bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gentrification
Authors: August Martine
Published: December 2017

Gentrification is the process of remaking urban space for progressively more affluent users. Emerging as a marginal residential upgrading trend in the 1960s–1970s, gentrification is now ubiquitous across global urban landscapes, and pursued as a global urban policy strategy. With implications for urban social injustice, gentrification involves the physical, social, and cultural displacement of working‐class, low‐income, and racially marginalized incumbent populations.
Gendering Collaboration: Adult Education in Feminist Leadership
Authors: Clover Darlene E. , Etmanski Catherine , Reimer Rachel
Published: December 2017

This chapter explores the potential of feminist leadership to encourage more participatory ways of engaging and learning in this deeply troubled world. Feminist leadership includes but is not limited to collaborative leadership. Adult learning is inherent to feminist leadership insofar as leaders must strategize according to the contexts in which they find themselves.
Learning in Global Collaborations for Impact and Innovation
Authors: Ubalijoro Éliane
Published: December 2017

This chapter looks at learning through global collaboration I have been involved in or witnessed as well as explores practices that can enhance innovation for success in addressing complex challenges we face in the twenty‐first century.
Cocreating Collaborative Leadership Learning Environments: Using Adult Learning Principles and a Coach Approach
Authors: Page M. Beth , Margolis Rhonda L.
Published: December 2017

As educators, we seek to answer the following question: “What magic can happen when you believe that people are whole and resourceful and you hold the space for generative, collective wisdom?” This chapter explores collaborative leadership and learning with adult learners. We focus on creative ways to optimize learning and enhance capacity to lead self and others.
Understanding Collaborative Leadership in Theory and Practice
Authors: Lawrence Randee Lipson
Published: December 2017

This final chapter provides a synthesis and analysis of the major themes in the previous chapters. Definitions of collaborative leadership are explored along with theoretical underpinnings, characteristics, and common themes. Implications for adult education are discussed.
Merging Brønsted Acid and Hydrogen‐Bonding Catalysis: Metal‐Free Dearomatization of Phenols via ipso‐Friedel‐Crafts Alkylation to Produce Functionalized Spirolactams
Authors: Harada Shingo , Kwok Irene Mei‐Yi , Nakayama Hiroki , Kanda Ayaka , Nemoto Tetsuhiro
Published: December 2017

Intramolecular dearomative cyclization of phenols with α‐diazoamide units for synthesizing functionalized spirolactams was developed by merging Brønsted acid and hydrogen‐bonding catalysis as an advantageous alternative to transition metal catalysis. This metal carbenoid‐free strategy enables high chemoselectivity by suppressing potentially competing C−H insertion reactions and a Büchner reaction. Preliminary mechanistic studies were performed to elucidate the positive effect of the combined use of the catalysts, and extension to an asymmetric reaction was achieved.

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How Do Our Values Inform Ethical Research? A Narrative of Recognizing Colonizing Practices
Authors: Dzidic Peta , Bishop Brian
Published: December 2017

How do you reconcile tensions between ethical research practice, personal values, and disciplinary values? This article focuses on an ethical challenge involving the engagement of rural Indigenous community members that emerged during my PhD fieldwork. The narrative illustrates the necessity to engage in critical reflexive research practice, a process which saw me respond to my own feelings of “wrong” and “right,” contemplate a distinction between procedural ethics and virtue ethics in community‐based research, explore colonizing research practices, and endeavor to reconcile an instance where the values of community psychology appeared in contest. The “voice” in this narrative is that of the first author; the dual authorship reflects the ongoing collaboration between both authors. When this ethical issue came about, our relationship was one of “student” and “supervisor”; we are now colleagues and friends.
Diplomacy's Question: Can Every Dispute Be Resolved?
Authors: Jacobs Roger B.
Published: December 2017

I recently attended a small group celebration in honor of the late Israeli politician and two‐time prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin, at Newark, N.J.'s New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The presentation focused, among other things, on steps for multistate dispute resolution. Present were Daniel Kurtzer, who served as U.S. ambassador to both Egypt and Israel, and is now a professor at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University; former Israeli ambassador to the United States Itamar Rabinovich, and Rabin's daughter, Dalia Rabin‐Pelossof.
How Hope Can Confront Even the Most Hellish of Problems
Authors: Creo Robert A.
Published: December 2017

Emotions are present in all participants in a mediation session, including the mediator. The dynamics of the overwhelming majority of litigated cases and interpersonal claims involve negative emotions. But in more than three decades of serving as a neutral, there have been right and shining moments of joy, hope, gratitude, grace, humility, trust, and kindness, and other virtuous behavior in mediation.
A novel thermosensitive triblock copolymer from 100% renewably sourced poly(trimethylene ether) glycol
Authors: Zhang Cong , Luan Huacheng , Wang Guiyou
Published: December 2017

Bio‐based amphiphilic triblock copolymers with 100% renewably sourced poly(trimethylene ether) glycol (PO3G) as the hydrophobic blocks and statistical copolymer of 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO2MA) and oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate (OEGMA) [P(MEO2MA‐stat‐OEGMA)] as the hydrophilic blocks are synthesized and characterized. It is found that the molar ratio of MEO2MA/OEGMA among the resulting copolymers is approximately 70/30. The degree of polymerization (DP) of P(MEO2MA‐stat‐OEGMA) block ranges from 16 to 90, and the DP of PO3G block is fixed at 35. The amphiphilic copolymers could form core‐shell micelles self‐assembly in aqueous solution at low concentrations, and the micelles are in spherical shape with sizes varying from 121 to 188 nm. With the increasing length of hydrophilic blocks, the critical micelle concentration increases from 2.15 to 13.8 mg L−1, and the lower critical solution temperature improves from 32.5 to 38.4 °C. The in vitro doxorubicin (DOX) release study shows that all DOX‐loaded micelles have a higher release rate at 37 °C than that at 25 °C. Cytotoxicity test reveals that the blank micelles are nearly nontoxic. These results indicate that the block copolymer micelles containing 100% renewably sourced PO3G can serve as a potential drug delivery carrier. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46112.
Less fibrosis in elderly subjects supplemented with selenium and coenzyme Q10—A mechanism behind reduced cardiovascular mortality?
Authors: Alehagen Urban , Aaseth Jan , Alexander Jan , Svensson Erland , Johansson Peter , Larsson Anders
Published: December 2017

Background: In an intervention study where 221 healthy elderly persons received selenium and coenzyme Q10 as a dietary supplement, and 222 received placebo for 4 years we observed improved cardiac function and reduced cardiovascular mortality. As fibrosis is central in the aging process, we investigated the effect of the intervention on biomarkers of fibrogenic activity in a subanalysis of this intervention study. Material and Methods: In the present subanalysis 122 actively treated individuals and 101 controls, the effect of the treatment on eight biomarkers of fibrogenic activity were assessed. These biomarkers were: Cathepsin S, Endostatin, Galectin 3, Growth Differentiation Factor‐15 (GDF‐15), Matrix Metalloproteinases 1 and 9, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP 1) and Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 (ST‐2). Blood concentrations of these biomarkers after 6 and 42 months were analyzed by the use of T‐tests, repeated measures of variance, and factor analyses. Results: Compared with placebo, in those receiving supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10, all biomarkers except ST2 showed significant decreased concentrations in blood. The changes in concentrations, that is, effects sizes as given by partial eta2 caused by the intervention were considered small to medium. Conclusion: The significantly decreased biomarker concentrations in those on active treatment with selenium and coenzyme Q10 compared with those on placebo after 36 months of intervention presumably reflect less fibrogenic activity as a result of the intervention. These observations might indicate that reduced fibrosis precedes the reported improvement in cardiac function, thereby explaining some of the positive clinical effects caused by the intervention. © 2017 BioFactors, 44(2):137–147, 2018
Social Justice and the Community College Mission
Authors: Heelan Cynthia M. , Mellow Gail O.
Published: December 2017

This chapter describes the community college challenge to support all learners to succeed in college and enter the middle class as citizens, parents, and workers.
Noncredit Education: Specialized Programs to Meet Local Needs
Authors: D'Amico Mark M.
Published: December 2017

This chapter discusses an often neglected aspect of the community college mission: noncredit courses that address local service area needs.
Career Management in Uncertain Times: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Callanan Gerard A. , Perri David F. , Tomkowicz Sandra M.
Published: December 2017

The beginning years of the 21st century have witnessed the confluence of a host of environmental factors that have dramatically altered employment relationships and upended long‐standing approaches to career management for workers in the United States and around the world. The authors critically examine these environmental changes, focusing on the implications for career choice and decision making. On the basis of these findings, they address how individuals, working with career counselors and professionals, can enhance their contemporary careers in response to the challenges and uncertainties brought on by rapid environmental change.
Cover Picture: Oxidative Rearrangement of Isatins with Arylamines Using H2O2 as Oxidant: A Facile Synthesis of Quinazoline‐2,4‐diones and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Activity (Chin. J. Chem. 12/2017)
Authors: Shi Guanghao , He Xinwei , Shang Yongjia , Yang Cheng , Xiang Liwei
Published: December 2017

The cover picture shows a green and highly efficient synthetic method for the synthesis of quinazoline‐2,4‐diones from readily available isatins and arylamines. This method is interesting in keeping with the notion of green chemistry because of the use of hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant. The rearrangement oxidation exhibited good functional group tolerability, metal‐free catalysts, obviating the need for oxidants and only environmentally benign H2O was released. Moreover, an antibacterial activity study was performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activities. The results showed that some of the testing compounds inhibited the growth of the Staphylococcus aureus (32 μg/mL) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (64 μg/mL), which could potentially solve the problem of multidrug resistance. More details are discussed in the article by Shang et al. on page 1835–1843.

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Expression of the potassium‐chloride co‐transporter, KCC2, within the avian song system
Authors: Vaaga Christopher E. , Miller Kimberly E. , Bodor Ágnes L. , Perkel David J.
Published: December 2017

Songbirds learn to produce vocalizations early in life by listening to, then copying the songs of conspecific males. The anterior forebrain pathway, homologous to a basal ganglia‐forebrain circuit, is essential for song learning. The projection between the striato‐pallidal structure, Area X, and the medial portion of the dorsolateral thalamic nucleus (DLM) is strongly hyperpolarizing in adults, due to a very negative chloride reversal potential (Person & Perkel, Neuron 46:129–140, 2005). The chloride reversal potential is determined, in part, by the expression level of a neuron‐specific potassium‐chloride cotransporter, KCC2, which is developmentally upregulated in mammals. To determine whether a similar upregulation in KCC2 expression occurs at the Area X to DLM synapse during development, we examined the expression level of KCC2 in adult zebra finches across the song system as well as during development in the Area X – DLM synapse. We demonstrate that KCC2 is expressed in a subset of neurons throughout the song system, including HVC (used as a proper name), robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA), lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN), Area X, and DLM. The majority of pallidal‐like projection neurons in Area X showed KCC2 immunoreactivity. In adults, KCC2 expression was robust within DLM, and was upregulated between 14 and 24 days post hatching, before the onset of song learning. Light and electron microscopic analysis indicated that KCC2 immunoreactivity is strongly associated with the plasma membrane. Thus, in the song system as in the mammalian brain, KCC2 expression is well placed to modulate the GABAA reversal potential.
Guiding Early and Often: Using Curricular and Learning Analytics to Shape Teaching, Learning, and Student Success in Gateway Courses
Authors: Pistilli Matthew D. , Heileman Gregory L.
Published: December 2017

This chapter provides information on how the promise of analytics can be realized in gateway courses through a combination of good data science and the thoughtful application of outcomes to teaching and learning improvement efforts—especially with and among instructors.
Putting the “Evidence” in Evidence‐Based: Utilizing Institutional Research to Drive Gateway‐Course Reform
Authors: Berg Emily A. , Hanson Mark
Published: December 2017

This chapter provides an example of how one university's institutional research office played an active role in using data from institutional studies to guide the university toward courses ripe for change, faculty toward successful teaching strategies, students toward successful learning behaviors, and the university toward assessing the impact of the changes.
Barriers to Putting Businesses on the Internet in Malaysia
Authors: Abd. Mukti Norhayati
Published: December 2017

Over fifty businesses in the Klang Valley, Malaysia that currently use e‐commerce responded to a survey asking them to identify potential barriers to e‐commerce expansion. The most frequently chosen categories were related to security and the uncertain nature of the legal contract between supplier and customer. Although some differences were found among certain types of companies, such concerns were generally felt by small and large companies and those with varying e‐commerce experience.
Investigating Cultural Differences in Virtual Software Teams
Authors: Dafoulas Georgios , Macaulay Linda
Published: December 2017

Software development projects increasingly extend over the boundaries set by a single company, or country. As the available communication media becomes more sophisticated, and more advanced technology costs less, the trends in software development move towards a more “virtual” nature. This evolutionary process allows individuals or even teams from different locations and cultures, with different expectations and goals, to blend in a virtual team of effectively collaborating and coordinating members.

This paper focuses on virtual software development teams and how cultural differences between them or their members may affect activities in different stages of the development cycle. It briefly reviews the existing perspectives on virtual teams and their organisation and management. It also discusses the main characteristics that such teams have and clarifies the differences between various definitions available for the “virtual team”. After outlining some of the main benefits and barriers of such teams, it concentrates on justifying that cultural differences are one of the most important issues that should be addressed for these teams to work effectively. Next, existing theories on cultural differences are reviewed. Also, the requirements for modelling cultural difference issues are identified. Finally, it provides evidence for the need of computational support for effectively resolving conflicts, forming teams, dynamically allocating roles, and managing software engineering projects in culturally diverse environments.
Rural Community ICT Applications: The Kothmale Model
Authors: Pringle Ian , David M.J.R.
Published: December 2017

Spectacular growth in information and communication technologies (ICTs), and specifically the internet, has the potential to offer a new generation of tools for rural development. The internet, with its huge quantities and variety of content, is increasingly becoming an effective delivery and exchange system for information and knowledge, continuing education and learning. However, rural ICT requires special efforts to create appropriate models for those who can neither afford the Internet access nor have the language capacity to understand the content.[1]

New information and communication technologies represent perhaps the greatest tool to date for self‐education and value‐addition to an individual or community's own efforts for development, yet poor rural communities do not have the necessary awareness, skills or facilities to contribute to their own development using ICTs. The majority and those with the least resources in South Asia are being left out of the benefits of these new technologies and more importantly, rural areas do even have a foothold in the revolution that ICTs are ushering in.

Parallel to other increasing forms of inequity, there is an evident gap, widening at an exponential rate, between those with access to media and ICTs as productive tools and those without. Closing what has become known as ‘the digital divide’ is particularly important precisely because digital ICTs cut across and add value to all fields of development and offer applications to bridge the spectrum of inequities of which the ‘digital divide’ is only an extension or a symptom.

The communication scenario along with the political context in the island nation of Sri Lanka is very much similar to most its South Asian neighbours. The metropolis and regional centres are witnessing rapid expansions in telecom and media sectors while telephones, electricity and clean drinking water are luxuries for many in the countryside.

The absence of relevant experience is major barrier for rural ICT usage. One example that offers some useful insight and successful elements for a model is Kothmale Community Radio and Internet in central Sri Lanka.
Digital Opportunity Initiative for Pakistan
Authors: Mujahid Yousaf Haroon
Published: December 2017

As mankind starts its journey into the new millennium we notice the two major forces shaping up the future of this world, reducing geographic boundaries, bringing cultures and societies closer to each other — are Globalization and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) — creating a paradox of wealth and poverty; bridging gap between individuals and isolating them at the same time; creating simultaneously the information haves and information have‐nots; empowering people contribute and restricting communities to participate. Despite many steps forward in social and economic conditions around the world in recent decades, there remain huge disparities in the quality of human existence. We are now at a critical juncture of time and place where unprecedented global flows in information, products, people, capital and ideas offer great potential for radical improvements in human development, but left unabated, they may also serve to worsen and entrench the spiral of poverty which already exists in many communities and countries limiting people to unleash the prowess of ICT revolution and creating a serious gap of information disparity called the Digital Divide. The digital divide means more than just a lack of computers and connections. Technology means nothing if it is not used where the people who could benefit the most are not using information technologies to address the problems they face, not only because they lack the training, but also because government policies often hinder affordable and accessible technology implementation.
Re‐thinking Information and Communications Technology Policy Focus on Internet versus Teledensity Diffusion for Africa's Least Developed Countries
Authors: Mbarika Victor W. A.
Published: December 2017

The digital divide between the West and Africa seems to be drawing closer for many northern and southern African countries in terms of information and communications technology. These countries are experiencing tremendous growth in use of computers, Internet connectivity, wireless communications and many other related technologies. However, the same is not true for Africa's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) that are still greatly behind other regions of the world in terms of the level of basic telecommunications infrastructure such as teledensity (number of main telephone lines for every one hundred inhabitants). While it is true that Africa's LDCs have some Internet presence, it seems to be limited only to the urban elite. These countries may therefore not be in the position to exploit most of the benefits the Internet can offer. This study suggests a sound teledensity infrastructure as the precursor to the diffusion of various information and communications technologies. Furthermore this study proposes a set of strategies that Africa's LDCs should consider as steps to improve growth of their teledensity.
Small Businesses’ Acceptance and Adoption of e‐Commerce in the Western‐Cape Province of South‐Africa
Authors: Cloete Eric , Courtney Steven , Fintz Julia
Published: December 2017

This paper reports on research that was undertaken in Information Systems at the University of Cape Town on the acceptance and adoption of e‐commerce amongst small businesses in the manufacturing sector. It addresses how these small businesses in a developing country perceive the potential benefits of e‐commerce and looks at their consequent adoption of e‐commerce activities in their own organisations. This includes the businesses’ perception of the benefits and opportunities of e‐commerce activities and to determine whether these businesses have the necessary technological capabilities for e‐commerce adoption in place. A secondary aim of this research was to determine the current level of e‐commerce adoption by small manufacturing businesses in the Western Cape. This was achieved by circulating a questionnaire to test the perception of e‐commerce benefits and e‐commerce adoption levels amongst small manufacturing businesses in the Western Cape. If the global usage of the Internet for electronic commerce by SME's is compared with the South African case, this research clearly indicates that the available technologies are not adopted to the extent that is necessary for survival in a rapidly changing environment.
The New Software Exporting Nations: Impacts on National Well Being Resulting From Their Software Exporting Industries
Authors: Carmel Erran
Published: December 2017

“New software exporting nations” are those dozens of nations that have begun exporting software products and services in recent years. Much has been written about the remarkable success of India and there is excitement regarding the promise for other developing, emerging, and transition economies. We examine the impact on the broader national economies of a software export sector. Economic and social impacts include: impact on labor, impact on new organizational forms, stimulation of infrastructure and other industries, economic impacts, and political impacts. Governments intervene to stimulate the software exporting industry because they recognize that there is a potential for spillovers; and that domestic markets do not create sufficient stimulus.
Building Iran's Software Industry: An Assessment of Plans and Prospects
Authors: Nicholson Brian , Sahay Sundeep
Published: December 2017

A number of aspirant, late entrant countries such as Jordan, Argentina and others have attempted to develop strategies to enter the global software and offshore services marketplace attracted by the experience of other nations and buoyant international demand. The Iranian software industry has high levels of domestic demand and potential in some international and regional markets. The reformist government has engaged in diplomatic missions and developed an informatics plan, a component of which aims to develop the software industry. It is hoped that a strong software industry will reduce the ‘brain drain’ of Iran's young, low‐cost highly educated people. However, regional and domestic instabilities, a USA imposed trade embargo, outdated technologies, lack of international quality standards and endemic piracy present significant barriers to success in this endeavour. Drawing on empirical data from interviews, secondary literature and a model of software export success, this paper contributes by presenting an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of Iran as a software export nation. Iran is largely unexplored in the information technology literature. Secondly, the paper provides an assessment of the software export success model in relation to the Iranian context.
Cross‐Cultural Telecommuting Evaluation in Mexico and the United States
Authors: Navarrete Carlos J. , Pick James B.
Published: December 2017

This paper tests the impact of differences in culture on telecommuting in the United States and Mexico. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of each country's culture on the perceptions of telecommuting satisfaction and organizational support for telecommuting. The research questions assess the telecommuting satisfaction, and extent of support by organizational policies for telecommuting in the two countries. These results are compared with the expected outcomes due to the differences in culture in both countries. The tests are done, based on a questionnaire sample of 204 employees in the U.S. and Mexico. The statistical method is crosstabulation analysis. The results show no difference between the two samples regarding job satisfaction. Respondents in the two samples indicate differences on the extent of organizational support for telecommuting. The Mexican sample shows more support for telecommuting arrangements than the U.S. one. This result is unexpected, given the cultural differences in both countries. The findings have implications for telecommuting policies and telecommuting cross‐cultural research.
Evaluating Information Technology Investments in Emerging Economies Using Activity‐Based Costing
Authors: Roztocki Narcyz , Weistroffer Heinz Roland
Published: December 2017

Many firms in emerging economies invest in information technology primarily with the objective of protecting their cost advantages. This paper presents a framework for evaluating information technology investments by integrating the value chain model with activity‐based costing. The proposed four‐step approach is illustrated with a numerical example of a hypothetical manufacturing company seeking improvements in its cost structure.
Access to Research in Cameroonian Universities
Authors: Willinsky John , Jonas Randall , Shafack Rosemary , Wirsiy Kiven Charles
Published: December 2017

This study examines both the state of Internet access in Cameroon's institutions of higher learning at the turn of the century and the perceptions of faculty, librarians, and graduate students of their current state of access to research literature in both print and electronic forms. It is based on a review of existing technologies at six of the seven universities in Cameroon and a survey of 91 faculty members, librarians and students drawn from six of the seven universities in Cameroon made during the academic year 2001–2002. The survey asked the participants about the current state of access to both print and online journals, while seeking to establish their priorities and interests for scholarly communication for the future. This work seeks to provide a greater understanding of the potential impact of the Internet on access to the scholarly literature in Cameroon and other developing countries. What was found as a result of this survey was both a source of concern and hope. Although university students, faculty and librarians in Cameroon had very limited access to the Internet, and often at personal expense, they saw the possibilities of this medium for increasing their access to scholarly resources. They saw it as a means of overcoming the currently unsatisfactory state of access to research, and a way to obtain online journals both from overseas and, more so among students, from Africa, which could be used for their research and teaching
An Investigation of the Use of Methods within Information Systems Development Projects
Authors: Kiely Gaye , Fitzgerald Brian
Published: December 2017

The development of information systems has always been and remains a volatile environment. Practitioners and researchers within the field of information systems development (ISD) have put forward a number of different ideas over the past thirty years to better monitor and control the process. The use of traditional ISD methods has been one such idea that has not only achieved widespread application but has garnered many criticisms regarding its application. This study seeks to investigate whether these criticisms are supported in terms of how present day organizations utilize traditional ISD methods in light of the increased diversity and sophistication of ISD projects. The findings of the study indicate that whilst methods are considered an integral part of the majority of development projects, they cannot be adopted without a significant amount of modification to suit individual development projects. In addition, traditional ISD methods were considered of limited use within the present ISD environment.
An Assessment on the Informatization of Brazilian Industrial Companies
Authors: Zwicker Ronaldo , de Souza Cesar Alexandre , da Rocha Vidal Antonio Geraldo
Published: December 2017

This paper reports on a study about the adoption and use of Information Technology by Brazilian industrial companies, related to technology infrastructure, information systems, Internet, human resources and investments. Concepts related to the subject are discussed and the results of a descriptive survey carried out in 326 small, medium and large Brazilian industries are presented. The results indicate that there are statistically significant differences among the three sizes of companies considered in the research. There are evident differences in the adoption and use of the technology and these differences seem to be related to the size of the company. These differences do not result from economic shortcomings or difficulties the companies have in accessing the investigated resources. Although the paper does not specifically address problems of policy making regarding the reduction of these differences, it presents a framework for analyzing the patterns of informatization in industrial companies, and the results themselves offer parameters for comparing IT utilization in industries in other countries.
An Exploratory Study of Software Piracy in Jordan
Authors: El Sheikh Asim , Rashed Abdullah Abdali , Al Qudah Bashar , Peace A. Graham
Published: December 2017

This paper documents an exploratory study of software piracy in the developing country of Jordan. Piracy levels in the developing world have consistently ranked higher than in the industrialized nations, and this study finds that Jordan is no exception. Almost a quarter of those surveyed appeared to not understand the legal issues involved in piracy behavior. However, a majority did believe that copying software illegally is unethical. The roles of the government, NGOs and private industry in educating the public were also studied. The respondents believed that all three groups have a responsibility to increase public awareness of piracy issues, but the success of such efforts was seen as limited. The paper finishes with some suggestions on combating piracy in Jordan, including the implementation of a unified marketing strategy to raise public awareness of the issue.
Offshoring Information Technology: Sourcing and Outsourcing to a Global Workforce
Authors: Davison Robert
Published: December 2017

Carmel, E. and Tjia, P. (2005) Offshoring Information Technology: Sourcing and Outsourcing to a Global Workforce, Cambridge University Press, May 2005. 306 pages, £35.
Implementing and Managing eGovernment
Authors: Davison Robert
Published: December 2017

“Implementing and Managing eGovernment” by Richard Heeks. Published by Sage Publications, 293 pages, 2006. Rs450. ISBN: 81‐7829‐634‐9.
The Evolution of Trade Portals and the Pacific Islands Countries E‐Trade Facilitation and Promotion
Authors: McMaster Jim , Nowak Jan
Published: December 2017

The authors of this paper explore the nature, goal, functions and benefits of electronic trade facilitation and propose, based on an analysis of over 100 cases, a model describing the evolution of various trade portals at the national, regional and global level. In the context of the proposed model, the authors then examine e‐readiness, international trade volumes and the current trade facilitation and trade and investment promotion in the Pacific Island countries (PICs). Based on this examination and a comparison of various approaches to electronic trade facilitation and promotion, the authors recommend the establishment of a regional, single window trade gateway for the PICs, combining trade facilitation, trade promotion and trade policy development.
Exploring the Internet Use of Small Tourism Enterprises: Evidence from a Developing Country
Authors: Karanasios Stan , Burgess Stephen
Published: December 2017

This article reports the findings of research conducted within Malaysia Borneo. Using field interviews with small tourism enterprises (STEs) the study explored the use of the Internet by STEs; specifically, the authors sought to identify how STEs exploit the information, communication, and transactions spaces created by the Internet. This study improves knowledge on how small enterprises, specifically STEs, use and overcome typical hurdles to adopting the Internet. In contrast to previous studies in developing countries, the results show that amongst participants there is a sufficient level of Internet maturity and many enterprises view its use as the norm. Although quite a specific sample of small enterprises have been selected for this article, this article identifies lessons that may be applied to STEs generally in developing countries. Some strategies to assist STEs in developing countries to implement and maintain a web presence are suggested.
E‐Readiness for Developing Countries: Moving the focus from the environment to the users
Authors: Dada Danish
Published: December 2017

The achievement of high levels of e‐readiness is being increasingly heralded as one of the top priorities for developing countries. Furthermore, a growing amount of time, money and effort is being invested in calculating the level of a country's e‐readiness. This paper carries out a critical review on the concept of e‐readiness, with a special focus on developing countries. The results show that used by themselves, such measures do not help in terms of development as they tend to focus on the wider environment while ignoring the level of the organisation. In this light, a new model is proposed which gives importance to both e‐readiness (the environment) and technology acceptance (the organisation), in order to gain a richer understanding of the situation.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Policy for change and the Mask for Development: A Critical Analysis of Zimbabwe's E‐Readiness Survey Report
Authors: Mhlanga Brilliant
Published: December 2017

The Government of Zimbabwe in conjunction with the National Economic Consultative Forum (NECF) commissioned an e‐readiness survey in 2005, in a bid to assess the country's readiness to embrace Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Findings of this survey would then be used to coin a national ICTs policy and the e‐strategy to provide a roadmap towards a knowledge society. In a quest to assess the country's e‐readiness the Harvard University Guide (HUG) was used. Development in this paper is referred to as a process of change, which sets in motion principles whose objective is to eradicate poverty, injustice and various forms of exploitation. The pursuit of development therefore becomes the central pillar for policies. This paper seeks to provide a critical analysis of Zimbabwe's e‐readiness survey report and also focuses on the bedrock upon which the survey was carried out. It seeks to perceive an imperative to the e‐readiness assessment as also hinged on the technological determinist perspective as propounded by Marshal McLuhan (1964). This theory will be compounded by the diffusion of innovations model as coined by Everett Rogers (1962). The model strongly emphasizes the adoption of new technologies as the panacea for social change and development. The argument posited by the e‐readiness survey report is that in order to bridge the digital gap, Zimbabwe needs to build infrastructure to allow ICTs to be accessible. However, the e‐readiness survey report does not show a connection between the spread of ICTs infrastructure on the one hand and the economic and social development on the other. There is need to consider non‐quantifiable variables, such as poverty and social justice. The other factor as suggested above is the need for Zimbabwe to address current political and economic problems, as this isolation would impact heavily on the need to be interconnected.
The Prospects and Problems of Adopting ICT for Poverty Eradication in Nigeria
Authors: Raji M. O , Ayoade O.B. , Usoro A.
Published: December 2017

Despite rapid and dramatic technological change in the 1990s, the World inequality i.e. absolute gaps in per capital income between developed and developing countries increased. The number of people living in dollar poverty i.e. who consume less than a dollar a day, has remained constant at 1.2 billion. This paper critically examines how to help poor people especially of the developing countries (e.g. Nigeria) choose and use ICT; to adapt, develop, improve it, and to be able to manage it over time. The invisible hand of the market rather than the public good is shaping technological advancement. To reclaim it for public good and harness ICT for poverty reduction then poor countries of the world must integrate ICT into the economic and social fabric of their nations by broadening access to ICT, training the population to better tap into the immense potential of ICT and making the relevant policy adjustments in order to create the milieu in which individuals and investors will be able to benefit.
Critical Success Factors for E‐commerce in Thailand: Cultural and Infrastructural Influences
Authors: Laosethakul Kittipong , Boulton William
Published: December 2017

The main purposes of this paper are to identify critical success factors (CSFs) for electronic commerce (e‐commerce) in Thailand and explain the major influences behind these factors. Detailed case studies of nine e‐commerce companies from different industries in Thailand were conducted. Results showed that social behavior and national culture, more specifically issues pertaining to trust and shopping behavior, were the major influences for the success of e‐commerce in Thailand. The phenomenon could be partly explained by Hofstede's cultural dimensions. Thailand's infrastructure also played an important role in the success of its e‐commerce development. The findings provide a framework to guide the development of e‐commerce ventures in Thailand and other developing countries with similar cultures and infrastructures.
Modes of Learning and Performance Among U.P. Open University graduates
Authors: Bautista Victoria A. , Quimbo Ma. Ana T.
Published: December 2017

The study shows that online, mixed mode, and face‐to‐face learners perform at the same level among the 2006 graduates of the UP Open University (UPOU). The most critical factor that has affected performance level is the initiative of the student to interact with their teachers. However, this factor is also influenced by the initiative of the teacher to interact with the students. Satisfaction of the graduates with distance learning is high (6.2 in a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 as the highest point). Critical factors positively related with satisfaction are the initiative of the teacher to interact with students, the initiative of the students to interact with their teachers, and the initiative of students to interact with their peers. Socio‐demographic factors like regional base, gender, marital status, and age do not influence performance. The findings significantly demonstrate that irrespective of regional origins, marital status, gender and age, performance is the same across the different groups. Half of the graduates relied on the online mode of instruction, utilizing the integrated virtual learning environment (IVLE) platform of UPOU, particularly its discussion forum. Those remaining were distributed into mixed and face‐to‐face mode. Factors facilitating and impeding performance in distance learning and those influencing reliance on IVLE were discussed in the paper. Other policy implications were raised in the paper.
Implementing E‐government in Turkey: A Comparison of Online Public Service Delivery in Turkey and the European Union
Authors: Çayhan Behire Esra
Published: December 2017

The European Union's Lisbon strategy aspires “to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge‐based economy in the world” by 2010. Among the efforts to reach this aim, e‐government applications across the member states of the Union have proved to be quite effective in providing electronic access to basic public services in a secure and efficient environment. Turkey's endeavours to transform itself into an information society in general, and to implement e‐government in the country in particular, have been closely related to the European experience. In fact, the recent e‐government benchmark report of the Union has included Turkey. In this paper, we assess e‐government implementation in Turkey by comparing online public service delivery in Turkey and the European Union. The comparison is based on the information available in the 2007 report on electronic public services in the European Union and Turkey.
Information Technology Management Styles Under the Prism of the Telecommunications Sector
Authors: Toledo Luciano Augusto , Toledo Luiz Alberto , Zilber Moises Ari , Szafir‐Goldstein Claudia
Published: December 2017

In times of high competitiveness between companies, the value of information becomes an important component for executives to make timely decisions to react to adversities of the environment. The use of a system based on information management can provide advantages in decision making. Concomitantly the use of Information Technology by companies has spawned the appearance of various styles in relation to IT management. For a better understanding of the IT concept and its management styles, this work makes use of the single case research method, focusing on a company operating in the telecommunications market. The objective is to characterize the concept of IT, as well as some of its peculiarities. Finally, it confirms that IT management can show how much the information can be treated as an important resource for the company to stay competitive in the market. According to the testimony of those interviewed, it is clear that Motorola in Brazil may be at a great disadvantage in relation to its competition, in relation to the management of an IT infrastructure platform able to contribute to the migration process from a feudal information management style to one that is federalist. In view of this limitation, and although not purchased outside, internal solutions are created and contribute to the formation of an imbalance between the dominance of the user and the dominance of IT.
The Ethical Dilemma of Software Piracy in Islamic Societies: The Case of Kuwait
Authors: Al‐Fadhli Salah
Published: December 2017

The nature of electronic communication tools, especially the Internet, raises serious ethical issues. As one of those ethical issues, software piracy has become a common activity particularly among college students who have been little deterred by industrial legal actions. While many studies have been conducted in western countries in attempt to identify factors affecting the software piracy, very little research was related to Islamic societies. In this paper, we intend to examine consumer ethical decision making and social norms regarding software piracy in Kuwait, an Islamic society.
Demographic Implications for the User‐Perceptions of E‐Learning in Higher Education Institutions of N‐W.F.P, Pakistan
Authors: Nawaz Allah , Kundi Ghulam Muhammad
Published: December 2017

There are documented differences between the success and failure factors in the developed and developing countries with regard to the development and use of eLearning in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). These differences are widely attributed to the demographic variations in the context of eLearning development and use. Unless these differences are skillfully identified and accommodated as such into the development and use models, eLearning efforts are reported to be associated with problems in the construction, use and progress of the eLearning environments in the institutions for teaching, learning and administrative purposes. This study is an exploration of the demographic diversities in the HEIs of NWFP, Pakistan to document their impacts on perceptions of the teachers, students and administrators about the nature and roles of eTeaching, eLearning and eEducation.
A Study of the Impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on the Quality of Quantity Surveying Services in Nigeria
Authors: Musa N.A. , Oyebisi T.O. , Babalola M.O.
Published: December 2017

The study drew on Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) to evaluate the effect of ICT on the quality of services of Quantity Surveying Practicing firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The major objective was to determine the suitability of the Technological Innovation as a tool for improving the quality of the services of the firms in the country. Towards this end, relevant data were obtained through questionnaire survey conducted on a sample of forty‐eight (48) architects, thirty‐five (35) engineers (all clients’ representatives) and thirty‐two (32) contractors selected randomly from the lists of one‐hundred and fifty‐one (151) construction professionals and fifty‐eight (58)contractors the firms had worked with during both pre and post adoption of ICT periods. Oral interview was also conducted on the respondents to complement the information obtained from the questionnaire survey. The SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firms prior to the adoption of the technological innovation was compared with the post adoption scores using Mann‐Whitney U‐Test at ninety‐five percent (95%) confidence level. The results of the test revealed that the SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firm after the adoption of the technology were significantly greater than the SERVQUAL scores of their services prior to its adoption. Thus, the adoption of the technological innovation has enhanced the quality of the services of the firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The study concluded that ICT is a suitable tool for improving the quality of quantity surveying services in the country.