This chapter addresses the adoption of Internet applications by an Arab Student Association in North America (ASANA)1. ASANA uses the Internet to integrate its members, promote the Arabic culture, bridge with the American society and transfer knowledge to its native country. It delivers these services through websites, email service, electronic payment systems, online conferencing, file sharing tools and other digital resources. These online services build social capital, accrue intellectual capital, and cement mutual understanding between Arabs and the American society. However, these e-services are not widely adopted due to the lack of awareness of their usefulness, the absence of suitable IT culture, poor service quality, instability of leadership, and inadequate incentive system. Improving the adoption of ASANA e-services requires stable leadership, supportive IT culture, assessing provided services, and providing incentives to members to participate. This chapter provides insights and conceptual details that help Arab academic communities to use the Internet to participate in the overall socioeconomic development of their societies.
