Orientador: Sérgio Luiz Monteiro Salles-Filho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T04:55:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mattos_CarolinaVaghetti_M.pdf: 2720248 bytes, checksum: 6f08c6c657b9b103069ec6a8d4e71b0a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A Lei de Informática (Lei n° 8.248/91) é o principal instrumento de incentivo à indústria de tecnologias da informação e comunicação (TICs) do Brasil. Mesmo sendo, também, o principal instrumento de incentivo à P&D do país, incoerentemente, a Lei de Informática não foi criada para ser uma política de inovação e talvez seja mais justo não avaliá-la como tal, muito embora essa opção seja extremamente custosa para o país. Criada para manter os produtos de TICs nacionais competitivos frente aos importados, concede redução fiscal (Imposto sobre Produto Industrializado - IPI) para empresas de TICs mediante: i) a fabricação de produtos incentiváveis com cumprimento de etapas básicas do processo produtivo no Brasil e ii) a exigência de investimento em P&D de parte do faturamento, incluindo parcerias obrigatórias com Instituições de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICTs). Consideramos, então, que esses dois elementos (produtos incentivados e parcerias com ICTs) são as variáveis mais importantes afetadas por esse instrumento. O objetivo do presente trabalho é identificar se, mesmo não sendo uma política de inovação, a Lei foi capaz de promover melhorias no sistema setorial de inovação da indústria de TICs brasileira por meio da aproximação das relações entre firmas e ICTs para atividades de P&D. Pretendemos verificar, também, se a Lei cumpriu seu objetivo de promover uma maior competitividade dos produtos nacionais frente aos importados / Abstract: The Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) Law is the main instrument to promote the ICT industry in Brazil. Despite also being the main instrument to encourage R&D investments in the country, the ICT industry was not supposed to be an innovation policy and it may not be fair to evaluate it such a way, yet this option represents a high cost for the country. Created with the aim of keeping the national ICTs products competitive compared to the imported goods, the ICTs Law concedes fiscal incentives (reduction of the IPI - a Brazilian tax over the industrialized products) to ICT companies under the following conditions: (i) manufacturing of a few basic phases of the production process of stimulated products in the national territory, and (ii) investing a percentage of sales in R&D activities, including partnerships with Science and Technology Institutions (STI) as part of this requirement. Thus, we consider these two elements (stimulated products and partnerships with STI) are the most affected by this instrument. The objective of the present research is to identify if, despite not being an innovation policy, the Law was capable of promoting enhancements in the sectoral system of innovation of the Brazilian ICT industry through closer relations between firms and STI for R&D activities. We also intend to verify if the Law has carried out the goal of promoting a greater competitiveness of the national products facing the imported goods / Mestrado / Politica Cientifica e Tecnologica / Mestre em Política Científica e Tecnológica

The adoption of eHealth is very slow despite evidences showing its benefits. This research examines the individual, clinical, technical and organizational challenges for eHealth adoption from healthcare provider‟s perspectives. A cross-sectional study design with a quantitative paradigm was used. The study was conducted on 312 doctors and nurses randomly selected from ten hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Most respondents viewed eHealth positively with no significant differences in terms of profession or gender. Computer skill, workload, patient interaction, management support, cost and infrastructure were the main concerns. Privacy and security were not the main concerns. Knowledge of eHealth applications and utilization was low, even for evidence-based medicine and online databases. Specialists and males were better aware of eHealth applications. The study showed that eHealth acceptance was good. Increasing eHealth literacy was recommended as a cost effective means for improving access to updated information to improve the quality of healthcare. / Health Studies / M.A. Public Health (Medical Informatics)

The aim of the thesis was to investigate factors influencing ICT use by older-adults. A selection of psycho-social, socio-demographic and health determinants were investigated with Internet use. Data were collected through questionnaires (Studies I-III) and interviews (Study IV). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, investigating Internet use as a dichotomous variable, with the aforementioned factors. The results indicated that psycho-social determinants did not affect older-adults’ Internet use (Study I). Scoring higher on the personality traits openness and extraversion did not affect whether the older adults started to use the Internet (Study II). However, well-being increased for some frail older-adults when using the tablet computer and connected to the Internet (Study IV). Some socio-demographic determinants affected Internet use. Being younger in age was a strong contributing factor in all four studies whether the older-adult would use the Internet. Higher education influenced Internet use (Study I & III), correlated with living in a rural or urban setting (Study III); yet education was not influencing whether they would start to use the Internet. Living alone was correlated with Internet use, especially if the older-adult lived in an urban setting (Study III). Functional disability and household economy did not affect Internet use. Finally, the health determinants on Internet use were quite strong. Normal cognitive functioning influenced whether older-adults would start to use the Internet (Study II). The older-adult living in an urban environment, would use the Internet if they had normal cognitive functioning (Study III). It was noted also from Study IV that the learning to use the Tablet PC and Skype took longer for older people and more repetition was needed. Being frail was a strong factor whether the older-adult would use the Internet. They would not want to learn or try to use the technology if they were too ill (Study IV). The findings show only a small increase (7.7%) in Internet use by older-adults over time. The indicators of non-use are: higher in age, lower educated, living alone or rurally, lower cognition and frailty. There are two different profiles of rural and urban Internet users. These determinants along with an understanding of the use of technology, and a good support system, are a few pillars in ICT adoption by older-adults. As ICT continues to develop as a means to provide better health care, it will be important to take into account the abovementioned indicators. In certain cases Internet use is not a given, which continues to exclude older-adults. Part of healthy aging is social participation; therefore being connected and included in the digital society is important. Alternative and not only one design solutions should be explored in health care and by organisations, so as to cater to the heterogeneity of the aging population.

Thesis (M.M. (Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2014. / The establishment and growth of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in most economies have been attributed with a corresponding need and desire for these SMEs as catalysts for economic growth, unemployment reduction, etc. Various factors are also impacting on how SMEs can become competitive and one of these enablers is the adoption of ICT by SMEs to improve performance. The purpose of this research was to establish the perceived relationship between the adoption by SMEs of Information Communication Technology (ICT) usage in the manufacturing sector in South Africa and its perceived impact on firm performance. The intended objective was to assess whether the perception of ICT adoption usage within SME’s operating within a manufacturing sector will either have a positive or negative performance outcome. The research methodology adopted was a quantitative approach which was guided by a positivist paradigm. The population targeted were SMEs in the manufacturing sector in South Africa but deliberately excluded SME manufacturers involved in the production of computers, electronics, etc. A combination of an online survey and paper questionnaire was utilised to gather data. The adoption of ICT and the perceived impact on performance within SMEs in manufacturing in South Africa revealed some findings consistent with existing literature in terms of the overall accepted perception that ICT adoption has a perceived positive impact on firm performance, including but also not limited to market share, products and service innovation, etc. as measured in the research. A deeper analysis is required to understand why the respondents in the research did not overwhelmingly state that ICT adoption has a perceived positive impact on performance, market share, product and service innovation etc.

The focus of this paper is to discuss the relationship between organizational changes and information communication technology (ICT) in Taiwan semiconductor industry. Besides, we also examine the effect of ICT adoption workforce on productivity and organizational change. In this paper, our organizational change includes electronics ICT and manpower saving cost. We develop a treatment effect to estimate organizational change. Electronics ICT adoption leads organizational change and then causes firms to employ less low-skilled labors. Organizational change also makes productivity growth further in semiconductor industry.

This thesis examines the optimal role for public relations practitioners to play in managing the communications of disclosure situations. The contribution to knowledge in this work is the clarification of decision-making around organizational disclosures and the role public relations practitioners play in these sometimes difficult and sensitive situations. Decision making around the disclosure of organizational information has not been given much attention in the public relations and communications management literature. While other fields such as medicine and finance have researched the merits of disclosure and transparency for a number of years, the topic has evaded in depth academic examination in communications literature. Given the involvement of public relations practitioners in organizational disclosures, it is somewhat surprising that a model for managing the communications of these situations has not been proposed previously in published research. This thesis closes this gap by proposing a normative, theoretical model that is grounded in practice, and uses ethical decision-making, to assist communicators in developing strategies for managing disclosure events and improving the transparency of their organizations to the public. Using the Strauss and Corbin (1998) approach to Grounded Theory, this thesis explored the topic of disclosure with senior level Canadian public relations practitioners to elicit key themes prior to the development of an initial model which was then tested through further empirical research and user-group contact. The model presented in this thesis is intended to help public relations practitioners and their organizations’ senior management teams, structure their thoughts about disclosing information and develop a communication strategy through a step-wise process that works to find a balance between the needs of the organization and the information needs of stakeholders to make an informed decision about the situation. This thesis provides unique insights into practitioner dilemmas and challenges; highlights a number of important themes and conceptual issues that have not received attention to date; and offers a model for practice.

At the heart of Project Management are time, cost and performance by utilizing the available resources. When analysing the Global Competitiveness index for 2012-2013 it becomes clear that in South Africa labour efficiency is far below what it should be, ranked 113th out of 144. In the same report Business Sophistication is ranked 38th out of 144. It becomes clear that performance, time and cost at the heart of Project Management are hampered by the low labour efficiency. The adoption of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the Construction Project Management Environment will raise productivity and will increase the quality and speed of work, financial controls, communication, and access to common data. The effect will be improved communication, an increase in the speed of data transmission, cost savings and fewer occurrences in miscommunication. The study has been done to set a framework of how ITC can be managed and implemented in the South African Construction Project Management Environment. These enablers and disablers of ICT in Construction Project Management should be determined. The current rate of ICT adoption is verified and the future trends in ICT are researched, characteristics common to quality information should also be verified. The study determined that the future developments in ITC will be profound and if applied correctly, Project Management through the means of communication will be affected positively. In the empirical study the characteristics of quality information, the disablers and also the enablers were investigated taking into account the current rate of ICT adoption in the South African Construction Management Environment. The framework used in the study proposed and confirmed how ITC can be managed and implemented in the South African Construction Project Management Environment. It is set out in the following steps: Firstly: By determining the common characteristics of quality information, namely accuracy, completeness, consistency, uniqueness, and timeliness. The implementation of ITC in the Construction Project Management Environment can be controlled. Secondly: Disablers of ICT adoption in project management exist, namely economic factors (reduction in employment, rising cost, and limited trade), social factors (digital divide, security and lack of education), and other factors (legal, environmental and cognitive). These factors should be managed. Thirdly: Enablers of ICT adoption in project management exist, namely relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trial ability and observe ability. These enablers must be focused on and exploited where possible. Fourthly: Determine the current rate of ICT adoption in Construction Project Management. This was done and it is clear that the digital divide has been crossed by South African Project Managers and that they will embrace future developments in ICT in general. Finally: Future trends in ICT for the next five to ten years pertaining to Project Management should be analysed and new trends with possible advantages for Project Management must be investigated on a constant basis to see what will be advantageous. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

At the heart of Project Management are time, cost and performance by utilizing the available resources. When analysing the Global Competitiveness index for 2012-2013 it becomes clear that in South Africa labour efficiency is far below what it should be, ranked 113th out of 144. In the same report Business Sophistication is ranked 38th out of 144. It becomes clear that performance, time and cost at the heart of Project Management are hampered by the low labour efficiency. The adoption of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the Construction Project Management Environment will raise productivity and will increase the quality and speed of work, financial controls, communication, and access to common data. The effect will be improved communication, an increase in the speed of data transmission, cost savings and fewer occurrences in miscommunication. The study has been done to set a framework of how ITC can be managed and implemented in the South African Construction Project Management Environment. These enablers and disablers of ICT in Construction Project Management should be determined. The current rate of ICT adoption is verified and the future trends in ICT are researched, characteristics common to quality information should also be verified. The study determined that the future developments in ITC will be profound and if applied correctly, Project Management through the means of communication will be affected positively. In the empirical study the characteristics of quality information, the disablers and also the enablers were investigated taking into account the current rate of ICT adoption in the South African Construction Management Environment. The framework used in the study proposed and confirmed how ITC can be managed and implemented in the South African Construction Project Management Environment. It is set out in the following steps: Firstly: By determining the common characteristics of quality information, namely accuracy, completeness, consistency, uniqueness, and timeliness. The implementation of ITC in the Construction Project Management Environment can be controlled. Secondly: Disablers of ICT adoption in project management exist, namely economic factors (reduction in employment, rising cost, and limited trade), social factors (digital divide, security and lack of education), and other factors (legal, environmental and cognitive). These factors should be managed. Thirdly: Enablers of ICT adoption in project management exist, namely relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trial ability and observe ability. These enablers must be focused on and exploited where possible. Fourthly: Determine the current rate of ICT adoption in Construction Project Management. This was done and it is clear that the digital divide has been crossed by South African Project Managers and that they will embrace future developments in ICT in general. Finally: Future trends in ICT for the next five to ten years pertaining to Project Management should be analysed and new trends with possible advantages for Project Management must be investigated on a constant basis to see what will be advantageous. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has an immense potential to improve the support needs of learners with visual impairments as well as their self-sufficiency and self-reliance. In the last nine years, the South African government introduced inclusive education, through White Paper 6 that requires that Learning, Teaching and Support Material, including ICTs be provided to learners with visual impairments. The provision of Assistive Technology devices (ATs) is essential to learners with visual impairments full involvement in learning through the use of ICTs. Furthermore, literature indicates that many studies were done in the use of ICTs in teaching and learning, specifically for learners with diverse visual impairments. Recommendations were also supplied by these studies on how and when to use ICTs in the teaching and learning of visually impaired learners. The empirical research of this study revealed that ICTs are essential tools for visually impaired learners to enhance their learning. It also drew attention to the fact that despite the commitments of White Paper 6 schools for the visually impaired are not yet supplied with appropriate ICTs and educators are not adequately trained to apply ICTs in teaching and learning. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has an immense potential to improve the support needs of learners with visual impairments as well as their self-sufficiency and self-reliance. In the last nine years, the South African government introduced inclusive education, through White Paper 6 that requires that Learning, Teaching and Support Material, including ICTs be provided to learners with visual impairments. The provision of Assistive Technology devices (ATs) is essential to learners with visual impairments full involvement in learning through the use of ICTs. Furthermore, literature indicates that many studies were done in the use of ICTs in teaching and learning, specifically for learners with diverse visual impairments. Recommendations were also supplied by these studies on how and when to use ICTs in the teaching and learning of visually impaired learners. The empirical research of this study revealed that ICTs are essential tools for visually impaired learners to enhance their learning. It also drew attention to the fact that despite the commitments of White Paper 6 schools for the visually impaired are not yet supplied with appropriate ICTs and educators are not adequately trained to apply ICTs in teaching and learning. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011