bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Analysis of End‐User Participation in Software Development Projects in a Developing Country Context
Authors: Akinnuwesi Boluwaji A. , Uzoka Faith‐Michael , Olabiyisi Stephen O. , Omidiora Elijah O. , Fiddi Paula 
Published: December 2017

AbstractOrganizational information systems cannot produce any positive outcome unless the end‐users accept, adopt and use it. In this paper, we report the results of an investigation of the perception gap between end‐users and software developers regarding end‐user participation in software development. Our analysis shows the existence of perception gap, which could affect the level of end‐user participation in software development. The implication of this is poor acceptance of software system applications and failure of some software system projects.
ICT Curricular and the Requirements of Organizations in Thailand
Authors: Winley Graham Kenneth , Wongwuttiwat Jittima 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe study compared ICT professional requirements in organizations in Thailand with ICT bachelor degree curricular offered in universities in Thailand using a theoretical framework with three related components: domains of expertise; the scope of the professional's knowledge, skills, and experience; and specific skills associated with the domains of expertise. Data was collected by questionnaire from 166 medium to large sized organizations and 42 universities which offered in total 78 ICT related bachelor degree programs. The findings showed that, although there was a reasonable degree of alignment between the importance of skills in the organizations and the ICT curricular, the ICT programs were not addressing adequately the needs of organizations for a range of skills related to understanding organizations and their functions, ICT management activities, and especially the management of ICT physical and financial resources. On the other hand, ICT programs placed more emphasis than the organizations on skills concerned with systems development methodologies for the complete development of applications/systems, CASE tools, programming and coding, database design, technical expertise with object relational and object oriented databases, and multimedia applications. Previous studies of this kind conducted in Thailand were not found and the findings are expected to be of value and interest to those responsible for national ICT policy and especially ICT education and training.
Coordination and Cooperation in E‐Government: An Indonesian Local E‐Government Case
Authors: Nurdin Nurdin , Stockdale Rosemary , Scheepers Helana 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe implementation of e‐government systems often involves many different agencies and actors. Their different characteristics and the need to work together make the relationships between them complex. Coordination and cooperation have become important issues in harmonizing the many actors that support the implementation of e‐government systems. This study examines how coordination and cooperation shape the implementation process of local e‐government systems that may be acquired or developed internally. A case study of local egovernment systems implementation in Indonesia is presented and analyzed from the perspectives of coordination and cooperation between internal and external actors and agencies. Our findings suggest that dynamic coordination and cooperation have influenced the success of e‐government systems implementation at local government (regency) level in Bali, Indonesia. The regency practiced coordination and cooperation, both vertically and horizontally, with central government agencies, other regencies, private companies, and with internal institutions. The ability of the regency to gain from these practices offers insights into e‐government implementation for other local governments.
Cloud Computing: Adoption Issues for Sub‐Saharan African SMEs
Authors: Abubakar A.D. , Bass Julian M , Allison Ian 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper explores the emergence and adoption of cloud computing by small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and points towards its implications for developing countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. Several studies have shown the importance of technologies to SMEs and the potentials of SMEs for economic growth. Using qualitative techniques we obtained and analysed data from ten SMEs that have adopted cloud computing as an IT strategy. These SMEs span across various sectors including finance, information and communication technology (ICT), and manufacturing in Nigeria, a developing country in sub‐Saharan Africa. We found that, contrary to the literature on cloud computing adoption in the global north, these SMEs are less concerned with challenges like security, privacy and data loss rather; they continue to show optimism in using the potential opportunities that cloud computing presents to them. We envisage that as cloud computing evolves, more SMEs in sub‐Saharan Africa will adopt it as an IT Strategy. This could positively contribute to the successes of these SMEs and consequently contribute to the economic growth desired by these developing countries.
Exploring the Link between ICT and Development in the Context of Developing Countries: A Literature Review
Authors: Thapa Devinder , Sæbø Øystein 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe article contributes to the ongoing discussion on relating information and communication technology (ICT) to development (D). The quest to relate ICT to D is a topic of open deliberation and critical scrutiny in ICT4D research communities. To enhance the understanding in this regard, we conducted a literature review. The review examines 80 articles to identify various development theories and the role of technologies in the development process. While scanning the articles, Sen's capability approach (CA) emerged as a suitable framework with which to explore the link between ICT and D. To show the relevance of the link, we used the CA as a guiding framework, and reanalyzed ten empirical case studies focusing on projects in remote and rural areas. Furthermore, the article suggests six gaps in the current research, and, accordingly, six areas for future research.
ICT Utilisation within Experienced South African Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Adeniran Tejumade V , Johnston Kevin A 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe aim of the study was to examine the levels and purposes of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) utilisation within a sample of ICT aware South African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It is globally acknowledged that SMEs are significant in their contributions to economic growth, job creation, innovation of new products, income generation, poverty alleviation, technological progress and competitive advantage. However, SMEs are characterised by limited ICT utilisation. More studies are required to understand the purposes and levels of ICT utilisation within the South African SMEs, as well as the effect of firm size and age on ICT utilisation. To address this issue, an online based survey was conducted, and evidence gathered showed the following. (1) ICT aware South African SMEs are high users of technology. (2) Levels of ICT utilisation by ICT aware South African SMEs is sector specific. (3) ICT aware South African SMEs used ICT for cost saving, to collaborate with new and existing business partners, to handle collaboration within the firm and communication with the firm's stakeholders, to establish relationships with other organisations, and to enable strategic planning. (4) A firm's size has significant impacts on the levels of ICT utilization. (5) A firm's age impacts on the level of ICT utilisation of ICT aware South African SMEs; the more mature firms had more advanced information technology capability. The paper offers insights into the levels and purposes of ICT utilisation with implications for practitioners and academics.
User Acceptance of Telemedicine by Health Care Workers A Case of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Cilliers Liezel , Flowerday Stephen 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe Eastern Cape province of South Africa is one of the poorest provinces in the country with vast rural areas. A telemedicine system was implemented in the province in order to improve health care services. Despite large investments from the National Department of Health, only a third of telemedicine sites in the province are operational. Technology problems, such as unreliable electricity supply and low bandwidth, was identified as barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine in South Africa, but these issues have since been addressed. Nevertheless, the uptake of telemedicine remains poor. One of the documented barriers to the successful implementation of telemedicine is user acceptance by health care workers. This study made use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to identify the factors that influence the user acceptance of telemedicine among health care workers in a developing country such as South Africa. The study used a quantitative survey approach. A questionnaire was distributed to all the hospitals and clinics around the province where telemedicine had been implemented. The results were analyzed using SPSS 20 and the conclusions drawn from the results were presented to five experts in the field of telemedicine and Information Systems. In general, the attitude of the health care workers was positive towards telemedicine, although the present usage of the system was low. Health care workers, especially those in the rural areas, perceived the telemedicine system to be useful to improve the quality of health care services they provide. The perceived ease of use of the telemedicine system was influenced by both the educational qualification and area in which the health care workers worked. Those that did not complete high school and worked in rural areas were apprehensive about using the telemedicine system. However, the majority of the health care workers indicated that they did plan to make use of the telemedicine system in the future. Interventions focused on education should be specific for rural or urban areas. In rural areas education should focus on computer literacy skills and how to use the telemedicine system, while in urban areas the awareness of the telemedicine should be increased.
A Mobile Management System for Reforming Subsidies Distribution In Egypt
Authors: El‐Shishtawy Tarek 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper aims to show how advances in mobile technologies can help solve social and political aspects involved in the reform of subsidies in developing countries. It describes the work done to build a mobile‐based supportive network that integrates all subsidy partners: governmental, non‐governmental organizations, merchants, and beneficiaries. One main contribution of this work is the setting of a framework for identifying the requirements of information systems for subsidies distribution. Seven domains were identified to build a Mobile Subsidizing Business Model (MSBM). Based on MSBM, detailed requirements were gathered in three stages, each having its appropriate methodology. We focus on the layered architecture implementation of the mobile subsidizing system to break down complexities due to variations in mobile technologies, different business rules, and multiple distribution scenarios.
Mobile Phone Ecosystems and the Informal Sector in Developing Countries – Cases from Jamaica
Authors: Johnson Stephen C. , Thakur Dhanaraj 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis study investigates the role of the ICT ecosystem within the informal business sectors of rural and urban Jamaica, relying on an exploratory collective case study methodology to highlight the differences in how the use of mobile phones have facilitated and enhanced entrepreneurial opportunities for business operators existing in the informal economy. The findings of the study confirm existing research about the socio‐economic benefits of ICTs but also highlight specific characteristics related to informal ICT ecosystems. For example, we found that there was a close‐knit set of entrepreneurs who were motivated by competition between one another but who would still engage in mutual learning and information sharing. These ecosystems also entail a system of social hierarchy among the actors, although there is potential for mobility. Finally, we note that our findings suggest a potential reconsideration of definitions of the informal sector that emphasize low‐skilled labour.
PGIS Based Land Information Mapping and Map Updating to Support Rural Community Knowledge Building
Authors: Mulalu Mulalu I. , Veenendaal Bert 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper outlines an approach developed to assist a rural community in Botswana to utilise Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to compile and update a village land parcels dataset. The work is based on a PhD research work which was carried out at a remote rural village, where participatory action research was employed. Participation is defined as learning and the Participatory Geographic Information Science (PGIS) framework was considered to be appropriate. The contention here is that community learning is a pre‐condition for successful implementation of human development interventions. The PGIS activity itself served mainly to anchor the learning of the creation of the database, the construction of knowledge and its contribution to improve individual household livelihoods. The rationale here is that the database design process can be devolved to ordinary language so that the attention is drawn more to the subsequent use of the data rather than to its compilation. Therefore the PGIS was envisaged as interacting objects and people, relations among them and the role of the containing space. It was also anticipated that in the process, the information would be conversed and the knowledge perceived, constructed and conceived. The basic essence of the PGIS approach was to use georeferenced digital colour aerial photographs and on screen digitizing (OSD) to create land parcels vectors and use the plotted land parcels as references to update the village plot layouts by measuring and scaling in the missing plots at the field. The GIS based mapping was preceded by entry and collaborative team building processes and basic training in computing, business process modeling, business calculations and business planning. This was followed by social survey focused on the poor and struggling members of the community. The produced PGIS artifact served to be the sink for all the produced data. The early conclusion that was drawn was that the PGIS serves as an effective instrument to help a rural community to create and construct knowledge and to strike the link with the political institutions that are intended to support citizens to improve their living standards.
E‐Commerce Enablers and Barriers in Tanzanian Small and Medium Enterprises
Authors: Kabanda Salah K. , Brown Irwin 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to identify enablers of and barriers to E‐Commerce in Tanzanian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Tanzania is classified as a least developed country (LDC) and has received relatively little research attention with respect to E‐Commerce in the SME sector. The study is qualitative in nature and a set of semi‐structured interviews were used to collect data. 32 SMEs were interviewed. A thematic analysis approach was used for reporting SME's experiences, perspectives, and meanings, whilst examining the ways in which events, realities, meanings, and experiences come about. The study unearthed contextual understanding of E‐Commerce and the challenges faced by Tanzanian SMEs. Factors perceived to be conducive for E‐Commerce, include the availability of business resources, specifically business relationships with ICT foreign companies; top management support; the use of mobile technology for interactive and transactive purposes with consumers and suppliers; and the strategic use of mobile phones to avoid ICT‐related challenges such as those associated with fixed line telephone and Internet‐enabled desktop computing.
Mobile Ecosystems Among Low‐Skilled Migrants in Singapore: An Investigation into Mobile Usage Practices
Authors: Aricat Rajiv George 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe paper explores how the ideas of freedom and constraints are inherent to the phenomenon of adaptation. In order to explicate this tension in the migrant adaptation process, the study adopts the development approach that has highlighted freedom as means and ends of development – the capability approach. The study explores answers to the questions (i) To what extent does migrants’ adaptation to the host country, including to its mobile ecosystem, ensure their freedom and to what extent the adaptation is a constraint for them?; and, (ii) How do various strategies of adaptation help migrants achieve development in social, economic and political domains? In‐depth interviews were conducted among 50 low‐skilled migrants from Bangladesh and India in Singapore. Findings showed that mobile phone usage helped enhance the functionings of migrant workers, although there were constraints in achieving improvements in their capabilities. Hierarchical organizational structures acted as external constraints, whereas overdependence on mobile phones and forsaking of ideals of collective action acted as internal impediments. The study calls for a renewed understanding of adaptation in transnational migration context, with more focus on revealing the tensions between the adapting entity and the factors curtailing the freedom of the adapting entity.
Determinants of the Success of Information Techology Project Management in Thailand
Authors: Winley Graham Kenneth 
Published: December 2017

AbstractA theoretical model of information technology (IT) project management was formulated based on the results of previous studies incorporating transactional and transformational leadership styles, team diversity, and team culture as determinants of team processes and project outcomes. The study addresses the lack of previous studies of IT projects and is concerned with infrastructure and software projects conducted in cross‐functional environments with co‐located teams in the context of Thailand. The model was tested and developed to a final model using data collected from a sample of 219 professionals with experience in IT projects in Thailand. The results confirmed several reported effects of leadership styles, team diversity, and culture on team cooperation, cohesion, and conflict and their subsequent effects on performance and psychosocial project outcomes. The findings highlighted results not commonly reported in previous studies of IT project management concerning the role of dominant cultural characteristics of Thai society at the level project teams as well as important direct effects of leadership styles and aspects of team diversity on performance and psychosocial outcomes. Based on the findings practical recommendations for improving IT project outcomes are presented.
Perceived Factors Influencing ICT Vendors – Value Added Reseller Partnerships’ Satisfaction in South Africa
Authors: Hassa Ishmael , Tanner Maureen 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis study explores the perceived factors contributing to relationship satisfaction between Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) downstream supply chain management (SCM) and Vendors and Value‐added Resellers (VARs) in South Africa (SA). The study is qualitative, and relevant experts from both ICT Vendors and VARs were interviewed. The study utilises the Interaction Approach (IA) as the theoretical lens to analyse the data. The themes resulting from the thematic analysis are Power/Dependence (IA), Cooperation, Closeness (IA) and Expectation (IA). As part of the findings, the IA model is also extended to reflect interesting and important factors that emerged from the study. The findings extend the environment variable within IA for the South African context. Unique environment issues are exposed, such as Broad‐Based Black Economic Empowerment (B‐BBEE) and Currency that have a bearing on relationship satisfaction in the ICT industry. This inquiry is intended to encourage discussions between stakeholders and to be a catalyst for further research. The results from these findings could aid transparent cooperation and collaboration between ICT industry partners and stakeholders in SA (customers, government, etc.).
Is mHealth Disrupting the Status Quo? Evidence from Implementations Highlighting Network vs. Hierarchical Institutional Logics
Authors: Asangansi Ime 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHealth Management Information Systems (HMIS) in developing countries have yet to live up to expectations because of the significant proportion of implementation failures. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies are being adopted increasingly in Ministries of Health (MoHs) to address aspects of HMIS implementation failure, such as the timeliness and ease of data collection from the lowest levels of healthcare. However, networked technologies such as mobile technologies used in mHealth data collection can introduce a network logic into the organization. This network logic, which often favors open, non‐hierarchical modes of communication, must work with the traditional hierarchical bureaucratic logic of the HMIS and the MoH in which they become embedded. This paper conceptualizes the interaction between these two logics. It draws on succinct, empirical vignettes from two action‐research projects involving the use of mHealth technology to improve data collection for the HMIS in Nigeria.Based on these findings and an institutional logics lens, this paper argues that the interaction between these logics potentially leads to a conflict where the logic embedded in networked technologies (such as mHealth) disrupts and challenges the existing hierarchical logic in the bureaucracy (such as in the MoH). It threatens not only to unsettle existing practices and norms in the organization, but also to restructure (flatten) the organization, due to resistance, loss, or changes in some pre‐existing roles. Practitioners and implementation researchers need to be sensitive to potential hierarchical and network‐centric forces that are involved in implementing mHealth in traditional hierarchical settings, particularly with regards to the unintended side effects that may arise in the process.
The Usability of IVRs for Smart City Crowdsourcing in Developing Cities
Authors: Breetzke Thayne , Flowerday Stephen V 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe Public Safety Smart City Project explores the use of an interactive voice response (IVR) system by citizens of a city in a developing country to ease urban challenges arising as a result of growing urbanisation. Given that usability problems can prevent users from adopting and using any system, the IVR system was designed with the user in mind by endeavouring to meet key usability goals. The study sought to determine whether these citizens would deem such an IVR channel usable for telephonically reporting public safety matters and whether any noteworthy usability issues arose. By means of a survey, citizens who participated in this study assessed the system's usability. The survey results showed that from a usability perspective, an IVR system is an effective crowdsourcing channel for citizens to report such matters. In addition, the paper suggests recommendations for designing and building participatory crowdsourcing IVR channels for similar projects, from the end‐user perspective, to avoid potential usability problems.