scholarly journals Information and communications technology adoption amongst township micro and small business: The case of Soweto

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Marnewick
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
South African Township ◽  
And Training ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Background: No empirical evidence is available on whether or not information and communications technology (ICT) is adopted by South African township micro and small businesses (MSBs) in order to grow the business. ICT, as an enabler, can grow the business. It is evident from literature that ICT enables MSBs to be more productive and efficient.Objectives: This research determines to what extent ICT is adopted by MSBs in Soweto, and whether or not a positive correlation exists between the adoption rate of ICT and the financial and growth performance of the MSB itself.Method: A structured questionnaire was completed by 978 respondents to determine the extent of ICT adoption and for what ICT is used. This exploratory research provides new knowledge about the acceptance of ICT within township MSBs.Results: The results indicate that ICT is not used to the fullest by MSBs. Rather, it is used as a basic tool for doing business but it does not form an integral part of the business. This research provides insight into the usage and adoption of ICT and it opens the door for further cross-analysis research.Conclusion: Education and training are needed to ensure that MSBs use ICT to the fullest. MSBs embracing ICT can evolve from a survivalist SME to a more sustainable micro and small MSB.

scholarly journals ICT Adoption by Library Professionals in India: Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Technology Literacy ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Training Environment ◽  
Managerial Support ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
The Subject ◽  
And Training

In this research, the use of ICTs in India by librarians, particularly in the use of mobile phones, was the focus of this study. To gather the required data for the research, surveys were performed and this approach was implemented. The questionnaire was presented to eight librarians from eight teacher college libraries in the subject of study who responded to it, and the results were used to inform the research. According to the conclusions of the study’s materials, ICT use by professional librarians in India is still a relatively recent phenomena, and as a result, it is still in its early phases. The study showed that while libraries utilise information and communications technology (ICT) to deliver some services, these services are insufficient in part as a result of challenges such as a lack of money, a scarcity of trained personnel, and a lack of managerial support. According to the findings of this study, college librarians should get training in information and communications technology literacy since ICT is a dynamic, continuously practising, and training environment that they should take advantage of, as demonstrated by the results of the study. It was proposed that students have access to contemporary ICT instruments, such PCs, printers and scanners, to help them with their home maintenance tasks in order to enhance the administration of educational institutions. The recommendation was also made that libraries should get sufficient help in this respect. The research also advised that college bibliographers participate in attachment programmes with the help of students at the major university libraries to understand the finest practises of modern librarians.

scholarly journals A critical analysis of information and communications technology adoption: The strategy-as-practice perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neelambal M. Govender ◽  
Marius Pretorius
Keyword(s):  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Adoption Factors ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
Modern Business ◽  
Strategy As Practice

Purpose: The ubiquitous pace of innovation is spawning a multitude of information and communications technology (ICT) products that are both redefining the manner in which organisations operate and have the potential to engender organisations with strategic advantage through the adoption of these products. However, the challenges that this presents to organisations include developing agile strategies that cater for market instabilities, determining what technology to adopt and ensuring that the appropriate technology is adopted. Thus, the purpose of this article is to perform a critical analysis of ICT adoption in an attempt to determine the influence that the pace of technology has on organisations in their endeavour to stay abreast of their market environment and to develop a comprehensive ICT adoption framework.Design/methodology/approach: This is exploratory research that concentrates on ICT adoption studied through the strategy-as-practice lens. Through critical analysis, the scientific literature was analysed to determine ICT adoption factors and to gain a better understanding of ICT adoption in the modern context. The principles of grounded theory were applied where repetitive reading of selected articles made it possible to identify factors that are associated with ICT adoption.Findings: The study identified three key factors of ICT adoption, namely ‘external’, ‘innovation’ and ‘organisational’. A number of ICT adoption characteristics were identified which were categorised against the three factors. In addition, the study identified critical management challenges associated with ICT innovation and the adoption thereof in the modern business context.Research limitations/implications: The proposed ICT adoption framework is based on scientific literature only and no popular writings, blogs or forums were included.Practical implications: Strategists need to understand that developing agile strategies involves more than discipline; it embraces an in-depth understanding of ICT adoption factors, insight into the daily operations of managers and an awareness of innovations in ICT.Originality/value: The article aims to enable organisations to better understand the effects of ICT innovation and the influence this has on management roles. Additionally, it presents a comprehensive ICT adoption framework that can aid strategists in understanding the factors that influence ICT adoption.

scholarly journals Predicting Schoolteachers' Intention and Behaviour of Promoting Cyber-Safety Awareness

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Kagisho Mabitle ◽  
◽  
Elmarie Kritzinger
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Subjective Norms ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Internet Usage ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Safety Awareness ◽  
Security Practices ◽  
Cyber Safety

School learners are attractive candidates for cyber-safety attacks. Advances in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) devices, and the surge in Internet usage, poses significant risks to users with poor cyber-safety awareness and security practices. An example of such users are school learners. Therefore, school learners should be made aware of cyber-safety or safe Internet usage, through awareness programmes as early as possible. Applying the classical Theory of Planned Behaviour in a survey of 109 schoolteachers across 18 schools in 2 districts, the results of a multiple regression analysis unveil that: 1) attitude does not predict the schoolteachers’ intention to raise cyber-safety awareness at their schools in the next 12 months, nor does it predict the schoolteachers’ behaviour of raising cyber-safety awareness in their teaching; and 2) subjective norms and perceived behavioural control predict the schoolteachers’ intention and behaviour. In light of this, the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) is encouraged to identify influential schoolteachers (i.e. phase heads, sports and cultural coordinators, principals and their deputies, etc.), and to groom them into cyber-safety awareness advocates, for the purposes of influencing other teachers or their peers. Also, the DBE should provide teachers with the requisite resources, opportunities, and support which facilitates cyber-safety awareness in schools, to empower teachers to adopt this highly desired behaviour.

scholarly journals AI@NICTA

AI Magazine ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Nick Barnes ◽  
Peter Baumgartner ◽  
Tiberio Caetano ◽  
Hugh Durrant-Whyte ◽  
Gerwin Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Centre Of Excellence ◽  
And Training

NICTA is Australia's Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Centre of Excellence. It is the largest organization in Australia dedicated to ICT research. While it has close links with local universities, it is in fact an independent but not-for-profit company in the business of doing research, commercializing that research and training PhD students to do that research. Much of the work taking place at NICTA involves various topics in artificial intelligence. In this article, we survey some of the AI work being undertaken at NICTA.

scholarly journals The Challenge of Information and Communications Technology in Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 01009
Author(s):  
Peter Ilic
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Ict Adoption ◽  
History Of ◽  
Supported Education

The dramatic impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on society suggests the potential for an analogous effect on education. The prospects for some benefit from the affordances offered by ICT are appealing but not entirely understood by many educators. The challenges of design, implementation, assessment, and analysis of ICT supported education are considerable. These challenges include how ICT can support traditional learning approaches, add new educational opportunities, and reduce resistance to introducing disruptive technologies such as smartphones. The affordances of ICT in education open many possibilities to integrate with and support existing curriculums. However, many educational institutions have not fully embraced these opportunities. This paper will explore some barriers to ICT adoption in the educational context. The first section is a brief introduction followed by a section on the history of educational theory to illustrate the considerable body of knowledge available on this topic. The third section introduces a type of case study of the challenges faced by a nation in providing the infrastructure needed to implement many of these technologies. Section four gives a summary of many, but not all, barriers to technology adoption faced by educational administrators, instructional designers, educators, and learners. And the final section is a brief conclusion.

scholarly journals Prospects of developing countries in digital economy case study of Montenegro // Шансе земаља у развоју у условима дигиталне економије – примјер Црне Горе

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vujica Lazović
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Global Level ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Simple Question ◽  
Classical Economic ◽  
Traditional Economy

Summary: Information technology has influenced business activities change to such extent that today we speak about new kind of economy, so called digital economy. Digital economy enforces new standards for doing business both on micro and macro, i.e. on global level. In this context, answering seemingly simple question regarding prospects of developing countries competitiveness in digital economy in comparison to traditional economy appears to be exceptionally interesting and even controversial in relation to classical economic theory. Cheap technology and rapid internet expansion offer new opportunity for developing countries to enter easily in global digital trends. In this regard, deliberate policy is required to foster development of infrastructure, education and entrepreneurship along with increasing use of information and communications technology. Through example of national internet domain .ME internationalization, thereinafter is illustration how in Montenegro we recognized and utilized that opportunity.Резиме: Информациона технологија је утицала на промјену пословања до тог нивоа да се данас говори о новој врсти економије тзв. дигиталној економији. Дигитална економија намеће нове стандарде пословања како на микро тако и на макро, то јест на глобалном нивоу. У том контексту, одговор на наизглед једноставно питање које се односи на шансе земаља у развоју у погледу њихове конкурентности у условима дигиталне економије у односу на њихову конкурентност у условима традиционалне економије, може бити изузетно интересантним па и контраверзним у односу на класичну економску теорију. Јефтина технологија и брзо ширење интернета дају нову шансу земљама у развоју да се веома лако укључе у глобалне дигиталне токове. У том погледу, неопходна је промишљена политика која ће поред све веће употребе информационо-комуникационих технологија форсирати и развој инфраструктуре, образовања и предузетништва. На примјеру интернационализације националног интернет домена .МЕ слиједи приказ како је у Црној Гори та шанса препозната и искориштена.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF THE CHALLENGES FACING USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY IN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AMONGST BREWERIES IN NIGERIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Olusegun Timothy Odesola ◽  
Grace Akinola
Keyword(s):  
Inventory Management ◽  
Policy Option ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Strategic Policy ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Information and communications technology (ICT) in recent times has become a viable strategic policy option adopted by many businesses in order to compete favourably in a competitive and dynamic ICT driven market. This strategic move by business organizations is being hindered by some challenges which has invariably reduced the benefits accruable from ICT deployment for business operations especially in the inventory management. Primary data formed the methodology of the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data obtained through the administration of structured questionnaire. It was established during the field survey that challenges facing the use of ICT had impacted negatively on the performance of inventory management in the Nigerian brewery industry during the period under study. It was also revealed that the cost of software was a major challenge in the industry and conclude that the identified challenges had significant effect on customers' satisfaction of the firms in the Nigerian brewery industry. It is recommended that management of firms in the Nigerian brewery industry should collaborate with software developers in Nigerian to develop a software that will be a replica of ERP but should be efficient, effective and affordable for inventory management and other operations in the industry.

Vocationalizing Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 14-28
Author(s):  
Sammy Khoza
Keyword(s):  
Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Instructional Practices ◽  
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Vocational Education And Training ◽  
Communications Technology ◽  
Teaching Resources ◽  
Pedagogical Content ◽  
And Training

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges continue to struggle to fulfill their mandate of skills development among the youth. This is so because TVET colleges still lag behind in integrating information and communications technology (ICT) in their classrooms, which has made inroads in industries. Qualitative approach was used to investigate the TVET college lecturers' instructional practices in their classrooms. Four TVET colleges as well as eight lecturers were purposefully and conveniently selected for the study. The technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) framework was used as an underpinning framework. Findings reveal that lecturers are not keen in integrating ICTs in their teaching and some are not encouraged to do so. It was also found that not all lecturers are adequately qualified to teach in the vocational field. The study recommends that teaching resources be sought in order for colleges to align their practices with industrial practices. Lecturers too should be capacitated in integrating technology in their lessons.

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