bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Framework for Culturally Influenced Information Systems Management
Authors: Feng Xiuzhen
Published: December 2017

This paper presents a framework for culturally influenced Information Systems Management (ISM), which is developed to resolve the increasing challenge of managing Information Systems (IS) in a complicated international environment. The framework consists of entities such as: ISM tasks, ISM actors, “Closed Loop”, and cultural influential factors; each of these entities will be explored on the basis of prior research publications from both ISM studies and national culture studies. The objective of this framework is to study management patterns for culturally influenced ISM in a cross‐cultural environment. The contribution of this framework is twofold: (1) to create clear relationships between national culture variables and ISM task domains, revealing how aspects of the national culture could impact ISM and what perspectives of the ISM might be influenced by national cultural variables; (2) to study critical factors of culturally influenced ISM and ascertain the management patterns of ISM in a cross‐cultural environment. In this regard, the framework is helpful for ISM in a complicated multinational environment by taking into account cultural differences.
Community Resource Mapping in Sustainable Natural Resource Management: A Case Study of SW Uganda
Authors: Nabwire Beatrice B. , Nyabenge Meshack
Published: December 2017

Southwestern Uganda represents a fragile ecosystem of complex and interrelated ecology with extreme socio‐cultural and biophysical diversity. The area has productive soils and receives bimodal rainfall promoting varied agricultural systems and land use practices. With population growth of 2.2% per annum, this ecosystem is exposed to environmental and socio‐economic problems like land degradation, soil erosion, low‐income, poor nutrition, fragmented farms and low agricultural output. To mitigate these environmental and socio‐economic uncertainties, and continue exploiting these rich natural resources areas, ICRAF and FORRI developed intervention strategies ranging from integrated watershed management to tree germplasm production and distribution. These intervention strategies were supported by community resource mapping for integrating predefined‐research areas into community knowledge of their own resources. Acquired geospatial data were analyzed to support community resource mapping and scientific analysis was used for assessment of impacts of land management practices, conservation and conflict resolution. Community–based resource managers and local policy makers were trained in geospatial tools and applications. A GIS node was established in Kabale district to support future spatial analysis and information management. This paper reviews how integrated natural resource intervention strategies and community resource mapping were complemented to realize sustainable development action planning in SW Uganda. It also reviews the benefits of community resource mapping in property rights and geospatial technology transfer. IN this paper, technical backstopping of community effort and capacity building are recommended for sustainable community resource mapping activities.
The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Enhancing Processes of Entrepreneurship and Globalization in Indian Software Companies
Authors: Gajjala Venkataramana
Published: December 2017

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) enable hitherto untradable services to be traded internationally, just like commodities, via the internet and the telephone – the recent outsourcing of software programming, airline revenue accounting, insurance claims and call centers to India is a good example. Consequently, ICTs have enabled not only small and medium‐sized firms but even start‐ups to globalize their operations. For instance, Silicon Valley based technology start‐ups owned and managed by foreign‐born entrepreneurs have successfully exploited India's software talent – this paper investigates the close relationship between ICTs, globalization and entrepreneurship. A theoretical basis for analysis is developed using innovation theory to study the link between immigrant entrepreneurship and the processes of globalization shaped through the use and proliferation of ICTs in developing countries. The theory is illustrated using seven case studies. This paper adds to the growing body of literature that emphasizes the aforementioned link as compared to the existing studies which have focused exclusively on the behavior of multinational corporations and national markets.
ICT Infrastructure Expansion in Sub‐Saharan Africa: An Analysis of Six West African Countries from 1995 to 2002
Authors: Bollou Felix
Published: December 2017

A decade has passed since many African countries started consistently investing in the new Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Currently, there is need for more research on the impact of these investments on the expansion of productive capacity necessary for economic and social developments in this region on the world. Presently, the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) is advocating higher levels of investment in ICT in African countries, regional integration and new policies for the ICT sector. High‐tech parks are being constructed for the development of the technology and to attract and encourage business initiatives in the sector. However, UNDP agencies for information technology and social development have not yet been able to state firmly whether the adoption of ICT has had a significant impact on less developed countries in general and African countries in particular. In this paper, I demonstrate that the investments in the ICT sector have resulted in technical progress. This study uses a DEA approach and some novel analysis to examine the impacts of investments in the ICT sectors of six West African countries during the period of 1995 and 2002.
The Failure of E‐Government in Developing Countries: A Literature Review
Authors: Dada Danish
Published: December 2017

This paper provides an insight to the trends that exist within academic writing in the much talked about area of e‐government, and the potential they hold for developing countries. While there is much hype about success stories, the bitter truth that presents itself is that the majority of e‐government projects in developing countries fail. After an introduction to Ciborra's (2005) view on e‐government, this paper proceeds to use Heeks’ (2003) ‘archetypes of failure’, which are brought about by gaps between the design of the technology itself and reality of the context, to classify some of the current literature. This classification provides a brief overview of themes manifested within this body of knowledge, serving as a useful background for practitioners and implementers of e‐government in developing countries.
Analysing Socio‐Demographic Differences in the Access & Use of ICTs in the Philippines Using the Capability Approach
Authors: Alampay Erwin
Published: December 2017

This paper presents disaggregated survey data on ICT ownership, access to public ICT facilities, capabilities and actual use of ICTs in two locations in the Philippines: Carmona and Puerto Princesa City.

The results showed that the diversity in a location's topography and differences among people complicates the problem of access. In areas that are more isolated, distance and lack of infrastructure remain the biggest hurdles. In more developed areas, however, social issues like lack of motivation, skills and knowledge may hamper people's perception of how an ICT can benefit their lives. The results also supported the general expectation that people who are younger, more affluent, well‐educated and live in areas with better infrastructure tend to have better access and are more capable in using ICTs.

But, overall, income and remoteness were the critical barriers that need to be overcome if ICTs are to be meaningful for more people. This is because income influences not only the affordability of ICT services, but also the level of education (and therefore the skills) that also factors into increased relevance for ICT use. Remoteness, on the other hand, is relevant with respect to the physical availability and access of needed ICT infrastructure. It was also revealed that use of ICTs such as the land line phone and cell phone are still predominantly social, rather than work‐related.

The results also showed how technological innovation and social intermediation have been helpful in overcoming some of these barriers. For one, wireless options, such as cell phones, have been instrumental in bringing access to areas that landline services could not reach, and likewise, with new payment options (i.e. prepaid), and technologies (i.e. short messaging systems (SMS)), more people are able to find the use of ICTs more affordable and payment less restricting.

This paper uses the capability approach (Sen, 1999) to evaluate the implementation outcome of universal access to ICT policies and strategies. It investigates the real opportunities available for households to access ICTs; the characteristics of people who use and not use these facilities; and their reasons for using them. To do so, the study discusses the results of surveys conducted in Carmona and Puerto Princesa City. Carmona is a semi‐industrial municipality in close proximity to Metro Manila. Puerto Princesa, on the other hand, is the capital city of Palawan, an island province detached from Luzon Island.

This study describes the state of access to ICTs in these two locations. It then presents the results of field surveys that were conducted there: discussing what access to ICT means to people, and how access or lack thereof affects them.
Explaining the Factors Influencing Cellular Phones Use in Guinea
Authors: Kaba Bangaly , Diallo Amadou , Plaisent Michel , Bernard Prosper , N’Da Koffi
Published: December 2017

Technical and financial factors and the deregulation of the telecommunication field are often used to explain both the use of the cellular phones and the satisfaction of end‐users in developing countries. Little attention, however, has been paid to factors such as perceptions, motivations, and social variables which directly influence the decision of an individual to adopt and use a cellular phone. This study aims at better understanding the effect of these factors on the utilization of cellular phones. A questionnaire survey was conducted among cellular phones users in Guinea. Results obtained from a sample of 463 respondents show that familiarity, social influence, and the needs for mobility required by the task are key determinants of cellular phones’ use.
Is Initiatives in the Vocational and Technical Education Sector of Developing Asian Countries: A Systems Approach to the Management of Project Intervention Processes
Authors: Gunawardena Channa , Brown David H.
Published: December 2017

This paper is set against a background of national IS initiatives implemented in the Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) sectors of developing Asian countries through donor agency funded projects, which can be seen as Project Intervention Processes (PIPs). This research is based on a six year research study of IS initiatives implemented in nine VTE sector projects covering Laos, Sri Lanka and Vietnam undertaken through empirical investigations and a review of secondary data. The IS initiatives that were studied focussed on aiding strategy formulation and management in the VTE sector as opposed to classroom based training. The research reveals that the process of managing PIPs using traditional project management theory, which is based on hard approaches, is problematic in terms of generating desirable outcomes from the IS initiatives to address perceived VTE problems. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is based on a learning/enquiring cycle and is often used to manage problem situations that are poorly structured. The paper presents two key findings: namely the nature, scope and problems faced by PIP based IS initiatives; and a SSM approach to managing PIP based IS initiatives.
Key Issues for Cios in South Africa
Authors: Johnston Kevin , Muganda Nixon , Theys Karen
Published: December 2017

Business strategy, operations, communication and technology have converged and resulted in increased demand for business flexibility. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are particularly challenged because they operate at the intersection between information technology, their organisations, and society. Amidst increasing emphasis on cost‐efficiency, information technology resource investment and emergence of new technologies, stakeholders need to understand the most relevant issues within a three‐ to five‐year period. This study was undertaken to contribute to the body of knowledge around key information systems issues in South Africa, with its unique social issues. Thirty‐one responses were received from South African CIOs surveyed in late 2004. The top issues were: Security and control, Building a responsive IT infrastructure, IT value management, Service delivery, and Improving IS strategic planning. The ranked list of issues was compared to previous studies, and further analysed by industry and source of IT services (in‐house, outsource or combination). Industry and the sourcing of information services were found to have an effect on the ranking of key issues.
Cordaid‐IICD Health Programme Uganda
Authors: Fenenga Christine , de Jager Arjan
Published: December 2017

A Health Management Information System (HMIS) can be a powerful tool to make health care delivery more effective and far more efficient. This paper describes how an HMIS can also be used for organisational development and reports on the experiences of the HMIS programme of the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau (UCMB) in Uganda. The programme forms part of a larger programme on ICTs for health in Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia and is supported jointly by the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) and the Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid). The goal of the paper is to evaluate the project against a background of organisational development and to draw practical lessons from the project that may provide guidance to new HMIS projects in the development context.
Exploring the ICT and Rural Poverty Reduction Link: Community Telecenters and Rural Livelihoods in Wu'an, China
Authors: Soriano Cheryll Ruth R.
Published: December 2017

Applying the ‘Rural Livelihoods’ framework of analysis, this study explores the link between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and rural poverty reduction by analyzing the role of community telecenters in enhancing the livelihood strategies of rural poor households. The ‘Rural Livelihoods’ framework argues that interventions that play a role in facilitating an increase in the poor's livelihood assets and resources and facilitate diversified livelihoods have a potential for reducing poverty. Using telecenters set up by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the China Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) in selected rural villages in Wu'an, China as case studies, the paper explores the direct and indirect role that telecenters play in facilitating the poor's access to more livelihood resources and assets and in influencing the adoption of diverse livelihood strategies. Findings show that while the intensity of the changes experienced cannot support the claims about the transformative role of telecenters on the rural poor, these have some positive implications on certain aspects of rural poverty. These implications extend not only to economic aspects (such as better earnings or production), but to human (such as e‐literacy and new farming techniques) and social (such as creation of venues for community integration and knowledge sharing) dimensions. The paper gives emphasis on specific conditions and factors that motivate rural communities to use telecenter facilities and obtain useful information, and those that facilitate the translation of information into the construction of diversified livelihood strategies.
Integrated Health Information Systems in Tanzania: Experience and Challenges
Authors: Smith Matthew , Madon Shirin , Anifalaje Adebusoye , Lazarro‐Malecela Mwele , Michael Edwin
Published: December 2017

Health is a serious development issue. The perceived link between health and development has been articulated in much of the policy and academic literature resulting in many initiatives to introduce integrated health information systems at the local level. Despite huge investments made in this direction, these systems have not made any radical impact on the delivery of healthcare for local communities. Drawing on empirical work in Tanzania, we argue that this has been because of the adoption of a narrow, managerialist perspective of “integration”. We propose instead an interpretation of integration from a variety of standpoints; development studies, management, and sociology. According to this approach, it is not just data that is integrated, but ways of working and the social relations which support the health information systems at global, national and local levels. In our discussion section, we broaden the scope of integrated health information systems to consider the integration of not just management information but also epidemiological data.
Attitudes of Staff to Information and Communication Technologies in a Provincial University in Thailand
Authors: Intaganok Prachit , Waterworth Peter , Andsavachulamanee Thanasak , Grasaresom Guah , Homkome Udom
Published: December 2017

The capacity people have to adapt to change is influenced by a number of organizational and personal factors. The government of Thailand, in collaboration with the university sector, is developing ICT facilities and processes in universities which are expected to have a great impact upon educational processes. University staff expected to embrace ICT have reacted in a variety of ways to the introduction of ICT which should, by this stage, be transforming academic, administrative and teaching programs. This paper reports on a project at a regional Thai university which collected data on staff skill levels in and attitudes towards ICT. It presents and analyses survey data on competence levels in a range of ICT skills required for scholarly work and teaching and on the levels of anxiety and enthusiasm staff had towards the use of ICT in their work. The results showed that poor skill levels in ICT are significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety in staff regarding ICT use. Skill levels in ICT were not significantly related to staff age, subject specialization, gender or years of teaching experience but they were related to access to a home or office computer. Negative attitudes towards ICT were significantly related to higher levels of anxiety. In a second part of the project, interviews with staff who typified extremes of positive or negative attitudes to ICT confirmed the polarization in skill levels and attitudes towards ICT. Cultural factors proved to be important moderating influences upon willingness to engage adequately with the new technology.
Developing Countries and ICT Initiatives: Lessons Learnt from Jordan's Experience
Authors: Mofleh Samer , Wanous Mohammed , Strachan Peter
Published: December 2017

Many developing countries have started major Information Communication Technologies (ICT) initiatives including e‐Government, e‐Learning, e‐Health, and other schemes that are designed to boost the adoption of ICT based applications within public and private sectors as well as creating a knowledge society. The main aims of these initiatives is to be ready to undertake major reform programmes in order to achieve the social and economic development that ICT is believed to deliver. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan commenced major ICT programmes in 1999. Eight years on most of the e‐Initiatives that have been implemented have not met their intended objectives. This paper will review Jordan's ICT transformation over the past decade identifying critical factors that might be behind the country's lack of progress with its transformation. This might prove useful for other developing countries undertaking similar ICT initiatives.
The Internet and the Public Sphere: Evidence from Civil Society in Developing Countries
Authors: Lunat Ziyaad
Published: December 2017

This essay adopts a Freedom‐centred view of development with Political Freedom at its core. It questions the conditions that enable Civil Society in developing countries to use the internet to create (virtual) public spheres. It will begin by reviewing literature on Civil Society and on Habermas’ theorization of the public sphere. It will then analyse the impact of the internet in redefining the public sphere and its contribution to the emergence of the Zapatista effect. Two factors are consequently identified as facilitating a (virtual) public sphere: identity politics in a network environment and the socio‐political conditions. Based on the experience of Civil Society in Tanzania, we will see that these factors cannot be ‘engineered’ as the complexities of the public sphere cannot be overlooked. Future research should focus on the specific contextual elements that create a public sphere in the specific circumstances of developing countries.
Mobile Phones and Development: An Analysis of IDRC‐Supported Projects
Authors: Rashid Ahmed T. , Elder Laurent
Published: December 2017

In the context of the rapid growth of mobile phone penetration in developing countries, mobile telephony is currently considered to be particularly important for development. Yet, until recently, very little systematic evidence was available that shed light on the developmental impacts of mobile telecommunication. The Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) program of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, has played a critical role in filling some of the research gaps through its partnerships with several key actors in this area. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the case of mobile phones as a tool in solving development problems drawing from the evidence of IDRC supported projects. IDRC has supported around 20 projects that cut across several themes such as livelihoods, poverty reduction, health, education, the environment and disasters. The projects will be analyzed by theme in order to provide a thematic overview as well as a comparative analysis of the development role of mobile phones. In exploring the evidence from completed projects as well as the foci of new projects, the paper summarizes and critically assesses the key findings and suggests possible avenues for future research.
IT in Pakistan: Threats & Opportunities for eBusiness
Authors: Kundi Ghulam Muhammad , Shah Bahadar
Published: December 2017

This study identifies the characteristics of the independent variables i.e. governmental, organizational, human and technological conditions and the dependent phenomenon of the success/failure of eBusiness projects in the background of Pakistan. A huge body of research is going to be unfolded, which if not managed properly, can nullify all the investments and efforts on eBusiness in the country. The study is based on survey approach; a questionnaire on continuous scale was used, where t‐test, ANOVA, correlation and regression analysis were done for statistical analysis of primary data. Out of 31 hypotheses, 22 were substantiated and the rest were rejected. This study finds that though the conditions are not much promising for eBusiness at the moment, yet growing interest of the private sector through viable investment and gradual improvement in infrastructure indicates more opportunities than threats for eBusiness in Pakistan.
The Nature and Structure of the Information Systems Profession in Thailand
Authors: Wongwuttiwat Jittima
Published: December 2017

The study tests predictions made in the literature about the nature and structure of the IS profession over the next 5 years against the expectations of organizations operating in Thailand. Predictions refer to similarities and differences between Provider organizations where the core activity is the provision of ICT products and services and User organizations which are engaged in different core activities but require ICT products and services. The expectations in both types of organizations are analyzed and compared using data collected by questionnaire. The results are interpreted and theoretical and practical implications are presented.
Exploring characteristics of GIS Adoption Decisions and Type of Induced Changes in Developing Countries: The Case of Ethiopia
Authors: Berisso Zerihun Amdemariam , de Vries Walter T.
Published: December 2017

The adoption of geographic information system (GIS) in developing countries is limited due to contextual impediments. Despite this, there are examples in developing countries where GIS is being adopted through various projects, initiatives and incentives. One such example concerns the municipal utility sector in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The sector is largely under the control of public authorities with limited funds, yet it has been investing in GIS. Our article explores what have been the characteristics of the adoption decisions and type of induced changes, with the purpose to explore what could explain the GIS adoption process. The aim of this exploration is to find general characteristics of what would make GIS adoption successful in a developing countries context. We hypothesized that actual GIS adoption decision and induced changes depend on the overall organizational interests and strategic opportunities, which in turn depend on contextual factors. The results indicated that there were some circumstances which fused GIS adoption decisions with a certain degree of opportunism. GIS was adopted especially when it served other strategic purposes, such as structural adjustments to maintain organizational control. Furthermore, we found that higher level organizational changes, such as changes in power structure and communication lines, would not directly occur only because GIS adoption required so. These characteristics may be more profound in developing countries than in developed countries.
Enhanced Land Documentation for Farmland Compensation A Case Study of UMaT Lands, Postulated Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Mensah A.A. , Duncan E.E. , Annku M.F.
Published: December 2017

Speculative developments on land areas given out for developments have posed great challenges to would be developers, be they mining concerns, schools and universities or any other potential enterprise for uninterrupted growth. Challenges that have dogged developers in any of these categories for development have been unprecedented, exorbitant post compensations to be paid for the land and what have been developed on them. This paper makes thorough analysis into these challenges that could have unpleasant repercussions for the developer in this case the University of Mines and Technology, (UMaT). The existing format of documentation is considered and an enhanced format evolved that will make the presentation of documentation for effecting compensations more transparent while eliminating unwarranted Speculative Developments (SpD) that have most often created heated arguments and rancor between individual land owners and the development agency.
Establishing a Sustainable Legal Information System in a Developing Country: A Practical Guide
Authors: Yates Kenneth A. , Shapiro Charles E.
Published: December 2017

In this paper, a practical systems analysis approach is described for the planning, development and implementation of the information technology required to have a sustainable legal information system in a developing country. Considerations involved to create, compile and distribute the country's governing laws in electronic form are described. Alternative database search and retrieval options are discussed, as well as issues relating to distribution of the database online, on local media, or on both. Based on a reasonable set of assumptions and general requirements for a developing country, a model legal information system is then presented. By using the approach suggested in this paper, a developing country can fully evaluate the cost‐benefit tradeoffs, as well as all other tradeoffs, in determining the most appropriate information technology to use for the creation, compilation, and distribution of its laws in electronic form.
Researching ICT Micro‐Enterprise in Developing Countries: Themes, Wider Concepts and Future Directions
Authors: Foster Christopher , Heeks Richard
Published: December 2017

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current state of knowledge on ICT micro‐enterprise in developing countries and provide guidance for future research. It does this by reviewing two strands of literature. In the first, it reviews the literature related to ICT micro‐enterprises, focussing particularly on two sub‐sectors that might be considered successful, mobile entrepreneurship and the Nigerian video‐film industry. It draws out three key themes that are addressed in the literature – the significance of local networks and supply chains; strategies of niches and appropriation; and the importance of context.

This analysis also reveals a significant weakness in the literature. Studies have generally made a close focus on the local practices and technology actions of such micro‐enterprises, but there has been little analysis of such micro‐enterprise within wider conceptual frameworks, which means that there are significant gaps relating to understanding of the developmental role and potential of such ICT micro‐enterprise.

Thus, the broader development literature is reviewed related to the three key themes that were identified. This wider literature highlights three conceptual literatures – enterprise clustering and upgrading, base‐of‐the‐pyramid markets, and urban development – that are able to offer some useful lenses for researching ICT micro‐enterprise, as well as highlighting potential future research directions.
Mobile Phones, the Bottom of the Pyramid and Working‐Class Information Society in China
Authors: Qiu Jack Linchuan
Published: December 2017

The rise of China as the world's largest mobile phone market poses key challenges to existing ways of conceptualizing the relationship between mobiles and information society, including especially questions concerning class stratification and class formation at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP). These are more than questions specific to the Chinese context. They are relevant to much of the Global South: Can there be a working‐class information society? If so, what does it look like? What are its basic characteristics and key issues of contention, especially in relation to mobile communication? Based on recent evidence from urban China, this article discusses important questions about mobile phones, BOP, and working‐class information society. It discusses the macro‐institutional framework in China that shapes informational needs and patterns of appropriation at the grassroots level, which not only facilitates horizontal networking and new modes of class organization but also leads to new ways of exploitation and disempowerment. When it comes to issues of the working class, social processes at the BOP are often multi‐dimensional, sometimes paradoxical, always inviting. This article also addresses issues for future research.
Framing M4D: The Utility of Continuity and the Dual Heritage of “Mobiles and Development”
Authors: Donner Jonathan
Published: December 2017

The paper suggests that research on the role of mobile telephony for socioeconomic development (M4D) draws on two frames. One frame stresses the relative freedom of telephone users to do whatever they choose. The other stresses how technologies and technology‐led interventions are embedded in recursive, context specific relationships with user communities. Together these frames support M4D's ‘dual heritage’. After detailing current M4D archetypes representing each heritage, the paper introduces a conceptual and practical synthesis, that is, large‐scale platforms for distributed, semi‐constrained interaction. This paper considers two examples of such platforms'MXit, South Africa's mobile social networking service and M‐PESA, Kenya's mobile money transfer system'including both anticipated and unanticipated consequences of operating ‘at scale’ and beyond the confines of a controlled M4D intervention. Finally, this paper introduces implications of the dual heritage and of the rise of hybrid platforms for research and practice.
Financial Vs Social Sustainability of Telecentres: Mutual Exclusion or Mutual Reinforcement?
Authors: Masiero Silvia
Published: December 2017

The debate on development‐led telecentre projects revolves around the concept of sustainability. Although it is accepted that telecentre sustainability has both a financial and a social dimension, the relationship between these two sides is sometimes axiomatically defined as one of mutual exclusion. Through the case study of the Akshaya Telecentre Project in Kerala, southern India, we problematize this logic: we individuate a set of mechanisms through which the social dimension of telecentre sustainability feeds the financial one, rather than obstructing it. As such, we propose a new paradigm for telecentre studies, in which social and financial sustainability are interlinked by mutual reinforcement.
Establishing a Sustainable Legal Information System in Azerbaijan: A Case Study
Authors: Shapiro Charles E. , Yates Kenneth A.
Published: December 2017

In this case study we describe the application of the principles set forth in the Practical Guide (Yates & Shapiro, 2010) to establish a sustainable legal information system in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijan system was developed and implemented from 2004–2006 pursuant to a USAID‐funded project. The initial goal of the project was to assist the Azerbaijan Ministry of Justice to create and maintain a sustainable legal information system, to enable public access to the country's governing laws on a current, complete, and accurate basis 24 hours‐a‐day, 7 days a week via the Internet and on CD‐ROM. Various “on the ground” factors that contributed to the design of the database containing Azerbaijan's laws and those that resulted in deviations from the original plan are discussed in detail, as are recommendations based on lessons learned during the project. Using human performance research as a framework, we conclude with a discussion of the key individual and team performance issues that must be addressed to successfully sustain a legal information system in a developing country.
The Impact of Mobile Telephony on Developing Country Enterprises: A Palestinian Case Study
Authors: Rabayah Khalid S. , Qalalwi Khalid
Published: December 2017

This paper aims to explore the use and impact of mobile telephony on the performance of companies in developing countries, through a nationwide survey comprised of thousands of enterprises representing a true sample of the business sector in Palestine. This paper complements studies that make the linkage between mobile communications and economic activities at micro or enterprise level. It analyses the adoption patterns and rational behind these patterns as revealed by the business owners and managers of Palestinian enterprises. Porter's value chain is used as a framework to assess the impact of mobile telephony in work processes.

The survey covered thousands of enterprises of all sizes and economic activities, selected to embody a representative sample of the Palestinian business sector. It further explores the views of the owners and managers of these enterprises regarding the use of ICTs. The study reveals that mobile phones have meaningfully enhanced internal processes and the overall value chain. Most notably, mobile phones were effective in bridging the information and connectivity gap businesses in developing countries ordinarily suffer.

The study has also found that small and micro enterprises gain from the use of mobiles the same as what large enterprises do, especially in mainstream operations like marketing and sales, information flow, and provision of customer services. This is happening at the time when there is a huge difference in resources between the two categories of enterprises. The study came to conclude that mobile benefits are not favoring one business sector from the other, in the sense that all business sectors are capable of tailoring mobile phone services to suit their needs.
In the Eyes of the Media: Discourse of an ICT4D Project in a Developing Country
Authors: Chigona Wallace , Mooketsi Bojelo
Published: December 2017

Media discourse is one way in which social reality is shaped. The media has the power to influence public perceptions on ideologies and innovations and hence their adoption and success. It is, therefore, of academic interest to understand media discourse on Information Technological innovations, especially those which are affected and affect the public. This paper analyses the media discourse on ICT for Development ICT4D projects in developing countries. The study uses as a case the media discourse of the Khanya Project – a flagship ICT for education project in South Africa. Using the Habermasian Theory of Communicative Action as a theoretical lens, the study notes that the media discourse on the project is fraught with distortions. The findings substantiate previous research on media discourse that found that media discourse pushes propaganda to the effect that technological uptake and adoption is crucial and inevitable. The paper further explores the potential causes of the distortions. The findings of this study could form part of the recommendations for agencies responsible for implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects for education.
Understanding IT Business Value Creation and Evaluation in Least Developed Economies
Authors: Prasad Acklesh
Published: December 2017

Information Technology (IT) is an important resource that can facilitate growth and development in both the developed and developing economies. The forces of globalisation increase the digital divide between the developed and developing economies is increasing. The least developed economies (LDEs) are the most vulnerable within this environment. Intense competition for IT resources means that LDEs need a deeper understanding of how to source and evaluate their IT‐related efforts. This effort puts LDEs in a better position to source funding from various stakeholders and promote localized investment in IT. This study presents a complementary approach to securing better IT‐related business value in organizations in the LDEs. It further evaluates how IT and the complementaries need to managed within the LDEs. Analysis of data collected from five LDEs show that organizations that invest in IT and related complementaries are able to better their business processes. The data also suggest that improved business processes lead to overall business processes improvements. The above is only possible if organizations adopt IT and make related changes in the complementary resources within the established culture and localizing the required changes.
Developing Information Society in Ghana: How Far?
Authors: Frempong Godfred
Published: December 2017

Increasingly the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is underpinning every socio‐economic activity and developing knowledge‐based economy and information society. The opportunities that access to and use of ICTs offer are numerous. The need for creating an information society is not based only on the availability of ICT services, but more importantly, their usage by the citizenry which contributes to building knowledge. Using primary data from Ghana, the paper discusses the access and usage of ICTs by individuals and household in three broad spatial categories namely: metropolitan cities, other urban towns and rural areas. The analysis is based on over 1200 households and individuals surveyed from the three areas. The results from the analysis and discussion show that Ghana has made some achievements in increasing access and usage of ICT services at both the household and individual levels. However, compared to more efficient markets in Africa, much remains to be done due to identified weakness in policy regime, market failures and weak ICT skills capability. Consequently, the paper advocates for a strong regulatory regime, coupled with increased competitiveness in the market and acceleration of the implementation of the ICT Policy to facilitate the advancement of the information society in Ghana.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Mexican Manufacturing Exports
Authors: Santibáñez Ana L. Valderrama , Castillo Omar Neme
Published: December 2017

The paper analyzes the effects of changes in the purchase of computer equipment and peripherals (investment in information and communication technologies – ICT) on exports by classes of Mexican manufacturing industry using data from the Annual Industrial Survey and Industrial Stan OECD data base for the period 2003–2006. The paper distinguishes among industries with high and low technology. We used a cross‐section methodology to evaluate the effect of such technologies in each year of the period. The results indicate that investment in ICT has a positive effect on manufacturing exports, particularly in industries with low technological content that can integrate ICT into their export activities.
Investigating the Impact of ICT Investments on Human Development
Authors: Bankole Felix O. , Shirazi Farid , Brown Irwin
Published: December 2017

In the last two decades, the worldwide information and communication technology (ICT) market has been growing at a rapid rate. This has led to a global net increase in ICT investments and usage. International organizations, ICT vendors and policy makers have been investigating whether such large investments are worthwhile. The results regarding this issue are inconclusive, for this research area is fraught with complexity, and existing empirical work is limited. This study investigates the impact of ICT investments on human development. Of particular interest are the relationships between different dimensions of ICT investment and the components of human development. ICT investments can be thought of as having four dimensions – hardware, software, internal spending and telecommunication investment, while typical human development indicators are standard of living (GDP per capita), education (literacy and school enrolments) and health (life expectancy). If these variables are not modelled correctly, their effect on each other can be either under‐ or overestimated. In this article, the line of enquiry from a study by Kim et al. (2008) is extended to investigate the relationship between the four aspects of ICT investments and the three key components of human development. The empirical analysis shows that the four dimensions of ICT investment have an impact in various ways on the components of human development, and that these impacts are different, in high income, mid income and low income countries. Based on these findings, this study suggests theoretical propositions to explain the impact of ICT investments on human development.
Telecentre Replication Initiative in Borneo Malaysia: The CoERI Experience
Authors: Yeo Alvin W. , Hazis Faisal S. , Zaman Tariq , Songan Peter , Hamid Khairuddin Ab.
Published: December 2017

There are many bridging‐the‐digital‐divide initiatives implemented by various government agencies and non‐governmental organisations throughout the world. Numerous studies have been conducted to identify the critical success factors in providing remote and rural communities equitable access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Malaysia has its fair share of successes and failures in such initiatives. One such initiative, the eBario Project, which provided ICTs to the rural and remote community in Bario, Borneo Malaysia, has been in operation over the last decade. The project was undertaken by the Centre of Excellence for Rural Informatics (CoERI), Institute of Social Informatics and Technological Innovations, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) with active participation of the local community in Bario. Critical success factors of the eBario Project include the close cooperation between the project initiator and the local community, strong support from the local champions, focus on actual needs and socio‐economic goals of the community, and deployment of appropriate technologies to the remote community. Given its relative success, the eBario project has been replicated to four other rural and remote communities in Borneo Malaysia. This paper highlights the approach used in implementing telecentres within these communities and some of the lessons learnt during the replication process. The CoERI Experience provides a useful guide to policy makers, project implementers and researchers who intend to deploy telecentres in rural communities at a larger scale.
Ethics of Participation: Research or Reporting?
Authors: Dodson Leslie , Sterling S. Revi
Published: December 2017

The diverse assemblage of those involved in Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICTD) efforts exposes inherent tensions between fields and perspectives. While debates between researcher and practitioner "intent" are starting to surface, these conversations primarily pertain to the methods and strategies in common and in question between technologists and social scientists. This paper discusses the differing ethics between the academic researcher, the practitioner, and the journalist – which efforts work in support of each other, and where are they at variance? When the journalist is also the researcher, a phenomenon occurring more frequently (especially in academic ICTD efforts), what position does this hybrid entity assume when conducting fieldwork? The authors, an ICTD professor and a professional journalist pursuing a Ph.D. in ICTD, are interested in exploring issues of representation, identity and responsibility in ICTD initiatives through the lens of Development Informatics in order to study the opportunities and challenges inherent when the traditions and perspectives of different academic and vocational fields merge, requiring those from different backgrounds to mediate and negotiate their involvement strategies with target communities. This paper endeavors to provide a “blueprint" for others in ICTD coming from a variety of backgrounds and methodologies, and to begin a larger discussion that can grow to incorporate the positions of additional journalists, researchers, and the combination, from both Northern and Southern standpoints.
Barriers in Accessing Agricultural Information in Tanzania with a Gender Perspective: The Case Study of Small‐Scale Sugar Cane Growers in Kilombero District
Authors: Siyao Peter O.
Published: December 2017

This paper aims at investigating the Barriers in Accessing Agricultural Information in Tanzania with a Gender Perspective: The Case Study of Small‐Scale Sugar Cane Growers in Kilombero District. The study was carried out in three purposefully selected villages and five institutions in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region. The study used a sample size of 83 respondents. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used. Data were collected by using documentary review, interviews through structured questionnaires, face‐to‐face interviews, focus group discussions and personal observations. Quantitative data were analysed by using SPSS and Microsoft Excel Spread Sheet, while qualitative data were analysed using content analysis procedure. The results of the study revealed that lack of access to the current, relevant and appropriate agricultural information in the rural areas has led to the stagnation of growth of sugar cane produced by small‐scale growers. The study findings also revealed that the barriers to accessing agricultural information in the study area are associated with the lack of means and facilities by which information can be easily accessed. It is therefore recommended that means and facilities by which growers can access agricultural information are put in place, rural women empowerment and involvement in the decision‐making process at all stages, and the provision of agricultural information to rural farmers should be gender sensitive.