Does IT Help or Not?

Author(s):  
Antonio Díaz Andrade

The number of initiatives aiming at improving people’s living conditions through the provision of information and communication technology (ICT) has been increasing around the globe during the last decade. However, the mere provision of ICT tools is not enough to achieve such goals as this chapter illustrates through the examination of the existent conditions in Huanico, a remote village in the northern Peruvian Andes. Using an interpretive case study design, the author analyzes and explains why under circumstances of severe scarcity and geographical isolation computers can do little in helping local people. The findings challenge the sometimes over-optimistic stances on ICT benefits adopted by international development agencies and governments. Conversely, it confirms the need to provide basic infrastructure and stresses the importance of establishing priorities correctly before launching any ICT for development initiative.

Author(s):  
Burak Pak

This paper aims at discussing the potentials of bottom-up design practices in relation to the latest developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by making an in-depth review of inaugural cases. The first part of the study involves a literature study and the elaboration of basic strategies from the case study. The second part reframes the existing ICT tools and strategies and elaborates on their potentials to support the modes of participation performed in these cases. As a result, by distilling the created knowledge, the study reveals the potentials of novel modes of ICT-enabled design participation which exploit a set of collective action tools to support sustainable ways of self-organization and bottom-up design. The final part explains the relevance of these with solid examples and presents a hypothetical case for future implementation. The paper concludes with a brief reflection on the implications of the findings for the future of architectural design education.


2016 ◽  
pp. 60-73
Author(s):  
Asif Ali Shah Et al.,

This research aims to investigate the initiatives of Federal and Provincial Governments concerning the implementation of Information and Communication technology (ICT) projects in Secondary Education. The main objective of this study is to investigate the actual implementation of ICT projects at secondary school level in Sindh province by selecting district Ghotki as a case study. While conducting research, it was observed that out of forty secondary schools in district Ghotki, only thirteen schools were selected for introduction of ICT by the Education Department. Initially, this research focused on identification of the current status of resources allocation pertinent to ICTs at each secondary school, later on, an attempt was made to identify the parameters responsible for successful and unsuccessful implementation of ICT projects in district Ghotki. The research findings determine that although, students enthusiasm and basic infrastructure are present, however, unavailability of electricity and absence of maintenance expenditure for ICT laboratories, appeared as key factors concerning the unsuccessful implementation of ICT projects in a secondary school of distinct Ghotki. This suggests that these two barriers have a strong impact on lowering students' interests in opting for computer science as a major subject for class IX and onwards. Finally, this study concludes with some recommendations to overcome these problems for successful implantation of ICT at secondary school system of Sindh province.


Author(s):  
Frank Makoza ◽  
Wallace Chigona

Presented is a historical analysis of the link between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and human development outcomes in a developing country. Human Development Index was used as a theoretical lens to assess the consequences of peoples’ choices to lead a healthier, longer and more creative life. The study used Malawi as the case study. Secondary data sourced from international development agencies’ databases, and policy documents from government departments, were used in this study. The results are explained in further detail deeper into the article.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjar Priyono

Abstract This study aims to investigate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to support knowledge exchange in project-based organisations. The primary ICT tool investigated in this research is WhatsApp, a messaging application that has been widely used since its introduction. An ethnographic case study method was utilised to analyse qualitative data collected from interviews and focus group discussions. Three projects in an Indonesian university with a duration ranging from 8 months to 2 years were examined as object of investigations. Broadly, the findings show that ICT tools are generally useful in supporting knowledge exchange, which ultimately positively affects project performance. The project teams relied on WhatsApp for the success of the projects. Although face-to-face meetings were rare, team communication was highly intensive, supported by WhatsApp. In addition, managers are encouraged to promote knowledge exchange between team members. Through knowledge exchange, there will be knowledge development, which facilitates the invention of new techniques and methods for promoting project success. The most prominent findings are presented using direct quotations to provide first hand insight from the field. At the end of the paper, recommendations regarding what project managers should do during and after the project has been completed are presented. The recommendations are classified based on the knowledge management life cycle, representing a structured method to manage knowledge in project-based organisations.


Author(s):  
Michal Cupial ◽  
Anna Szeląg-Sikora ◽  
Maciej Kuboń

The modern education process requires introduction of modern information and communication technologies (ICT) in order to make classes more attractive, to properly implement curricular content and, as a consequence, to provide students with education compliant with applicable standards. Some didactic classes are more predisposed to the use of ICT, and others to a lesser extent. The Faculty of Production and Power Engineering of the University of Agriculture in Krakow has been using modern IT solutions to support the teaching process for many years. The mentioned ICT tools include the e-learning platform Moodle, office packages (Microsoft Office, Open Office), groupware tools, Internet platform Google Apps, Microsoft IT Academy and many specialized software. This study presents a case study of the use of ICT tools during selected subjects at the faculty.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Lannon ◽  
John N. Walsh

Purpose This paper aims to look at how organisational partnerships balance knowledge exploration and exploitation in contexts that are rife with paradoxes. It draws on paradox theory to examine the partnership’s response to the explore-exploit relationship. Design/methodology/approach A multiple interpretive case study was used to examine international partnerships in three African countries. These partnerships were between international (Northern-based) non-governmental organisations and local African non-governmental organisations. Findings The research finds that within the partnership, knowledge exploration and exploitation exist as a duality rather than a dualism. This is supported by the acceptance and confrontation of paradoxes of performing and belonging. However, macro-level paradoxes of organising linked to power, culture and epistemologies inhibit further effective confrontation of the explore-exploit paradox. Practical implications The findings can help managers working in international development organisations to understand how learning is enabled and constrained in partnership-based programmes. Originality/value The study provides a novel contribution to knowledge management by applying the paradox perspective to the explore-exploit relationship. This paper extends previous work by drawing on the levels and repertoires present in the paradox perspective to understand how knowledge exploration and exploitation can be mutually reinforcing and can exist as a duality.


Author(s):  
Diana Mason

Topics typical of general chemistry I content that need to be mastered have not changed in over 15 years, but the tools available to assist students in learning general chemistry have. Striving to enhance motivation and give students the practice needed for learning first-semester general chemistry were the reasons behind this case study on the advantages and drawbacks to using electronic homework (e-homework). The effectiveness of online homework is important and needs to be evaluated. The questions that therefore arise are: Are commercially available Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools going to motivate and encourage students to complete the assignments required, and if so, will their use improve the students’ success rate in general chemistry? This case study (n = 1,947) covered a 14-semester span and the use of seven different commercial systems. Of the 1,090 students who voted, 70.7% felt as though the e-homework had been valuable enough to them that it should be continued. Contributions from this study highlight how well do students perform in the class and how well they perform when they advanced to the next general chemistry class. The impacts of e-homework on prevention of knowledge decay and content retention are provided. One of the advantages to using e-homework is that students who master their e-assignments (≥ 90% correct) do better than those who do not. Noted that within these classes is that students who mastered the assignments exhibit less knowledge decay than their peers leading to the conclusion that e-homework is a valuable asset to learning chemistry. The results also indicate that students’ content retention of those who experience e-homework is improved over students who did not use the e-homework available by an average of 15% as scored on an ACS standardized exam given to students the following semester.


Author(s):  
Anjar Priyono

This study aims to investigate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to support knowledge exchange in project-based organisations. The primary ICT tool investigated in this research is WhatsApp, a messaging application that has been widely used since its introduction. An ethnographic case study method was utilised to analyse qualitative data collected from interviews and focus group discussions. Three projects in an Indonesian university with a duration ranging from 8 months to 2 years were examined as object of investigations. Broadly, the findings show that ICT tools are generally useful in supporting knowledge exchange, which ultimately positively affects project performance. The project teams relied on WhatsApp for the success of the projects. Although face-to-face meetings were rare, team communication was highly intensive, supported by WhatsApp. In addition, managers are encouraged to promote knowledge exchange between team members. Through knowledge exchange, there will be knowledge development, which facilitates the invention of new techniques and methods for promoting project success. The most prominent findings are presented using direct quotations to provide first hand insight from the field. At the end of the paper, recommendations regarding what project managers should do during and after the project has been completed are presented. The recommendations are classified based on the knowledge management life cycle, representing a structured method to manage knowledge in project-based organisations.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document