit die situasie van armmoede, korrupsie en uitsluiting gehelp sal word. Die dokument is 'n kombinasie van die Omega Plan, die Millenium Aksie Plan (MAP) en die ECA Compact. Die hoof voorstanders van die initatief is Presidente Mbeki, Obassanjo en Bouteflika. Ten spyte van NEPAD se goeie ontvangs in die internationale samelewing, het die burgelike samelewing van Afrika dit nie sonder kritiek aanvaar nie. Kommer is uitgespreek dat NEPAD net die belange van die neo-patrimoniale staat en die bestaande elite netwerke sal konsolideer, deur die voorsiening van fondse. In die konteks word die vraag vir die vergrote buitelandse direkte investering veral bevraagteken. Die outeurs van die dokument word veral gekritiseer omdat hulle die burgerlike samelewing uitgesluit het uit die ontwerp van die konsep. Juis om die rede word daar geargumenteer dat NEPAD nie die ware wil van die mense van Afrika reflekteer nie. Die neo-liberale ondertone van die dokument, die erkenning van die proses van globalisasie en Afrika se marginalisasie wat gevolg het, as ook die bedreigings wat dit vir globale sekuriteit inhou, is verdere kritiek waarna gekyk sal word in die tese. Manuel CasteIls voorsien ons van 'n verduideliking van die nuwe globale ekonomie in sy teorie oor die Netwerk Samelewing. Hy argumenteer dat die dominante sisteem vandag voorspruit uit die ontwikkeling van informasie en kommunikasie tegnologie, as ook die kapitalistiese strewe na profyt. Die nuwe globale ekonomie is daarom nie net die nuwe dominante internationale ekonomiese sisteem nie, maar ook die nuwe historiese realiteit. Teen die agtergrond stel hy 'n Tegnologiese Marshall plan voor, wat essensiël 'n vraag vir substansiële tegnologiese investering in Afrika is, om die kontinent te help om die industriële tydperk te oorbrug en aan te sluit by die nuwe globale ekonomie. Daar is heelwat ooreenstemmings tussen NEPAD en CasteIls se teorie. Essensiël gebruik NEPAD CasteIls se wêreld beeld as vertrekpunt. Daarna bou NEPAD 'n ontwikkelings strategie in ooreenstemming met die logika van die teorie van die Netwerk Samelewing. NEPAD stem ooreen met CasteIls oor die rol wat IKTs speel in die proses van globalisasie. Die verplasing van spasie en tyd het gelei tot 'n skielike, globale uitdrukking van sosiale en ekonomiese lewe, spesifiek in finansiële markte en die produksieproses. Die gevolge is die insluiting van waardevolle mense en bates in die globale netwerk, terwyl dit die wat in waarde verminder uitstluit. Beide NEPAD en CasteIls argumenteer dat die huidige stand van sake beide moreel en ekonomies verkeerd is, as ook polities onstabiel. Dit is daarom, soos beide argumenteer, in die belang van die ontwikkelde lande om deel te neem aan hierdie vernootskap. Die tesis lig fundamentele ooreenkomste tussen die teorie van die Netwerk Samelewing en NEPADuit.

Rural development is a priority for poverty alleviation and development in developing countries, as the majority of the poor live in rural areas. Information and knowledge are key strategic resources for social and economic development as they empower rural communities with the ability to expand their choices through knowing what works best in their communities. Information and communication technologies (ICT) play a significant role in supporting rural development activities through providing supportive development information and creating essential interconnectivities between rural areas and more developed regions. However, rural ICT for development (ICT4D) is still at best a ‘working hypothesis’, faced with barriers and challenges associated with implementation and use in the rural environment; which threaten the success, sustainability or relevance of an ICT intervention. Many key questions remain largely unanswered, with no concrete or credible data to support a wide range of claims concerning the use of ICT for development. The evaluation of rural ICT projects is indispensable as it determines the need, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and extent of the awareness of the contribution such projects or programmes can make in poverty alleviation and development. Even so, existing ICT4D evaluations are confrontedwith shortcomings and challenges which influence the accuracy and reliability of evaluation conclusions. These shortcomings highlight the need to embark on a more comprehensive evaluation approach, sensitive to the rural environment. This research study was aimed at developing a comprehensive rural ICT evaluation framework to assess ICT projects and interventions that work toward supporting poverty eradication in rural communities. A multi-method approach was used to determine the multiple variables and components associated with rural ICT evaluation, and then to determine how these variables interrelate. The approach is founded on programme evaluation, ICT for development evaluation, and information systems evaluation. Firstly, key domains of programme evaluations combined with an exploration of the need and shortcomings of ICT4D evaluation, contributed to the development of a template to analyse existing ICT4D evaluation frameworks and information systems frameworks, based on a selection of criteria. The combined analysis of the two groups of frameworks compares and contrasts key characteristics that form the structure of a comprehensive evaluation. This analysis and a review of programme evaluation enabled the development of a Rural ICT Comprehensive Evaluation Framework (RICT-CEF) that encompasses the key components essential for a comprehensive evaluation of rural ICT projects. The theoretical framework aims to inform ICT intervention to improve and support rural development, through the application of fundamental and interconnected evaluation domains sensitive to the rural environment, throughout the project’s lifecycle. In order to obtain a better understanding and application of the RICT-CEF, a real-life case study investigation of the Siyakhula Living Lab reveals the lessons learned (shortcomings and suitability) from applying a prototype of the framework in a rural environment. The study is characteristically a rich case study, as the investigation occurs at two levels: 1) The actual evaluation of the project to obtain results to improve or guide the project, through applying domains of the RICT-CEF, and 2) Observing and investigating the application of the RICT-CEF framework to learn lessons from its evaluation process in a real-life context. The research study reveals the compatibility of the RICT-CEF framework in a real-life rural ICT intervention case, and builds lessons learned for enhancing the framework and guiding future evaluations in ICT4D. The RICT-CEF can possibly be viewed as a platform for the key domains and processes essential for the evaluation of ICT4D interventions; which can be customised for a variety of ICT projects, such that a comparative assessment of projects can provide measurement and further awareness of the impact of rural ICT in developing countries.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University, 2008.
Title from file title page. Philip P. Shapira (Georgia Tech), committee chair; Marco Ceccagnoli, Mary Frank Fox (Georgia Tech); Gregory B. Lewis, John P. Walsh (Georgia State), committee members. Electronic text (146 p. : col. ill., col maps) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed Sept. 17, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-146).

Rural development can be supported by information and knowledge which are key strategic resources for socio economic development. ICTs enable the facilitation and communication of information between remotely dispersed individuals or groups and more developed regions. While it has become common place that ICTs possess capabilities to potentially support rural development, the concept of ICT for development (ICT4D) is still fraught with challenges and barriers, which impede the success and sustainability of ICT4D projects. It is therefore essential to evaluate rural ICT projects, as such an analysis may aid in revealing information related to the need, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of these projects. This research seeks to further the implementation and exploration of the Rural ICT Comprehensive Evaluation Framework (RICT-CEF), through the application of the Process Assessment domain in a real life rural ICT project environment. The RICT-CEF framework consisting of 7 evaluation domains has the primary objective of evaluating rural ICT projects from their inception stages to post implementation. A process assessment seeks to determine whether or not a rural ICT project is operating to implement its intended functions in the intended way specified in the projects plan. Such an assessment is invaluable to a comprehensive evaluation. Evaluation questions for a process assessment are centred around critical themes of project performance. Critical themes are aspects of a programme or projects implementation which must be enacted in order to achieve desired project outcomes. This research study is aimed at identifying critical themes of process assessment relevant to rural ICT4D projects. To identify critical themes, assessment approaches on social programme process assessments, evaluation of information systems in use, and rural ICT4D project evaluation case studies are comparatively analysed. Fourteen assessment approaches from these three categories are selected based on criteria. To analyse selected assessment approaches, a template is created based on the research questions, foundational literature on process assessment and identified challenges applicable to process assessments of rural ICT4D projects. Comparing and contrasting critical themes from these assessment approaches highlight critical themes essential to assess in the iterative implementation phase of rural ICT projects. Accentuated critical themes include, service utilization, organizational function and external project factors. These themes, along with suggested guiding principles from literature for conducting process assessments enable the creation of a framework for conducting process assessments of rural ICT projects. The framework is labelled "the Rural ICT Project Process Assessment Framework (RICTP-PAF)". The application of the RICTP-PAF in a real life rural ICT project through a design science case study provides lessons learned (suitability and shortcomings) from applying the framework. This essentially demonstrates the sensitivity of the RICTP-PAF to rural contexts in which it is implemented in. For instance, the implemented prototype of the RICTP-PAF reveals that the framework places a great deal of emphasis on rural beneficiary perspectives. A practice which has been lacking in such evaluation exercises. Furthermore, the guiding principles elucidated, bring to mind best practices to deal with issues such as stakeholder conflict, unreliable data elicitation and unethical assessment practices. The RICTP-PAF represents a fundamental tool for process assessments of rural ICT projects, and may be adopted and customized to various rural ICT project contexts in developing countries.

This thesis explores the contribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in rural development processes. Within the framework of social capital theory, and in the context of the information society, the study examines how the collaborative and innovative model of ICT for Development (ICT4D) can enhance social networks and information channels in rural communities, thereby enabling the active participation of rural community members in their own development processes. The study examines networks and information channels both within the rural communities under investigation and between these communities and other sectors in the society. The thesis studies the case of the Siyakhula Living Lab (SLL), an ICT4D initiative in the Mbashe Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. During the investigation, four types of networks were identified: local organisations, social institutions, collective community projects and social ties. It was found that the Living Lab has so far influenced the creation of new forms of networks through the common spaces (computer labs) which have been made available by the Living Lab. The study further showed that the use of computers has enabled other community members to partake in the wider community of online/virtual social networks, allowing them to communicate and share information with those outside their own communities. The study also showed that the Living Lab has enabled the networking of these communities with other sectors such as academia. It was, however, found that so far the existence of the Living Lab has not influenced the already existing local networks in these communities. Also, the study showed that the relationship between these rural communities and their government and industry partners as stakeholders in the Living Lab is currently ineffective. Nevertheless, this situation has a potential to change in the future as there are ICT applications which have been developed through collaboration with rural community members, which will assist in enhancing communication between these rural communities and other stakeholders. The study finally revealed that social networks do contribute to the functioning of communities by providing both monetary and social support to community members, even though, in effect, the monetary benefits are somewhat limited by a number of factors. It is revealed that the engagement of ICT could go a long way in improving social and economic activities, governance and service delivery, as well as education in these communities.

Abstract The subject of the present study is the changes to the operation processes of organisations in the field of health care that are based on the application of information and communication technology (ICT). The purpose of this dissertation is to supplement the present discussion in information system study’ research forums with regard to the role of ICT as an enabler of change in the health care work processes. The starting point for the study was to inquire about the qualitative and, to some extent, financial impact of operational changes by means of a socio-technical-economic process study. Using qualitative as well as statistical indicators, changes were mainly investigated from the perspective of health care professionals, but in part from that of customers. The cases described were used as a basis for discovering a new operational model for performing organisational tasks. By comparing the cases, the intention was to synthesise those similarities and differences that can be used when constructing a new framework. The present study makes a contribution by broadening, deepening and synthesising the understanding of health care processes in the process of a reflective description of individual cases. Services are produced through interactions between the service production process and end user process, and in this, the end user plays an important role. The purpose of process descriptions and analyses in coordination with health service professionals is to proactively develop services and support rational decision-making. The models and methods created as a result of this process can be seen to have a potential financial impact by lowering health service costs as well as an enhancing the effect of on-the-job satisfaction among health care professionals as they are enabled to plan their own work processes. Due to the rapid changes in the infrastructure, societal structures and the age of the population in Finland, the future holds great challenges for decision-makers in the field of health care. From the perspective of securing the resources for adequate, balanced and high-quality health services, investments in information technology seem lucrative. However, in order to avoid a productivity paradox, it must be noted that, in addition to new information technology, a gradual change in working habits, attitudes and sometimes even organisational culture is needed. In addition, it must be remembered that new technology does not erase these aspects of health care work – unless we want it to do so – but rather provides new forms and tools
Tiivistelmä Tutkimukseni aiheena oli tieto- ja viestintätekniikan (ICT) soveltamiseen perustuvat organisaatioiden toimintaprosessien uudistukset terveydenhuollossa. Väitöskirjassani halusin osaltani täydentää keskustelua, jota tietojärjestelmätieteiden tutkimusfoorumeilla on käyty ICT:n roolista terveydenhuollon työprosessien muutosten mahdollistajana. Tutkimukseni lähtökohtana oli sosioteknisen prosessitutkimuksen keinoin selvittää toimintauudistusten laadullista ja osin taloudellistakin vaikuttavuutta. Muutoksia arvioitiin pääasiassa henkilöstön, mutta myös osin asiakkaiden lähtökohdista, lähinnä laadullisten, mutta myös tilastollisten mittareiden avulla. Kuvaamieni tapausten lähtökohtana on ollut löytää uusi toimintamalli organisaation tehtävien suorittamiseksi. Vertaamalla tutkittavia tapauksia keskenään olen pyrkinyt syntetisoimaan ne yhteneväisyydet ja eroavaisuudet, joiden avulla on mahdollista rakentaa uusi viitekehys. Tutkimukseni kontribuoi sen ymmärryksen kautta, joka tapauskohtaisesti, reflektiivisesti muutoksia kuvaillen, tutkimuksen kuluessa avautuu, syventyy ja syntetisoituu. Palvelut tuotetaan palveluntuotantoprosessin ja käyttäjän prosessin vuorovaikutuksessa, ja siinä käyttäjän roolilla on merkittävä osuus. Prosessien kuvaamisella ja analysoinnilla yhdessä henkilökunnan kanssa on ollut tarkoituksena pyrkiä palveluiden proaktiiviseen kehittämiseen ja rationaalisten päätösten tukemiseen. Syntyneillä malleilla ja menetelmillä voidaankin katsoa olevan paitsi potentiaalinen taloudellinen merkitys terveydenhuollon palveluiden kustannusten alentamiseksi, myös vaikutusta henkilöstön työtyytyväisyyteen sen osallistuessaan oman työnsä suunniteluun. Infrastruktuurin, yhteiskuntarakenteiden samoin kuin väestömme ikärakenteen nopea muutos ja samalla kroonisten sairauksien lisääntyminen asettavat terveydenhuollon päättäjille tulevaisuudessa suuria haasteita. Riittävän, tasapuolisen ja laadukkaan hoidon resurssien turvaamiseksi investoinnit tietotekniikkaan kuulostavat houkuttelevilta. Jotta tuottavuusparadoksilta vältyttäisiin, on kuitenkin huomioitava, että uuden tietotekniikan lisäksi tarvitaan myös työtapojen, asenteiden, joskus jopa organisaatiokulttuurinkin asteittaista muutosta. On myös syytä muistaa, että uusi tekniikka antaessaan edellä mainituille ilmiöille uusia ilmenemismuotoja ja välineitä, ei kuitenkaan hävitä niitä, ellemme itse sitä halua

We live in the era in which the internet is now available on the majority of mobile phones at a very cheaper rate. This advancement in technology has created a boom in the use of mobile phone social networking as a primary communication tool - not only for individuals but also commonly used by professionals in most fields. The trends and growing usage of social networking via mobile phone indicate a potentially effective new platform for increasing production especially in agricultural sectors. In this age of information technology, farming communities can be empowered with the latest information and knowledge through mobile phone social networking to enhance agricultural development. The study investigates the use of mobile phone social networking as an extension tool in small-scale (emerging) farmers in selected farming communities in the Cacadu District Municipality of the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Specifically, the study investigates the use of available mobile phone social networks; what they are used for; and the importance and benefits of social networking both generally and to the farming communities. The study further identifies problems inhibiting the use of mobile phone social networking. Other channels through which the small-scale (emerging) farmers acquire agricultural information, aside from via mobile phone, and the type of agricultural information these farmers acquire, are also investigated. This study focuses on the use - and not the testing or adoption of - mobile phone social networking in small-scale (emerging) agriculture. In the exercise to investigate the use of social networking apps via mobile phone, data was collected from 40 small-scale (emerging) farmers using a purposive sampling method. This study used a survey design, exploratory and descriptive research methodologies. Data was captured by administering a questionnaire through personal face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics such as simple frequency tables, percentages and bar graphs were used. From the Chi-square testing, it was found that agricultural knowledge levels, internet access and size of production farm land influence the use of social networking by the small-scale (emerging) farmers. However, the result of this study showed that gender, age, other income and educational level of the small-scale (emerging) farmers are not statistically significant determinants of social networking use. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was found to be 0.95. To establish the strength of associations of the variables, Cramer’s V ranging between 0.04 and 0.9 (signifying relationships from negligible to very strong association) was used. The findings showed that different social networks are used by the farming communities, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Blackberry messenger, MXit, Twitter and YouTube. The various uses of these social networks by the farmers are discussed. The benefits and problems inhibiting their use are also outlined. Other sources of acquiring agricultural information by the farmers aside from social networking via mobile phone are examined. The result of the study shows that [agricultural extension officers, other farmers, farmers’ discussion groups, friends and family,] are major sources of agricultural information to the small-scale (emerging) farmers while other sources are television, radio, print media and result demonstrations. The study suggests that to enhance mobile phone social networking to ensure that timely and effective agricultural information is readily accessible to the small-scale (emerging) farmers. These include agricultural extension officers making optimal use of social networking via mobile phone, due to the strong interaction and trust between them and the farmers. This interaction can be instrumental in the effective use of this technology as a resourceful medium for accessing agricultural information to enhance productivity. Proper awareness and understanding of the potential and benefits of mobile social networking by the farmers will motivate the small-scale (emerging) farmers to use the technology for effective agricultural purposes. Also, ensuring the availability of agricultural information to small-scale (emerging) farmers by setting up on-line pages or websites to discuss matters of interest and educate and update farmers on agricultural issues should be encouraged. This may attract the younger generation and the youth to participate fully in agricultural activities - thereby enhancing agricultural development.

Esta tese aborda a temática das transformações sociais, econômicas e territoriais que ocorrem num contexto de intensificação do processo de globalização e a busca dos territórios locais (cidades e regiões) por sua inserção neste contexto. Entende-se aqui por transformação territorial processos de mudança na base econômica, que acabam por refletir nas condições sociais e de vida da população. Analogamente, quando se pensa numa transformação de um território para melhor, se pensa num processo de desenvolvimento. Quando este processo de transformação é realizado pela própria comunidade local ou regional, utilizando os seus próprios recursos e competências, chega-se ao desenvolvimento endógeno – nesta tese considerado como o pano de fundo para interpretar um caso específico. O desenvolvimento endógeno diz respeito um processo de crescimento econômico e de mudança estrutural que resulta na melhora da condição de vida da população local (VÁZQUEZ BARQUERO, 2001). Esta tese então é um estudo de caso realizado a partir de dados secundários, documentos e entrevistas; que tem como objeto a transformação da estrutura produtiva ocorrida, e que ainda vem ocorrendo, no Vale do Rio dos Sinos, a partir da década de 1990. O Vale dos Sinos é uma região localizada ao norte da Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RS), que foi berço da colonização alemã no Rio Grande do Sul no século XIX e onde se originou a indústria do couro e do calçado. O Vale já abrigou em seu território o maior aglomerado no mundo para a produção e exportação do calçado, em especial o feminino de couro Entretanto, a partir dos anos 1990, com o aumento da competição internacional, especialmente dos países exportadores asiáticos, e a valorização da moeda brasileira nos primeiros anos do Plano Real, houve uma crise que arrasou com a economia regional. A partir da crise, a região teve que encontrar alternativas. Identificar quais foram estas alternativas e como se deu esta mudança, ou seja, como ocorreu e ainda vem ocorrendo o processo de transformação econômica do Vale dos Sinos, a partir das mudanças ocorridas na estrutura produtiva regional desde a década de 90, visando identificar seus efeitos espaciais no território é objetivo principal desta tese. Para tanto, a tese caracteriza o Vale dos Sinos nas últimas décadas (1980, 1990, 2000 e 2010), a partir da sua estrutura produtiva regional; identifica e analisa os efeitos espaciais produzidos pelo processo de transformação no território do Vale; além de propor um framework teórico-metodológico para analisar processos locais / regionais de transformação econômica, embasado na teoria do desenvolvimento local endógeno. A partir da caracterização territorial realizada do Vale, verifica-se que há um processo de transformação em curso, que inicialmente pode ser percebido pela perda de representatividade da atividade industrial no valor agregado bruto da região, enquanto aumenta a importância das atividades de serviços Ao agregar dados de empregos, estabelecimentos e de exportações, observa-se que embora os empregos pareçam estar se deslocando da indústria para os serviços, nos estabelecimentos ainda prevalecem as atividades industriais. Também se nota uma migração nos segmentos produtivos industriais da região: ainda existe calçado no Vale com menor representatividade; a indústria metalmecânica é uma que ganhou espaço; e surgiram atividades características da financeirização. Ainda é possível observar o surgimento de um novo tipo de atividade econômica – a informática. Quanto aos efeitos espaciais, destacam-se: (a) a relocalização de plantas industriais deixando Novo Hamburgo; (b) o encarecimento do solo urbano, principalmente no centro e nos bairros mais centrais e melhor localizados de Novo Hamburgo e São Leopoldo; (c) estabelecimento de distintas estratégias do uso do solo nos municípios do Vale; e (d) a criação e a consolidação dos parques tecnológicos que geram um novo tipo de espaço urbano qualificado, para a instalação de empresas de base tecnológica. Finalmente, outra constatação: os resultados destas mudanças ainda não chegaram para toda população. Apesar do desenvolvimento econômico, a vida digna ainda é um desafio.
This thesis approaches the theme of the social, economic and territorial transformations that occur in a context of intensification of the globalization process and the search of the local territories (cities and regions) for their insertion in this context. It is understood here by territorial transformation processes of change in the economic base, which end up reflecting in the social and living conditions of the population. Similarly, when one thinks of a transformation of a territory for the better, one thinks of a process of development. When this process of transformation is carried out by the local or regional community itself, using its own resources and skills, we come to the endogenous development – in this thesis considered as the background to interpret a specific case. Endogenous development refers to a process of economic growth and structural change that results in the improvement of the living conditions of the local population (VÁZQUEZ BARQUERO, 2001). This thesis is then a case study based on secondary data, documents and interviews; which has as its object the transformation of the productive structure that has occurred in the Sinos Valley since the 1990s. The Sinos Valley is a region located north of the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre (RS), which was the cradle of German colonization in Rio Grande do Sul in the 19th century and where the leather and footwear industry originated. The Valley has already housed in its territory the largest cluster in the world for the production and export of footwear, especially the leather women. However, from the 1990s, with the raising of international competition, especially from the Asian exporting countries, and of the Brazilian currency appreciation in the early years of the Real Plan, there was a crisis that devastated the regional economy. From the crisis, the region had to find alternatives To identify what these alternatives were and how this change occurred, in other words, how the process of economic transformation of the Sinos Valley occurred and has been happening, based on changes in the regional productive structure since the 90s, in order to identify its effects space is the main objective of this thesis. For this, the thesis: characterizes the Sinos Valley in the last decades (1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010), from its regional productive structure; identifies and analyzes the spatial effects produced by the transformation process in the territory of the Valley; besides proposing a theoretical-methodological framework to analyze local / regional processes of economic transformation, based on the theory of endogenous local development. Based on the territorial characterization of the Valley, it is noted that there is a process of transformation in progress, which could initially be perceived by the loss of representativeness of the industrial activity in the gross value added of the region, while increasing the importance of activities services. By aggregating data of jobs, establishments and exports, it can be observed that although employment appears to be moving from industry to services, in the establishments still prevail the industrial establishments. Is also noted a migration in the productive segments of the industrial activities of the region: there is still footwear in the Valley, but with less representation; the metalworking industry is one that has gained space; and emerge activities characteristic of financialization It is still possible to observe the emergence of a new type of economic activity – information technology. Regarding the spatial effects, the following stand out:: (a) relocation of industrial plants leaving Novo Hamburgo; (b) the enhancement of urban land, mainly in downtown and in more central and better located districts of Novo Hamburgo and São Leopoldo, a fact that provoked a real estate valuation with significant verticalization of buildings; (c) establishment of different strategies for land use in the Vale's municipalities; and (d) the creation and consolidation of technology parks which create a new type of qualified urban space for the installation of technology-based companies. Finally, another finding: the results of this change have not yet reached the entire population. Despite economic development, a dignified life is still a challenge.
Esta tesis aborda la temática de las transformaciones sociales, económicas y territoriales que ocurren en un contexto de intensificación del proceso de globalización y la búsqueda de los territorios locales (ciudades y regiones) por su inserción en este contexto. Se entiende aquí por transformación territorial procesos de cambio en la base económica, que acaban por reflejar en las condiciones sociales y de vida de la población. Al mismo tiempo, cuando se piensa en una transformación de un territorio para mejor, se piensa en un proceso de desarrollo. Cuando este proceso de transformación es realizado por la propia comunidad local o regional, utilizando sus propios recursos y competencias, se llega al desarrollo endógeno – en esta tesis considerada como la base para interpretar un caso específico. El desarrollo endógeno se refiere a un proceso de crecimiento económico y de cambio estructural que resulta en la mejora de la condición de vida de la población local (VÁZQUEZ BARQUERO, 2001). Esta tesis entonces es un estudio de caso realizado a partir de datos secundarios, documentos y entrevistas; que tiene como objeto la transformación de la estructura productiva ocurrida, y que aún viene ocurriendo, en el Valle del Río de los Sinos, a partir de la década de 1990. El Valle de los Sinos es una región ubicada al norte de la Región Metropolitana de Porto Alegre (RS), origen de la colonización alemana en Rio Grande do Sul en el siglo XIX y donde se originó la industria del cuero y del calzado. El Valle ya abrigó en su territorio el mayor aglomerado en el mundo para la producción y exportación del calzado, en especial el femenino de cuero Sin embargo, a partir de los años 1990, con el aumento de la competencia internacional, especialmente de los países exportadores asiáticos, y la valorización de la moneda brasileña en los primeros años del Plan Real, hubo una crisis que arrasó con la economía regional. A partir de la crisis, la región tuvo que encontrar alternativas. Identificar cuáles fueron estas alternativas y cómo se dio este cambio, o sea, cómo ocurrió y aún viene ocurriendo el proceso de transformación económica del Valle de los Sinos, a partir de los cambios ocurridos en la estructura productiva regional desde la década de los 90, buscando identificar sus efectos espaciales en el territorio es objetivo principal de esta tesis. Para ello, la tesis caracteriza el Valle de los Sinos en las últimas décadas (1980, 1990, 2000 y 2010), a partir de su estructura productiva regional; identifica y analiza los efectos espaciales producidos por el proceso de transformación en el territorio del Valle; además de proponer un framework teórico-metodológico para analizar procesos locales / regionales de transformación económica, basado en la teoría del desarrollo local endógeno. A partir de la caracterización territorial realizada del Valle, se nota que hay un proceso de transformación en curso, que inicialmente puede ser percibido por la pérdida de representatividad de la actividad industrial en el valor agregado bruto de la región, mientras que aumenta la importancia de las actividades de servicios. Al agregar datos de empleos, establecimientos y de exportaciones, se observa que aunque los empleos parezcan desplazarse de la industria hacia los servicios, en los establecimientos aún prevalecen las actividades industriales También se nota una migración en los segmentos productivos industriales de la región: todavía existe calzado en el Valle, pero con menor representatividad; la industria metalmecánica es una que ha ganado espacio; y surgieron actividades características de la financierización. Aún es posible observar el surgimiento de un nuevo tipo de actividad económica – la informática. En cuanto a los efectos espaciales, se destacan: (a) la reubicación de plantas industriales dejando Novo Hamburgo; (b) el encarecimiento del suelo urbano, principalmente en el centro y en los barrios más centrales y mejor ubicados de Novo Hamburgo y São Leopoldo; (c) establecimiento de distintas estrategias del uso del suelo en los municipios del Valle; y (d) la creación y la consolidación de los parques tecnológicos que generan un nuevo tipo de espacio urbano calificado, para la instalación de empresas de base tecnológica. Finalmente, otra constatación: los resultados de este cambio aún no llegaron para toda la población. A pesar del desarrollo económico, la vida digna sigue siendo un reto.

D.Ing. (Engineering Management)
Promotion of ICT usage in developing countries, even under rigorous government initia- tives and policies, is a discouraging undertaking and a very di cult one. One of the many challenges government of developing countries is facing in the promotion of ICT adoption is how to incorporate a subsidy rate discount into a price model as expressed in the following sentiments: Until now, USAASA has used very little of the money in the USAF. It must justify its spending plans each year before it is given access to any of Information on how price a ects the number of users was generated by asking users on how much the spent on internet usage. The sensitivity of users was determined by asking users how many hours they spent on the internet. Analysis of the information gathered showed that there was a substantial amount of money in USAASA and ZICTA co ers which was not utilized. Furthermore users expressed desire to have their prices subsidized. In rural areas internet prices were more expensive, on comparative terms, than those in the urban areas. Analysis of data or results concerning the price and the number of users showed that there was a positive relationship between the number of users and the price of the internet service. The relationship showed that a low price attracted a lot of users, while a high price attracted few users or none at all. The mathematical analysis of the pricing model proved that at a certain subsidy discount rate and price sensitivity, the model was able to reach equilibrium while maximizing the ISP's revenue. In conclusion the price of internet services for the information \have nots" depend on the price sensitivity and the level of subsidy given by the government. the funds". \Universal access of ICT services with particular reference to rural areas is an issue that has been on the agenda of most countries in the whole world today. You are aware that while some countries are currently e ectively extending services to rural areas using various means, others have found this challenging and have ended up with unutilized funds in the banks". Subsidies, though seen as the means of promoting social and economic agendas in developing countries, can create the tragedies associated with public resources usage or something-for-nothing resources. Given a subsidy discount rate or a low price, consumers usually anticipate a net bene t derived from free resources due to subsidy. Anticipation of net a bene t from such resources may generate a damaging rush from consumers to exploit the resource, which may result in the tragedy of the commons. On the contrary, when no subsidy is given, consumers face no di erential between the perceived utility and the price of the resource creating a no social and pecuniary bene t to users, as such very few consumers or users will utilize the resource. The contribution this research develops is as follows: To show the extent of ICT usage patterns in developing countries.To determine why ICT usage in developing countries is low even under rigorous government initiatives and policies. To determine how price a ects the number of users using the internet resource. To incorporate a subsidy discount rate in a price model for unserved or rural areas of developing countries. To proposes a subsidy driven pricing framework that helps both the internet service providers and users to maximize their utilities and prevent the tragedies associated with resource use i.e. the tragedy of the commons and the tragedy of the anti- commons. To apply a non-cooperative game theoretic model to investigate the con ict between ISPs and consumers or consumers in a heterogeneous communities i.e. the infor- mation \haves" and \have-nots". We de ne utility-based decision rules for both providers and users under varying prices and subsidy requirements. We provide a decision model under a non-cooperative, incomplete-information game environment. To investigates the properties of the NE (under di erent optimization rules) and to study whether there exists an optimal solution to the game. The basic hypothesis that this research addresses is: A pricing model, with correct subsidy discount rate allows for better resource usage (preventing the tragedy of the commons and anti-commons) and makes the attainment of the objective of \ICT access for all" more likely. The methodology used for collecting statistical data was a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The purpose of research was to collect data that would later be used to propose a pricing framework for heterogeneous communities. The strategy was to use three important variables in the subsidy driven pricing model to validate the hypothesis i.e. subsidy discount rate, the relationship between price and the number of users and the sensitivity (elasticity of demand) of users towards price. Incorporation of subsidy discount rate into the pricing model was driven by the fact that institutional frameworks such as universal service and access agency of South Africa (USAASA) and the Zambia information and communications tech- nology authority (ZICTA) were sitting with unutilized universal service and access fund (USAF). Additionally, users of internet services in underserviced areas of the two countries advocated for subsidized prices towards internet provision.

The objective of this research is to analyze the extent to which the information and computer technology (ICT) industry in Winnipeg contributes to or detracts from the objectives of a particular economic theory of the whole community—namely, community economic development (CED). This was achieved by developing a CED framework for analysis, conducting a survey of ICT businesses in Winnipeg to gather the required data, and using the collected survey data to complete the analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that the ICT industry is contributing significantly more to some of the objectives of CED than it does to others.
October 2005

Please read the Abstract in the 00front part of this document. Copyright 2003, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Addo, GHK 2003, Utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) for education in South Africa : An examination of the world links for development (WorLD) programme, DPhil thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09192005-142901/ >
Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Information Science
unrestricted

Abstracts in English, Zulu and Xhosa
The information communication technology (ICT) sector has, arguably, grown in leaps and bounds over the years to assume a key role in every facet of economic activity. In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, the major policy preoccupation of governments is how to harness ICT to spur economic growth. As such, the principal objective of this study was to examine the impact of adopting ICT on the development of African stock exchanges, determine whether ICT adoption and stock market development are co-integrated, and establish any causal links between ICT adoption and stock market development. The study examined a panel of 11 African stock exchanges for the period 2008-2017 and employed various econometric techniques to test its objectives. The dependent variable for this study was stock market development, while the independent variable was ICT adoption. The control variables employed were financial freedom and economic growth proxied by gross domestic product. In its findings, the study established that the adoption of ICT has a positive and statistically significant effect on the number of listed companies, stock market capitalisation and the total value of shares traded at the selected African stock exchanges. Hence, as an economy turns out to be progressively ICT-situated, expanded access to and utilisation of ICT advances, thus improving a nation's financial economy. Secondly, it established that ICT adoption and the stock market are cointegrated and positively related in the long run. The results further indicated a bi-directional causal relationship (complementarity) between ICT adoption and stock market development. In essence, ICT adoption and stock market development reinforce each other. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in a number of ways. This is the first study to examine the phenomenon of ICT-stock market nexus employing a panel study. Moreover, the study employed a robust methodology underpinned by using indices to proxy ICT and stock market development. Thirdly, unlike other studies on this topic, this study did not just end with the first inquiry of a deterministic relationship, but also probed for co-integration of the series tested for causality and proffers policy advice. The findings of the research imply that policymakers should be more resolute when formulating ICT policies that can drive stock market development for better economic growth and for better integration with other African stock exchanges.
Umkhakha wezethekinoloji yelwazi kanye nokuthintana (ICT) ngaphandle kokuphikiswa, ukhule wandlondlobala eminyakeni edlulileko ukobana uthome ukudlala indima eqakathekileko kiyo yoke imisebenzi yezomnotho. Ekuthomeni kwamatjhuguluko wesine wezamabubulo, into ekulu yokuthoma ngomthethomgomo karhulumende kuqala ukobana ihlelo le-ICT lingasetshenziswa bunjani ukobana lihlumise umnotho. Ngakho-ke, umnqopho omkhulu werhubhululo leli bekukuhlola umthintela wokutjhugulukela ku-ICT mayelana nokuthuthukiswa kwemaraga ye-Afrika yezokutjhentjhiselana ngamatjhezi, ukuqinisekisa ukuthi mhlambe ukutjhugulukela ku-ICT kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwemaraga yamatjhezi kungahlanganiswa na, begodu nokuhloma nginanyana ngiliphi itjhebiswano phakathi kokutjhugulukela kwi-ICT kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwemaraga yamatjhezi. . Irhubhululo belihlola iphanele yeemaraga ezili-11 zokutjhentjhiselwana mwamatjhezi esikhathini esiphakathi kuka 2008-2017 begodu lisebenzise iindlela ezahlukeneko zokumeda umnotho ukobana ihlole iminqopho yayo. Ivarebuli engakazijameli yerhubhululweli bekukuthuthukiswa kweemaraga zamatjhezi, kanti ivarebuli ezijameleko yona bekukutjhugulukela ku-ICT. Amavarebuli asetjenziswe ngeemedo kube kukhululeka ngokweemali nangokuhlumisa umnotho lokhu okukhambisana nomkhiqizo woke wangekhaya wenarha. Kilokho okutholwe lirhubhululo, irhubhululo lithole ukuthi ukutjhugulukela kwi-ICT kunomthelela omuhle khulu nokuqakatheka ngokwamanani phezu kwembalo yeenkhamphani ezitloliswe ngaphasi kwemaraga yokutjhentjhisana ngamatjhezi, phezu kokuqiniswa ngeemali kwemaraga yamatjhezi kanye nenani loke lamatjhezi athengiswa eemaraga ezikethiweko zamatjhezi ze-Afrika. Yeke-ke, njengombana ituthuko yomnotho ibonakala idzimelele phezu kwe-ICT, njengombana ukutholakala kanye nokusetjenziswa kwetuthuko ye-ICT, kanti lokho kuthuthukisa umnotho wezeemali wenarha. . Kwesibili, irhubhululo likghonile ukubona ukuthi ukutjhugulukela ku-ICT kanye neemarageni zamatjhezi kuzizinto ezihlangeneko nezihlobene ngendlela ehle esikhathini eside. Imiphumela iragele phambili nokuveza itjhebiswano elinikela indlela (complementarity) phakathi kokutjhugulukela ku-ICT kanye nekuthuthukisweni kweemaraga zamatjhezi. . Eqinisweni, ngokutjhugulukela ku-ICT neemarageni zamatjhezi kuyaziqinisa lezi zinto. Leli rhubhululo lifaka isandla kuziko lelwazi ngeendlela ezinengi. Leli kulirhubhululo lokuthoma elihlola indaba yethintano lemaraga yamatjhezi elisebenzisa irhubhululo lephaneli. Ngaphezu kwalokho, irhubhululo lisebenzisa indlela ekhutheleko esekelwa kusebenzisa amatshwayo ku-ICT esekelako kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwemaraga yamatjhezi. Kwesithathu, lokhu kuhlukile kamanye amarhubhululo amalungana nalesi sihloko, leli rhubhululo akhange aphelele nje ngokuthoma ukubuza itjhebiswano elivezako, kanti begodu leli rhubhululo belihlola ukuhlanganiswa ndawonye komlandelande ehlolwe ukudala ubujamo begodu nokunikela isiyeleliso somthethomgomo. Okutholwe lirhubhululo kutjho bona abenzi bomthethomgomo kufanele baqalisise khulu lokha nabatlama imithethomgomo ye-ICT leyo engakhozelela ituthuko yeemaraga zamatjhezi ukobana kuhlume umnotho begodu nokuhlanganiswa ncono neemaraga ze-Afrika zokutjhentjhana ngamatjhezi.
Icandelo leTheknoloji yoNxibelelwano loLwazi(i-ICT) nelinokuphikiswa, likhule kakhulu ngokukhawuleza eminyakeni egqithileyo ekudlaleni indima ephambili kwiinkalo zonke zemisebenzi yezoqoqosho. Ukuvela kwenguqu yesine yezoshishino, owona mgaqo-nkqubo uphambili koorhulumente ngowokufumana iindlela zokudibanisa ezobuchwepheshe ukukhuthaza uhlumo kwezoqoqosho. Kunjalo, injongo ephambili kolu phononongo ibikukuhlola impembelelo yokusebenzisa/ yokwamkela i-ICT kuphuhliso lotshintshiselwano lweempahla zase-Afrika, ukuhlola ukuba ukwamkelwa kwe-ICT kunye nophuhliso lweemarike zidityanisiwe, kunye nokumisa naliphi na ikhonco lonxibelelwano lonobangela phakathi kokwamkelwa kwe-ICT kunye nophuhliso lwemarike yotshintshiselwano lwempahla Uphononongo lwahlola iphaneli ezili-11 zotshintshiselwano lwempahla eAfrika kwisithuba sowama-2008 kuya ku-2017 kwaye kwasetyenziswa uthotho lweendlela zobugcisa kwezoqoqosho ukuvavanya iinjongo zalo. Into eguqukayo yoxhomekeko kolu phando yayikuphuhlisa imarike yesitokhwe, ngelixa okwakuyinto ezimeleyo yayikukwamkela i-ICT. Izinto eziguquguqukayo ezilawulwayo ezazisetyenziswa yayiyinkululeko yezemali nokukhula koqoqosho okwakucaciswa ngemveliso yasekhaya ngokubanzi. Kwiziphumo zalo zophando, lufumanise ukuba ukusetyenziswa kwe-ICT kunefuthe elilungileyo elibonakalayo ngokwamanani kwiinkampani ezidwelisiweyo, ukurhweba kwimarike yesitokhwe kunye nexabiso elipheleleyo lezabelo ezithengiswa kwiimarike zesitokhwe zotshintshiselwano ezikhethiweyo zase- Afrika.. Ngenxa yoko, njengoko uqoqosho luguquka ngokuqhubekekayo luba kwimeko ye ICT lwandise ukufikeleleka kunye nokusetyenziswa kwenkqubela phambili ye-ICT, ngaloo ndlela iphucula uqoqosho lwezimali lukazwelonke. Okwesibini, yafumanisa ukuba ukwamkelwa kwe-ICT kunye nemarike yesitokhwe kudityanisiwe kwaye ziya kusebenzisana kakuhle ekuhambeni kwexesha. Iziphumo zaye zaphinda zabonisa ubudlelwane bozalwano macala (ukuphelelisa) phakathi kokwamkelwa kwe-ICT kunye nophuhliso lwemarike yotshintshiselwano/yesitokhwe. Ngokubalulekileyo, ukwamkelwa kwe-ICT kunye nophuhliso lweemarike kwenza zomelezane. Olu phando lunegalelo kulwazi oluninzi olukhoyo ngeendlela ezininzi. Olu luphando lokuqala ukuvavanya uthotho lwamakhonco emarike yesitokwe ye-ICT-isebenzisa iiphaneli zophando. Ngaphaya koko, uphononongo lusebenzise indlela engqongqo exhaswa kukusebenzisa izalathiso (indices) zomelwano kwi-ICT kunye nophuhliso lwemarike. Okwesithathu, ngokungafaniyo nolunye uphando olwenziweyo kwesi sihloko, olu phononongo aluphelanga nje kuphando lwangaphambili olwalungobudlelwane lwezigqibo (zokuzimisela), kodwa lwaphinda lwaphandela ukuhlanganiswa kothotho oluvavanyiweyo lonobangela kunye nokuphakamisa ingcebiso yomgaqo-nkqubo. Iziphumo zophando zithetha ukuba abaqulunqi bemigaqo-nkqubo kufuneka bazimisele ngakumbi xa besenza imigaqo-nkqubo ye-ICT enokuqhubela phambili ukuphuculwa kwemakethi yesitokhwe ukwenzela ukukhulisa uqoqosho olungcono kunye nokusebenzisana kakuhle nezinye iimarike zotshintshiselwano zaseAfrika.
Business Management
D. Admin. (Business Management)

M.Comm. (Business Management)
This research paper is a study of the effectiveness of knowledge sharing within the communities of practice (CoPs) in a financial institution in South Africa. Specifically, the focus is on investigating the requirements for establishing CoPs that share knowledge effectively within this organisation. This was achieved through understanding the current state of knowledge sharing within the CoPs, identifying critical factors for effectively sharing knowledge and thereafter determining reasons for a CoP not being effective in sharing knowledge. The results showed that there is still a long way to go to ensure the effectiveness of knowledge sharing through CoPs. The CoPs within this financial institution are informal in nature, and therefore not necessarily given the attention that they deserve. Time used for CoPs is not maximised effectively, which reduces the chances of their effectiveness and improvement of productivity. Lack of effective system infrastructure to support knowledge sharing is also a massive challenge for the CoPs, as is not having virtual Cops to reduce challenges faced in the use of face-to-face CoPs. The literature review in chapter 2 of this paper covers the importance of the role of technology in supporting knowledge sharing, which is supportive to this finding.

One of the key challenges in information and communication technologies for socio-economic development (ICT4D) is that the contribution of ICT to development is difficult to describe and assess. This is particularly true when looking beyond the immediate context of an ICT4D project, to its impact on the larger social system within which the project is introduced. This problem can benefit from a systems approach. Systems thinking is concerned with the performance of the total system, when changes are made to a part of the system. Systems thinking recognises that the performance of a subsystem relative to its own goals does not necessarily lead to increased performance of the larger system. However, in the field of ICT4D, systems approaches are seldom used, and appropriate ways to describe and assess a social system are lacking. The study aims to contribute theoretically as well as empirically to the social systems body of knowledge in ICT4D. A particular social systems approach or framework is developed, based on structuration theory and autopoiesis. The framework is attractive because it provides a way to describe and assess the sustainability and state of development of the total system. The theoretical component of the thesis concerns the development of a social systems framework. This is done in a conceptual study that draws on systems literature and social theory. The empirical component concerns the application of the systems framework in an ICT4D case study. A descriptive, longitudinal case study is performed in a rural settlement in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Data is collected by means of interviews and participant observation during several visits to the settlement. Data analysis is done making use of the concepts in the systems framework. The result of the data analysis is a description of the larger social systems where the ICT4D project is implemented, as systems served, and the ICT4D project, as serving system. By studying the mutual influences between the serving system and systems served, the contribution to socio-economic development of the serving system is assessed. The study’s research contribution is to indicate how a social systems framework can be used to assess an ICT4D project’s contribution to the socio-economic development of the social systems it serves.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Informatics
unrestricted

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree: Master of Technology: Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017.
Different social classes of people in South Africa are divided, digitally. This phenomenon manifests as a disparity of information in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), which is a matter of concern, as the use of ICT is acknowledged to greatly influence the world today, more specifically so in rural areas. An investigation to determine which factors affect rural communities’ access to information, as well as progress levels that can be realised in the support means employed by people resident in rural areas, through introducing ICT’s in their day-to-day living, thus addresses the purported ‘digital divide’. The study’s population was drawn from the Dibate Village community, located in Mmabatho in Mafikeng, South Africa. Recommendations from the findings, point out how ICT facilities can be utilised in the development of rural communities, not just socially but also economically. As main objective, the study evaluates and examines the use of ICT facilities for commercial activities, in uplifting the rural community in the area of Dibate Village. This study is of value to governmental and non-governmental organisations where improving both socio-economic development and service delivery is concerned, in South Africa’s rural areas.
M

This dissertation is about the role of institutions in bridging the Digital Divide. Its thesis is that governments must encourage the consistently increased use of information and communications technology (“ICT”) if they hope to foster sustained economic growth. Superficially, the Digital Divide describes differences in ICT usage between rich and poor nations, but it is more profoundly concerned with poor nations’ integration into a global economy. Intensive academic study demonstrates that four factors are critical to the relationship between ICT usage and economic growth: institutions; telecommunications infrastructure; investment in ICT; and human capital. The dissertation addresses three perceived shortcomings in the literature. First, proponents of institutions’ importance use the term vaguely, often obscuring important distinctions between policies, laws and institutions, thereby inhibiting detailed analysis. Second, many writers see the institutional reform needed for growth as an exceedingly slow process due to factors beyond governments’ control. Third, the literature does not adequately address which institutions are salient to the relationship between ICT usage and economic growth or how to create them. The dissertation attributes more precise meanings to key terms and contests the view that institutional reform can only proceed at a glacial pace. Its primary goal, however, is to identify specific institutions that help mediate the relationship and to suggest how they might be built relatively quickly. Good institutions can create the enabling environment that allows for the building of telecommunications infrastructure, investment in ICT goods and services and the development of human capital to lead to economic growth. The analysis of institutions identifies several salient institutions and concludes that the manner in which they are designed often determines their effectiveness. Case studies of Singapore and Malaysia examine their successful, but divergent, development paths. Their different rates of development can be attributed, in part, to the quality of their institutions.

Yes
As big data (BD) and data analytics gain significance in Europe, the industry expects that executives will eventually move towards evidence based decision making, and consequently would build sustainable competitive advantages for their organisations. Therefore, the lessons learned from experiences of European executives can be key for human development and also economic development. However, it also seems that in some cases decision makers in Europe seem to not use business intelligence systems at all. Since, executives are intelligent human beings with credible and proven expertise, it seems to raise a question mark on effectiveness of business intelligence systems, and the potential it has in human and economic development. Furthermore, repeated evaluation of literature pointed out that ultimately executives in Europe make decisions by intuition, and this leads to the question whether big data would ever replace intuition. In this paper, the mind-sets of executives about application and limitations of big data have been explored, by taking into account the cognitive factors in decision making. By using this, it is evaluated whether BD technologies can use to accelerate intuition development of the executives, and consequently lead to faster and sustainable economic development in the developing world.

This thesis contributes to the ongoing global discourse in ICT4D on ICT and its effect on socio-economic development in both theory and practice. The thesis comprises five studies presented logically from chapters 5 to 9. The thesis employs Mixed Methods research methodology within the Critical Realist epistemological perspective in Information Systems Research. Studies 1-4 employ different quantitative research and analytical methods while study 5 employs a qualitative research and analytical method. Study 1 proposes and operationalizes a predictive analytics framework in Learning Analytics by using a case study of the Computer Science Department of the University of Jos, Nigeria. Multiple Linear Regression was used with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) analysis tool. Statistical Hypothesis testing was then used to validate the model with a 5% level of significance. Results show how predictive learning analytics can be successfully operationalized and used for predicting students’ academic performances. In Study 2 the relative efficiency of ICT infrastructure utilization with respect to the educational component of the Human Development Index (HDI) is investigated. A Novel conceptual model is proposed and the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology is used to measure the relative efficiency of the components of ICT infrastructure (Inputs) and the components of education (Outputs). Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression Analysis is used to determine the effect of ICT infrastructure on Educational Attainment/Adult Literacy Rates. Results show a strong positive effect of ICT infrastructure on educational attainment and adult literacy rates, a strong correlation between this infrastructure and literacy rates as well as provide a theoretical support for the argument of increasing ICT infrastructure to provide an increase in human development especially within the educational context. In Study 3 the relative efficiency and productivity of ICT Infrastructure Utilization in Education are examined. The research employs the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Malmquist Index (MI), well established non-parametric data analysis methodologies, applied to archival data on International countries divided into Arab States, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and World regions. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression analysis is applied to determine the effect of ICT infrastructure on Adult Literacy Rates. Findings show a relatively efficient utilization and steady increase in productivity for the regions but with only Europe and the Arab States currently operating in a state of positive growth in productivity. A strong positive effect of ICT infrastructure on Adult Literacy Rates is also observed. Study 4 investigates the efficiency and productivity of ICT utilization in public value creation with respect to Adult Literacy Rates. The research employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Malmquist Index (MI), well established non-parametric data analysis methodologies, applied to archival data on International countries divided into Arab States, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and World regions. Findings show a relatively efficient utilization of ICT in public value creation but an average decline in productivity levels. Finally, in Study 5 a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) on the UNDP Human Development Research Reports from 2010-2016 is carried out to determine whether or not any public value is created or derived from the policy directions being put forward and their subsequent implementations. The CDA is operationalized by Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action (TCA). Findings show that Public Value is indeed being created and at the core of the policy directions being called for in these reports.
School of Computing
Ph.D. (Information Systems)

Abstract Developing countries are net importers of intellectual property products and open source software (OSS) production is one way in which local socio-economic development can take place. The public goods characteristics of OSS are contested and this study investigates whether in a developing country context OSS is a pure public good that can be locally appropriated and not exclude any users or producers from doing so. This case study of an OSS public good finds that it does not have all the characteristics of a pure good, that there is a role for a sponsor, and in particular the importance of copyright protection of derivatives in order to ensure that the source code does not fall out of fashion and use. Having explored that, however, there is further evidence that OSS collaborative learning is both publically and personally beneficial for developing country computer programmers. Furthermore, the state benefits from the improved benefits of health information systems made possible through the appropriation of this model of learning.

A presente dissertação aborda a questão das políticas para o progresso e utilização das TIC com vista a contribuírem para o desenvolvimento social e económico de Angola. A principal estratégia do ponto de vista político foi a criação do Ministério das Telecomunicações e Tecnologias de Informação. Esta instituição defini programas, estratégias e mecanismos que visam incentivar e facilitar a utilização das TIC nos sectores económico e produtivo, na educação, na saúde, na administração pública e noutros sectores e actividades. E por outro lado como resultado da utilização das referidas tecnologias, o país pretende ascender à sociedade de informação. Para se alcançar estes resultados toma-se algumas medidas como a disposição e proposição de recursos tecnológicos, humanos e financeiros. Apresentamos alguns resultados alcançados como o crescimento de utilizadores da internet e telemóvel, uso da internet pelas algumas instituições públicas e privadas e o crescimento e expansão do sector das TIC. Apresentamos a título de exemplo as actividades da INFRASAT empresa pública especializada em telecomunicações por satélite. Apesar do esforço existem problemas que condicionam a referida ambição do governo, como os índices da pobreza, assimetrias regionais em termos de tecnologias e infraestruturas disponíveis, problemas ligados a sistema de ensino e os elevados custos dos serviços das telecomunicações no país.
This dissertation addresses the issue of policies for the advancement and use of ICT in order to contribute to social and economic development of Angola. The main strategy of the political point of view was the creation of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology. This institution defined programs, strategies and mechanisms designed to encourage and facilitate the use of ICT in economic and productive sectors, in education, health and public administration and other sectors and activities. And secondly as a result of the use of these technologies the country plans to ascend to the Information Society. To achieve these results take up some measures such as the provision of proposition and technological resources, human and financial. . We present some results as the growth of Internet users and mobile phone, internet use by some in the public and private institutions and the growth and expansion of the ICT sector. Here is an example of the activities Infrasat public company specializing in satellite telecommunications. Despite the effort there are problems that may make the government's ambition that, as the indices of poverty, regional disparities in terms of technology and infrastructure available, problems related to the education system and the high cost of telecommunications services in the country.