A Quasi-Experiment on Computer Multimedia Integration into AIDS Education

Keywords: Health Issues, High Schools, HIV/AIDS Education, India, Integrating Computers and Multimedia

From Rural Outsourcing to Rural Opportunities

Inspired by the potential of Information and Communication Technologies, henceforth ICTs, for socio-economic development, and supported by a university based technology and business incubator, Rural Production Company, henceforth RPC, was set up in 2007 employing an ICT-mediated distributed production model. This paper reveals how RPC, initially an exploratory project whose key innovation was its Internet kiosk-facilitated model of crafts production and local empowerment, morphed into a social enterprise catering to global demands. The context of innovation provided by the Incubator led to a transformation of an ICT4D (ICT for Development) project into a business venture through the practice of formal and informal questioning at every stage of its implementation. This paper focuses on the iterative method adopted while highlighting the role of the incubator in the overall design and development process of the enterprise. This paper is a reflexive mapping of the organization’s evolution from the original research agenda of outsourcing production cum rural employment, to one that privileges local networks both as a conscious business strategy and as an arena for collaborative change for human development.

Electronic Networks and Gaining Market Share

This study provides a deep understanding of the current status of electronic networks in the Jordanian handicrafts sector from managers’ perspectives. More specifically, this study enhances utilisation of the e-environment to gain market share in local, regional, and international markets. Four cases of handicraft projects are selected to conduct face to face interviews. The results show that handicraft projects have initial attempts to use E-electronic in their activities, but these attempts are still in embryonic stages, and they do not use E-networks effectively to gain market share. However, project managers believe that there is a direct link between the use of electronic networks and increases in the business’s market share. Furthermore, it is intended that these initiatives be treated as innovative and at the end utilised to enhance the business development of similar enterprises belonging to the small and medium enterprises sector. The study recommends that such projects consider adoption of e-networks in their future plans, enhance their staff skills in terms of improving their IT and English language skills, and develop their own internet website to create new marketing channels.

Factors Affecting E-Commerce Adoption by Small Businesses in a Developing Country

Internet use has grown and spread rapidly around the world during the last decade. Today, computers and the Internet have become an integral part of modern societies. The Internet has created a new medium for communication and commerce for businesses. It is hard to imagine a business working without using a computer. These technological advances have also largely affected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While large companies have been quick to adopt the information and communication technologies (ICTs), SMEs have been slow to adopt these technologies in general for various reasons, especially in developing countries. This study explores the factors affecting the adoption of e-commerce by small businesses in a developing country. To attain this purpose a case study was conducted in a small hotel, which is using its website to keep up with customer expectations and competition in a small Turkish city. Conclusions and suggestions derived from this study provide a meaningful contribution to the understanding of e-commerce adoption among small businesses in developing countries.

Contribution of Information and Communication Technologies to Malaria Control in Tanzania

The term Information Communication Technology (ICT) includes any communication device or application. In malaria control, ICTs can ease communication, improve doctors’ training, and increase access to information by individuals and groups that are historically unaware of malaria. Successful malaria vector control depends on understanding causes, prevention, and treatment. This paper examines the possibilities of using ICTs to eradicate malaria in Tanzania. It also explores the coverage of the malaria subject related to Tanzania on various electronic databases and e-journals. This paper concludes that Tanzania’s Ministry of Health must put forth more effort on ICT management and be more active in their approach of disseminating malaria information.

Success Factors in Public Access Computing for Development

An exploratory, qualitative study in 25 countries around the world identifies success factors for centers that offer public access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The study considered public libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés, and grouped the findings into four types of success factors: (1) understand and take care of local needs first, (2) train info mediaries and users, (3) build alliances with other venues and collaborate with other community services, and (4) strengthen sustainability. Results corroborate the findings of previous studies of libraries and of telecenters which identify success factors that include the four themes presented. However, this is the first systematic comparison across multiple countries to identify success factors in different types of public access venues. The findings highlight critical variables to be considered in policy decisions, funding allocations, and program implementation to reach underserved populations in developing countries with equitable access and meaningful use of ICT. They also provide valuable direction for future research to better understand the interactions between libraries, telecenters, and cybercafés as venues that can contribute to community development through public access to ICT.

Impact of Technology-Related Environment Issues on Trust in B2B E-Commerce

The virtual environment of B2B e-commerce interactions has been considered to be a barrier in building trust of trading partners. There is adequate empirical evidence that supports the relationship between various trust related technology issues such as security, privacy, authentication, etc. However, there is dearth of evidence confirming the causal relationship between environment related trust issues such as social-cultural characteristics, technology standards, and regulatory framework. Based on a survey of 106 Indian companies using inter-organizational systems, this paper makes an attempt to identify specific attributes of these three environment-related issues that have the potential to influence trust in B2B e-commerce.

Technology Related Trust Issues in SME B2B E-Commerce

There is increasing evidence that e-commerce adoption among SMEs is expanding rapidly. In spite of that, SMEs, particularly in developing countries, have not been able to adequately benefit from the new opportunities offered by e-commerce technologies. Previous studies have identified lack of trust as one of the major hurdles in achieving the potential benefits by the SMEs. This paper identifies technology-related trust issues that need to be addressed while building e-commerce infrastructure for SMEs. The evidence offered in the paper is based on a survey of the relevant practices regarding deployment and effective implementation of relevant technology tools to address these issues and enhance the levels of trust in e-commerce infrastructure. The paper also examines the relationship between the perceived level of trust and the level of assurance in respect of various technology-related trust issues. The paper suggests an approach of collaboration among the SMEs while building the e-commerce infrastructure and focusing their attention on the technology-related trust issues.

An Application of the UTAUT Model for Understanding Acceptance and Use of ICT by Nigerian University Academicians

This study examines the acceptance and use of ICT by Nigerian university academicians. The model validated is the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Using a pilot study, one hundred questionnaires were administered and collected at the University of Jos Plateau State, Nigeria. The construct was significantly correlated with behavioral intention (BI). This implies that the university ICT system makes tasks easier to accomplish, thereby making academicians more productive. The survey shows that 86.5% agree. Effort expectancy (EE) was significantly correlated with BI. The result shows that 84.3% agreed that they could use ICT. Among the four UTAUT constructs, performance expectancy exerted the strongest effect. The UTAUT model shows age effects for older workers and a stronger willingness for the younger workers to adopt new IT products. According to this study age and gender do not have significant effect on acceptance and use of ICT. Performance expectancy (PE) and Effort expectancy (EE) are found to be the most significant predictors of academic staffs’ acceptance of ICT and use.

Web-Based Intellectual Property Marketplace

In the past year, knowledge and innovation management have acquired increasing relevance in organizations. In the last decade, open innovation strategy, and in particular, crowdsourcing innovation model has also gained increasing importance. This model is seen as a new innovation model, capable of accelerating the innovation process. Therefore, it is important to understand how organizations can best take advantage of this innovation model. This paper approaches in two ways for commercializing intellectual property: crowdsourcing innovation, and intellectual property marketplaces. Thus, with the intention of understanding the concepts and practices, the study started by collecting scientific articles through bibliographic data bases. The paper provides knowledge about concepts and practices underlying the ways for commercializing intellectual property. It also contributes with a proposal of architecture for an intellectual property marketplace, based on the analysis of practices about crowdsourcing innovation and intellectual property marketplaces. This architecture is still in a draft stage, but already includes helpful insights for organizations interested in applying the open innovation strategy.