This paper analyzes the relationship between effective state intervention and Information Communications Technology (ICT) dissemination. I theorize that investment in ICT leads to benefits for all firms; without government intervention and incentives, firms will have little reason to invest substantially in this arena. I demonstrate how the collective action problem leads to a lack of private investment as highlighted by the prisoner’s dilemma game. I conduct a multi country regression test to ascertain the factors that influence the dissemination of IT. I then analyze the impact of the United States and South Korean government on ICT by process tracing the role of each government in the dissemination of ICT. My results support my hypothesis. The policy implications for this study are the increase in the level of US government involvement in ICT through encouraging private sector participation, creating new laws, and increasing access to technology in public education.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The study set out to investigate the provision of sustainable internet access to public libraries in South Africa. The rationale of the study was to investigate how sustainable internet access can be provided to public libraries in South Africa and to determine how they have developed and are regulated. Internet access is a key driver in delivering information services to the users and a critical tool in facilitating information sharing regardless of platform and geographic location. Therefore, the level of information and communications technology (ICT) penetration in public libraries formed a critical part of the study as the provision of internet to these libraries depends on available ICTs. The study employed a survey design and used interview tool to collect data from nine participants. Questionnaire augmented interviews as they were used to collect data from 322 respondents. The study used the probability sampling technique to collect data from the participants. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants for the interview, whereas the stratified probability, proportional to size, and systematic techniques were also used to select respondents in the senior categories, namely heads of public libraries. This ensured a sample size of 331 out of a population of 1 621 selected for the study. The sample size consisted of nine directors and 322 head librarians. No sampling was done on the nine heads (directors) of provincial public libraries, as the nature of this population did not warrant further dissection due to its small size. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was used to analyse data. Questionnaires were analysed when they were returned and interviews were analysed when they were conducted. Written descriptions, tables and figures were used to present data in an elaborative manner. Data was also presented through frequencies and percentages. It emerged from the study that most public libraries (97%) were connected to the internet. The findings of the study showed that most public libraries (80%) were connected to the internet through the fixed lines and that each of the nine provinces had its own internet service providers (table 5.12). The study recommended fixed lines for internet access to be laid to all public libraries in South Africa and that a government agency be used as a dedicated internet service provider for public libraries across all the nine provinces. A further study was recommended about the application of an internet access model used by academic institutions to public libraries. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Due to urbanization and the population of cities producing up to 75% of emission, Smart City concepts, looking at sustainability and more efficiency within the city, with the help of IoT and ICT based technology, are seen as an opportunity to act future-oriented, today. Construction and transportation are seen as the main contributors on the way of change from energy consumption to energy production. Enhancing infrastructure to improve the quality of all sorts of public transportation is thus of utter importance to governance, interested in Smart City concepts. Looking at the literature, waterborne transportation has not received much scientific attention in the context of being implemented into Smart City initiatives. This systematic literature research draws logical conclusions from the researched literature. The research concludes with a research agenda for future research to deepen the knowledge in the explanatory field of waterborne transportation making use of Smart City technologies. The main findings of this thesis are: First, waterborne transportation poses a threat to the environment and impacts sustainability of water bodies, as well as the environment surrounding them. Second, Smart City technologies can successfully be implemented in waterborne transportation when carefully planned. Barriers for the implementation of Smart City concepts can be lack of knowledge, investment, data security and readiness of infrastructure. These can be overcome through the help of collaboration and knowledge sharing among the involved stakeholders. Third, the image of the industry can be shifted, as well as its direct impact and the indirect use of waterborne transportation can be made more sustainable and ecosystem friendly. This transition attracts further customers, who otherwise were not willing to use waterborne transportation. In order to make waterborne transportation more sustainable and part of the Smart City movement, knowledge needs to be deepened and awareness about the topic needs to be spread. Its use of Smart City technologies needs to be further investigated, looking at specific types and tailored solutions for them, as well as how beneficial such an investment can be for governments and companies regarding ecological costs and their image. This thesis mainly aims to help scholars, interested in further research to deepen the knowledge on waterborne transportation in a sustainability context, but also companies and governance, looking to make waterborne transportation more sustainable.