bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Software Outsourcing in Vietnam: A Case Study of a Locally Operating Pioneer
Authors: Gallaugher John , Stoller Greg 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper explores the following question of key interest to researchers and practitioners concerned with offshore IS outsourcing in developing countries: How are potential offshore partners operating in developing nations to mature to be considered more attractive to suitors? Indeed, for firms located in what Carmel (2003) refers to as Tier Four, or less developed IS producing and exporting nations, an advancement to become a strategic partner challenges conventional wisdom and theoretical expectations. However our work has identified a firm that has become a strategic partner despite being headquartered in a Tier Four country. In exploring this question and examining our exemplar firm, the paper makes three key contributions: First, the contemporary context for offshore outsourcing in a Tier Four nation (Vietnam) is explored, illustrating the nation's advantages as well as key challenges that limit expansion. Second, against this backdrop we offer a case study of a successful strategic partner that has emerged despite being headquartered in a Tier Four nation. A theory‐grounded analysis of the firm, Glass Egg Digital Media, provides a lens for identifying success factors that enable firms in developing nations to emerge as strategic technology outsourcing partners. Finally, we end by exploring how existing models for considering firm attitudes toward offshore outsourcing can be expanded and we highlight potential areas for future research. Our work demonstrates the important interplay of firm, industry, and national factors in enabling a firm operating in a Tier‐Four nation to make the leap to strategic partner.
Bridging the Digital Divide in Caribbean Group Decision‐Making
Authors: Duggan Evan W. , Virtue Grace 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCaribbean organizations, like their counterparts in developed countries, engage in countless group decision meetings that require structuring mechanisms to help produce effective outcomes. However, no such meeting support was available to the breakout sessions at the January 2003 meeting of The United Nations information and communication technologies (UNICT) task force to discuss the digital divide as it affects Caribbean community and common market (CARICOM) countries. Whereas group support systems (GSS) have been widely discussed in the literature, there is no evidence of their use in the English‐speaking Caribbean, a situation which may be classified as another instance of the digital divide. Against this backdrop, we examine the process of organizational decision‐making within groups, the factors influencing group behaviors and interaction and the advantages and disadvantages of structuring mechanisms such as the technology‐enabled GSS and the manual, nominal group technique (NGT). The paper concludes that it is desirable for Caribbean nations to acquire GSS technology to reap some of the benefits that other developing countries have experienced. However, despite its runner‐up status (to GSS), NGT provides similar assistance to that offered by GSS, is implementation‐friendly, inexpensive, and outperforms other manual techniques in creative decision‐making; it is therefore a viable alternative for Caribbean nations struggling to bridge the digital divide.
IT Experience in India: Bridging the Digital Divide
Authors: Davison Robert M. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIT Experience in India: Bridging the Digital Divide, Edited by: Kenneth Keniston, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Deepak Kumar, SoftwareDioxide.Com, Sage Publications, 2004: ISBN: 0‐7619‐3235‐6; Rs. 250; 194pp
Asia Unplugged: the Wireless and Mobile Media Boom in the Asia‐Pacific
Authors: Vogel Douglas R. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractReview: Rao, M. and Lendoza, L. (2005) Asia Unplugged: the Wireless and Mobile Media Boom in the Asia‐Pacific, Sage Publications, ISBN: 0761932720, Price: Rs850/US$20.
Using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Participatory Mapping of Community Forest in NEPAL
Authors: Shrestha Him Lal 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCommunity forestry is a successful development programme of His Majesty's Government (HMG), in the sector of forest management in Nepal. The process of community forestry comprises the assessment of forest resources and drawing‐up of a plan of action for the management of forests. Forest boundary surveying is a mandatory activity in the formal handing over of the forest to the people or Forest User groups (FUG) as they are known in practice. The spatial issues in mapping are more related to the boundary of the forest, location of the forest itself, the geographic characteristics of the forest i.e. slope, aspect, altitude and area covered by particular forest resources i.e. the forest type, Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and information that could be useful in preparing a better management and implementation plan of the forest. The use of Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) in the field of community forest management combines the collection of quantitative and qualitative information in a way that is beneficial for the FUG (Jordan, 2000) i.e. mapping the boundary of the forest, block division of the forest area and preparing a multiple resource map. The quantitative spatial components can be collected and managed for sustainable forest management i.e. information on the length of forest boundary, resource distribution, stocking and incidence patterns. Without peoples’ participation in the application of GIS and GPS in mapping the forest, the accuracy cannot always be assured on the one hand, while on the other, the information cannot be properly utilized as the ultimate users of the community forest maps are the local communities themselves. Prior to handing over of the forest areas to the FUGs, transect walks are carried‐out in the relevant areas and features of interest are mapped using GPSs. The data is analysed in a GIS environment and maps i.e. Forest Boundaries, delineating NTFP species as well as the location of poor Households are produced. Assessment of products by plots of the relevant species, are also carried‐out. Thus the participatory GIS, incorporates both indigenous knowledge on spatial aspects of community forest management, as well as social, land cover, and cultural features.
Using PGIS to Conduct Community Safety Audits
Authors: Mans Gerbrand G 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCrime is one of the major factors influencing the quality of life of all South Africans and it is therefore a priority to reduce it. To reduce crime, crime prevention is important. Crime prevention is where the focus shifts from the traditional way of the police fighting crime, to the active participation of the community in preventing crime. Doing a safety audit is the first step in implementing a local crime prevention strategy.The hypothesis of this paper is that using Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) is a very competent method for conducting safety audits. The hypothesis will further be developed by looking at the importance of community participation and the spatial aspect of crime when conducting safety audits. Attention will also be given to the best methods and tools to be used when conducting these audits. To conclude, the effectiveness of the use of PGIS will be discussed utilizing results from a case study.Preliminary results indicate that PGIS is very efficient in this context. Firstly, participation allows the community to take ownership of the local crime prevention strategy. Secondly, because the spatial component of the information is not lost, crime prevention hot spots can be identified. Accompanying GIS systems allow different datasets to be integrated. This provides a platform for collaborative planning between the community and local authorities. Methods applied involve integrating the P‐Index technique with existing PGIS techniques to facilitate participation. Useful tools in the process of linking PGIS and Spatial analyses of crime hotspots were aerial photographs and the Schutte Scale.
Impact of ICT on Organizations in Tunisia
Authors: Ziadi Jameleddine , Kuofie Matthew H. S. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractUnder economic and technological changes, companies become more conscious of the importance of their structures, technologies and intellectual capital. The progress made in information and communication technologies (ICT) allows for storage and fast circulation of information. Indeed the communication networks supported by the various existing applications such as the electronic messaging, the teleconferences, and the groupware are drawing up the foundations of a new community which does not have the same temporal, geographical or organisational constraints. However, this is not the case in Tunisia. Survey results reveal that the Tunisian companies are not yet completely committed to the revolution of the information. This lack of initiative is primarily explained by the fact that these new technologies require investments, including development of human resources, which the Tunisian companies do not feel ready to provide.
Do Teachers have Adequate ICT Resources and the Right ICT Skills in Integrating ICT Tools in the Teaching and Learning of English Language in Malaysian Schools?
Authors: Samuel R. J. , Zaitun A. B. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe unparalleled development of information and communication technology tools within the last thirty years has given a tremendous boost in supporting new modes of delivery in training, teaching and learning. ICT tools can indeed assist students in acquiring English Language competency as well as enhance the quality of the learning experience. This paper examines the available ICT resources and the level of ICT skills of English language teachers and tries to determine if serving teachers are able to promote ICT integration in the teaching and learning of English Language in Malaysian schools. This research is based on the findings of a questionnaire survey conducted over a period of five months (i.e. from 1st September 2004 to 31stJanuary 2005). The survey findings reveal that a fairly large number of teachers have the necessary ICT skills but yet the utilization of the available ICT resources in English Language teaching and learning is far from satisfactory. In the concluding part, the researcher looks at possible reasons for this. Some obvious obstacles to ICT use in the teaching and learning of English are discussed and the researchers suggest the use of ICT tools that promote interactive lessons and strongly encourage e‐learning among pupils to speed up the teaching and learning of English.
Defining the ICT4D plus Pro‐Poor Tourism Convergence Space: Synergies for Natural Allies in the Global War on Poverty
Authors: Nadkarni Sanjay 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper brings into focus the convergence space between information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) and pro‐poor tourism (PPT). On the basis of a literature review on each of these vectors, the synergies that can be derived and channeled into development interventions in economically disadvantaged geographies with ‘tourismisable’ assets are discussed. The need for a structured research agenda to inform such interventions in this convergence space is emphasized. A conceptual framework encompassing the principal constituents of the e‐tourism value chain within this space is proposed and critical success factors are identified. From the perspective of sustainability, stakeholder responsibilities across the value chain are examined and a case for nurturing entrepreneurship in grassroots tourism entities is made. Compatibility of the proposed framework with dominant constructs in development theory is discussed.
Corporate Struggle with ICT in Thailand: A Case Study
Authors: Sanzogni Louis , Whungsuriya Jan , Gray Heather 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe paper discusses, through a case study, network implementation problems faced by Bangkok Investment Corporation1 (BIC), a foreign corporation in Thailand, following a proposal to adopt a centralized Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database system to support all offices and their mobile workforce. The case study is presented from an internal perspective and illustrates how a variety of elements within Thailand may contribute to inadequate telecommunications infrastructure and underdeveloped skill‐sets. We note that educational reforms, having slowed down in pace, restrict the availability of people with the required knowledge and skill‐sets, affecting the time and cost of implementation considerably. Highlighted in particular, is the dominance of teacher‐lead education, the lack of critical thinking skills development within the formal education system, and how such systems impose a constraint on the problem‐solving skills that are required of people working in the ICT sector. We conclude that it may be difficult to sustain a centralized CRM database accessible over a Wide Area Network in Thailand at this time without ongoing issues.
Issues Affecting the Social Sustainability of Telecentres in Developing Contexts: A Field Study of Sixteen Telecentres in Jamaica
Authors: Bailey Arlene 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper examines issues faced by Jamaican telecentres in their ongoing operations as their roles evolve to address new issues that may arise in communities they serve. An empirical study was conducted through interviews with a range of stakeholders including telecentre users, telecentre staff, development partners, government representatives and community host organizations, and participants in a conference of community access points. A thematic framework of issues that arise as the roles of telecentres evolve and the relationships between these issues was developed through content analysis. This study contributes to theory and practice by a) the use of content analysis to discover and explicate key issues faced by telecentres as they aim to fulfill their development mandate; b) support for the role of telecentre staff in enhancing participation by community stakeholders, c) the identification of core capabilities, grounded in social context, for effective, socially sustainable telecentre operations and d) the identification of the dynamic capabilities theory as an appropriate theory that can inform future telecentre research.
Implementation of an Electronic Prescription System in a Brazilian General Hospital: Understanding Sources of Resistance
Authors: Joia Luiz Antonio , Magalhães Carlos 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe swift development of clinical information systems has contributed to the emergence of various transformations within hospitals. However, scientific literature has shown that the implementation of many of these undertakings has yielded frustrating results. This research investigates the main causes for the unsuccessful implementation of an electronic prescription system in a Brazilian general hospital – from an explanatory‐exploratory case study standpoint – adopting resistance to information systems as its theoretical background. In the case under analysis, the study shows that the main motives for resistance to the system were: lack of training of the physicians; the age of the physicians; problems with the design and safety of the system; inadequate technological infrastructure; the employment relationship of the physicians; and the interference of the system with the power and autonomy of the physicians. The paper concludes that the intra‐organizational context of the hospitals must be analyzed in a systemic way in order to understand fully how the system will be accepted and used by its main potential users, namely physicians.
Addressing Animal Health Knowledge Gaps in Southern Countries: The Creation of a 2D Animal Health Resource Room
Authors: Lin Yibo , Heffernan Claire 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLivestock are a key asset for the global poor. However, access to relevant information is a critical issue for both livestock development practitioners and the poor themselves. Therefore, the following paper details the creation of an on‐line Animal Health Resource Room. The aim was to create an immersive environment, which mimics the benefits of a 3D Virtual Learning Environment without the constraints on download times. Therefore, in the following paper key issues in the dissemination of such a platform such as connectivity and speed are explored within the wider context of the development of the tool itself.
Local Voices Enhance Knowledge Uptake: Sharing Local Content in Local Voices
Authors: Grimshaw David J. , Gudza Lawrence D. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNew ICTs can provide new opportunities for knowledge sharing and uptake, but may also reinforce existing power hierarchies and exclusionary practices. This paper explores ways in which the balance of power may be redressed via the use of local voices producing local content in a way which respects local choices and where the intervention is shown to enhance livelihoods.Practical Action has put people first for over forty years. How can people truly be put first when introducing a new information and communications technology such as “podcasting”? A brief review of the background to a podcasting project in Zimbabwe, leads on to a discussion of the development problems being addressed, the choice of technology, the outcomes evaluated and a discussion of implications for policy and practice.Many ICT projects face the challenge of sharing information with people who have little experience of ICTs, low levels of literacy, little time or money, and highly contextualized knowledge and language requirements. Observations in Peru (Talyarkhan et al., 2005) became the inspiration for innovative work in Zimbabwe which provides the main evidence discussed in this paper in relation to creating enhanced livelihood opportunities for people living in remote rural areas.The paper discusses the proposition that the use of technologies accessible via voice and local languages support knowledge sharing and minimize impact on power relations in the community. A framework is suggested which shows how the balance of power relates to both the choice of media and the choice of technology. The final section of the paper explores the policy and practice implications of the findings and concludes that hand held voice devices can make a substantial contribution to improved livelihoods in remote rural areas.
Improving the Quality of Service Delivery in a Public Service Workflow Based on the Ant Theory: A Case Study in Cameroon
Authors: Etoundi Roger Atsa , Ndjodo Marcel Fouda , Ndedi Priso Essawe , Alo'o Ghislain Abessolo 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn this paper, we draw on Ant theory to define a protocol dealing with load balancing between employees for an efficient management of available human resources in the public sector in developing countries in order to achieve a better quality of service management. Throughout the definition of the protocol, we present an illustrative example in the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reform (MPSAR) in Cameroon. The paper ends by highlighting the improvement observed in the civil servants’ file processing workflows at MPSAR in terms of the number of files processed before and after the introduction of the protocol. The paper also ends by pointing out that the defined protocol can be used by various human resource managers of organizations in developing countries to better manage their employees.
A Dedicated Satellite for Meeting Health Education Needs of Afro‐Asian Nations: Possibilities, Action Plan and Benefits
Authors: Misra Pradeep Kumar 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe World Health Organization (WHO) reported that regardless of promises of better healthcare by governments and donor countries, millions of mothers, newborn babies and children continue to die each year in Africa from preventable diseases. The Asian countries are no exception. This situation warns us to analyze existing health education challenges in Afro‐Asian nations and look for innovative strategies to overcome these challenges. The launch of a dedicated Afro‐Asian Satellite will help to overcome health education challenges by strengthening the system that serves the people and by creating a partnership between the providers and users of health services. Considering this approach, the present paper discusses about possibilities, benefits and action plan for launching a dedicated satellite to meet the health education needs of the Afro‐Asian nations.
A User Interface for Micro‐Entrepreneurs in a Rural Community
Authors: Emmanuel Edim Azom , N. Muyingi Hippolyte 
Published: December 2017

AbstractInformation and communication technology users in rural communities of developing countries are still learners and also lack the knowledge of the potentials of these technologies. To enhance the usability and promote the acceptance of information technologies into their daily life, the medium of interaction should be able to meet the capabilities and cultural preferences of the target users. User interface design for products and services targeting rural users is a big challenge and requires adequate effort, proper understanding of the users and their socio‐cultural environments. A study was conducted to design a mobile user interface for users in a rural community in South Africa. The aim of the study is to bring information technology services closer to the people and encourage micro‐economic activities in the community. The objective is to design a user interface that will be easy to use and meet users’ cultural preferences. We have applied user‐centred design methods and collected both qualitative and quantitative data to guide the design process. This paper presents the design of a shop‐owner user interface and a mobile commerce application to promote rural micro‐entrepreneurship and economic development. The evaluation of the user interface with the target users was conducted and the technology acceptance model was used to measure users’ perception of the shop‐owner user interface. The statistics analysis of the data shows that users perceive the application and interface as useful, easy to use and intend to use the system.
The Economic Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on Microenterprises in the Context of Development
Authors: Chew Han Ei , Ilavarasan P. Vigneswara , Levy Mark R. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper investigates the impact of information and communication technologies, especially landline and mobile phones, computers, and Internet cafés in facilitating economic growth in the developing world. Data on access to ICTs, as well as business‐relevant behaviors and attitudes, was collected by a multi‐stage probability sample of women microentrepreneurs in Mumbai, India. Main findings include evidence that in urban microenterprises owned by women, business growth is a function of ICT access and is related to motivation to use ICTs for business purposes; and that the more positive a woman microentrepreneur feels about her status and power because of her business, the more she will be motivated to use ICTs in support of her business. Implications for the study of digital divides and strategies for studies of communication and technology more generally are considered.