scholarly journals Voices from silicon valley expose the polarization of knowledge in the information age

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 960-978
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Moreno Marques ◽  
Marta Macedo Kerr Pinheiro
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Information Age ◽  
Silicon Valley ◽  
First Century ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Role Of Information

The article is part of a research agenda that adopts the lenses of Political Economy to discuss the following question. What is the role of information and knowledge in the socioeconomic dynamics of the twenty-first century? Firstly, the article confronts two different theoretical perspectives: the cognitive capitalism and the polarization of knowledge approaches. Given the lack of agreement between these interpretations, the article also presents some results of an empirical investigation conducted in Silicon Valley (California), where semi-structured interviews with local workers’ representatives were adopted as an instrument of investigation. The voices of those who live the reality represented by the theories expose some contradictions in the local educational system, where the phenomenon of polarization of knowledge strengthens socioeconomic inequalities.  

The Value of Information Systems to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

2011 ◽  
pp. 1639-1666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Winter ◽  
Connie Marie Gaglio ◽  
Hari K. Rajagopalan
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Purchase Decisions ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Role Of Information ◽  
Customers Perspective

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face more serious challenges to their survival than do larger firms. To succeed, SMEs must establish and maintain credibility in the marketplace to attract the resources required for survival. Most co-opt legitimacy by mimicking the cues that signal credibility to convince potential stakeholders that something stands behind their promises. This research examines the role of information and communications technology (ICT) in legitimacy-building from the perspective of both SME founders and customers. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in a variety of industries to determine whether the ICT-related legitimacy schema from the customers’ perspective differs substantially from that of firm founders. Results indicate that customers compare the ICT information provided in SME’s sales pitches to pre-existing ICT expectations about the nature of desirable sales transactions. We describe the relationship between violations of ICT expectations, legitimacy, and purchase decisions. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

8. The twenty-first century and smart power

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Nye
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Public Diplomacy ◽  
Information Age ◽  
Us Foreign Policy ◽  
First Century ◽  
Global Information ◽  
Smart Power ◽  
Twenty First Century

This chapter examines US foreign policy as ‘smart power’, a combnation of hard and soft power, in the twenty-first century. The beginning of the twenty-first century saw George W. Bush place a strong emphasis on hard power, as exemplifed by the invasion and occupation of Iraq. This was evident after 9/11. While the war in Iraq showcased America’s hard military power that removed a tyrant, it failed to resolve US vulnerability to terrorism; on the contrary, it may have increased it. The chapter first considers the Obama administration’s reference to its foreign policy as ‘smart power’ before discussing Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, the role of power in a global information age, soft power in US foreign policy, and how public diplomacy has been incorporated into US foreign policy.

scholarly journals Empowering front office employees with counseling affordances

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Giesbrecht ◽  
Birgit Schenk ◽  
Gerhard Schwabe
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
German City ◽  
Role Of Information

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the face-to-face citizen service encounter in public administrations’ front offices, and present a novel qualification approach to empower service personnel on-the-job, and thereby deepen the knowledge on the role of information and communication technology for advancing governmental reforms. Design/methodology/approach – The presented study follows a design science research methodology, conducted in collaboration with the public administration of a major German city. Data were collected using multiple quantitative and qualitative methods, including questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and video analysis. Findings – A novel on-the-job qualification approach for empowering public employees in their job-related skills, building on the concept of affordances, is developed. Thereto, six design principles for equipping artifacts with counseling affordances are presented. Evaluations in real-world environments provide first evidence that “learning with counseling affordances” constitutes an effective qualification measure to initiate experiential learning on-the-job, helping employees in the resource-restricted work environment of public front offices to obtain the skills to provide superior advisory services. Research limitations/implications – The “learning with counseling affordances” approach was developed in collaboration with an individual major German city and the paper provides first evidence of its effectiveness and suitability. Hence, the study’s insights should be approved by further research to strengthen generalizability. Originality/value – The paper highlights the previously neglected aspects of employee’s skills and qualification for promoting governmental transformation. By highlighting the beneficial relationship between affordances and on-the-job learning, the paper provides novel insights on the role of information and communication technology to promote governmental transformation.

Screening Subjects: Transnational Dancehall Culture in a Social Media Age

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 272-278
Author(s):  
Celena Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Information Age ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
First Century ◽  
Female Participation ◽  
Economic Experience ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dancehall Culture

Dancehall, a popular dance style originating from downtown Kingston, Jamaica, now circulates across transnational spaces through digital media and postcolonial consumption systems. This presentation will study dancehall in the twenty-first century as an information age space for transcultural production, with a focus on female participation. It will interrogate the authoritative role of the video camera in the scene, and the impact that the use of screens has on the practitioners' cultural, phenomenological, and economic experience. The discussion will analyze the engagement of diversely situated females in relation to questions of mobility, visibility, and power.

scholarly journals The role of information management in project management success: Narratives from entrepreneurs operating within the South African construction industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willie T. Chinyamurindi
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Information Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
The South ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Role Of Information

Background: The South African construction industry is noted to be one of the most popular industries heavily dependent on projects. Calls exist for research that ascertains not just how entrepreneurs act as project managers but also the evaluation of project success and the role information management plays in all this.Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand the views and experiences of entrepreneurs in how: (1) project management success is conceptualised, and (2) the role that information management played to this within a South African construction industry space.Method: The study adopts a qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews to generate narratives and themes around how: (1) project management success is conceptualised, and (2) the role that information management played to this. A sample of 15 entrepreneurs working within the construction industry was used for this study.Results: Based on the analysis of the narratives of the 15 entrepreneurs, project success was conceptualised mainly along three themes. Firstly, project success was about keeping the customer happy. Secondly, project success in the construction industry meant meeting the set targets, especially those of a financial nature. Finally, project success was about channelling internal synergies to realise external gains. Further, the 15 entrepreneurs espoused one main sub-theme around the role of information management to this conceptualisation of project success. This posits the role of information management to be a currency in effective decision-making.Conclusion: The study concluded by focusing on the implications and recommendations based on the identified themes.

Indigenous knowledge in Sudan: Perceptions among Sudanese librarians

IFLA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 034003522110138
Author(s):  
Omer Abbas El Sharief ◽  
Mohamed Salah Eldin Mudawi ◽  
Radia Adam Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Knowledge Strategy ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Role Of Information

Indigenous knowledge has received considerable attention in Sudan, as it is deeply rooted in the sociocultural life. Librarians, as facilitators of learning, have an essential role to play in indigenous knowledge management in the country. The objective of this article is to assess Sudanese librarians’ awareness of indigenous knowledge and to examine their roles in its management and preservation. The research also identifies the major obstacles that face indigenous knowledge management, and the role of information and communication technology in its management. Additionally, the research assesses the major changes needed to develop a successful national indigenous knowledge strategy. Structured questionnaires and four semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The findings show that Sudanese librarians believe libraries have a role to play in indigenous knowledge management. The article proposes some relevant recommendations to enhance the role of librarians in indigenous knowledge management in Sudan.

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