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Makitla, Mokone Ishmael. "A conceptual model of an access-technology-agnostic delivery mechanism for ICT4D services." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019756.
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Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) is an emerging research area that is concerned with the beneficial applications of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to achieve developmental goals. ICT4D is thus concerned with designing and developing innovative technologies for resource-constrained environments for applications in key areas of social development such as health, agriculture and education. The ICT4D initiatives, therefore, are driving three main tasks, namely developing the required infrastructure (connectivity, electricity and computing devices) sustainably, building the required ICT human capacity, and providing access to digital content and services. Each of these three main thrusts necessitates innovation. This study addresses the evident lack of delivery mechanisms to facilitate access to digital content and services to end-users through the technologies that these end-users already possess. This lack of innovative delivery mechanisms is both an impediment to achieving equitable access to digital content and service and an opportunity to innovate. Therefore, drawing from the theoretical background of ICT4D, this study develops a set of technical and socio-technical requirements that the missing delivery mechanisms should satisfy. The study also explores the Service Delivery Platform (SDP) concept as a technically viable basis for the required delivery mechanisms. The study then develops a conceptual model of an Access-Technology-Agnostic Delivery Mechanism as a possible delivery mechanism that facilitates equitable access to digital content and services within an ICT4D context. The relevance of the conceptual model is established and, through a prototype implementation, the technical feasibility and utility of the conceptual model is demonstrated. The conceptual model is demonstrated through a proof of concept implementation using standards-based open source technologies. The proof of concept clearly demonstrates that the access-technology-agnostic delivery of digital content and services is achievable, thus making the same service accessible through different access technologies. In developing the Access-Technology-Agnostic Delivery Mechanism, this study contributes through innovation to providing access to digital content and services in an access-technology-agnostic manner.
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Thinyane, Mamello P. "A knowledge-oriented, context-sensitive architectural framework for service deployment in marginalized rural communities." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004843.
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The notion of a global knowledge society is somewhat of a misnomer due to the fact that large portions of the global community are not participants in this global knowledge society which is driven, shaped by and socio-technically biased towards a small fraction of the global population. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is culture-sensitive and this is a dynamic that is largely ignored in the majority of ICT for Development (ICT4D) interventions, leading to the technological determinism flaw and ultimately a failure of the undertaken projects. The deployment of ICT solutions, in particular in the context of ICT4D, must be informed by the cultural and socio-technical profile of the deployment environments and solutions themselves must be developed with a focus towards context-sensitivity and ethnocentricity. In this thesis, we investigate the viability of a software architectural framework for the development of ICT solutions that are context-sensitive and ethnocentric1, and so aligned with the cultural and social dynamics within the environment of deployment. The conceptual framework, named PIASK, defines five tiers (presentation, interaction, access, social networking, and knowledge base) which allow for: behavioural completeness of the layer components; a modular and functionally decoupled architecture; and the flexibility to situate and contextualize the developed applications along the dimensions of the User Interface (UI), interaction modalities, usage metaphors, underlying Indigenous Knowledge (IK), and access protocols. We have developed a proof-of-concept service platform, called KnowNet, based on the PIASK architecture. KnowNet is built around the knowledge base layer, which consists of domain ontologies that encapsulate the knowledge in the platform, with an intrinsic flexibility to access secondary knowledge repositories. The domain ontologies constructed (as examples) are for the provisioning of eServices to support societal activities (e.g. commerce, health, agriculture, medicine) within a rural and marginalized area of Dwesa, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The social networking layer allows for situating the platform within the local social systems. Heterogeneity of user profiles and multiplicity of end-user devices are handled through the access and the presentation components, and the service logic is implemented by the interaction components. This services platform validates the PIASK architecture for end-to-end provisioning of multi-modal, heterogeneous, ontology-based services. The development of KnowNet was informed on one hand by the latest trends within service architectures, semantic web technologies and social applications, and on the other hand by the context consideration based on the profile (IK systems dynamics, infrastructure, usability requirements) of the Dwesa community. The realization of the service platform is based on the JADE Multi-Agent System (MAS), and this shows the applicability and adequacy of MAS’s for service deployment in a rural context, at the same time providing key advantages such as platform fault-tolerance, robustness and flexibility. While the context of conceptualization of PIASK and the implementation of KnowNet is that of rurality and of ICT4D, the applicability of the architecture extends to other similarly heterogeneous and context-sensitive domains. KnowNet has been validated for functional and technical adequacy, and we have also undertaken an initial prevalidation for social context sensitivity. We observe that the five tier PIASK architecture provides an adequate framework for developing context-sensitive and ethnocentric software: by functionally separating and making explicit the social networking and access tier components, while still maintaining the traditional separation of presentation, business logic and data components.
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Elsheikh, Yousef M. A. "A model for the Adoption and Implementation of Web-based Government services and applications. A Study Based in Grounded Theory Validated by Structural Equation Modelling Analysis in a Jordanian Context." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5378.
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Among the many promises of the revolution in the information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly the Internet, continues to be its potential to significantly transform governments around the world. This transformation is referred to as e-government or web-based government, often used interchangeably in most of the IS literature. Despite these however, the level of adoption and use of such innovation is still low and does not meet expectations in developing countries in general and Jordan in particular. Yet, existing research on the adoption and implementation of e-government in developing countries is still lacking explanatory power for the following reasons: 1) focusing either on the supply-side, or on the demand-side separately to study the adoption and implementation of e-government, and therefore there is no enough research on the integration between them as a single phenomenon, and 2) focusing on the results of previous research, and therefore not to develop theories fit the new context to be investigated to understand the relationship between the IT implementation and social structures in the same context. This research aims to fill these gaps through the use of a holistic approach to enable in-depth understanding and gain valuable insights on the adoption and implementation of e-government from multiple perspectives, and in the real context of a developing country, namely Jordan. This would reduce the gap between government strategies and policies related to implementation of e-government services and applications on the one hand, and perceptions of citizens on the other hand, allowing a better understanding of the needs of citizens and the priorities that must be taken into account by governments in order to ensure the success of such projects on a large scale. Through two phases, this research proposes and empirically tests an integrated model of the determinants of adoption and implementation of e-government services and applications in Jordan. The first phase employs a grounded theory methodology for the development of the research model, as well as the survey instruments necessary to test the model. The second phase employs a survey questionnaire to test the research model using multivariate and SEM with the results demonstrating support for the proposed model. The empirical results indicate that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and the security of e-government systems are no longer among the main determinants that affect the decision to adopt and implement e-government services and applications in this particular context. This confirms that the prevailing models and theories on the adoption of IT do not apply equally to the context of developing countries such as Jordan, and thus do not explain and predict behaviour toward the adoption and implementation of e-government services and applications in the same context. There is a direct and positive relationship between citizen involvement in the change process towards e-government and the decision to adopt and implement e-government services and applications. There is also a strong positive relationship between the decision to adopt and implement e-government services and applications and the decision to use such services and applications within the same context. Unexpectedly, the prevailing sociocultural determinants indicate a direct and positive relationship with the decision to adopt and implement e-government services and applications in the same context. Also, the results indicate direct and negative relationships between citizen trust and website design issues with the decision to adopt and implement e-government services and applications. Finally, the research concludes by highlighting the theoretical and practical implications, limitations and future directions.
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Xiao, Wenbin. "Determinants of new technology-based firms performance in catch-up regions evidence from the u.s. biopharmaceutical and it service industries 1996-2005 /." Diss., unrestricted, 2008. http://etd.gsu.edu/theses/available/etd-07092008-164934/.
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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).
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Kwabiah, William Archibold. "Small Business Strategies for Information Technology Implementation in Developing Countries." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7309.
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Leaders of small businesses need dynamic capabilities created through careful implementation of information technologies (ITs) to enhance efficiency, performance, and output. The purpose of this multicase study was to explore strategies leaders of small businesses used in developing countries to implement ITs for improved business performance. The framework for this study was the technology, organization, and environment model. The sample population consisted of 10 leaders of small businesses located in the Accra region of Ghana. The study participants had at least 5 years of experience working with small businesses that implemented IT. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and review of companies' strategic and project plans. The data analysis process included methodological triangulation, coding, the identification and congregation of themes, and the interpretation of inferences. Five themes emerged: top management support for IT implementation, investment in appropriate IT infrastructures, engaging in appropriate IT knowledge and skills training, creating an organizational culture of IT acceptance, and embracing legal and regulatory frameworks for IT. Findings from this study might assist leaders of small businesses in gaining insights into key IT strategies required for improving small business survivability. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to facilitate employment generation and reduce poverty in developing countries by improving small business performance.
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Wong, Hon-ho, and 黃漢浩. "Analytical models for the assessment of information technology on sustainable electrification." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2000. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B3122362X.
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Hanks, James David. "The development of cattle information systems for livestock services in developing countries." Thesis, University of Reading, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.317961.
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Andemariam, Kifleyesus. "Information technology policy & management in developing countries : the case of Eritrea /." [S.l. : s.n.], 1999. http://www.gbv.de/dms/sub-hamburg/303971908.pdf.
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Osman, Mohd Nizam. "Information and communication technology policies in developing countries : the case of Malaysia." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.418451.
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Loubier, Christine. "Les technologies de l'information dans les pays en voie de développement : regard particulier sur l'électronique et le commerce." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=33362.
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Knowledge is the key to growth and development. Unfortunately, the knowledge gap which exists between industrialized countries and developing ones is large. As information technologies play an essential role in the movement of knowledge and information, they hold promise for the reduction of this gap. Information technologies are being introduced progressively in all activities of both the public and private sectors. Business organizations and commercial activities are thus being profoundly transformed, at varying levels and by different instruments. Developing countries cannot afford to be left behind in this information revolution. The international community recognizes this, and has instituted a range of programmes promoting electronic commerce in developing countries. However, to maximize the benefits, developing countries must put in place an environment that favours and promotes the acquisition, absorption and communication of knowledge by their citizens and business enterprises.
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Agangiba, Millicent Akotam. "Accessibility of E-government Services for Persons with Disabilities in Developing Countries- The Case of Ghana." Doctoral thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32186.
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Several benefits have been attributed to E-government, including the potential to promote independence and belongingness for persons with disabilities (PWD) by enhancing participatory and inclusive governance. Hitherto, government services that required several and long journeys followed by long queues waiting for service at government offices can now be accessed online irrespective of the geographical location via E-government services. As a result, developing countries like Ghana continue to commit resources to the implementation of E-government to harness the associated benefits. Accessibility has been acknowledged, by both practitioners and those in academia, as a key consideration to prevent disparities among citizens which may put PWD at risk of exclusion. However, providing solutions to accessibility challenges for PWD has consistently proven difficult in most E-government implementation projects in developing countries. Therefore, this study investigates the accessibility of Egovernment services for PWD in Ghana with the aim of identifying how key E-government stakeholders perceive accessibility and the contextual drivers that lead to the exclusion of PWD in the development of E-government services. Also, this study seeks to understand if and how these stakeholders and contextual drivers reinforce the exclusionary process. The study employed an interpretive, inductive approach, with sensitising concepts from Egovernment accessibility literature, and the social exclusion framework. Multiple data collection methods were used, namely; observations as a preliminary step to obtaining a better understanding of how the visually impaired use ICTs; interviews as the primary data collection technique from 37 participants; and document analysis. The study involved 3 groups of participants: the visually impaired, E-government web developers and government officers. Data analysis was carried out in two phases- firstly thematic analysis was used to report on perceptions of government officers and developers on accessibility and the experiences of PWD. Contextual drivers impeding accessibility and affecting accessibility experience of PWD were also derived from the thematic analysis. Secondly, E-government and disability policy documents mentioned in interview discussions were analysed using content analysis. The findings of the content analysis were used to validate, clarify and to conduct post-interview checking. The findings show that government officers and developers play a key role in the development of E-government services. Whilst Government officers and developers were identified as powerful agents whose practices determined the accessibility of services that were developed; PWD were side-lined and not involved in the E-government development project. Also, perceptions of government officers and developers on accessibility vary from those of PWD. While government officers and developers believe that with little assistance from third parties PWD can access E-government services, PWD perceive accessibility should offer them the independence to retrieve government information and engage in electronic transactions of their choice. Evidently, accessibility perceptions of E-government implementers differ from that of PWD. Further, the findings show that exclusion of PWD from E-government services is as a result of the intertwining of several contextual drivers, including political, socio-cultural, technological and personal. Political, socio-cultural and technological drivers influence the perceptions and practices of government officers and developers and determine their responses to the accessibility needs of PWD. Personal drivers limit the capabilities of PWD to access Egovernment services and impact on their accessibility experiences. Contextual drivers independently facilitate the exclusion of PWD; however, their interactions with government officers and developers shape their perceptions and constitute crucial exclusionary forces. These exclusionary forces when fed into the development of E-government services reinforce the exclusion of PWD. Given that personal drivers limit the capabilities of PWD, their inabilities to act as change agents reinforce their exclusion. Moreover, power differentials among stakeholders play a vital role in the exclusionary process. The study contributes to better understanding of influences on the E-government development process, how services become inaccessible and the accessibility challenges PWD face. Practically, the study has several implications on the development and implementation of E-government services in developing countries like Ghana. For example, the findings are useful to inform the political leadership on policies and structures to put in place to enhance the accessibility of Egovernment services for PWD.
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Shams, Amiri Nader. "Emerge and deploying electronic health records in developing countries." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Handels- och IT-högskolan, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-16639.
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Nowadays, the main concern for any service provider organization is to improve their services with reducing the time of service accompanying with increase in their efficiency and effectiveness. In healthcare systems, specially, these concerns are much more important where the information is the core material of providng services to patients. Electronic health record (EHR) systems are designed to address these concerns and using them is becoming more and more important for many countries. EHR systems provide many capabilities to hospitals with collecting, sharing and manipulating information in the digitals format. Moreover, actual EHR systems enable hospitals to share their patient information with any other hospital no matter of the first location of storing data. Incorporating a system with the main goal of making integrity between different organizations is not an easy task and many challenges and problems should be considered to make the system efficient for the organizations. Although many good attempts have been done in some developing countries such as Denmark and USA this issue is still a big challenge for many developing countries. In this research study, it is tried to review the situation of EHR systems in a developing country to extract the challenges and barriers for adopting it. At first, the researcher has a deep literature review on past works on EHR from different aspects. After extracting needed information, a case study will be run to better understanding of the real situation and make a comparison between the literature and real environment. The researcher selected Iran as a developing country to review its healthcare system and the degree of using computerized system in the organizations.Program: Magisterutbildning i informatik
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Hart, James Andrew. "Information as a service for dairy farmers." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16000.
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Communication with an organisation’s customers has become one of the most important factors that play a role in doing business today. Organisations that supply their customers with correct and different kinds of information create customer loyalty. Dairy farmers are no exception to the rule, because of the ongoing planning that dairy farmers need to do on a daily basis. Dairy farming in South Africa is extremely price sensitive and therefore information that can help in decision making plays an important role in making the right decision at the right time. The Internet has become an essential environment where information is readily available to anyone who has access to the technologies, such as smartphones, computers and tablets. Thus, it will be beneficial for both the organisation and the dairy farmer to have relevant information available on the organisation’s website. The information that is made available to the dairy farmers on these websites needs to be updated on a daily basis. The information must be relevant to dairy farming and must provide additional information besides the information that the specific organisation specialises in. Information as a Service (IaaS) for Dairy Farmers in South Africa is the focus of this research. The purpose of the investigation is to provide a means of providing the information needed by dairy farmers in South Africa, to enable them to make the right decisions on an operational level. The empirical data were collected, analysed and interpreted. From these findings a proposed communications framework is created to assist organisations to better communicate with dairy farmers in South Africa. The purpose of this research study is to design a framework which will provide IaaS to dairy farmers in South Africa. The research determined the different ways in which organisations can communicate with dairy farmers and the best time period in which that communication should take place for each specific communication strategy. Therefore, the aim of the research study was to determine the best ways to communicate with dairy farmers. A clear knowledge of the technologies that dairy farmers use to manage information was determined by the research study. The required information that dairy farmers need to make the correct decisions suitable for the requirement of farming on a practical level was determined by the research study.The proposed framework on Information as a Service for Dairy Farmers could help organisations to supply dairy farmers with the right information at the right time. The proposed framework will assist organisations dealing with dairy farmers easier and will also assist farmers, because the information provided as a service will be relevant to dairy farming. The treatise is an exploratory, mixed method research study which consists of literature reviews, surveys and cross-sectional studies. Secondary resources was used to conduct literature studies to determine the information needed by dairy farmers. A questionnaire was compiled from existing questionnaires as well as from literature studies and was completed by the respective respondents in the dairy farming community. The survey also consists of questions that determine what dairy farmers think about the service they receive from the organisations that they deal with. A cross-sectional study was used to compare the information needed specifically by pasture-based dairy farmers in relation to total mixed-ration-based dairy farmers. Both Descriptive and Inferential Statistical methods will be used for the analysis of the data. The communication systems can vary from Self-Help Groups to Mobile Technology. The type of communication system will depend on the systems that the organisation have available for their customers. The timing of communication with dairy farmers needs to be convenient and depends, according to literature, on the type of social networking that the organisation might use. An organisation that deals with dairy farmers needs to decide which Social Media site is most suitable when it needs to communicate with dairy farmers. The technology used to access information consist of Laptops, Smart Phones, Tablets and Desktops. Agricultural organisations provide information which dairy farmers need, to give them the correct guidance in performing good farming practices in order to produce safe, high-quality milk. The study will conclude with the development of a proposed communications framework where agricultural organisations can provide information as a service to dairy farmers.
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Booker, Lee Catherine. "The promised LAN: the transformative power of information and communications technology in developing countries." reponame:Repositório Institucional do FGV, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10438/11378.
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This thesis analyzes the prospects and implications of investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in developing countries, particularly in terms of education, to spur the implementation of a more modern infrastructure versus conversion of traditional methods. Given the rapid pace of interest and investments in ICT, current readiness models and capability measurements have become outdated, inaccurate, and inapplicable to developing cultures. Policymakers and financiers must be cognizant of these considerations when evaluating investments in or aid for future ICT initiatives around the world, and researchers and educators should understand the factors involved in development for both ICTs and education before beginning studies in poor areas. This paper concludes that investments in mobile and wireless technologies will allow organizations and governments to leapfrog traditional infrastructure, narrowing the digital divide and resulting in enhanced education, higher literacy rates, and sustainable solutions for development in impoverished communities in the developing world.
Este tese analise as implicações dos investimentos em tecnologia de informação e comunicação (ICT) em países ainda em desenvolvimento, especialmente em termos de educação, para estimular a implementação de uma infra-estrutura mais moderna em vez da continuação do uso de métodos tradicionais. Hoje, como o interesse e os investimentos em ICT estão crescendo rapidamente, os módulos e as idéias que existem para medir o estado de ICT são velhos e inexatos, e não podem ser aplicados às culturas de países em desenvolvimento. Políticos e investidores têm que considerar estes problemas quando estão pensando em investimentos ou socorros para programas em ICT no futuro, e investigadores e professores precisam entender os fatores importantes no desenvolvimento para os ICTs e a educação antes de começar estudos nestes países. Este tese concluí que investimentos em tecnologias móveis e sem fios ajudarem organizações e governos ultrapassar a infra-estrutura tradicional, estreitando a divisão digital e dando o resulto de educação melhor, alfabetização maior, e soluções sustentáveis pelo desenvolvimento nas comunidades pobres no mundo de países em desenvolvimento.
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Odedra, Mayuri Ramlal. "The transfer of information technology to developing countries : case studies from Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.282759.
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This thesis examines information technology transfer to developing countries by considering its application in Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The transfer process can take place through a number of channels which are influenced by national, technological and organisational issues. The relative importance of these issues is determined by considering six organisations which have attempted, with varying degrees of success, to transfer information technology. From the analysis provided by these case studies, a number of recommendations are made to improve the likelihood of successful information technology transfer. At a national level, factors such as the availability of foreign currency and skilled computer personnel will affect the success of any technology transfer. Similarly, technological issues, including supplier policies and telecommunications facilities, also play a part. Organ isational issues, such as management attitudes and planning, can also be seen to influence the success of technology transfer. To investigate these issues, six case studies were undertaken in the three countries. Both government and private organisations were represented to provide various settings in which to examine the process of information technology transfer. Only one organisation was successful and many differing factors affected the unsuccessful ones. Thus no 'single remedy' exists for this problem. The thesis makes a number of recommendations on org anisational, technological and national issues. The main ones being: an improved organisational awareness of the potential for information technology coupled with general educational policies to provide a computer literate work force. At the national level, greater assistance for the acquisition and use of computers, together with proper monitoring of this process is suggested. 2
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Maynard, Nicholas C. Luger Michael I. "Technology adoption and the role of government examining the national information and communication technology policies in developing countries /." Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/etd,1445.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007.Title from electronic title page (viewed Apr. 25, 2008). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy." Discipline: Public Policy; Department/School: Public Policy.
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Sundén, Susanne Wicander Gudrun. "Information and communication technology applied for developing countries in a rural context : towards a framework for analysing factors influencing sustainable use /." Karlstad : Faculty of Economic Sciences, Communication and IT, Information Systems, Karlstad University, 2006. http://www.diva-portal.org/kau/abstract.xsql?dbid=748.
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Kelegai, Limbie K. "Elements influencing IS success in developing countries: a case study of organisations in Papua New Guinea." Queensland University of Technology, 2005. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16169/.
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Since the introduction of computers in to organisations in the 1950s, computer information systems have become powerful organisational instruments. The uptake of information technology including information systems (IS) and the impact of these technologies have been phenomenal, particularly in the least developed countries (LDCs). Organisations in these countries have continued to utilise IS as a development tool with the belief that it will enhance business processes, in many instances accelerated by foreign assistance. IS can have a positive effect on users, organisations and national development, measured economically or otherwise at the individual, organisational, and national levels. Yet IS implementation and the measure of its success is characterised by a high rate of failure and disagreement among scholars and practitioners. The success of organisational IS is influenced by a fabric of many variables, including contextual elements. In this regard IS can be influenced by both the organisational context in terms of strategies, structures, politics and culture, and by the wider political socio-economic, cultural, and technological climate within which organisations exist. Understanding the contributing variables and the barriers that impede IS success, would better prepare organisations to overcome the inherent difficulties. There is a large body of work documenting the usefulness and consequences of IS. However, these studies have been concentrated in the developed countries (DCs), hence, little is known about IS implementation in LDCs. DCs and LDCs differ in their contextual and social settings, and a uniform analysis may not be applicable in their disparate settings. Indeed the paucity of research and data in the IS domain indicates that the study would benefit an LDC such as Papua New Guinea (PNG) and contribute to knowledge in understanding IS implementation in an LDC environment. This thesis reports on a study that examined IS implementation success in PNG organisations in the context of an LDC. Computers were introduced to PNG in the 1960s, however, no studies have been undertaken to date in this domain that the author is aware of. Hence, the objective of this study was to provide detailed analysis of IS, the context in which it was implemented, its interaction with organisational and external settings, and elicit the underlying elements associated with its success. It also explores the emphasis placed on each of the elements and the extent to which organisations effectively addressed these elements to ensure IS success. The exploratory study employs a multi method design - beginning in Stage 1 with case studies, followed by a survey in Stage 2. Stage 1 adopted a multiple case study approach. Eight case studies were undertaken, however, results of only four case studies are reported in this thesis. Data obtained in the case studies provide a useful basis for the survey. The study in Stage 2 consolidated and expanded on the case study findings from the perspective of a wider population. All the organisations contacted but not involved in the Stage 1 study contributed by participating in the survey. The study identified more than fifty elements that contributed to the success of IS in PNG organisations. There were significant similarities to the findings of studies in other DCs and LDCs despite the disparate contextual conditions. Several elements, not identified in prior studies, were also revealed. Based on this study, a set of principles pertaining to IS implementation and management in PNG were postulated. Similarly a set of recommendations were also outlined.
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Stedman, Joseph B. "Constraints on Adoption of Innovations: Internet Availability in the Developing World." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2006. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5606/.
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In a world that is increasingly united in time and distance, I examine why the world is increasingly divided socially, economically, and digitally. Using data for 35 variables from 93 countries, I separate the countries into groups of 31 each by gross domestic product per capita. These groups of developed, lesser developed and least developed countries are used in comparative analysis. Through a review of relevant literature and tests of bivariate correlation, I select eight key variables that are significantly related to information communication technology development and to human development. For this research, adoption of the Internet in the developing world is the innovation of particular interest. Thus, for comparative purposes, I chose Internet Users per 1000 persons per country and the Human Development Index as the dependent variables upon which the independent variables are regressed. Although small in numbers among the least developed countries, I find Internet Users as the most powerful influence on human development for the poorest countries. The research focuses on key obstacles as well as variables of opportunity for Internet usage in developing countries. The greatest obstacles are in fact related to Internet availability and the cost/need ratio for infrastructure expansion. However, innovations for expanded Internet usage in developing countries are expected to show positive results for increased Internet usage, as well as for greater human development and human capital. In addition to the diffusion of innovations in terms of the Internet, the diffusion of cultures through migration is also discussed in terms of the effect on social capital and the drain on human capital from developing countries.
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Kunyenje, Gregory. "Influence of external actors on national information and communications technology policy formulation in developing countries: case of Malawi." Doctoral thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30386.
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Problem statement – A national Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy is important towards attainment of socio-economic development of a country. Like other public policies, the formulation and implementation of national ICT policy is a government’s responsibility. In developing countries, the formulation of national ICT policies is mostly influenced by actors who are external to a country. The external influence may affect the soundness of the resulting public ICT policy during a policy making activity and in turn affect the needs of society in a country. There is need, therefore, for research focusing on the effects of the external influence in the formulation of a public ICT policy in Africa. Currently, there is dearth of research in this area.
Purpose of the research – This study analysed how the influence of external actors affects the formulation of national ICT policies in Africa by: (1) investigating the engagement between external and local actors, (2) identifying categories of influence of external actors and (3) exploring the link between country context and influence of external actors. A study analysing how the influence of external actors affects the formulation of national ICT policy in developing countries may contribute towards the effectiveness of the public ICT policy that may lead to better management of interaction between internal and external actors.
Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a critical research approach and drew on Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice as a theoretical lens to examine how the influence of external actors affects the formulation of national ICT policies in developing countries. This was a qualitative study, which used Malawi as a case study. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 respondents who took part in the formulation of the national ICT policy in Malawi. Secondary data for the research were sourced from policy documents and reports from Malawi and from other African countries. Data analysis in the Malawi case applied thematic analysis while content analysis was used for the five comparative case countries.
Findings – The study finds that there is little engagement between local and external actors during public ICT policy formulation. The findings also show that the influence of external actors is likely to affect formulation of public ICT policies in poor countries. The external actors use different forms of capital and consequently play roles such as setting a policy agenda and setting policy priorities for a developing country which is contrary to the tradition of external actors providing funding and technical support. Further, the study finds that when external actors set the policy agenda for a country then local actors may adopt content prescribed by the external actors in the resulting policy.
Originality/contributions – This thesis makes contributions to knowledge: (1) the use of Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice to explore and explain how the influence of external actors affects the formulation of a national ICT policy; (2) the body of knowledge on national ICT policy formulation research; and (3) the identification of appropriate theories that can inform future research in the formulation of a national ICT policy in Africa
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Khoury, Cathy. "Exploring the Tension between Modernization and the Deployment of Information and Communication Technologies in Developing Countries: A Case Study of the XO Laptop." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/28649.
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Using the XO laptop as a case study, this project explores the tension, if any, between modernization and the diffusion of information and communication technologies in developing countries. Modernization, the diffusion of innovation, and Burniske's (2003) chain of doing serve as theoretical frameworks to examine new visions of development that One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) aims to introduce to impoverished people on a global scale, with poverty alleviation being their main goal. Employing a qualitative approach, namely document analysis and analysis of online discussions, this research concludes that modernization is still used in new visions of development.
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Rundqvist, Amanda, and Schinkel Amanda Von. "Digital transformation of healthcare services in developing countries : An exploratory research of healthtech opportunities in Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) markets." Thesis, KTH, Skolan för industriell teknik och management (ITM), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-279655.
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The development of new technologies within healthcare open up for important and valuable opportunities for businesses as well as for individuals. Mobile health is one of the most important digital innovation, since patients get the opportunities to self-manage diseases and to receive healthcare services from specialists wherever and whenever. It has already been established in some developed countries, where the technology has, for instance, improved health research among populations and reduced healthcare costs. Currently, it is under investigation if there are also implementation possibilities in developing countries. They are defined as countries with poor infrastructure and decent economic activity, meaning a high number of people live with low income and they tend to have less access to health services than the ones in developed countries. The Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) refers to the poorest of the economic human pyramid, where almost all of them live in developing countries. In order to enter a BOP market, it is beneficial for businesses to use the 4A:s (awareness, access, affordability, and availability) as a framework. The report aims to investigate if MedTech companies from developed countries can improve access, awareness, availability, and affordability to reliable healthcare in developing countries. It is referring to the BOP due to the focus on an innovation’s (i.e., MedTech app) growth opportunities in developing countries. The report is considered as an exploratory research, undertaking an inductive approach, since it exists limited written resources about the subject. The information has been gathered through primaryand secondary sources. The report’s findings raise the low digital awareness as a threat that could harm the development of new digital innovations in developing countries. By taking use of local collaborations and partnerships, it will develop understandings of the populations’ needs and behaviors, which is a benefit to be able to reach the users’ attention. The telecommunication industries’ growth and the increase of mobile users proves the populations are eager to embrace new digital innovations, meaning the initiative might be right in time. Additionally, the findings concern the limited access to healthcare and currently, the local care is of low quality. The doctors and nurses have limited knowledge and the hospitals are not keeping up with technology, which leads to that the citizens are seeking healthcare outside their own country. However, it could be perceived as a benefit when implementing a new MedTech service, since it does not exist any advanced systems that have to be changed or shut down. Moreover, to ensure the populations will be able to use digital healthcare services, it is important to keep the service affordable. By being supported with correct treatments, and recommendations, it would not be necessary to visit a doctor several times and, therefore, it could also decrease the patient's’ healthcare costs. Finally, digital healthcare services enable for patients to interact with foreign doctors wherever and whenever, which would increase the availability of healthcare services in developing countries.Den ständiga utvecklingen av nya teknologier inom sjukvården öppnar upp för värdefulla möjligheter för företag samt individer. Mobil sjukvård är en av de viktigaste digitala innovationerna då det ger patienter möjlighet att själva hantera sjukdomar och har tillgång till specialistvård närhelst och varhelst. Detta har redan etablerats i ett antal utvecklade länder, där teknologin dels har förbättrat forskningen inom hälsa och dels minskat på sjukvårdskostnader. För tillfället undersöks även möjligheten för implementation av digitala sjukvårdstjänster i utvecklingsländer. De definieras som länder med outvecklad infrastruktur och svag ekonomisk tillväxt, vilket betyder att en stor del av befolkningen lever med låg inkomst och det finns inte samma tillgång till sjukvård som i utvecklade länder. The Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) hänvisar till de fattigaste i den ekonomiska pyramiden där majoriteten av dem lever i utvecklingsländer. För att ta sig in i en BOP marknad, är det rekommenderat för företag att använda sig av ramverket “the 4As” (awareness, access, affordability, and availability). Syftet med rapporten är att undersöka om MedTech företag i utvecklade länder kan förbättra “the 4As” inflytande på tillförlitlig sjukvård i utvecklingsländer. Den hänvisar till BOP på grund av att fokus är på innovationens (dvs. MedTech applikation) tillväxtmöjligheter i utvecklingsländer. Rapporten betraktas som en utforskande studie och åtar en induktiv strategi med tanke på att det finns begränsat med information om ämnet. Underlaget för rapporten har samlats in via primära - och sekundära källor. Rapportens resultat visar på att den låga digitala medvetenheten skulle kunna begränsa utvecklingen av nya digitala innovationer i utvecklingsländer. Genom att etablera lokala partnerskap och samarbeten, kan en förståelse för befolkningens behov samt beteenden utvecklas, vilket är en enorm fördel för att få deras uppmärksamhet. Dessutom växer telekommunikationsindustrin och mobilanvändandet bland befolkningen ökar, vilket visar på att en digital nyfikenhet finns. Detta innebär i sin tur att det skulle kunna var helt rätt i tid för en etablering av digitala sjukvårdstjänster. Utöver det visar undersökningar på att tillgången till sjukvård för tillfället är begränsad och den lokala vården är av låg kvalité. Läkare och annan sjukvårdspersonal saknar ofta fullständig utbildning, vilket leder till att befolkningen söker sjukvård i andra länder. Avsaknaden av teknologi kan däremot uppfattas som en fördel vid en eventuell implementation av en ny MedTech-tjänst då det inte finns några avancerade system som måste ändras eller stängas ner. För att säkerställa att befolkningen kommer kunna använda sig av digitala sjukvårdstjänster är det viktigt att tjänsten uppfyller befolkningens ekonomiska möjligheter och är prisvärd. Genom att få tillgång till rätt behandling och rekommendationer direkt, behövs inte lika många besök hos läkaren och sjukvårdskostnader kan minska. Slutligen möjliggör digitala sjukvårdstjänster för globala interaktioner med läkare och specialister, vilket skulle kunna öka tillgången och tillgängligheten till sjukvård i utvecklingsländer.
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Ky, Serge. "Essays on the rise of mobile financial technology in developing countries and its impact on individual financial behaviors." Thesis, Limoges, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016LIMO0077/document.
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Cette thèse étudie les déterminants de l'adoption des services financiers par téléphonie mobile et ses conséquences sur les comportements financiers individuels dans les pays en développement. Elle est composée de trois chapitres/articles auto-référents. Le premier chapitre étudie l'adoption croissante des services financiers par téléphonie mobile dans les pays en développement en distinguant mobile money (utilisation du mobile pour accéder à des services financiers) et mobile banking (services financiers liés à un compte bancaire accessibles par téléphonie mobile) et en confrontant l'Afrique Sub-Saharienne aux autres pays en développement. L'étude montre que le mobile money est plus répandu que le mobile banking dans les pays en développement mais plus encore en Afrique Sub-Saharienne. Les déterminants de son adoption sont liés aux facteurs macroéconomiques, à l'étendue des services financiers et des activités d'intermédiation du secteur bancaire dans chaque pays et surtout de l'ampleur des transferts d'argent des migrants. Le chapitre 2 analyse l'impact de l'adoption du mobile money sur le comportement individuel d'épargne à partir de données d'une enquête de terrain menée au Burkina Faso en 2014. En distinguant l'épargne selon qu'elle est constitué pour des événements prévisibles ou non, les résultats montrent que le mobile money a un impact favorable sur l'épargne lorsqu'elle est destinée à faire face à des événements imprévisibles et plus particulièrement à d'éventuels problèmes de santé. Les résultats plus précis révèlent que ce sont en fait les groupes défavorisés à qui le mobile money permet effectivement de développer cette capacité d'épargne, la sécurité et la possibilité de transferts d'argent dans la sous-région apparaissent comme les principaux facteurs explicatifs. Le chapitre 3 exploite ces données d'enquête en étudiant l'impact de l'adoption du mobile money sur l'utilisation des services financiers traditionnels (formels et informels). L'analyse montre que les utilisateurs du mobile money le privilégient pour effectuer leurs dépôts grâce aux avantages qu'il apporte en termes d'accès, de coût, de liquidité et de confidentialité par rapport aux services financiers traditionnels. Cependant, l'étude révèle que l'utilisation du mobile money renforce l'accès des usagers des services financiers informels et des groupes défavorisés à la fois aux banques et aux caisses d'épargneThis dissertation investigates determinants of mobile financial technology adoption and its consequences on individual financial behaviors in developing countries. It is structured around three chapters/self-contained papers. The first chapter explores the growing adoption of mobile financial technology in developing countries by distinguishing mobile money (use of a mobile phone to access financial services) from mobile banking (access of banking services using a mobile phone) and setting Sub-Saharan Africa against other developing countries. The results show that mobile money adoption dominates mobile banking in developing countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Determinants of its adoption include macroeconomic factors, outreach of financial services, banking sector intermediation activities and especially remittances. The second chapter analyzes the impact of mobile money adoption on individual saving behavior by using individual-level survey data that we designed and conducted in 2014 in Burkina Faso. By distinguishing saving for predictable events from that for unpredictable events, the findings show that mobile money has a positive impact only on saving for unpredictable events especially saving for health emergencies. Precisely, the results show that disadvantaged groups who use mobile money are likely to save for health emergencies, and that safety and the availability of money transfers within the sub-region appear as factors that may explain the use of mobile money to save for health emergencies. The third chapter exploits the same survey data to analyze the impact of mobile money adoption on the usage of traditional (formal and informal) financial services. The results show that mobile money is preferred for deposits over traditional financial services because of the convenience that it provides in terms of relative access, risk, liquidity and privacy. Interestingly, the results reveal that the use of mobile money brings participants in informal deposit mechanisms and disadvantaged groups toward banks and credit unions
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Sundén, Susanne, and Gudrun Wicander. "Information and Communication Technology Applied for Developing Countries in a Rural Context : Towards a Framework for Analysing Factors Influencing Sustainable Use." Licentiate thesis, Karlstad University, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Communication and IT, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-748.
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been considered a tool that can be used to achieve development goals in developing countries. In the same time, the majority of people living in developing countries, and especially those in rural areas lack access to ICT. Even if there have been many attempts to introduce ICT, they have in general not been long-lasting.
A framework for studying factors that influence use of ICT is desirable. We see it necessary to bring a sustainability aspect into the picture of ICT. In this work the requirement of ‘sustainable ICT use’ stresses that ICT is long-lasting and that ICT meets the needs of the user. Thus, the aim of this work is to develop a tool for conceptualisation that can support the understanding of the conditions for sustainable, and therefore successful, ICT projects in developing countries.
Our theoretical starting point is taken in the Information System (IS) theories. The theoretical base is then broadened to include theories on international development, theories on sustainable development, and theories on diffusion of innovations and transfer of technology. The theoretical foundation, together with four empirical studies, is used to answer the two research questions in this thesis. The first question is: Which are the critical factors influencing sustainable ICT use in developing countries? By using ‘critical factors’ we emphasise a focus on factors which are crucial (even if possibly not sufficient) for bringing about sustainable ICT use. This question is followed by a second question: How would a framework be structured to properly include these factors in order to support analyses of sustainable ICT use?
The framework has evolved through the identification of factors from four empirical studies. Forty-one factors were identified and sorted into fifteen subcategories of five major capital assets. The main contribution of our study is that of a generic framework, which can be used as a guideline for planning, implementation, and evaluation of ICT projects in a rural developing country context achieving sustainable ICT. As argued in this thesis technology is not the key resource; it is the combination and system of different resources distributed along a time and space dimension that is the key. With our framework we have demonstrated that the ICT artefact is not the sustainability tool, it is the combination of different resources that makes it sustainable and competitive.
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Khasawneh, Saleh M. "Information Technology in a Developing Country: An Exploration of the Factors Associated With Attitudes of Decision Makers in Jordanian Government Institutions Toward the Utilization of Computer-Based Technology." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1271359610.
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Alam, Md Shariful, and Md Shoeb Hassan. "Problems when implementing e-governance systems in developing countries : a quantitative investigation of implementation problems in Bangladesh." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Handels- och IT-högskolan, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-20454.
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This research addresses the issues affecting e-governance implementation indeveloping countries. Implementing e-governance has always been a challenge eitherit is social, economical or political. Beside this there are many technological problemswhich should be understood and meet so that a user accepted e-governance systememerges.This research provides a quantitative investigation of e-governance implementationproblems with emphasis on analyzing quantitative data gathered in a survey using astructured questionnaires that was generated on the basis of our theoretical study.Furthermore this research will provide a clear conception about those problems whichshould be considered at the time of implementing an e-governance in developingcountries.Program: Magisterutbildning i informatik
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Mandaza, Mapesa Nixjoen. "Health Information Technology Implementation Strategies in Zimbabwe." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2452.
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The adoption rate of health information technology (HIT) remains low in developing countries, where healthcare institutions experience high operating costs and loss of revenue, which are related to systems and processes inefficiency. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies leaders in Zimbabwe used to implement HIT. The conceptual framework of the study was Davis's technology acceptance model (TAM). Data were gathered through observations, review of organizational documents (i.e., policies, procedures, and guidelines), and in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 10 healthcare leaders and end-users from hospitals in Zimbabwe who had successfully implemented HIT. Transcribed interview data were coded and analyzed for emerging themes. Implementation strategies, overcoming barriers to adoption, and user acceptance emerged as the themes most healthcare leaders associated with successful HIT projects. Several subthemes also emerged, including: (a) the importance of stakeholder involvement, (b) the importance of management buy-in, and (c) the low level of IT literacy among healthcare workers. The strategies identified in this study may provide a foundation on which healthcare leaders in developing countries can successfully adopt and implement HIT. The recommendations from this study could lead to positive social change by providing leaders with knowledge and skills to use information technology strategies to deliver better healthcare at lower costs while creating employment for local communities.
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Koranteng, Kesewaa. "How the use of information and communication technology enables school teachers to generate educational outcomes: case of South Africa." Doctoral thesis, Faculty of Commerce, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32712.
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Problem Statement: ICT is said to improve educational efficiencies and aids in addressing educational shortcomings in the developing world context. Although ICT holds the potential to greatly improve teaching, why and how ICT has the probability of transforming teaching, for actors and within the developing world context remains uncertain. The potential impact of these tools may be affected by contextual and socio-cultural factors. Socio-cultural factors may have a negative consequence on students' learning and can increase educational inequalities, especially in developing countries. The challenge is that existing research does not clearly explain how educational outcomes are generated through the use of ICT within the social-cultural context of teachers. Purpose of the research: The objective of this study was to examine how educational outcomes are generated through the use of ICT in a developing world context, at a micro-level – an individual. The aim was to investigate how the use of ICT enables opportunities for school teachers to generate educational outcomes. Research approach: The study adopted an interpretive approach using a qualitative method. The study adopted a case study method. The study drew on the Capability Approach (CA) as supplemented by individual differences conceptual framework and taxonomy of ICT affordances as a theoretical lens to explain why and how ICT affects teaching, for whom and in what context. The study analysed the patterns between opportunities determined by affordances, individual differences that affect how ICT is used and educational outcomes. The study used a purposive sampling method to select seven schools. From the seven schools, fifteen teachers, seven principals, seven ICT coordinators or personnel in charge of ICT, and two heads of e-Learning in Western Cape education districts. Data was obtained through background documents, semistructured interviews and direct observations of teachers. Key findings: ICT enabled teachers to generate three outcomes: (i) teaching capability outcomes that led to improvements in content delivery, communication, and lesson preparation relating directly to teaching, (ii) basic human capability outcomes led to the needs of the teachers regarding their well-being being met (iii) communication capability outcomes led to teaching communities consisting of teachers that share resources and expertise. Individual differences of teachers, personal data (such as age, ICT skills training, education and level of expertise in the subject taught), social factors (rules and policies), shaping and influencing factors (such as personality type and role model) and environmental context (such as habits, customs, beliefs and cultural values) determined how teachers used ICT to enable capabilities. Various factors (such as infrastructure, learner engagement and excitement as well as ICT skills training) affected the choice of teachers to act on the opportunities afforded by ICT to generate educational outcomes. The value of the study: The study makes three contributions. First, the research suggests theoretical propositions for explaining how the use of ICT enables teachers to produce educational outcomes. The study developed a conceptual framework by integrating Amartya Sen's CA, individual differences conceptual framework and taxonomy of affordance to explain how educational outcomes are generated through the use of ICT in the developing world context. The study found the ICT artefact, features, supportive function (such as training and support) and affordances enabled opportunities, the teachers acted on these opportunities to generate efficiencies in teaching, their well-being and the broader educational community within the context of individual differences. Second, the study provides recommendations for planners and implementers to address issues on the actual realisation of ICT benefits by creating effective strategies that aim at improving implementation of ICT in schools. These strategies should look at the opportunities generated from ICT and how teachers use these opportunities to achieve educational outcomes. Additionally, recommendations were provided for e-Learning coordinators who wish to deploy ICT and integrate it into schools' curricula to equip teachers with all the components of TPACK (Technology, Pedagogy and Content Knowledge). Additionally, e-Learning coordinators should provide a space for teachers to experiment, highlighting existing practices and providing support to achieve their personal goals, which are part of their value system. Third, empirical evidence and theory in this thesis contribute to the knowledge of ICT in education assessments by offering a better explanation of the capability outcomes in ICT in the education field.
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Albirini, Abdulkafi. "An exploration of the factors associated with the attitudes of high school EFL teachers in Syria toward information and communication technology." Connect to this title online, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1092688797.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004.Document formatted into pages; contains 179 p. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 17 Aug. 2005.
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Nakkas, Haythem Abdulkareem Alakrami. "Constructing the network of influence model : an evidence-based theoretical framework to improve the implementation of Health Information Technology in developing countries." Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 2017. https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/constructing-the-network-of-influence-model(5136d46e-9d0e-4421-ad5e-77feb2729be2).html.
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Introduction: Electronic Health (e-Health) and Health Information Technology (HIT) projects offer considerable potential health benefits for both health professionals and patients. In developed countries, the technology is beginning to reach maturity, with a number of HIT products available to monitor health and well-being. Academic studies have also reported on the rollout of such systems in developing countries. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence from many developing countries in relation to how their IT solutions are implemented and evaluated. Aims: The purpose of this research is to develop a new theoretical framework to critically evaluate the factors that influence the implementation of HIT in developing countries broadly and specifically in relation to Libya. It is intended that the ultimate model assists in (a) combating the high failure rate of HIT projects and (b) specifying significant adaptions for the Libyan Government to consider in relation to future HIT projects that might reduce the risk of failure. Research Questions: This thesis seeks the answer to five research questions: RQ1. What distinct factors should be taken into consideration when HIT projects are implemented in developing countries compared to developed countries? RQ2. To what extent has HIT been deployed in developing countries? RQ3. What factors influence the success/failure of the adoption of HIT in developing countries? RQ4. To what extent have HIT systems been deployed in Libya? RQ5. What implementation metrics are being used in HIT projects in developing countries to measure success? Methods: A comprehensive literature review of ICT projects in both developed and developing countries was undertaken and the results of that research distilled and condensed into the first version of the Network of Influence Model. Two mixed methods were conducted to collect qualitative and quantitative data. A Constructivist Paradigm was applied in analysing these data to produce version 2 of the model. A modified Delphi study approach was then applied to the model itself to test its suppositions and veracity. Results: Version 1 of the Network of Influence Model (NIM) was derived from secondary research. It attempts to model, at a high level, the factors that influence the adoption of HIT in developing countries. Version 2 (updated from primary research) attempts to model the complex relationships between these factors. A knowledge gap was identified in the published literature in relation to Libya, where it seems no assessments of ICT solutions in any profession have taken place at all. Conclusions: Based on research findings, a novel evidence-based theoretical framework has been developed for addressing the drivers and barriers of HIT technology in developing countries. The Network of Influence Model identifies the following definitive factors which have not been previously highlighted in the literature: brain drain, capacity building, evidence base, and organisational memory. These factors have a profound impact on the success or failure of HIT systems in developing countries. This research can practically provide realistic guidance for the stakeholders involved in the process of planning, developing, implementing, using and adopting health information technology in developing countries. The model created should assist with the future study of any healthcare ICT solution implemented in a developing country. Although it did not prove possible to answer some of the research questions posed in full, the data obtained correlated with the suppositions made by the model.
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Herold, Sam. "The potential of free and open source geospatial information technology to improve local level capacity for natural disaster management in developing countries." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/28150.
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Disasters are deadly and destructive events, particularly in developing countries, where there is an immediate need to improve natural disaster management capacity, especially at the local level where hazard vulnerability can most effectively be reduced. Since disasters and vulnerability vary spatially, all phases of the disaster management cycle can be improved through the effective use of geospatial information technology (GIT). However, developing countries face many barriers to GIT implementation, and solutions that take these barriers into consideration are required. In general, developing countries lag behind in terms of technology use, and highly technical solutions are not practical to acquire, use and maintain by the local level disaster management practitioner community. This thesis proposes that free and open source software (FOSS) offers a feasible technical solution, and explores the significance of recent developments in this software domain from a GIT and natural disaster management perspective. Specifically, FOSS-based GIT can provide a core set of functionality for the development of critical framework spatial datasets required for the subsequent use of GIT during all phases of the natural disaster management cycle. Using gvSIG, a mature and user-friendly FOSS-based geographic information system, this thesis demonstrates how local level capacity in developing countries can be improved to ultimately reduce natural hazard vulnerability and disaster impacts.
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Larsson, Fredrik. ""Halfpipe Active Channel"- developing a secure communications protocol." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Electrical Engineering, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-2799.
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With the advent of powerful multimedia capable mobile phones, the market for mobile services is flourishing. Zenterio AB's Halfpipe Active Desktop is a complete distributed mobile service platform a with a powerful server and platform-independent client. The communication between the client and server takes place over a GPRS-capable mobile network.
The purpose of this thesis is to develop a secure communications protocol for use between the Halfpipe Active Desktop client and server. This is done by determining requirements, analyzing candidate protocols and then by designing the final protocol. The result, the Halfpipe Active Channel protocol, is an authorized, encrypted, session oriented, message based and light weight protocol designed to minimize computational as well as network overhead.
This master's thesis project was defined by and performed at Zenterio AB during the second half of 2004.
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Alshaibi, Alsedieg. "Business Relationships Between Local Firms and MNCs in a less Developing Country : The Case of Libyan Firms." Doctoral thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för hållbar samhälls- och teknikutveckling, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-8347.
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International business relationships have been widely researched over the last three decades. Themajor attention of these studies, no matter what their theoretical perspective, concerns the MNCs inthe less developing countries (LDCs). Studies that illustrate how firms in LDCs behave regardinginteraction with MNCs are slim. Therefore, this study focuses on firms in LDCs, namely Libyan firms,and their relationships with MNCs. The study reflects not only on the relationships between the localfirms with MNCs but also the impacts of other interrelated business and non-business units on theserelationships. The study employs business network theory for industrial marketing and develops amodel applicable for studying such a market.The empirical study employs a survey method which examines 60 Libyan firms’ relationships withforeign suppliers containing more than 300 questions. In the empirical part, the study shows that therelationships like technological adaptation, technological cooperation and information exchange wereawarded low values. The measures on the other hand show a high value of impact from the politicalactors and even activities in the contextual environment. The study shows in detail where and howthe political actions influence business relationships. These impacts from the local environment affectlocal firms more than the foreign suppliers, and thus have some bearing on the MNCs and local firms’relationship weaknesses and strengths.The thesis’ conceptual contribution stands on development of new notions in business network theoryby integration of the contextual environment, in other words, network environment, and examinationof their impact on the strength of the focal business relationship. The study further contributesknowledge, not only for firms and politicians in LDCs to understand the consequence of their actions,but also provides deep information for MNCs to understand issues like why firms in LDCs behave ina specific way. Such understandings facilitate the development of cooperation. The study providesinformation about a number of characteristics which are specific for the business networks of such amarket which is dependent on only one resource like oil. While most studies in the field ofinternational business regard the business activities of MNCs, more research is needed to also observethe behaviour of firms from LDCs to gain deeper knowledge on the relationship between the MNCsand local firms from LDCs. The role of political actors and the influence of dependency on one soletype of resources and aspects like change in the prices of this resource seem to be important, but arequite neglected in research in international business.
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Elsaadani, Mohamed AbdelAziz Mohamed. "An Application of a Modified Model of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Adoption for Developing Countries : Case of Business Teaching in Egyptian Higher Education Institution." Thesis, University of the West of England, Bristol, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.524693.
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Although around the world both developed and developing countries are starting to use Information and Communication Technology (lCT) to reform education, there are enormous differences among these countries as the developing countries have an overall system that has vastly different conditions from those existing in developed countries. These conditions that differentiate between developing and developed countries must be taken into consideration when trying to adopt ICT in developing countries. This research aims to evaluate the extent to which western-developed models of lCT can be applied by Business lecturers in higher education institutions in Egypt as one of the developing countries. Accordingly a number of enhancements were added in the development of a modified lCT adoption model (MlTAM) with the purpose of evaluation, side-by-side with the application of a selected western-developed model for comparison. Thus, this research might be considered as an initial attempt to address the tensions that exist in applying ICT implementation models designed for developed countries to the conditions in developing countries. This is an exploratory research which employs the survey and the case study methodology. The survey and case study domain is Business lecturers in Egyptian higher education institutions. The selected higher education institutions are: the College of Management and Technology at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), the Business Faculty of Commerce at Alexandria University, and the Business Faculty of Commerce at Cairo University. A large preliminary survey was conducted in order to explore attitudes of Egyptian Business lecturers towards lCT adoption. This investigation, along with literature surveyed regarding the special characteristics of developing countries and existing ICT ad option models aided in the construction of MIT AM. This was followed by four case studies conducted in parallel for the purpose of implementing the two models and to discover if new findings will emerge as a result of their implementation. Data collection was facilitated through the use of the questionnaires during the design of MIT AM, then through observations and interviews during the case study phase. This research supports the view that western-developed models of ICT adoption need some enhancements before being used in higher education institutions in Egypt, although both models results were almost the same and there were minor differences between them during the implementation phase. Moreover, this research leads to several recommendations both for those who are in charge of implementing new technologies within higher education institutions in Egypt and also for Business Faculty staff in Egypt. Recommendations for Business Faculty staff are: (1) The Business Faculty needs to recognize the many forms, uses, and benefits that technology offers and to be ready to accept and put into practice changes in their teaching methodology through adopting MITAM, which is the modified model for the implementation of leT for the special circumstances of Egypt as one of the developing countries. (2) The Business Faculty needs support in learning how to integrate technology into their teaching practices. (3) It is necessary that groundwork should be done immediately in order to help higher education institutions to be better equipped to cope with the continuing changes that will inevitably face them in the very near future. Recommendations for college administrators are: (1) Planning: effective leT adoption plans have to be in place and it is also recommended to gather input from a variety of sources because often new change administrators become involved in the adoption of the recent technologies and they may neglect to listen to the people who are involved. It would seem that if administrators involve the Business Faculty in the planning process, then the institution would have that resource of encouragement working in each department, which will increase the likelihood that adoption of recent leT will succeed. (2) Development: Business Faculty development is as important as technology itself. Single training sessions may raise awareness and motivate excitement, as experienced by the research, but longer comprehensive training plans are very important to success. The most recent leT are useless if the Business Faculty is not aware of them or if they cannot be incorporated into teaching activities. (3) Usefulness: the effective use of leT in classroom teaching and learning activities could be enhanced if the Business Faculty communicates to their students that the use of any piece of technology is not an end in itself. Moreover, the Business Faculty's goal should be to consider any piece of technology as no more than a tool. Higher education institutions should establish rich working environments where ICT could be used and accessed sufficiently for teaching and learning purposes by both Business Faculty and students.
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Srisarkun, Vilasinee. "Efficiency in utilizing ICT infrastructure in developing countries a case study of the Royal Thai Police's attitudes to the adoption of an image retrieval application for eyewitness identification /." Access electronically, 2004. http://www.library.uow.edu.au/adt-NWU/public/adt-NWU20050303.110027/index.html.
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Al-Zoubi, Mohammad Orsan Muhsein. "The Impact of Economic Globalization on the National Policies of Developing Countries : The Case of the Jordan's Agricultural, Information and Communication Technology and Trade and Investment Policies." Thesis, University of Buckingham, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.515496.
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The main objective of this thesis is to provide a theoretical and empirical analysis of the effects of economic globalization (neoliberal ideology) on the Jordanian national policies pertaining to agriculture, information and communication technology, and trade and investment for the period from 1989 to 2004 from postmodern perspective. The central problem addressed in this thesis is the way economic globalization (neoliberal ideology) has dominated the thinking of Jordanian policy makers under the claim to recover from market failure and to achieve socio-economic development. Subsequent to this, another deterrent emerges. During preparation, formulation, and implementation of Jordanian policies in the said areas only the authority voice is heard, a situation justified by rationality and the national interest. In relation to this practice, we explored and investigated who were included and who were excluded, as well as, who were the winners and losers in the policy making process at all levels from macro (global) to intermediate (state) to micro (local institutions). This initially became apparent through the reorientation of Jordanian policy towards a free market ideology, then through the strategies of Structural Adjustments Programs (SAPs), Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), deregulations and the cut-down of social programs. The discourses surrounding the national policy have increased in complexity from one orientation towards the privatization of public enterprises, to another in the hope to build a strong economy. This has led to change the structure of power between different classes and has led to new social configurations. In turn we investigated and assessed the process of policy in terms of what, who, why and how? A Post-modern perspective which forms the methodological basis for this thesis is used to capture the complex relation between local and global. The traditional universality linear theories no longer give sufficient understanding of the complexity of policy analysis in an uncertain and dynamic disequilibrium world. The theoretical framework for our analytical critical theory synthesizes the modernism and postmodernism theories. Drawing from this premise, "critical postmodern policy analysis" has been introduced as the core element of this analysis. This study is concerned with the transformation of policy and how this transformation is guided by a discourse, consisting of arguments put forward by economists, policy makers, politicians and other experts. This is consistent with a Foucauldian framework. The thesis argues that each policy stage is varied in terms of its contexts, styles, participants and dispositions, and that each stage has unique cultural configurations. Therefore, three critical postmodern approaches were utilized namely: historiography, archaeology and governmentality to examine each policy context at all levels, over the policy trajectory from global to local. Policy historiography was coupled with the early stage of the influence of globalization; policy archaeology with the formation stage of policy development; and policy governmentality with the implementation stage to explore policy in practice. Various documents, in-depth interviews, unpublished files and researcher observation were utilized in order to assess the impact of economic globalization on the three investigated national policies guided by the three critical postmodern approaches: historiography, archaeology and governmentality. As revealed by historiography the neoliberal economic model makes Jordan's government unresponsive to its citizens. It is like hegemonic structure which constantly provides mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. As demonstrated by thesis, the market is far from being fair, and creating new social configurations over the times. The thesis revealed through archaeology that Jordanian bureaucrats, policy experts and public officials have dominated the context of policy text production by using some strategies such as dislocation, legislation, replacement and the leaking of rumors. On the other side the thesis pointed out through governmentality that policies contradict each other, because of different mentalities and different value systems. As revealed by the thesis the three ministries have been based on ad hoc practices rather than on planned strategic decisions. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture has gradually adopted neoliberal policy while the Ministries of Trade and Information Technology were more radical in this process. Governmentality is also revealed that domination, or what is called control at a distance by which policies are centralized in goals and decentralized in means prevailed in the three ministries. This thesis has the shed light on the Islamic discourses. This is an attempt to show how the Islamic movement, from a post modern perspective approach, influenced the collective social imagination of Jordanian people during the nineties of the past century and afterwards. The Islamic movement emerged as an end result support for needy people having been deserted and the adoption of neo-liberal policies by the Jordanian government. As a rule of thumb, postmodernism obviously emphasizes the role of ideology in shaping the configurations of people's thinking, perception and acts.
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Al-Zaabi, Hassan Jumaa. "Adoption, diffusion and use of e-government services in the Abu Dhabi police force." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/10757.
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are becoming increasingly prevalent in peoples’ daily lives due to the presence of e-government. This research aims to identify and understand factors affecting the adoption and use of e-government services in a public sector organisation in a developing country, in this case, Abu Dhabi Police Force (ADPF) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). For this purpose a theoretical framework based on existing e-government and e-services literature was developed. To determine its applicability, a qualitative approach involving 200 participants’ interviews was used in this study. The questions for the interviews were based on the constructs derived from classic theories in the literature. The theories are: Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DOI), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) and e-Commerce’s Trustworthiness models. The research study results revealed that departments that had roles and responsibilities aligned with government online products and services, adopted e-services better. Where training and awareness was provided, individuals adopted e-services better, and where trust in the provision of e-services was divided in two. The first relates to e-services being better than a manual service as e-services provide clarity and transparency. The second form of trust aligns with confidentiality and privacy. A subset of the research revealed that demographic factors that include, an organisational structure position and the role that one has, inhibit or encourages the use and adoption of e-services. The contributions from this research are anticipated to be a better understanding of the adoption, diffusion and use of e-services in the UAE region. For theory, this research study provided a diverse approach (qualitative research) in an organisational context, the development of a conceptual framework specific to Abu Dhabi’s public sector department and finally, there is research conducted on government to employee e-services in Abu Dhabi, a rare occurrence. For policymakers, the contribution of this research is that the research can understand the impacts of policies and strategies used for developing and implementing e-services. For practice the contribution can be in the form of results that organisations providing external consultancy services in the UAE can identify and understand. Therefore, results such as, lower positions individuals in departments not utilising e-services emerged and suggest that awareness should be inherent within the organisation. By doing so, fewer risks and waste of resources in the form of time and personnel can be avoided.
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Soupizet, Jean-François. "Technologies de l'information et des communications, effet sur les économies en développement: une approche en termes de systèmes d'accès." Doctoral thesis, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/2013/ULB-DIPOT:oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/211357.
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Pade, Khene Caroline Ileje. "The development and implementation of an evaluation for rural ICT projects in developing countries: an exploration of the Siyakhulu Living Lab, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002767.
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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.
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Osah, Umeoniso Joshua. "A process assessment framework for rural ICT projects in developing countries: an exploration of the Siyakhula Living Lab, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001623.
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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.
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Van, Wyk Byron Jay. "E-trust: a building block for developing valuable online platforms in Higher Education." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1852.
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Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
Master of Technology Design
in the Faculty of Informatics and Design
at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Supervisor: Prof J Messeter
Cape Town, 2013The aim of this research project was to provide an answer to the question: “How can an understanding of online trust be used to build valuable online applications in Higher Education?” In order to present an answer to this question, a literature survey was conducted to establish: • An understanding of the phenomenon of online trust • What the factors are that influence a loss of trust in the online environment The literature survey highlighted several factors that influence a loss of trust in the online environment, called trust cues. These factors, however, were often tested within the E-commerce environment, and not in organization-specific contexts, such as online platforms in use in Higher Education. In order to determine whether or not these factors would influence the development of trust in context-specific environments, the author of this research grouped the indentified trust factors into three focus areas, i.e. content, ease of use, and navigation. These factors were then incorporated into a series of nine different prototypes. These prototypes were different versions of a particular online platform currently in use at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). The prototypes were tested over a three week period, with certain staff members at the institution in question recruited as test participants. During each week of user observations, a different focus area was targeted, in order to establish the impact that it would have on the perceived trustworthiness of the platform in question. User observations were conducted while test participants completed a standard process using the various prototypes. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted while participants completed the specific process. Participants were asked to evaluate each screen in the process according to its perceived trust worthiness, by assigning a trust level score. At the completion of the three rounds of user observations, in-depth interviews were conducted with test participants. The participants’ trust level scores for each prototype were captured and graphed. A detailed description for the score given for a particular screen was presented on each graph. These scores were combined to provide an analysis of the focus area tested during the specific round. After the three rounds of user observations were completed, an analysis of all the trust factors tested were done. Data captured during interviews were transcribed, combined with feedback received from questionnaires, and analysed. An interpretation of the results showed that not all trust factors had a similar influence in the development of trust in the online platform under investigation. Trust cues such as content organization, clear instructions and useful content were by far the most significant trust factors, while others such as good visual design elements, professional images of products, and freedom from grammatical and typographical errors had little or no impact in the overall trustworthiness of the platform under investigation. From the analysis done it was clear that the development of trust in organization-specific contexts is significantly different than developing trust in an E-commerce environment and that factors that influence the development of trust in one context might not always be significant in another. In conclusion, it is recommended that when software applications are developed in organization-specific contexts, such as Higher Education, that trust factors such as good content organization, clear instructions and useful content be considered as the most salient. Organization-specific contexts differ quite significantly in that the users of these systems often convey a certain degree of trust toward the online platforms that they work with on a daily basis. Trust factors that are geared toward developing an initial or basic trust in a particular platform, which is often the case with first time users engaging in an E-commerce platform, would therefore not be as significant in the development of a more developed level of trust, which is what is needed within the development of organization-specific online platforms.
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Khan, Enamul Haque. "A Technology and Management Perspective on Performance in Private and State-owned Banks – Bangladesh Cases." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Handelshögskolan vid Umeå universitet, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-37868.
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Abstract Title: Comparative Study Between Private and State-owned Banks: Technology and Management Perspectives Author: Khan, Enamul Haque Supervisor: Catherine Lions Background: Bangladesh is a lower developing country with limited resources and income. In Bangladesh, both private and state-owned banks operate side by side but under dissimilar conditions. State-owned banks are obviously overstaffed but secured by the government guarantee while private banks need to be competitive and profitable to survive. Two major competitive factors are technology innovation and good governance system. Private banks in Bangladesh are providing complete online solutions and function with a decentralized management while state-owned banks behave opposite due to government’s traditional attitude. Therefore it is relevant to explore what the state-owned bank can learn from the private bank so that the former can be more effective and profitable like private banks. Purpose: The purpose is to explore what the state-owned bank can learn from its private competitor. My first purpose is to analyze the functioning of technological improvements that, due to generation change, are vital for banks in developing countries. Secondly, since good governance is necessary for the organization to be efficient, I want to identify the main differences between state-owned and private banks that influence the performance. Finally, how to adapt these issues by state-owned banks to improve the performance is other purpose of this study. Method: Unstructured interviews with qualitative approach were carried by interviewing a private bank and a state-owned bank expertise. Primary data collected through telephone interviews helps to identify the practice in the different ownership systems and how growth factors work. Secondary data works as accelerator of the primary data. Conclusion: I have found that state-owned banks have three major problems are: Poor IT infrastructure, clumsy managerial governance working on regulatory bindings and political influence. To overcome these problems, state-owned banks should try to move towards decentralization of managerial activities and meet the technology standard requirements. Key words: Information Technology (IT), Private Bank, State-owned Bank, Developing Countries, Management, Ownership, Government, Regulation, Politics, Interview, Primary and Secondary Data.
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Makombe, Farai. "Developing a help-desk system for a multi-purpose ICT platform in a marginalised setting." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/315.
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Attempts to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural Information and Communications Technology (ICT) users have led to the deployment of ICT platforms in remote rural areas. This puts an increased demand for skilled support in rural ICT platforms to assist users in resolving technical problems that they face on a daily basis. A web based help desk system is developed and implemented to allow knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst users and experts as a way of ensuring the technical sustainability of the Siyakhula Living Lab, a remote rural based Information and Communications Technology (ICT4D) intervention. The research describes the use of Transactional and Innovation & Creative knowledge management strategies and their associated applications such as case-based reasoning (CBR) methods and collaborative knowledge approaches to develop a help desk support system for a geographically distributed multipurpose ICT centre in Dwesa, a rural remote area in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The system implemented in this study has been validated for functional adequacy and usability within the Siyakhula Living Lab. The results of the evaluation are presented in this thesis to provide the initial validation of the effectiveness of the help desk system. Keywords: ICT4D, ICT, Case-Based Reasoning; Collaborative Knowledge, Technical Sustainability, Help Desk Systems, Siyakhula Living Lab Forums, Issue Tracking, Rural Users, South Africa
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Van, der Westhuizen Christoffel Petrus. "Digital versatile disc as an information and communication technology variant to support geography teaching and learning / Christoffel Petrus Van der Westhuizen." Thesis, North-West University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/1467.
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Tumusiime, James. "Investigating a rural community's use of communication technology : a study of Nakaseke Community Multi-media centre in Uganda /." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2006. http://eprints.ru.ac.za/904/.
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Haagman, Jenny. "Knowledge is the Key : Internet access, utilization and opinions in Grenada, West Indies." Thesis, Jönköping University, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-763.
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Knowledge is the Key
- Internet access, utilization and opinions in Grenada, West Indies
Information and knowledge contributes to growth and development through empowering individuals and communities, creating opportunities to improve their living conditions. Technology is advancing rapidly and the Information and Communication Technology, ICT, provides new ways to attain information. Especially the Internet is regarded to be a source of information and knowledge. However, there are still many places in the world where Internet access is not yet available to everyone. The consequences are that people in developing countries do not get the opportunity to benefit from the new technology and the possibilities it brings.
The research for this thesis was carried out in Grenada during November and December 2006. Grenada is a small independent island in the English speaking Caribbean, where only a small percentage of the population has Internet access. The purpose of the study is to examine if a selection of young individuals in Grenada can obtain enhanced knowledge through using the Internet. Furthermore, the study intends to depict what attitudes and opinions can be found among the youths, focusing on the possibilities as well as the negative effects of the Internet.
This study was conducted trough a qualitative orientated methodological perspective with strategically selected respondents between 11 and 35 years old. Qualitative interviews were being made with nine individuals who were using the Internet regularly.
The conclusion of this thesis is that organized strategies and projects are required, with the aim to create motives for the young generation of Grenada to obtain enhanced knowledge through Internet usage. The access and availability in itself is not enough, because seeking information and knowledge is not the main purpose when the youths are using the Internet. Nevertheless, the respondents stated that the Internet is considered to be a source of information and knowledge and that they know where and how to find information when using the Internet, if they wanted to. The result also reveals an overall positive attitude towards the Internet and the future among the youths, yet still well aware of the negative consequences. The respondents expressed a desire to be able to keep up with the technology and wished for increased and improved accessibility and connectivity in Grenada.
Another interesting conclusion this research generated is the confirmation of the digital divide as a matter of global stratification, rather than differences between countries. Regardless of the country of origin, people with Internet access will have advantages in life and benefit from the technology, unlike those who have no access and hence, will fall even further behind.
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Ivins, Tiffany. "Localization of Open Educational Resources (OER) in Nepal: Strategies of Himalayan Knowledge-Workers." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2011. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2616.
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This dissertation examines localization of Open Educational Resources (OER) in Himalayan community technology centers of Nepal. Specifically, I examine strategies and practices that local knowledge-workers utilize in order to localize educational content for the disparate needs, interests, and ability-levels of learners in rural villages. This study draws on insights from non-formal education (NFE) stakeholders in Nepal, including government, UN, international and national NGOs, local knowledge-workers, and learners from different villages. I specifically focus on a sample of seven technology centers to better understand how localization is defined, designed, and executed at a ground level. I illuminate obstacles knowledge-workers face while localizing content and strategies to overcome such barriers. I conclude by offering key principles to support theory development related to OER localization. This study is anchored in hermeneutic inquiry and is augmented by interpretive phenomenological analysis and quasi-ethnographic research methods. This qualitative study employed interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and artifact reviews to identify patterns of localization practices and themes related to localization of critical content in Himalayan community technology centers of Nepal. This dissertation provides valuable evidence not only why localization matters (a statement that has been hypothesized for the past decade); but also provides proof of how localization is executed and concrete ways that localization could be improved in order for OER to reap efficacious learning gains for more rural people in developing countries and in other rural communities across the globe. The full text of this dissertation may be downloaded for free from http://etd.byu.edu/
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Ngololo, E. N. (Elizabeth Ndeukumwa). "An evaluation of the implementation of ICT policy for education in rural Namibian schools." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24841.
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Many governments across the world have invested a lot of resources in information and communication technology (ICT) development with an aim to enhance teaching and learning using technology in schools. New educational ICT policy issues emerged and new patterns of ICT related practices are observable in education. This initiative has necessitated the development of National ICT Policies that will guide the implementation process in schools. Namibia has adopted the National ICT policy for Education in 2005 and the National ICT Policy Implementation Plan in 2006. Since the adoption no study was done to evaluate the implementation process, especially in rural schools where the teaching has been proven difficult. This study evaluates the implementation of the National ICT Policy for Education in Namibian rural junior secondary schools, especially in science classrooms. The thesis is a mixed methods study, undertaking survey and case studies. The study was conducted in the three educational regions, namely, Ohangwena; Oshana; and Oshikoto in Northern Namibia were 163 schools were sampled. The purpose of the study was to describe how ICT is being implemented in science classrooms and also explore factors that affect ICT implementation in rural schools. The study’s findings indicate that the rural schools in Namibia are in the initial phase of ICT implementation. ICT use and pedagogical use is low due to lack of professional development courses, pedagogical support and lack of ICT related resources. However, the few schools with high pedagogical use of ICT have shown an entrepreneurial leadership style and vision of the science teachers. The relational analysis suggests three main predictors of ICT implementation in rural schools. These findings were confirmed through case studies of successful schools. In addition, the findings were legitimised by the participants of the ICT use conference. The Kennisnet model (2009) was adopted and adapted as a conceptual framework for this study. The Howie model (2002) provided the frame within which the structure of input, process and outcome could be identified. The data was consistent with the adapted Kennisnet model (2009) and added five more constructs namely, entrepreneurial leadership, science curriculum goals, entrepreneurial science teachers’ vision, general use of ICT. The general use of ICT and attitudes of the science teachers influences the pedagogical use of ICT as added to the Howie model (2002). The results of this research suggest ways to improve the pedagogical use of ICT in rural schools; enable policymakers to make informed decision about resource allocation to the rural schools; and on teacher professional development in order to improve the current rural situation regarding ICT use.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
unrestricted
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Holmner, Marlene Amanda. "A critical analysis of information and knowledge societies with specific reference to the interaction between local and global knowledge systems." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2008. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11102008-143543/.
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Palmer, Marlize. "Role of information technology in addressing the information needs of engineers operating in a developing country." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12315.
Full textAbstract:
M.Bibl. (Information Science)Difficulties in satisfying the information needs of the engineer operating in the developing world led to a requirement to determine through research what information technologies are available and now they might be implemented to meet these needs, A growing recognition by engineers operating in the developing world of the importance of information and information sources for economic and social development fuels their need for engineering information. The information explosion s problems of scatter, diversity, volume and cost are very real in the developing world and are exaggerated by the prevailing economic, social, political and cultural conditions in developing countries. A literature study established the most striking characteristics of developing countries and special attention was given to Africa and Botswana. Factors hampering the developing world in gaining access to information and become part of the world "information economy" was identified. A literature study was also conducted to establish what information technology was available world wide, what has already been tried and tested, and which information technologies have the potential to be introduced in developing countries. It was found that despite the problems and obstacles which exist when introducing IT to developing countries, scientific and technological information services cannot get by without the use of IT. Certain information technologies such as CD-ROM, which seems to be promising in providing access to bibliographic and full text materials, need to be introduced. The use of information technology could also be successful to assist in educating people in developing countries about the importance and benefits of information systems for survival by providing easy access to coping and helping information as well as enriching and edifying information. An empirical study by structured interview was carried out on a representative sample of consulting engineers working in Botswana. Their information needs, access to engineering information sources and IT availability were establish. Evaluation of the responses to the structured interview reveal that engineers in Botswana are quite a diverse group, but that they could be grouped together by virtue of certain common characteristics such as place of work, civil engineering disciplines, membership of professional organisations, country in which engineering qualification was obtained and home language.