Resilient information infrastructures

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Jochen Scholl ◽  
Beth Joy Patin
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Disaster Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Infrastructures ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Social Organizational ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Disasters of catastrophic scope and scale have occurred more frequently in recent years. Governmental and non-governmental response management has struggled, and affected communities have severely suffered during extreme events. Colossal damage and loss of lives have been inflicted, and the recovery efforts require extended periods of time. In post hoc analyses, actionable information has been found a critical resource requiring resilient information infrastructures (RIIs) that do not break down even under extreme duress. RIIs encompass both tangible and less tangible (for example, social) elements. The purpose of this paper is to pave the way for empirical research on the subject and to conceptually develop a framework for the analysis of information infrastructures and their resiliency, when impacted by catastrophic incidents (also known as extreme events). Design/methodology/approach – The authors review the literatures of disaster research and related fields. They synthesize the literatures from the information perspective and develop a framework of RII. Findings – The synthesis revealed that extreme event-ready RIIs have to be redundant and resourceful both in terms of social, organizational, and knowledge assets as well as in the information and communication technologies. RIIs combine tangible and non-tangible elements, whose interplay is so far incompletely understood. Research limitations/implications – Roles and criticality of RIIs under the impact of an extreme event need to be studied empirically. Practical implications – The study holds the promise to be of great potential utility for responders and recovery managers as well as affected communities in preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts as timely and actionable information is still the scarcest and most sought resource during a catastrophic incident. Originality/value – Disaster research so far has mostly focused on the technical, organizational, social, and socio-psychological effects of disasters. The authors are adding the information perspective as a unique and distinctive contribution to extreme event research, which connects the tangible elements of information infrastructures with its not so tangible elements, captures their interplay, and analyzes their role and criticality for the resiliency of the information infrastructures when under extreme duress.

scholarly journals Changes in the approach to employee development in organisations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Mikołajczyk
Keyword(s):  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Employee Development ◽  
Learning Potential ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nature Of Information ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Hr Managers ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to explore the direction and extent of changes in the approach of organisations to employee development that have occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This research is of a qualitative nature. The thematic exploration uses the analysis of findings from 19 in-depth interviews with experienced HR managers and is preceded by desk research. Findings The findings advance our understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected developmental processes in organisations. The results indicate, apart from the change in the form and methodology of employee trainings due to the pandemic, that employees also desire new subjects to aid their development. One also noticed decreased employee engagement and increased fatigue with the use of multiple, online development initiatives. Practical implications For learning and development (L&D) practitioners, there are implications in relation to tailoring developmental offerings to fit the needs of employees to help them to progress more in the course of their work. In this new reality, an agile approach to employee development can work much better. The activities of the L&D departments should also take into greater account the changing and unpredictable reality as well as the evolving nature of information and communication technologies (ICT). The COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to the analysis and modernisation of existing offerings for development in organisations and foster a culture of lifelong learning. Originality/value This research makes an important contribution to the literature by examining the impact of situational context on modifications in development activities undertaken in organisations. The results indicate the need to change the existing role of L&D teams in organisations, taking into account the maximum use of e-learning potential, while understanding its limitations. It can be assumed that while the pandemic develops, designing hybrid learning will become even more important and L&D professionals will focus on combining the flexibility of self-training and available online resources with highly engaging real-world experiences.

Impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on student’s learning: a case from university of the Punjab, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Toqeer Ahmad ◽  
Arslan Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on student’s learning primarily concentrating on the following factors: including availability, accessibility and user-ability of using ICT resources. This investigation will highlight the role of ICT in the pedagogical activities of students, especially in their learning. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was designed to comprehend the questions related to the objectives and a sample of 275 students through convenience sampling technique was selected that was enrolled in various degree programs of the University of the Punjab, Pakistan. Primarily the descriptive analysis was made and data were presented in tabulated form. However, for inferential analysis, the Pearson correlation test was applied to determine the relationship among the dependent and independent variables including (availability, accessibility user-ability and student’s learning) and to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings The findings disclose that students at the University of the Punjab have access to various kinds of ICT applications and resources. Moreover, they have an adequate number of ICT equipment available for their use and they are familiar with various kinds of ICT applications and resources which they use in various educational tasks during their studies. A strong positive linear correlation exists between availability, accessibility and user-ability of using ICT resources and the student’s educational learning. This confirms that ICT plays a significant role in the student’s educational accomplishments. It helps students in searching, retrieving and consulting various types of information sources. It also helps them in completing their educational tasks in a quick manner. Students at all levels also see it as a matter of great importance to acquire ICT-related skills as this can help them to be more productive in their educational accomplishments. Originality/value This study concludes that availability, accessibility, adequacy and user ability to use the ICT resources positively impact students learning. Therefore, it is highly recommended for students to learn ICT-related skills and to make the best use of the different communication technologies in their pedagogical activities. Moreover, if academic institutions in Pakistan give more emphasis on developing ICT-based infrastructure and ICT skilled manpower then this can also bring fruitful results in the learning process of student’s educational endeavors.

How integration of information and communication technologies impact academic achievement? An empirical study on Sindh education foundation

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amjad Ali Rind ◽  
Muhammad Mujtaba Asad ◽  
Shahmeer Ali Marri ◽  
Fahad Sherwani ◽  
Fazal Ur Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
The Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Science Scores ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of Introduction of Smart Teaching and Learning (INSTAL) project on students' academic achievements in terms of students' science scores. Information and communication technologies (ICT)-based initiative was introduced in Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) schools at District Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. The aim of the study was to identify whether science test scores of students have been improved with the use of INSTAL facility at schools or remained the same at SEF-supported schools.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative research approach has been used in the current study, and within it a quasi-experimental research design was employed. The descriptive (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent sample t-test and paired sample t-test) were computed to find the pre- and post-difference in science scores of students. Both primary and secondary data were used. The primary data were gathered through questionnaire from 48 science teachers. Whereas, secondary data of 382 students who used ICT-based facility under INSATL project for two academic years were taken from quality assessment test (QAT) scores conducted by third party in SEF-assisted schools in District Khairpur.FindingsThe findings of the study revealed that the students' science scores improved by 10% in one year and 23% in two years with the use of ICT-based facilities under INSTAL project. Also, it can be concluded from the results that ICT has a positive as well as statistically significant impact on students' science learning by using INSTAL facility in schools. Results of the study show that students' level of interest toward learning science has been enhanced by the use of ICT.Practical implicationsAs the world is rapidly moving toward digitalization, the modes of teaching and learning have been changing. ICT plays a very significant role in the betterment of education. ICT helps to achieve socio-economic development of a country. However, Pakistan, being a developing country, has not that much resources, and ICT-based learning is not common in Pakistan. Therefore, it is very important to be aware people about the usage of technology in teaching and learning. The present study is an attempt to create such type of awareness. Moreover, the current study may be the first kind of study in the context of Pakistan which used TPACK as theoretical framework, and this study may contribute to the body of knowledge in the context of ICT.Originality/valueImplementing ICT-based software for teaching and learning in rural context of Pakistan was a challenging task, but it has brought positive results in terms of student's achievement. This may be the first study that has been conducted in the context of adopted schools of SEF.

ICT, social media and COVID-19: evidence from informal home-based business community in Kuwait City

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasser Saleh
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and social media for the development of informal home-based business (HBBs) community in Kuwait City. Design/methodology/approach This research is used as a qualitative methodology, which helps the researcher to come to original and direct quotations about the HBBs owners’ thoughts and experiences. In this paper, a multi case-based approach was used, respectively, we have used 14 cases, where 7 operate in the food sector and 7 in the entertainment/game sector. All these informal HBBs are located in Kuwait City. Findings The results of the research showed that the respondents use Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, email and websites to communicate with customers and cooperate with business partners. Banks’ applications, such as “Edfali”, are used for doing the payments related to the business. Home-based owners are usually motivated by passion and love for the business, independence, additional source of income, succeeding in a family business, hobby or not finding an appropriate job in other companies. Research limitations/implications Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had the opportunity to interview only 14 HBBs and only from two sectors, the food and entertainment/game sector. Further research can be done with more cases and more sectors to see how ICTs and social media help these businesses to develop their activity and spread the business in different places. Practical implications This paper provides useful information on the role of ICTs and social media for the informal HBBs, especially during the crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It might help business owners to prepare adequate strategies to cope with difficult situations and create better conditions for their businesses. Originality/value This paper is the first research that treats the informal HBB community in Kuwait City. It could serve as a good base for further studies related to the impact of ICTs and social media on the business performance.

How will ICTs affect our environment in 2020?

foresight ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Rodríguez Casal ◽  
Christine Van Wunnik ◽  
Luis Delgado Sancho ◽  
Jean Claude Burgelman ◽  
Paul Desruelle
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rebound Effects ◽  
Innovative Methodology ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper aims to present the results of a research project that the Institute for Prospective Technology Studies commissioned to research the possible effects of information and communication technologies (ICT) on a set of environmental indicators in 2020.Design/methodology/approachThe project adopted an innovative methodology combining qualitative scenario‐building and quantitative modelling.FindingsThe general conclusion was that the impact of ICT is roughly between −20 and +30 percent. Therefore there are significant opportunities for improving environmental sustainability through ICTs, which can rationalise energy management in housing (or facilities), make passenger and freight transport more efficient, and enable a product‐to‐service shift across the economy.Originality/valueThe impact of ICT should accordingly be taken into account by environmental policies in order to ensure that ICT applications make a positive contribution to environmental outcomes, and, at the same time, to suppress rebound effects.

scholarly journals An exploratory study on the impact of mobile ICT on productivity in construction projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abid Hasan ◽  
Abbas Elmualim ◽  
Raufdeen Rameezdeen ◽  
Bassam Baroudi ◽  
Andrew Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Major Bottleneck ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mobile Ict

Purpose The issue of low productivity has remained a very stern and chronic problem in construction projects. Previous studies have found poor communication as one of the leading causes of low-construction productivity. Recent advances in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) have the potential to enhance communication and access to information in construction projects. However, the implications of the use of mobile ICT on construction productivity have not been investigated in sufficient depth, especially from the perspectives of its users, i.e. construction management (CM) professionals. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A focus group session involving ten experienced CM professionals from different organisations of the South Australian construction industry was moderated by a group of four researchers to gather data on mobile ICT usage and its implications for construction productivity. Findings Lack of training and guidelines on effective applications of these technologies to construction projects is a major bottleneck. Results indicate that despite noticeable advances in mobile ICT, differences in usage style and user attitude have limited their overall impact on productivity. Research limitations/implications This paper is based on data gathered from CM professionals working in the South Australian construction industry. Practical implications The study highlights the importance of strategising the use of mobile ICT to achieve the desired productivity rates through policy, training, work-life balance, and deeper and wider understanding of these technologies. Originality/value The study examines the perceptions of CM professionals on the usefulness of mobile ICT in construction projects and its implications for construction productivity.

The application of organizational cybernetics and ICT to collective discussion of complex issues

Kybernetes ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 44 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 1146-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Pérez Ríos ◽  
Iván Velasco Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Deliberation Process ◽  
Degree Of Satisfaction ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Organizational Cybernetics ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to expose how organizational cybernetics (OC)-related concepts could be used in combination with information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate group discussions on complex issues, and to show its impact in a real case. Design/methodology/approach – A software inspired by OC and team syntegrity concepts has been developed with the aim of helping groups of people to deliberate around complex issues through the internet. Two groups of persons with similar backgrounds were chosen to pursue a deliberation process around the same issue. One had the support of ICT while the other did not. The authors used the same questionnaires with both groups, aimed at getting qualitative and quantitative information about the results obtained in each case. Findings – The results obtained show that the group working with ICT support did produce a better output (quality and quantity) than the group not supported with ICT as well as a higher degree of satisfaction in practically all indicators than the second group. Research limitations/implications – The authors are dealing with only one experiment and therefore cannot make a generalization. It would be desirable to repeat the experiment with various groups and in different contexts. Originality/value – An internet-based software inspired by OC concepts was created to facilitate the first phases (generation and aggregation of ideas) of a deliberation process and the authors measured, in an experiment with two groups of people with similar backgrounds, the impact of using it on the quality and quantity of information produced through the process.

A benchmarking framework for eTourism capability of destinations’ industries

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Reino ◽  
Andrew J. Frew ◽  
Nicole Mitsche
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Size Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a framework for benchmarking the eTourism capability of a destination’s tourism industry, understanding the eTourism capability of a destination’s industry as the contribution that the information and communication technologies (ICT) uptake of that industry makes to its own performance. The impact of ICT in tourism has been suggested through extensive research. Previous work has urged the development of wide-angle studies to enable benchmarking of destinations and their industries. However, relevant research is limited. Macro-level studies in the area tend to focus on a single aspect of technology to evaluate adoption, are not sector-specific nor take into consideration the different levels of contribution that systems may bring to performance. Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature on tourism, eTourism, benchmarking and technology adoption provided the baseline for developing this benchmarking tool. Findings – The literature supported the selection of key tourism industry sectors, i.e. accommodation establishments, visitor attractions and food and beverage; the most suitable methodology, i.e. intermediary performance measures; and the business characteristics that need being taken into consideration when assessing ICT adoption by tourism businesses, e.g. size, type of establishment and area of location. Research limitations/implications – The framework has not been tested yet. It is based on a review of the literature and needs to be validated through primary research. The framework was developed based on the context of Scotland. Further work should be done to adjust the framework to other destinations worldwide. Practical implications – The framework enables destinations to benchmark the eTourism capability of their industries. Originality/value – It provides a comprehensive framework for benchmarking tourism destinations’ industries, which takes into consideration elements of technology adoption, the characteristics of the tourism industry and the particularities of the different ICT elements.

Influence of information and communication technologies on customer satisfaction and increase in the number of customers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio César Acosta-Prado ◽  
Arnold Alejandro Tafur-Mendoza
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Medium Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Number Of Customers

Purpose Information and communication technologies (ICT) play an important role in business management today. However, there is little information on how the uses of ICT within firms create positive results regarding service. The purpose of the study is to know the degree of influence of ICT on customer satisfaction and increase in the number of customers. Design/methodology/approach The sample consisted of 102 Colombian new technology-based firms (NTBFs) located in business incubators and technology parks, selected through a non-probabilistic, purposeful sampling. To perform the statistical analysis, structural equation modeling was used. Findings The results indicated a good fit of the proposed model, where ICT have a positive and significant influence with a medium effect on customer satisfaction and a large effect on increase in the number of customers. The findings showed that the implementation of ICT in the different internal processes of NTBFs favors external processes, to improve and innovate the quality of their service, reflecting in a positive perception of customers. Originality/value Influence of ICT on the performance of firms has not been widely studied in non-economic results. The internal processes of the firms are the use of internet technologies, collaboration, management, decision-making support, search and data management. Meanwhile, external processes involve services directly visible to customers. Previous research does not consider the impact of ICT on internal processes that have repercussions on external processes.

The contribution of ICT adoption to sustainability: households’ perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 731-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Ziemba
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Society ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Information Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Sustainability ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to advance the information society research by examining and better understanding the impact of the adoption information and communication technologies (ICT) within households on improving sustainability. Design/methodology/approach The survey questionnaire was used and data collected from 679 Polish households were statistically analyzed to understand the phenomena of ICT adoption and sustainability as well as identify correlations between them. Findings The research findings reveal that the ICT adoption is well described by the ICT outlay, information culture, ICT management and ICT quality, whereas sustainability is composed of ecological, economic, socio-cultural and political sustainability. Furthermore, the ICT quality, ICT management and information culture have a significant impact on sustainability, whereas the ICT outlay does not have such an impact. Research limitations/implications The research sample included Polish households only. Researchers may use the proposed approach and methodology to do similar analyses with different sample groups in other countries. Practical implications Households may find the results appealing and useful in enhancing the adoption of ICT, experiencing the full potential of ICT and deriving various benefits from the ICT adoption. The findings can help governments develop sound ICT adoption plans for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Originality/value The paper provides and verifies a new theoretical model of sustainable information society to depict various dimensions shaping the ICT adoption and their impact on different types of sustainability in the context of households.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document