bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Case for Intentionally Interwoven Peer Learning Supports in Gateway‐Course Improvement Efforts
Authors: Dvorak Johanna , Tucker Kathryn
Published: December 2017

This chapter describes how peer learning support programs can be used to improve learning and success in gateway courses. It provides examples from two institutions to further illustrate how this promising approach can improve student outcomes.
Defining quality of care during childbirth from the perspectives of Nigerian and Ugandan women: A qualitative study
Authors: Bohren Meghan A. , Titiloye Musibau A. , Kyaddondo David , Hunter Erin C. , Oladapo Olufemi T. , Tunçalp Özge , Byamugisha Josaphat , Olutayo Akinpelu O. , Vogel Joshua P. , Gülmezoglu A. Metin , Fawole Bukola , Mugerwa Kidza
Published: December 2017

Objective

To explore what “quality of care” means to childbearing women in Nigeria and Uganda, as a means of ensuring that women's voices and opinions are prioritized when developing interventions to improve quality in maternity care provision.

Methods

Qualitative methods, with a purposive sample of women in Nigeria and Uganda. Participants were asked to define quality of care and to provide examples of when it was and was not provided. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize findings based on an a priori framework (the WHO quality of care framework).

Results

132 in‐depth interviews and 21 focus group discussions are included. Participants spontaneously discussed each of the WHO framework domains of quality of care. Data were richest across the domains of effective communication, respect and dignity, emotional support, competent and motivated human resources, and essential physical resources. Women believed that good quality of care ensured optimal psychological and physiological outcomes for the woman and her baby. Positive interpersonal relationships between women and health providers were important. These included supportive care, building rapport, and using positive and clear language.

Conclusion

To provide good quality of care, maternity services should consider and act on the expectations and experiences of women and their families.
Mini Polders as Alternative Flood Management in the Lower Bengawan Solo River, Indonesia
Authors: Mawandha H.G. , Wignyosukarto B.S. , Jayadi R.
Published: December 2017

The villages of Sumbangtimun and Kandangan, in the Lower Bengawan Solo River, Java, Indonesia, are regularly flooded. These flood‐prone areas are located in a meander of the river with low natural embankments. Flood damage losses were estimated at US$190 000 in the wet season of 2007/2008, with the largest losses in the agricultural sector, due to floods which came early before the harvest season. In this article, we explore the potential of a set of mini polders for the different types of land use, i.e. rice fields, tree crop plantations and settlements, each with different tolerances to flooding, as an alternative way to manage flood risk. The HEC‐RAS and PondPack hydraulic models were used to design an appropriate mini polder system and its operational procedures. According to the results of the model simulations, the inundation by a flood with a 2‐year return period is about 1 m deep, over 2 days, with 250 ha flooded. The inundation by a flood with a 10‐year return period is about 2.5 m deep, over 3 days, with 383 ha flooded. The models were also used to design a retention pond and pumping capacity. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
City formation with complex landscapes
Authors: Fain James R.
Published: December 2017

Using simulation methods I explore some of the properties of the new economic geography model using a complex landscape. I introduce landscape complexity by allowing the existence of limited pathways that can be traversed at a lower cost than most other paths. I also introduce a river that may be crossed at limited points and may be used to transport goods. I find that adding complexity substantially alters how many cities form and where they form. Compared with a simple landscape, complex landscapes produce a distribution of city sizes that more closely resemble the actual distribution of city sizes.
Recognising Alternative Rationalities in the Deployment of Information Systems
Authors: Avgerou Chrisanthi
Published: December 2017

Information systems research and practice have been developed under the combination of scientific and economic reasoning that forms the bedrock of western modernity. Alternative ways of perceiving the value of technical innovation, often manifested in the deployment of ICT in the social context of developing countries, are poorly understood and tend to be dismissed as ‘irrational’. In this paper I review the literature that challenges the supremacy of the mutually dependent techno‐scientific and economic rationalities of modernity and I argue for a shift from a universalistic and a‐contextual notion of rationality to considering rationality as a system of reasoning arising from particular historical experiences and related to culture.

Theoretical discussion on rationality draws from Weber's analysis, critical theory, constructivist studies of science and technology, and writers on postmodernity. The manifestation and significance of alternative rationalities is demonstrated with two examples of systems implementation efforts, and the paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for professional practice.
A Preliminary Evaluation of Online Access Centres: Promoting Micro E‐Business Activity in Small, Isolated Communities
Authors: Young Judy , Ridley Gail , Ridley Jeff
Published: December 2017

This paper reports on a study of 18 of the 20 first round of community online access centres introduced in Tasmania, the only island state of Australia. The access centres were designed to redress some disadvantages of living and working in rural regions of Tasmania, such as isolation and economic inequity. The investigation aimed to determine and evaluate trends in micro e‐business activity associated with use of the centres. Statistical data collected over a two year period in eighteen community online access centres were utilised. Comparisons were made of five communities with populations of 2 000–15 000, and thirteen with populations below 2 000. Differences were found in micro e‐business activity generated in the two population categories. In centres in the larger communities, micro e‐business activity was more uniform over the period. However, this was in marked contrast to the surge in micro e‐business activity noted in the smaller population centres over the investigation period. It is proposed that differences in micro e‐business activity may be explained by more limited opportunities outside the online access centres in the smaller communities. The findings of this foundation study suggest that online access centres do promote e‐business activity in small, isolated communities, and they may offer potential to address limited business opportunities in geographically remote areas.
Comparing Approaches: Telecentre Evaluation Experiences in Asia and Latin America
Authors: Reilly Katherine , Gómez Ricardo
Published: December 2017

IDRC has telecentre evaluation initiatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Each of these is in the process of establishing evaluation frameworks and each is adopting very different approaches. The current paper seeks to build on the outputs of IDRC's Far Hills Workshop on Telecentre Evaluation (September 1999) to explore the experiences in the two regions. These explorations will in turn contribute to IDRC's current initiative to develop a framework for ICTs evaluation.

The Far Hills Workshop, and the resulting report entitledTelecentre Evaluation: A Global Perspective, had as objectives to explore challenges and opportunities for telecentre evaluation; understand and compare emerging evaluation frameworks and methodologies; assess needs and resources available; identify salient issues affecting telecentre performance; and provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and lessons across regions.
Internet‐Based Reverse Auctions by the Brazilian Government
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio , Zamot Fuad
Published: December 2017

The scope of this paper is to discuss the use of Internet Technology in the process of procurement currently employed by the Brazilian Federal Government. The focus of this analysis is on the Internet‐Based Reverse Auction system employed by the Federal Administration to purchase goods and services from the standpoint of efficiency, efficacy and accountability. An explanatory single case study methodology addressing web‐based purchase of pharmaceutical products by the Ministry of Social Security is used to answer the research questions raised in this paper. Technical, human and structural obstacles, as well as legal constraints that must be overcome, are also addressed. Conclusions detailing some findings and the advantages and disadvantages of this new modus operandi are also presented in this work.
Technology Leapfrogging in Thailand: Issues for the Support of eCommerce Infrastructure
Authors: Gray Heather , Sanzogni Louis
Published: December 2017

We look at the difficulties and benefits of the implementation of newest technology in Thailand by the method of leapfrogging. In the investigation we find that a variety of issues influence the uptake of a new technology; namely the extent of the cultural shift, Government support and initiatives and the take up of these initiatives by the education and private sector in terms of R&D and training. We also examine and define areas fundamental to the preparedness of a nation for the introduction of electronic commerce; that is, telecommunications, Internet penetration & development, and technology Parks. We conclude with a recommendation to initiate a study of Information Technology education take‐up in universities to support technology leapfrogging initiatives implemented by the Thai Government, identifying a number of questions that need to be addressed. Further, a strategy to encourage small communities and businesses through community education programs is suggested, including a pilot project recommendation to test the successful implementation of this strategy in a community in Chiang Mai Thailand, that would also document the issues identified, including Government and cultural impacts, in order to establish a model that could be replicated and implemented in communities at large throughout developing countries.
Negotiating Multiple Rationalities in the Process of Integrating the Information Systems of Disease‐Specific Health Programmes
Authors: Chilundo Baltazar , Aanestad Margunn
Published: December 2017

The topic of this paper is the integration of different information systems, and in our case study we analyse information systems in the Mozambican health care sector. The context is a health care sector reform that involves the integration of separate, stand‐alone, or so‐called vertical health programmes. These programmes are usually disease‐specific, i.e. targeted towards malaria, HIV/AIDS, or other major diseases. The reporting and monitoring systems for the activities within these programmes are organised differently, in terms of which data elements are collected, to whom and how frequently they are reported etc., but in general they are all paper‐based, at least at the peripheral level. The multitude of different systems places an unnecessary high workload on the health care personnel who do the initial data collection. However, the practical challenges related to the integration of the diverse information systems have not yet been the focus for the decision makers. Our aim with this paper is to describe some of the differences between the systems. Our claim is that these differences are not arbitrary. On the contrary, they may be significant indicators of different realities and different interests. Integration of these systems will thus not be a purely technical or practical issue, but will entail a political negotiation of interests. We employ the notions of multiple rationalities as a theoretical tool to discuss this issue. In particular we find tensions between rationalities ‘on the ground’, i.e. in the health care facilities, and ‘on the top’, among the policy makers, the government and the donor organisations.
ICT, Power, and Developmental Discourse: A Critical Analysis
Authors: Thompson Mark P.A.
Published: December 2017

This paper uses critical discourse analysis to demonstrate how information and communications technology (ICT) has become deeply involved in the conception and practice of socio‐economic development within so‐called less‐developed countries (LDCs). A recent speech on ICT by the president of the World Bank Group is examined, which shows the role of the discourse surrounding such technologies in replicating and extending a markedly North American worldview into the developmental sphere. The ability of critical discourse analysis to expose the involvement of ICT in normalising a dominant set of political and economic assumptions confirms its usefulness as a tool within which to approach the critical study of information systems.
“Thinking Local, Acting Global”: Issues of Identity and Related Tensions in Global Software Organizations in India
Authors: D’Mello Marisa
Published: December 2017

This article highlights the view that in contemporary society issues related to self and identity are inseparable from the multiple interconnected levels that link the individual with institutions impacted by globalization. Global software organizations (GSOs) are one of the institutions impacted by volatile changes in the global market. IT professionals employed in these institutions and engaged in knowledge‐intensive work are exhorted to ‘think global – act local’. However, the lived local experience of employees is often the reverse. Drawing on an interpretative analysis of empirical data from a case study of a GSO in India, this article uses two tensions to illustrate the dynamics of the global‐local interplay. These are family orientation versus individualism and standardization versus customization. Using the analytic lens of reflexivity, macro‐level dynamics of globalizing influences emerge as linked to micro‐level dynamics of personal dispositions. Thus, in response to market fluctuations, IT workers and GSOs construct and mobilize identity‐related elements in a conscious, capable, and reflexive manner. It is suggested that local particularities and identity‐related constructions cannot be seen as excluded from organizational or global identities, as they both mutually influence each other.
Is There A Relationship Between ICT, Health, Education And Development? An Empirical Analysis of five West African Countries from 1997–2003
Authors: Ngwenyama Ojelanki , Andoh‐Baidoo Francis K. , Bollou Felix , Morawczynski Olga
Published: December 2017

For more than a decade, key international organizations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the UN and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have argued that investment in information communication and telecommunication (ICT) infrastructure is a prerequisite for the development of poor countries. However, dissenting voices of the international development community argue that African governments should focus their attention on building schools, delivering basic health care, electricity and clean water rather than on the building of costly ICT infrastructure with their limited financial resources. In this paper, we present an analysis of the relationships among investments in ICT, Health Care and Education and the human development index on five West African nations. We use a Stepwise regression analysis to help unravel the complex relationships among these variables. Our results provide evidence that complementary investments in ICT, health and education can significantly increase development. Given that developing nations are making considerable investments in healthcare, education and ICT and that there are concerns over the type of investments they should make, our findings are a significant contribution to the literature.
Acceptance and Continuance Intention of Web‐based Learning Technologies (WLT) Use among University Students in a Baltic Country
Authors: Ifinedo Princely
Published: December 2017

This paper presents the acceptance and “continuance intention” of use for Web‐based learning tools among University students in a Baltic country, namely Estonia. In this paper, we used the technology acceptance model (TAM), which was extended to include two external constructs: the technology and user characteristics. These two constructs were modeled to influence the perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness constructs in the TAM. Further, another construct – continuance intention – in the information systems (IS) post‐adoption literature was linked to the TAM. We used a sample of 72 students from four local higher educational institutions that have experience with a specific Web‐based learning tool; i.e. WebCT. Our results indicate that both the characteristics of the technology and user affect perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. In addition, perceived ease of use significantly affects usage, whilst perceived usefulness did not show any meaningful influence. Our data, in the context of Web‐based learning technologies, also indicates that both usage and perceived usefulness influence continuance intention, whilst perceived ease of use does not. To conclude, the implications for both practice and theory are discussed.
Monitoring and Evaluating Land Use/ Land Cover Change Using Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) Tools: A Case Study of Begasheka Watershed, Tigray, Ethiopia
Authors: Aynekulu Ermias , Wubneh Welday , Birhane Emiru , Begashaw1 Nigussu
Published: December 2017

Agricultural land degradation in Ethiopia leads to an annual loss of roughly 2 million cubic meters of top soil. The relationship between this loss of soil quality and declining agricultural productivity is increasingly threatening rural livelihoods, putting pressure on urban centres as people migrate, as well as on very scarce forest resources on which the agricultural systems eventually depend Attempts to address land degradation have required the government of Ethiopia to fully understand the underlying social and ecological drivers of land degradation. In order to fully develop the knowledge portfolio required to design and implement land rehabilitation measures in remote areas experiencing degradation, an adaptable, robust and credible system of ethno‐ecological knowledge representation, analyses and communication is required. This is needed not only to bridge the technological gap between the rural and urban areas but to facilitate the representation and integration of both temporally and spatially explicit historical and ‘real time’ knowledge, held within rural environments. This paper describes the application of participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) tools and approaches in Tigray, Ethiopia. In this application to generate both current and retrospective information of land use processes, the use of PGIS focuses on methods of knowledge ‘capture’, representation and communication through the graphic representation of both past and present land uses using rudimentary tools. The information gathered in the process is then transferred into a Geographic Information System, for additional analyses, sharing with scientists and onwards transmission to decision makers and other users in a form which they respect, can understand and reproduce. The practice of PGIS in this setting in Ethiopia has encouraged broad‐based participation at community levels, improved within‐community communication and provided opportunities for greater social inclusion in development processes.
Transforming Recent Gains in the Digital Divide into Digital Opportunities: Africa and the Boom in Mobile Phone Subscription
Authors: Kyem Peter A. Kwaku , LeMaire Peter Kweku
Published: December 2017

This paper discusses the mobile phone boom in Africa and examines the potential impacts of mobiles on the socio‐economic development process in African countries. Drawing on data from case studies, the paper explains that mobile phones may not just help create new jobs and new sources of revenue to the state but can also contribute to economic growth by widening markets, creating better information flow, lowering transaction costs, and becoming substitute for costly transportation that is lacking in rural Africa. On the social front, the paper contends that the mobile phone can help create unique personal identities and status symbols for some users. The technology also facilitates the democratic process as groups can use the enhanced communication tools for political and community action thereby reducing the reliance on conventional and often government controlled media. The paper discusses these and other ways by which mobile phones can influence conditions in Africa to induce changes that promote economic and social development. The paper concludes with suggestions that can strengthen ICT adoption in African countries.
Perceived Benefits and Management Commitment to E‐business Usage in selected Ghanaian Tourism Firms
Authors: Hinson Robert , Boateng Richard
Published: December 2017

We set out in this article to generate a preliminary understanding of the benefits of e‐business to tourism firm players in Ghana. We also sought to ascertain the commitment of top management to e‐business development in Ghanaian tourist firms. We investigate our research issues by surveying 60 tourism firms. Of the 60 questionnaires we administered, 43 were deemed usable and we report our findings by means of descriptive statistics. We find that in conformance with the theory of planned behaviour, top management commitment, perceived strategic value of e‐business and organizational readiness are critical to e‐business adoption. In spite of the fact that e‐business holds the promise of delivering benefits to Ghana tourism firms, their understanding of e‐business/ICT still remains at an operational level. The value of this study lies in the fact that it is one of the few studies focussing on e‐business adoption in the West African tourism sector, in spite of the growing importance of this sector.
A Rural‐Urban Digital Divide?
Authors: Furuholt Bjørn , Kristiansen Stein
Published: December 2017

The digital divide is the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital technologies, in particular the Internet, and those without. The global digital divide is a term often used to describe the gap between more and less economically developed nations, while at the national level, there is often an urban‐rural divide. In developing countries, most Internet users gain access through public access points like Internet cafés. In this article, we take a closer look at the digital divide within Tanzania. Based on a survey among Internet café users in rural, semi‐urban and central regions of the country, we find that the divide is mainly a question of finding venues with technology to access the Internet. The Internet users and usage at the different sites are surprisingly uniform, with, however, a few significant differences.
National Information Technology Policy in Thailand: A Comparison among Organizational Sectors
Authors: Winley Graham , Arjpru Chanissara , Wongwuttiwat Jittima
Published: December 2017

This study was motivated by the challenges confronting the developing Southeast Asian nation of Thailand in realizing national policy objectives aimed at creating a knowledge‐based society. The study determines and compares the development plans of 72 medium to large sized organizations representing 7 organizational sectors in terms of the relative and changing importance assigned to a range of technologies, professional activities, and IT knowledge/skills and assesses the alignment of these development plans with national policy objectives.
Decrypting E‐Governance: Narratives, Power play and Participation in the Gyandoot Intranet
Authors: Sreekumar T T
Published: December 2017

The central themes addressed in this paper relate to the critique of the notion of e‐governance as an essentially administrative innovation facilitated by ICTs. It argues the need to recognize e‐governance as a social process involving not only attitudinal change and transformation of traditional forms of governmentality, but also as a contested arena of social forces shaping the trajectory of the evolution of this technocratic innovation.

The paper is based on the experiences of the Gyandoot Intranet in Madhyapradesh, India. One of the critical issues that emerge in the context of exploring the interrelationship between technology and governance is the questioning of the assumption of the neutrality of technological processes enmeshed in the notion of e‐governance. Technical processes defining contours of e‐governance are embedded in the structures of power that reinforces the power relations that e‐governance is expected to eliminate. This is particularly obvious when scrutinizing the consequences of the introduction of ICT‐based administrative projects like Gyandoot in villages where the local managers play key roles in its implementation while benefitting from its public good.

The study shows that the projects are often implemented with the active support and participation of village elites and their collaboration becomes a major aspect in the survival of the project. It discuses how the idea of ICT as an inherently liberating technology and e‐governance as a new way of transcending inept and inefficient bureaucratic systems which empowers ‘end‐users’ appears to be completely inaccurate in the rural setting. Moreover, despite the claims of active networking of people in Dhar made in behalf of Gyandoot, its ability to connect to multiple social and economic domains was found to be extremely limited and ostensibly mediated by the social power equations that enveloped its institutional setting.
Using the Technology Adoption Model to Analyze Internet Adoption and Use among Men and Women in Indonesia
Authors: Wahid Fathul
Published: December 2017

This research (a) investigates differences in Internet adoption; (b) identifies factors affecting Internet adoption; and (c) examines differences of Internet usage pattern between men and women in Indonesia. Using data from 714 respondents/students with various backgrounds, the research unveils that in general, Internet adoption among women are lower than that among men. Using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research also finds that the Internet adoption among women is affected by perceived ease of use rather than perceived usefulness. On the other hand, the Internet adoption among men is affected by perceived usefulness rather than perceived ease of use. Men are found to have a more flexible Internet access venue when compared to women. The research also gives evidence that Internet usage pattern among men and women differs. Proportion of women who use the Internet for chatting and study‐related activities is significantly larger than that of men. Conversely, proportion of men who use the Internet for reading online news, testing and downloading software, shopping, entertainment, seeking job vacancy, and visiting pornographic sites are larger than women. High cost Internet access and low access speed of the Internet and a lack of English proficiency are identified to be most severe obstacles of the Internet adoption in Indonesia.
Opportunities and Challenges of the Knowledge Management Approach to E‐learning: A Case Study in Al‐Bayan Model School for Girls, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohamed Abdulmajid H. , Abuzaid Rana Ahmed S. , Benladen Rafa Mohamed
Published: December 2017

The digital divide between developed and developing countries is increasing rapidly. However, a number of developing countries are striving to narrow this gap by enriching their societies through the introduction of ICT based business activities. Knowledge management and E‐learning are examples of such ICT supported activities. Knowledge management applications are aimed to provide organizations with tools to manage their business knowledge, while the focus of e‐learning has always been on managing the delivery of academic knowledge. Efforts to integrate both areas of research are lacking. This paper presents a knowledge management approach for e‐learning applications. It highlights the joint characteristics of the two concepts and proposes a KM view of e‐learning. The aim is to streamline the transfer of educational content among the stakeholders of a typical e‐learning environment. The proposed approach has been implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is a developing country where many cultural issues have to be taken into consideration.
The Palestinian Hidden Transcript: Domination, Resistance and the Role of ICTs in Achieving Freedoms
Authors: Lunat Ziyaad
Published: December 2017

Palestinian students live in a turbulent socio‐political environment, often subjected to violent repression. Our paper seeks to understand the dialectic relationship between domination and resistance in the redefinition and reinforcement of students’ use of ICTs to achieve desirable freedoms. We will adopt a freedom view of development and use structuration theory to analyse macro social structures and its relation with the knowledgeable and reflexive agent. Our research took place in two Al‐Quds University campuses located on opposite sides of the Israeli separation wall. We found that Al‐Quds university students use ICTs as part of collective resistance to Israeli military occupation, emphasizing agency's active role in monitoring wider social structures. Students use ICTs to ‘work around’ unplanned obstacles to their daily routines, sometimes in inadvertent ways and often for short‐term gains. Nevertheless, the effects of Israeli policies have shown signs of disintegrating Palestinian collectiveness, provoking uncoordinated efforts amongst students. The concept of freedom has become relative and conflicting on both sides of the wall, even though both campuses are within what once was the greater Jerusalem area. Students have consequently used ICTs in different ways to pursue what they interpret as freedoms. In addition, ICTs may be facilitating a Palestinian exodus abroad and enabling the dissemination of new ideas that create tensions with the existing value system.
Build it and They Will Come? – Inhibiting Factors for Reuse of Open Content in Developing Countries
Authors: Hatakka Mathias
Published: December 2017

Open content has the potential to change the playing field when it comes to every individual's right to education. Development of new course content is both expensive and time consuming and open content can help educational organizations to deal with these problems by offering free‐to‐use educational resources. Despite the benefits of open content the usage is very low in developing countries and understanding why content developers choose not to use open content is the first step towards finding a solution to the problem. Which inhibiting factors for reuse do content developers in developing countries experience with open content? To answer the question interviews, questionnaires and observations have been made with content developers from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and from UNESCO Open Training Platform. Findings show that many of the inhibiting factors with reuse of open content do not necessarily relate to the actual content. Educational rules and regulations, lack of infrastructure, teaching practices and traditions etc. are major obstacles that need to be overcome if the usage of open content should increase.
Awareness of E‐government Related Small Business Development Services in Cape Town
Authors: Mitrovic Z. , Bytheway A. J.
Published: December 2017

Small businesses are widely regarded by national and international bodies, including the South African government, as an “engine of economic growth”. However, much available evidence suggests that establishing a new small business in South Africa is difficult because of a lack of appropriate support. The project reported here set out to examine the actual support that has been available, and the viewpoints of both the support service providers and the intended beneficiaries – small business owners and managers. It was found that government‐based services were predominant in the minds of small businesses and other involved parties, and that much of the interest in these services was based on use of the Internet, in the context of “e‐Government”. However, despite claims of success by service providers, it is found that many small businesses are not aware of available support services, and that where they are known there is scepticism about the benefits of engaging with them. Problems therefore centre around a lack of awareness of available services, and a lack of proper engagement between the parties involved.
ICTs for the Broader Development of India: An Analysis of the Literature
Authors: Walsham Geoff
Published: December 2017

India is known around the world for the success of its export‐oriented ICT services industry, but this paper asks whether ICTs have been valuable in providing broader development benefits to all Indian citizens. Secondary data from academic articles with a focus on India are used to analyse the contribution of ICTs towards the achievement of specific development goals. The analysis shows that many ICT‐based initiatives have taken place over the last decade and some positive effects have resulted. However, the beneficiaries are almost always not the poorest or most disadvantaged groups, it is hard to scale up initiatives to have effects throughout India, and the need for attitudinal and institutional change remains a fundamental problem. It is argued that ICTs should not be seen as ‘silver bullets’ for development but neither are they irrelevant. Rather, they are potentially important contributors towards development in India but only through their integration in wider sociotechnical interventions.
Factors affecting bank staff attitude towards E‐banking adoption in Libya
Authors: Abukhzam Mohammad , Lee Angela
Published: December 2017

E‐banking technology is gaining widespread adoption in the banking industry across developed countries. The case, however, is different in less developed nations, such as Libya. Libyan banks, for example, despite recently acknowledging the benefits of e‐banking technology in improving banking services, have not adopted and integrated this innovation within its banking delivery strategy. Instead, they continue to deliver most of their banking services and products using traditional banking delivery channels, notably paper‐based branch networks. This is largely due to bank staff resistance to new banking technologies. A review of literature on ICT adoption shows that there has only been a few studies about ICT adoption in developing countries compared to the developed world, and even less so about the Middle East, including Libya. Thus, this paper aims to bridge this gap by investigating the key factors affecting bank staff's attitude towards e‐banking technology, a step necessary to understand what makes effective the introduction of e‐banking projects in Libya. This paper draws on existing literature on technological developments in the banking industry and the findings from semi–structured interviews with key bank staff of a leading commercial bank in Libya. A number of factors of e‐banking technology adoption are identified that affect adoption. Finally, we identified lessons that can guide future e‐banking implementation projects in Libyan banks. Lessons can be taken for other Arab countries.
Effects of Mobile Phone Use on Artisanal Fishing Market Efficiency and Livelihoods in Ghana
Authors: Salia Mahamadu , Nsowah‐Nuamah Nicholas N.N. , Steel William F.
Published: December 2017

This article assesses the effects of mobile phone use on the artisanal fishing industry in the Effutu Municipality of Ghana. It contributes to the growing literature on how mobile telephony can help overcome market inefficiencies in developing countries due to imperfect information. The study shows how mobile phone use among fishermen has enhanced the efficiency of input and output markets for artisanal fishing and improved their businesses relations and livelihoods. The ‘before and after’ approach was used, based on interviews with fishermen and other supply chain actors on ways in which fishermen bought inputs and sold fish, and their perceptions of the effects of the mobile phone. The results indicate that market efficiencies improved and price variations reduced as a result of better availability of up‐to‐date information. Use of mobile phones enabled fishermen to improve their incomes, expand their markets, feel more secure at sea, and remain in closer touch with both families and other fishermen.
Factors Influencing e‐commerce Adoption by Retailers in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative analysis
Authors: AlGhamdi Rayed , Drew Steve , Al‐Ghaith Waleed
Published: December 2017

This paper presents the preliminary findings of a study researching the diffusion and the adoption of online retailing in Saudi Arabia. It reports new research that identifies and explores the key issues that positively and negatively influence retailers in Saudi Arabia regarding the adoption of electronic commerce. Retailers in Saudi Arabia have been reserved in their adoption of electronically delivered aspects of their business. Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia has the largest and fastest growth of ICT marketplaces in the Arab region, e‐commerce activities are not progressing at the same speed. Only a tiny number of Saudi commercial organizations, mostly medium and large companies from the manufacturing sector, are involved in e‐commerce implementation. Based on qualitative data, collected by conducting interviews with a sample population of retail sector decision makers in Saudi Arabia, both positive and negative issues influencing retailer adoption of electronic retailing systems in Saudi Arabia are identified. A number of impediments which include cultural, business and technical issues were reported. Facilitating factors include access to educational programs and awareness building of e‐commerce, government support and assistance for e‐commerce, trustworthy and secure online payment options, developing strong ICT infrastructure, and provision of sample e‐commerce software to trial. While literature reveals that government promotion has had limited effects on the diffusion of e‐commerce in most countries, this study significantly indicates government promotion and support as a key driver to online retailing in KSA.
Pragmatism or Policy: Implications on Health Information Systems Success
Authors: Kanjo Chipo
Published: December 2017

The most fundamental issue for any information system is to produce information that is relevant to organisational goals. A number of research studies have reported failures in information systems, especially in health information systems (HIS) in developing countries. The challenges of success lie in the heterogeneity of the players, the requirements, the practices and some of the policies in place. In some cases, national policies affect the success of the information systems. This paper describes and analyses some of the factors that affect HIS success in developing countries. The aim of this research was to identify, within the environment where the information systems are implemented and used, issues that could be stumbling blocks to their success. Although the use of HIS is seen as a satisfactory outcome of health sector reform, there are certain social aspects, both internal and external to the organisation and system that influence its success or failure.

We highlight the factors affecting HIS using a case study from Malawi. Specifically, we examine the extent to which Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) policy, which includes stopping traditional birth attendants from assisting in births, affects the maternal and child data flow from communities to health facilities and hence into HIS. The SRHR policy was introduced as a way of curbing maternal mortality in a bid to attain the fifth Millennium Development Goal. The findings from an interpretive study reveal that external factors, such as SRHR policy implementation, can affect the quality of data that is input into HIS. We recommend a more pragmatic approach when implementing SRHR policy and provide a new angle to value judgements of environmental context.
The Developmental Contribution From Mobile Phones Across the Agricultural Value Chain in Rural Africa
Authors: Furuholt Bjorn , Matotay Edmund
Published: December 2017

The most widespread information and communication technology (ICT) in developing countries today is the mobile phone. The majority of people in the least developed countries still live in rural areas and their livelihood depends on the primary industries. This study investigates the use of mobile phones among farmers in rural Tanzania in order to supply empirical data on the developmental role of this technology. The results show that the improved access to communication and information that mobile phones represent affects the entire cyclic farming life during the year and has resulted in considerable changes in the entire livelihood constructs, increased opportunities and reduced risks for rural farmers.
The Role of ICT Actors and Networks in Development: The Case Study of a Wireless Project in Nepal
Authors: Thapa Devinder
Published: December 2017

The role of ICT actors in the formation and extension of ICT4D projects is important. The actors through their extended network and aligned interest can enhance the effectiveness of the project which in turn enables socioeconomic development opportunities. However, few studies have been conducted to understand the role of these central players. The objective of this paper, therefore, is to address this knowledge gap by conducting a qualitative case study in the Myagdi district in the mountain region of Nepal. In this study we explored the Nepal Wireless Networking Project (NWNP) and examined how an activist started it from one mountain village and gradually extended across more than 150 villages. The formation and extension of information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) projects goes through different phases of identification of relevant ICT actors, roles, negotiations, and their interest alignment. To understand the various phases, we employed Actor‐Network Theory (ANT) and explored how a social activist, in the midst of challenges, initiates the wireless project to facilitate educational and healthcare services to the mountain regions. In continuum, the study found how the activist identified relevant actors and enrolled them to form a network of aligned interest. The study also identified several challenges such as high illiteracy rate, over dependency on focal actor, and poor physical infrastructure that may impede the network building process. Furthermore, we identify some implications for research and practice based on insights from the case study.
Examining the Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Enterprise Practices: A Preliminary Perspective from Qatar
Authors: Manochehri Nick‐Naser , Al‐Esmail Rajab A. , Ashrafi Rafi
Published: December 2017

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are widely used by organizations to enhance enterprise competitiveness. This study provides an overview of the current state of affairs of the ICT adoption in SMEs in private and public organizations in Qatar. It investigates ICT infrastructure, productivity and business application software used, drivers for ICT investment, perceptions about business benefits of ICT, outsourcing trends and availability of help and advice on ICT adoption. The study also has investigated major barriers in ICT adoption with the findings of the study are being consistent with other similar studies. The study identified the need for more training facilities for adopting ICT in SMEs. Additionally, the study identified that there is a need for the Government to provide guidance on suitable ICT products and services at an affordable cost as well as provide incentives to promote ICT investment and usage e.g. soft loans, availability of professional advice and consulting at no/low cost to SMEs. This is the first study on the status of ICT adoption and usage by SMEs in Qatar. The findings of this research will provide a foundation for future research and will help policy makers in designing policies to further enhancing usage and ICT adoption in SMEs in Qatar resulting improved productivity and competiveness.
Mapping Local Solutions to Entrenched Transport Problems: Key Lessons Regarding the Use of Geographical Information Technologies in Community Mapping with Disadvantaged Communities
Authors: Grant‐Smith Deanna , Johnson Laurel
Published: December 2017

There is an increasing interest in the use of information technology as a participatory planning tool, particularly the use of geographical information technologies to support collaborative activities such as community mapping. However, despite their promise, the introduction of such technologies does not necessarily promote better participation nor improve collaboration. In part this can be attributed to a tendency for planners to focus on the technical considerations associated with these technologies at the expense of broader participation considerations.

In this paper we draw on the experiences of a community mapping project with disadvantaged communities in suburban Australia to highlight the importance of selecting tools and techniques which support and enhance participatory planning. This community mapping project, designed to identify and document community‐generated transport issues and solutions, had originally intended to use cadastral maps extracted from the government's digital cadastral database as the foundation for its community mapping approach. It was quickly discovered that the local residents found the cadastral maps confusing as the maps lacked sufficient detail to orient them to their suburb (the study area). In response to these concerns and consistent with the project's participatory framework, a conceptual base map based on resident's views of landmarks of local importance was developed to support the community mapping process. Based on this community mapping experience we outline four key lessons learned regarding the process of community mapping and the place of geographical information technologies within this process.