ICT Adoption in SME in an Arab GCC Country Oman

2010 ◽  
pp. 351-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafi Ashrafi ◽  
Muhammad Murtaza
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Professional Advice ◽  
Consulting Services ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
State Of Affairs

It has been widely recognized that Small and Medium size Enterprises(SMEs) not only play an important role in the economy of a country, but are crucial to the country’s economic stability. This article reviews UN and World Economic Forum ICT indicators for assessing the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). Also, it presents the results of an exploratory study carried out to learn about the adoption of ICT in SMEs in Oman. The study investigates infrastructure, software used, driver for ICT investment, perceptions about business benefits of ICT and outsourcing trends of SMEs. The study provides an insight on the barriers for the adoption of ICT. Data on these aspects of ICT was collected from 51 SMEs through a survey questionnaire. The results of the study show that only a small number of SMEs in Oman are aware of the benefits of ICT adoption. The main driving forces for ICT investment are to provide better and faster customer service and to stay ahead of the competition. A majority of surveyed SMEs have reported a positive performance and other benefits by utilizing ICT in their businesses. A number of SMEs outsource most of their ICT activities. Lack of internal capabilities, high cost of ICT and lack of information about suitable ICT solutions and implementation were some of the major barriers in adopting ICT. These findings are consistent with other studies. There is a need for more focus and concerted efforts on increasing awareness among SMEs on the benefits of ICT adoption. The results of the study recognize the need for more training facilities in ICT for SMEs, measures to provide ICT products and services at an affordable cost, availability of free professional advice and/or consulting services at reasonable cost to SMEs. Our findings can help policy makers focusing on ICT adoption by SMEs. Also, the findings of this research will provide a foundation for future research and will help policy makers in understanding the current state of affairs of the usage and impact of ICT on SMEs in Oman and other GCC countries.

ICT Adoption in SME in an Arab GCC Country

2013 ◽  
pp. 792-815
Author(s):  
Rafi Ashrafi ◽  
Muhammad Murtaza
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Professional Advice ◽  
Consulting Services ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
State Of Affairs

It has been widely recognized that Small and Medium size Enterprises(SMEs) not only play an important role in the economy of a country, but are crucial to the country’s economic stability. This article reviews UN and World Economic Forum ICT indicators for assessing the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). Also, it presents the results of an exploratory study carried out to learn about the adoption of ICT in SMEs in Oman. The study investigates infrastructure, software used, driver for ICT investment, perceptions about business benefits of ICT and outsourcing trends of SMEs. The study provides an insight on the barriers for the adoption of ICT. Data on these aspects of ICT was collected from 51 SMEs through a survey questionnaire. The results of the study show that only a small number of SMEs in Oman are aware of the benefits of ICT adoption. The main driving forces for ICT investment are to provide better and faster customer service and to stay ahead of the competition. A majority of surveyed SMEs have reported a positive performance and other benefits by utilizing ICT in their businesses. A number of SMEs outsource most of their ICT activities. Lack of internal capabilities, high cost of ICT and lack of information about suitable ICT solutions and implementation were some of the major barriers in adopting ICT. These findings are consistent with other studies. There is a need for more focus and concerted efforts on increasing awareness among SMEs on the benefits of ICT adoption. The results of the study recognize the need for more training facilities in ICT for SMEs, measures to provide ICT products and services at an affordable cost, availability of free professional advice and/or consulting services at reasonable cost to SMEs. Our findings can help policy makers focusing on ICT adoption by SMEs. Also, the findings of this research will provide a foundation for future research and will help policy makers in understanding the current state of affairs of the usage and impact of ICT on SMEs in Oman and other GCC countries.

Transportation management in distributed enterprises

1999 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 203-212
Author(s):  
Geir Hasle
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Transportation Management ◽  
Conflicting Objectives ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Transportation Logistics ◽  
Distributed Enterprises

The recent trend towards globalisation, with a tendency towards geographical distribution of manufacturing in distributed enterprises, has generally increased the complexity of transportation management. Other driving forces towards higher complexity in transportation logistics are the implementation of Just-In-Time principles, the explosion of Internet trade (including home shopping), a strengthening of environmental concerns, and the implementation of new legislation. Moreover, there is higher emphasis on customer service, timeliness, reactivity, and efficiency in the transportation function. We may safely conclude that there is a need for highly optimised transportation management practices at the strategic, tactical and operational control levels. Today, lack of planning and co-ordination is the cause of excess travel for commercial vehicles, with detrimental effects on economy and the environment. In distributed enterprises, these tasks (if supported at all) typically use isolated IT tools that cannot address the full problem, fail to address important constraints, cannot balance partially conflicting objectives, do not react to dynamics, and, cannot interact with the user in a timely and meaningful way. Recent advances in Information and Communication Technologies have enabled us to remedy these shortcomings. As a point in case, the GreenTrip Esprit project has developed a rapidly re-configurable, generic software tool for optimised transportation management. With GreenTrip as an illustration, this paper will describe state-of-the-art decision-support tools in transportation logistics, their underpinning technologies, and their possible impacts on business.

scholarly journals Revisiting State Subsidy Food Programme Model for India

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2545-2548
Keyword(s):  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Food Problem ◽  
Heavy Burden ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
State Programs

Food Problem in Indian Economy is acute. Food Problem in India is not only concerned with the shortage of food but also has a deficiency of nutrition. The 2015 Global Hunger Index ranked India twentieth amongst leading international locations with a severe hunger state of affairs. With food problem, malnutrition also places a heavy burden on India in terms of deaths, disease and direct impact on productivity. There are several programs in India to address this concern, the first initiative was Amma Unavagam food subsidization program run by the state of Tamil Nadu has won popular support and brought a new dimension in food security. Several states started the program with different dimension viz. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka. There are other states which are planning to adopt this model including Uttar Pradesh. The present research analyzes the success of state programs that can be replicated to throughout India. The study discusses the implications for policy makers for successful implementation of the program. The study also highlights the possible limitations and future research.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting the Adoption and Usage of ICTs within Polish Households

10.28945/3507 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 089-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Ziemba
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Practical Experiences

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) encompassing computer and network hardware and software, and so on, as well as various services and applications associated with them, are assuming a growing presence within the modern homestead and have an indelible impact on the professional and everyday life of people. This research aims to explore factors influencing the successful adoption and usage of ICTs within Polish households. Based on prior literature and practical experiences, a framework of success factors is provided. The required data was collected from a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of Polish households to examine this framework and identifies which factors are of greatest importance for the adoption and usage of ICTs within households in Poland. Based on 751 questionnaires the paper indicates that the adoption of ICTs within households is mainly influenced by the economic status of households and cost of ICTs, perceived economic benefits from the usage of ICTs, technological availability and security of ICTs, ICT competences and awareness, as well as satisfaction with the adoption of ICTs. Furthermore, gender, education, and place of residence do not reflect significant differences on the factors. Yet, there are significant differences among the factors that could be attributed to age. Both, policy makers and ICT providers can benefit from the findings with regard to bridging the gap of ICT adoption and use in the Polish households.

scholarly journals Privacy in Virtual Worlds: A US Perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannie Pridmore ◽  
John Overocker
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Privacy Rights ◽  
Privacy Regulation

Virtual Worlds (VW) are intricate 3-dimensional, vivid environments that are the digital equivalents of the physical world (Glibert, 2011). VWs offer new and engaging methods of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used for conducting many kinds of processes and functions, from education and training, to new product development and customer service. A vast amount of personal information can be recorded, stored, and analyzed in VW. This paper presents a rich account of what today’s VW consist of and the current state of privacy rights in VW in the United States.First the paper explains why VW should be considered separate from other ICT. Then privacy rights in the United States are discussed, and how these rights could, or should, apply to VW. Currently privacy rights of VW users are wholly created and defined by the Terms of Service (TOS) of the VW. The argument is put forth that privacy rights need to be approached in two ways, from the VW users working to improve their rights in the TOS and improved government privacy regulation as called for by the VW community. Privacy laws or the right to privacy is critical at this point in the development of VW. As in the days of the Wild West, the law has been slow to make its way into the realm of VW. In conclusion, critical issues are identified to be addressed in future research projects.

Factors Affecting the Adoption and Usage of ICTs within Polish Households

10.28945/3508 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Ziemba
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Practical Experiences

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) encompassing computer and network hardware and software, and so on, as well as various services and applications associated with them, are assuming a growing presence within the modern homestead and have an indelible impact on the professional and everyday life of people. This research aims to explore factors influencing the successful adoption and usage of ICTs within Polish households. Based on prior literature and practical experiences, a framework of success factors is provided. The required data was collected from a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of Polish households to examine this framework and identifies which factors are of greatest importance for the adoption and usage of ICTs within households in Poland. Based on 751 questionnaires the paper indicates that the adoption of ICTs within households is mainly influenced by the economic status of households and cost of ICTs, perceived economic benefits from the usage of ICTs, technological availability and security of ICTs, ICT competences and awareness, as well as satisfaction with the adoption of ICTs. Furthermore, gender, education, and place of residence do not reflect significant differences on the factors. Yet, there are significant differences among the factors that could be attributed to age. Both, policy makers and ICT providers can benefit from the findings with regard to bridging the gap of ICT adoption and use in the Polish households.

scholarly journals Sustainable Livelihoods of Township Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises towards Growth and Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella Bvuma ◽  
Carl Marnewick
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Micro Enterprises

In South Africa, small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have been recognized as the critical driving force to alleviate some economic challenges that the country faces. The challenges, such as the alleviation of poverty and the unemployment rate, can be addressed by policies that encourage SMME developments and sustainability. The historical background of SMMEs in South Africa has left them operating in various locations, such as cities and townships. There is a growing concern of the lack of information and communications technology (ICT) adoption by SMMEs, in particular those operating in townships. The aim of this study was to develop an ICT adoption framework using the sustainability livelihood framework (SLF) to encourage ICT adoption and improve the livelihood of township SMMEs. This study used the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF) to explore the broader socio-economic contents of the township SMMEs on human, social, financial, and physical and natural resource-based assets that enable the poor to enhance their capabilities and reduce their vulnerabilities. This study deployed a qualitative exploratory research. A sample of 21 SMME owners/managers operating in Soweto was used, and data were collected using in-depth interviews and observations. The study revealed township SMMEs are complex and dynamic and need various interventions in order for them to be sustainable. The SLF for township SMMEs can be used as a guideline for SMME owners/managers and policy makers when formulating ICT adoption policy.

Challenges Posed by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for South African Higher Education Institutions

10.28945/2679 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
ME Herselman ◽  
HR Hay
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Revolutionary Change ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Teaching Learning

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are the major driving forces of globalised and knowledge-based societies of a new world era. They will have a profound impact on teaching and learning for two decades to come. The revolutionary change which is taking place in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), has dramatic effects on the way universities carry out their functions of teaching, learning and research, particularly on the creation, dissemination and application of knowledge. These developments pose unprecedented challenges to higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries particular in South Africa as South Africa is viewed as the leading country on the continent.

Political psychology in the digital (mis)information age: A model of news belief and sharing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Joseph Van Bavel ◽  
Elizabeth Ann Harris ◽  
Philip Pärnamets ◽  
Steve Rathje ◽  
Kimberly Doell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
Information Age ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Fake News ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
The Social

The spread of misinformation, including “fake news,” propaganda, and conspiracy theories, represents a serious threat to society, as it has the potential to alter beliefs, behavior, and policy. Research is beginning to disentangle how and why misinformation is spread and identify processes that contribute to this social problem. We propose an integrative model to understand the social, political, and cognitive psychology risk factors that underlie the spread of misinformation and highlight strategies that might be effective in mitigating this problem. However, the spread of misinformation is a rapidly growing and evolving problem; thus scholars need to identify and test novel solutions, and work with policy makers to evaluate and deploy these solutions. Hence, we provide a roadmap for future research to identify where scholars should invest their energy in order to have the greatest overall impact.

The Politics of Energy Security

2019 ◽  
pp. 247-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Jewell ◽  
Elina Brutschin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Security ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Academic Communities ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Productive Research

Energy security has long been a main driver of energy policies, but its meaning has been contested by policy makers and scholars. The concept incorporates both material and intersubjective aspects, finding different expressions in different contexts and attracting the interest of diverse social actors and academic communities. This chapter identifies, compares, and contrasts five major approaches for analyzing energy security rooted in different scholarly traditions. It argues that in order to facilitate a dialogue among these approaches as well as policy comparison and learning, it is useful to conceptualize energy security as “low vulnerability of vital energy systems.” This definition opens avenues for productive research, unpacking the interplay between material and intersubjective aspects of “vulnerability” and “vitality” of energy systems. Future research should investigate the role of material factors alongside power, values, and trust in defining energy security; explain the gap between energy securitization and action; and explore the interaction between energy security and other energy policy goals.

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