Determinants of smallholders’ adoption of mobile phones for vegetable marketing in Vietnam

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine factors that shape the adoption of mobile phones for vegetable marketing by Vietnamese smallholders. Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was given to 185 smallholders randomly chosen from 345 vegetable smallholders in the Vinh Thanh district of Vietnam. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and a binary logistic regression were applied to analyse the data. Findings The research results show that the smallholders’ adoption of mobile phones for vegetable marketing is significantly affected by their number of extension contacts, distance from smallholders’ homes to local markets, community-based organisation participation, gender, training/credit programme participation, age, education level, income and farm size (χ2 = 143,111, p < 0.000). Practical implications A combination of factors related to socio-economic, situational and institutional characteristics of smallholders should be considered when promoting smallholders’ uptake of mobile phones for vegetable marketing in developing nations. Originality/value This research provides useful insights into the determinants of mobile phone adoption for vegetable marketing by smallholders and highlights areas that need to be considered when designing policies to improve the uptake of information and communication technologies in developing countries.

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From digital citizen to digital professional

Kybernetes ◽

10.1108/k-07-2018-0390 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (7) ◽

pp. 1463-1477

Author(s):

Olga Marino ◽

Jaime Andres Gutierrez ◽

Sandra Aguirre

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Cutting Edge ◽

Case Study Methodology ◽

Content Type ◽

Innovative Strategy ◽

Global Issues ◽

Wide Range ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Teaching Learning

Purpose This paper aims to propose and evaluate a pedagogically sound and innovative strategy to teach a higher education course that prepares future professionals to intelligently use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their personal and professional lives. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual framework used for the design of the course was the socio-constructivism and activity theories. The implementation of the course was evaluated using the intrinsic case study methodology by including several instruments. Findings The pedagogical strategy proposed proved to be sound, as the evaluation showed that students were able to describe, use and propose innovative uses of a wide range of cutting-edge technologies in their both everyday lives and professional settings; they also had the skills to analyse the opportunities and challenges that these presented. Moreover, students liked this innovative way of learning and ended with a positive attitude towards ICT. Originality/value Although several courses prepare students to be digital citizens or use ICT to enhance the teaching-learning process, millennials are ill prepared to use cutting-edge technologies in an innovative, responsible and critical way in their future professions. The course that was designed is original in that it goes beyond preparing digital citizens to prepare professionals in any domain to use ICT in an informed and responsible way. Moreover, it is a documented, successful example of an undergraduate universal course in a highly important current society dimension. The authors believe that its pedagogical proposal could be transferred to courses dealing with other global issues such as the environment, economy and peace.

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Twiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises

Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies ◽

10.1108/20450621111197163 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Juma James Masele

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Success Factors ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Innovation Management ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Subject Area ◽

Content Type ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Medium Enterprises

TitleTwiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises.Subject areaThe case describes the launch of Twiga Hosting Ltd, a company providing information and communication technology (ICT) services to the underserved small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Tanzania and in a many countries in Africa.Study level/applicabilityThis case targets a range of audience from undergraduate students taking both Bachelor of Commerce and those taking Bachelor of Business Administration; and Postgraduate students taking business‐related courses. Nonetheless, the case may be used by all other learners of advanced studies in entrepreneurship and innovation management.Case overviewThe case addresses a number of issues including: Issues to be considered when starting an ICT enterprise. Strategic management. Business revenue models.Expected learning outcomes To impart/inculcate entrepreneurial insights in ICT and related areas. To make learners aware of the business growth opportunities in ICT ventures. The success factors for fruitful ICT ventures. To enable learners to identify challenges facing entrepreneurs in ICT ventures and the ways to overcome them.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

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Value-driven engineering of E-maintenance platforms

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management ◽

10.1108/jmtm-04-2013-0039 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 568-598 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Marco Macchi ◽

Adolfo Crespo Márquez ◽

Maria Holgado ◽

Luca Fumagalli ◽

Luis Barberá Martínez

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Maintenance Management ◽

Content Type ◽

Positive Effects ◽

A Value ◽

New Information ◽

Information And Communication

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for the engineering of E-maintenance platforms that is based on a value-driven approach. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology assumes that a value-driven engineering approach would help foster technological innovation for maintenance management. Indeed, value-driven engineering could be easily adopted at the business level, with subsequent positive effects on the industrial applications of new information and communication technologies solutions. Findings – The methodology combines a value-driven approach with the engineering in the maintenance scope. The methodology is tested in a manufacturing case to prove its potential to support the engineering of E-maintenance solutions. In particular, the case study concerns the investment in E-maintenance solutions developed in the framework of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system originally implemented for production purposes. Originality/value – Based on literature research, the paper presents a methodology that is implemented considering three different approaches (business theories, value-driven engineering and maintenance management). The combination of these approaches is novel and overcomes the traditional view of maintenance as an issue evaluated from a cost-benefit perspective.

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Understanding the gendered nature of developing country MSMEs’ access, adoption and use of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D)

International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship ◽

10.1108/ijge-07-2019-0117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 273-295

Author(s):

Elisa Mohanty ◽

Anindya Jayanta Mishra

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Dark Side ◽

Future Research ◽

Power Dynamics ◽

Content Type ◽

Time Period ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Medium Enterprises

Purpose The widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has had a significant effect on various groups and communities of people including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their owners/managers. The current study aims to analyze recent literature regarding adoption of ICTs by MSMEs. Further, it tries to locate gender within this broader context of diffusion of ICTs among MSMEs. Design/methodology/approach Using the thematic analysis approach, the research articles pertaining to six leading journals on ICTs, gender and entrepreneurship published during the time period from 2011 to 2019 are reviewed. Findings The literature selected for the study has been discussed under two primary categories, viz. “adoption of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) for business purposes” and “insights on gender in ICT4D use by MSMEs.” Research limitations/implications The context-dependent nature of ICT use can enable future entrepreneurs to assess the scope of specific ICTs in given areas of operation. The gendered nature of ICTs helps to evaluate as well as question the empowerment potential of ICTs. The study emphasizes the need to account for historical specificities and transnational linkages in understanding access, adoption and use of ICT4D by women MSME entrepreneurs. Originality/value The study bridges together literature on ICT4D use by MSMEs and the role of gender in ICT-mediated entrepreneurial environments. While unraveling the interplay of power dynamics in such environments, the scope for future research in terms of tapping into the content of information exchanges and exploring the implications of “dark side of internet” for women MSME entrepreneurs is also indicated.

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Logistics practices in healthcare organizations in Bogota

Academia Revista Latinoamericana de Administración ◽

10.1108/arla-08-2016-0219 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 519-533 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nubia Velasco ◽

Juan-Pablo Moreno ◽

Claudia Rebolledo

Keyword(s):

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Inventory Management ◽

Case Study Research ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Future Research ◽

Healthcare Organizations ◽

Content Type ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Cross Case Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the current state of logistics practices in healthcare organizations in Bogota, Colombia. Design/methodology/approach The assessment is based on case study research using open interviews, focused interviews, a questionnaire and direct observations as sources of evidence. Seven Colombian health care settings are analyzed: four public hospitals and three private clinics. Cross-case analysis allows the identification of patterns regarding supply management, inventory management, replenishment and use of information and communication technologies. Findings Manual procedures, poor planning, little recognition from top management and a lack of specialized personnel characterize the current situation. Innovative practices with a potential to improve the efficacy of logistics activities are rare, particularly in public hospitals. Research avenues Future research could replicate this study in other Colombian cities, in order to generalize the results to the whole country. It could also be interesting to document successful and less successful implementations of innovative logistics practices in Colombian hospitals to guide and promote their adoption. Research limitations/implications The small number of cases considered, and the fact that the research is concentrated in one city, limits the generalizability of the results. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to explore the state of healthcare logistics practices in Colombia.

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Understanding women’s mobile phone use in rural Kenya: An affordance-based approach

Mobile Media & Communication ◽

10.1177/2050157918776684 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 94-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Susan Wyche ◽

Nightingale Simiyu ◽

Martha E. Othieno

Keyword(s):

Mobile Phone ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Mobile Communication ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Mobile Phone Use ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Rural Kenya ◽

Pertinent Information ◽

Definition Of

Increases in mobile phone ownership and Internet access throughout Africa continue to motivate initiatives to use information and communication technologies (ICTs)—in particular, mobile phones—to address long-standing socioeconomic problems in the “developing world.” While it is generally recognized that mobile phones may help to address these problems by providing pertinent information, less widely known is exactly how (and if) a handset’s human–computer interface—that is, its software and hardware design—supports this form of communication. The concept of “affordances” has long been used to answer such questions. In this paper, we use Hartson’s definition of affordances to qualitatively investigate rural Kenyan women’s interactions with their mobile phones. Our detailed analysis provides empirically grounded answers to questions about the cognitive, physical, and sensory affordances of handsets used in our field sites and how they support and/or constrain mobile communication. We then discuss the implications of our findings: in particular, how this affordance-based approach draws attention to mobile phones’ design features and to the context in which they and their users are embedded—a focus which suggests new design and research opportunities in mobile communication.

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Digital sustainability: how information and communication technologies (ICTs) support sustainable development goals (SDGs) assessment in municipalities

Digital Policy Regulation and Governance ◽

10.1108/dprg-11-2020-0159 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Daielly Melina Nassif Mantovani Ribeiro ◽

Flavio Hourneaux Junior ◽

Cristiana Lara Lara Cunha ◽

Patricia Taeko Taeko Kaetsu ◽

Patricia Fernanda Dionizio-Leite ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Public Management ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Sustainable City ◽

Content Type ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Development Goals

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the effective assessment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to smart and sustainable city initiatives. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a systematic review of the literature within the Web of Science and Scopus databases, comprising the studies about ICTs related to smart and sustainable city initiatives and sustainable assessment. Findings The main results point out that there are several different ways of assessing SDGs performance related to ICTs use in smart and sustainable city initiatives. However, the effectiveness of these assessments can be questioned. The intensive use of technology understood as the core of smart and sustainable cities does not imply an improvement in sustainability unless these technologies are strategically addressed to underpin those objectives. Moreover, not all SDGs have considered the use of ICTs in their targets. Research limitations/implications The scope of the study is limited to “how” the information is used and managed, rather than analysing the sustainable performance itself. As a limitation, the findings and conclusions do not consider other sources of studies, such as grey literature. Practical implications This study suggests some requirements for providing better and more reliable sustainable assessment, making smart and sustainable city initiatives more correlated with the SDGs. Social implications By acknowledging the difficulties associated with SDGs assessment, concerning the municipal level, the study offers valuable insights into the effectiveness of public policies and public management. Besides, the findings shed some light on if and how the use of ICTs can effectively enhance sustainable development issues. Originality/value This study offers valuable contributions to the literature by providing a collection of insights regarding how the ICTs may genuinely lead to a sound assessment of sustainable development, especially regarding the SDGs.

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Interactive Generation Brazil Research

Rethinking the Conceptual Base for New Practical Applications in Information Value and Quality - Advances in Information Quality and Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-4562-2.ch013 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 284-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brasilina Passarelli ◽

Alan César Belo Angeluci

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Digital Literacy ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Digital Natives ◽

Educational Policies ◽

Information And Communication

The contemporary hybridism has led new generations to a connected-based society in which relations among individuals are even more mediated by the arising Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Some aspects of these mediations need to be deeply understood since new and different usages, habits, and practices with media are being observed among those born since the nineties – the digital natives. Aiming to investigate this context, a study was carried out to better understand how children and teenagers interact with four screens: computers, TV, games, and mobile phones. From a quantitative methodological approach, data was collected using a survey applied in Brazilian schools. A theoretical framework on digital literacy concepts was used as base for two-layer of data analysis on these four media, and the results were organized in five topics that show the main outcomes. They can be the basis of further educational policies grounded in real diagnosis.

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The Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Health Service Delivery in Namibia

E-Agriculture and E-Government for Global Policy Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-820-8.ch012 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 191-206

Author(s):

Meke I. Shivute ◽

Blessing M. Maumbe

Keyword(s):

Health Service ◽

Health Services ◽

Service Delivery ◽

Information And Communication Technologies ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Health Service Delivery ◽

Health Service Providers ◽

Information And Communication ◽

Sub Saharan

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have transformed health service delivery (HSD) in developing countries although the benefits are not yet fully understood. This chapter examines the use of ICT for HSD in the Namibian context. To obtain insights into the extent and degree of the current ICT uses, the chapter begins by mapping a HSD landscape for Namibia. The reported ICT use patterns are based on a primary survey of 134 patients and key informant interviews held with 27 health service providers (HSPs) in Khomas and Oshana regions of Namibia. The results from the survey indicate that Namibian patients use diverse range of ICT to access health services including the traditional television and radio, and the more modern mobile phones and computers to a limited extent. HSPs reported the growing use of ICT in various functional areas such as admissions, clinical support, family planning, maternity, and emergency services. The chapter identifies key challenges and policy implications to enhance the uptake of ICT-based health services in Namibia. The relatively high penetration rates of traditional ICT such as televisions and radios coupled with a growing use of mobile phones presents new alternative opportunities for expanding HSD to Namibian patients in remote settings. The chapter will benefit HSP and patients as they decide on affordable technology choices; and policy makers as they design interventions to stimulate the use of ICT in HSD in Namibia. The results provide key insights for other Sub-Saharan African countries contemplating ICT integration in health services.

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