Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht, 2003. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

This project investigates some aspects of why a minority of ICT project management professionals in the Chinese ICT sector are female. It investigates differences between sexes in their perceived image and knowledge of ICT work, and the relationship between their career paths and gender roles. A literature review identified that little research on women in ICT in China had been carried out prior to this project. The literature on women in traditional male industries (e.g. ICT, engineer, civil engineer) in western countries yielded certain insights and transferable research methods. A pilot interview survey of four parents, six tutors, six students and eight ICT practitioners was undertaken to develop the main semi-structured interview survey instruments. The main survey yielded responses from thirty students and thirty ICT practitioners. The data interpretation and analysis method adopted grounded theory since, as mentioned above; there little relevant research has been carried out on the topic in China. The results are presented in a consistent way to make the data more comparable. Conclusions are drawn based on findings arising from the body of work and academia as a whole. There were found to be some differences between sexes in certain aspects of their views of ICT (project management) work and aspiration to career choice and advancement. The ICT sector has as a working environment is characterised by conflict (androgynous and male-dominant working style), competence, and keeping abreast of developing ICT technologies, which are thought to be more suitable to men. Gender division actually exists, and family responsibilities hold women back in their career advancement in the ICT sector in China.

Considering its level of sophistication and complexity communication can be understood as a fundamental characteristic of humankind. Since early times humanity has continued to devise novel techniques and tools to enhance the process of communication and governance procedures. This study explores and analyses developments in internet and communication technology (ICT) in relation to governance procedures in Nigeria. It looks at the rapid expansion of ICT and examines levels of assimilation by the population. This study includes an investigation of the challenges and impediments encountered in the process of the integration of ICT into the fabric of Nigeria’s governance. The data and information gained about ICT is then employed towards the development of a theoretical framework to identify and assess good governance. A mixed method and hermeneutical approach were used in the collection and analysis of data. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 100 selected professionals with varied backgrounds as users or experts regarding communication. Those chosen to receive questionnaires were members of the public and individuals from professional and stakeholder groups in the communication industry. Survey questions addressed the frequency of use of ICT in Nigeria in commonly-cited activities as well as areas of success where future improvement may be identified. The questionnaires provided an overview of the benefits of ICT regarding the developments and challenges confronting the communication industry and governance. This overview formed the basis for semi-structured interview questions and focus group sessions. This thesis demonstrates the interconnectivity between communication and governance and how triangulation and hermeneutics were combined to study ICT use in the context of Nigeria. The results also indicated that in certain population groups and in some economic sectors of government ICT use is rapidly growing. However, the study and theoretical framework illustrate that many opportunities and challenges remain for optimal use of ICT for Nigerian governance procedures.

Studien undersöker vilken effekt användningen av IKT under matematiklektioner har på elevers prestationer i skolans alla åldrar. Arbetet sammanställer flera vetenskapliga artiklar och litteraturstudier för att försöka besvara frågeställningen. Flertalet vetenskapliga artiklar visar på en positiv effekt av IKT-användning men studierna undersöker små urvalsgrupper och sträcker sig inte utanför sitt lands gränser vilket gör det svårt att generalisera resultaten.

This thesis deals with the usage of ICT tools in education. It aims to find out which tools are used in modern teaching methods and what are the demands for teachers and students. In the first part is general description of ICT, which is used in education in both terms of hardware and software. The second part describes the precise implementation of these ICT tools in teaching at two schools that were observed. Both schools are using mobile touch devices during classes, however both schools are using different classroom format. The differences between these formats are explained further in the thesis and the use of ICT tools at both schools is explained with the help of practical examples. The work also deals with the issue of funding, especially from EU funds, from which one of the observed schools draws finances.

The thesis focuses on the information and communication technologies and their impact on the competitiveness of the EU member states. The competitiveness on the macroeconomic level is an elusive unmeasurable concept, therefore the thesis focuses on the firms operating in the EU and on their ICT utilization rates. Apart from the use of ICT and internet, the thesis compares the EU member states from the perspective of e-commerce and qualitative aspects of the use of ICT such as the degree of development of ICT sector or education in fields STEM. The thesis is based on the hypothesis that increasing level of economic development of a country is linked with increasing use of ICT.

This thesis is focused on managing the internal Service desk in medium and large companies. In the theoretical part is firstly defined what it's ICT service and how it is managed. It is followed by a characteristics of theoretical Framework ITIL, which deals with ICT services management. Then, a further theoretical framework COBIT is characterized, which also deals with the management of services, and these two frameworks are compared. The practical part consists of case study. A case study is based on analysis and evaluation of the current status of internally provided service Service desk at ALS Czech Republic. The analysis and evaluation is based on the knowledge and information contained in the theoretical part. The outcome of this work is general guidance for management of internally provided service Service desk in medium and large companies.

Yes / Background: Evidence indicates that post − stroke rehabilitation improves function, independence and quality of life. A key aspect of rehabilitation is the provision of appropriate information and feedback to the learner. Advances in information and communications technology (ICT) have allowed for the development of various systems to complement stroke rehabilitation that could be used in the home setting. These systems may increase the provision of rehabilitation a stroke survivor receives and carries out, as well as providing a learning platform that facilitates long-term self-managed rehabilitation and behaviour change. This paper describes the application of an innovative evaluative methodology to explore the utilisation of feedback for post-stroke upper-limb rehabilitation in the home. Methods: Using the principles of realistic evaluation, this study aimed to test and refine intervention theories by exploring the complex interactions of contexts, mechanisms and outcomes that arise from technology deployment in the home. Methods included focus groups followed by multi-method case studies (n = 5) before, during and after the use of computer-based equipment. Data were analysed in relation to the context-mechanism-outcome hypotheses case by case. This was followed by a synthesis of the findings to answer the question, ‘what works for whom and in what circumstances and respects?’ Results: Data analysis reveals that to achieve desired outcomes through the use of ICT, key elements of computer feedback, such as accuracy, measurability, rewarding feedback, adaptability, and knowledge of results feedback, are required to trigger the theory-driven mechanisms underpinning the intervention. In addition, the pre-existing context and the personal and environmental contexts, such as previous experience of service delivery, personal goals, trust in the technology, and social circumstances may also enable or constrain the underpinning theory-driven mechanisms. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the theory-driven mechanisms underpinning the utilisation of feedback from computer-based technology for home-based upper-limb post-stroke rehabilitation are dependent on key elements of computer feedback and the personal and environmental context. The identification of these elements may therefore inform the development of technology; therapy education and the subsequent adoption of technology and a self-management paradigm; long-term self-managed rehabilitation; and importantly, improvements in the physical and psychosocial aspects of recovery. / This paper is part of the SMART programme of research funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The thesis is focused on methodology of Information System/Information and Communication Technology (IS/ICT) projects management. The main goal of the thesis is to modify and extend the business informatics management model (applied on the Department of Information Technologies of University of Economics in Prague) with specifics of methodologies focused on setting up, management and coordination of IS/ICT projects. The analytical part of the thesis is focused on analyzing and consolidation of IS/ICT project management terms. Furthermore are delimited specification of setting up and management of IS/ICT projects. Follow out are described and evaluated current methodologies approaches focused on IS/ICT projects rules description. The thesis describes relation between several IS/ICT methodologies: IS/ICT project management methodology, IS/ICT development methodology and IS/ICT management methodology. Within thesis are presented and analyzed researches of current situation in IS/ICT project management methodology usage and level of IS/ICT project management around the world and within Czech Republic. The main part of the thesis extends the methodical framework MEFIS and describes proposal of IS/ICT management methodology pattern, which appends the reference model of informatics management and the MDIS methodology. Furthermore is IS/ICT project management delimited as standalone service. Main parts of methodology are defined and processes and data objects of IS/ICT project management methodology are outlined. The application part of thesis covers the proposal of the implementation procedure of conceptual proposal of IS/ICT project management methodology. The proposal of the implementation procedure was verified in practice. All experiences with implementation of conceptual model of IS/ICT project management are evaluated.