bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Evolution of Trade Portals and the Pacific Islands Countries E‐Trade Facilitation and Promotion
Authors: McMaster Jim , Nowak Jan 
Published: December 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AbstractThe study drew on Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) to evaluate the effect of ICT on the quality of services of Quantity Surveying Practicing firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The major objective was to determine the suitability of the Technological Innovation as a tool for improving the quality of the services of the firms in the country. Towards this end, relevant data were obtained through questionnaire survey conducted on a sample of forty‐eight (48) architects, thirty‐five (35) engineers (all clients’ representatives) and thirty‐two (32) contractors selected randomly from the lists of one‐hundred and fifty‐one (151) construction professionals and fifty‐eight (58)contractors the firms had worked with during both pre and post adoption of ICT periods. Oral interview was also conducted on the respondents to complement the information obtained from the questionnaire survey. The SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firms prior to the adoption of the technological innovation was compared with the post adoption scores using Mann‐Whitney U‐Test at ninety‐five percent (95%) confidence level. The results of the test revealed that the SERVQUAL scores of the services of the firm after the adoption of the technology were significantly greater than the SERVQUAL scores of their services prior to its adoption. Thus, the adoption of the technological innovation has enhanced the quality of the services of the firms in the Nigerian Construction Industry. The study concluded that ICT is a suitable tool for improving the quality of quantity surveying services in the country.
Power Tensions in Health Information System Integration in Developing Countries: The Need for Distributed Control
Authors: Nyella Edwin , Mndeme Mathew 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAs part of health sector reform, most developing countries are in the process of restructuring the Health Information Systems (HIS) by way of standardizing and integrating various vertical reporting systems. Nevertheless, the pressure resulting from the vertical systems supported by donors renders the integration goal challenging and unachievable. While many studies have argued for the heterogeneity of interests and multiple data needs of the donors as the major cause of the problem, this paper argue for more detailed and critical analysis of the problem. To contribute to this, the paper emphasize the need to understand the main actors involved in the process in terms of the resources and rules available to them; and their implication in the HIS integration venture. By drawing on an empirical case study and Structuration Theory concepts, the paper identified the dialectic power relations between the actors resulting from the asymmetric ownership and control of resources and rules. To alleviate the power tensions, the paper proposed i) the need to build shared meaning of the integration process through communication approaches ii) and the need to distribute the control of the integrated HIS using modularization approach facilitating ‘the tapping on’ of the resources available to each group of actors.
Role of Existing Channels on Customer Adoption of New Channels: A Case of ATM and Internet Banking
Authors: Selvan N. Thamarai , Arasu B. Senthil , Sivagnanasundaram M. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBanks harness the technological platforms known as Self Service Technologies (SSTs) to the maximum extent to deliver their services. Barring ATM the patronage to other channels is not overwhelming. Customers do need different level of skills and competence to create the services for them on the different types of SSTs. Hence it is necessary to identify the factors that influence the adoption of these SSTs. In this research through a structural equation model the adoption issues of internet banking as an SST was analyzed. The findings indicate that both trust in technology and self efficacy have a direct impact on attitude towards SSTs in general and the findings support the existence of hierarchy of attitudes that overall attitude have an effect on attitude towards internet banking. Further the results indicate that, though the satisfaction with existing channel does not have an impact on the attitude of SSTs in general, but it indirectly affects through trust in technology.
Disintermediation, Altered Chains and Altered Geographies: The Internet in the Thai Silk Industry
Authors: Graham Mark 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe Thai silk industry is in a worrying position. For centuries the industry has provided economic support to hundreds of thousands of people in the northeast of Thailand and become a part of the region's cultural heritage. However, the industry is now dying largely because of uncompetitive nature of the silk being produced. This paper therefore examines one of the most widely touted development strategies: the use of the internet to both expand markets and disintermediate commodity chains. Using surveys and interviews, this study examines the geographic and topological effects that the internet has had in the value chains of Thai silk.
The Negligible Role of Fees as a Barrier to Public Access Computing in Developing Countries
Authors: Clark Melody , Gomez Ricardo 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPublic access to computers and the Internet can play an important role in social and economic development if it effectively helps to meet the needs of underserved populations. Public access venues such as libraries, telecentres and cybercafés are sometimes free, and sometimes charge user fees. User fees can be an important barrier to use of public access venues, especially among underserved communities in developing countries. This paper analyzes the role of user fees and other critical barriers in the use of computers in public access venues in 25 developing countries around the world. Results of this study suggest that digital literacy of staff and local relevance of content may be more important than fees in determining user preference for public access venues. These findings are important to public libraries, which tend to offer free services, but where perceptions of digital literacy of staff and locally relevant content tend to be lowest, compared to telecentres and cybercafés, according to the results of this study. More attention to digital literacy of staff and availability of locally relevant content may be more important than free services to meet the information needs of underserved populations.
Strategic Value of IT in Private Sector Organizations in a Developing Country: Oman
Authors: Ashrafi Rafi 
Published: December 2017

AbstractInformation Technology (IT) as a strategic asset is as important for developing countries as it is for the developed countries. Literature in this area suggests that a number of factors contribute to the strategic value of IT. Based on the literature review, we developed a framework of IT assets and capabilities that contribute to the strategic value of IT in organizations. We tested this framework with IT managers in Oman and asked their opinion on the relevance and importance of those factors in their organizations. The results of the survey show that most of the factors that contribute to the strategic value of IT in developed countries are also valid for a developing country‐Oman. However, the importance level of some of the factors is different than those of developed countries. The paper provides some interesting results and insights on the IT practices in a developing country Oman. There is very little research about the IT practices in emerging economies such as Oman. This paper attempts to fill this gap in the knowledge.
Changing Computing Curricula in African Universities: Evaluating Progress and Challenges via Design‐Reality Gap Analysis
Authors: Bass Julian M. , Heeks Richard 
Published: December 2017

AbstractInformation and communication technologies (ICTs) are diffusing rapidly into all African nations. Effective use of the new technology requires a step‐change in local skill levels; including a step‐change in ICT‐related university education. Part of that process must be an updating of university computing curricula, ranging from computer science through to information systems. Adoption of international curricula offers a ready means for updating, but African universities face challenges of implementing these curricula – curricula that were typically designed for Western rather than African realities.To help understand the issues surrounding implementation of international computing curricula in Africa, we selected a case example: Ethiopian higher education. Using the design‐reality gap model and its ’OPTIMISM’ checklist of dimensions, we analysed what ensued following its 2008 decision to adopt a new IEEE/ACM‐inspired computing curriculum. We find that significant progress has been made, but that important gaps between design and reality – and, hence, challenges – remain. We are therefore able to identify specific actions along particular dimensions such as technology and skills that will help close design‐reality gaps, and secure greater implementation. We propose that this analysis method will prove a valuable strategic tool for computing curriculum reform in other African nations.
Electronic Payment Systems Development in a Developing Country: The Role of Institutional Arrangements
Authors: Briggs Austin , Brooks Laurence 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper examines the institutional arrangements in the development of Nigeria's electronic payment system (EPS) using a new institutional economics (NIE) perspective. A case study of Nigeria's EPS was carried out using semi structured interviews to collect data from 18 participating stakeholders; a thematic method was used for the data analysis. The study suggests that a well‐functioning set of arrangements, which is lacking in the institutional setup in Nigeria may be required to build necessary institutional capacity suitable for development of safe and efficient electronic payment systems. Although the technological payment infrastructure in Nigeria is modern and of comparable standard, the failure to put in place reliable and relevant market and collaborative agreements has not enabled full exploitation of the available infrastructure. Current governance structures show elements of power struggle and distrust between stakeholders (players and regulators), hampering the creation of an environment that would sustain free market economic activities and effective development of payment systems.