Over the past few years, the accelerated internationalisation by SMEs from Emerging Markets (EM-SMEs) have been facilitating by the phenomenon of the Cloud Computing. This technology as a new strategic approach has become in the centre of attention of many scholars and pragmatists. Despite prevalent use of Cloud-Computing Utilisation (CCU) and fast-paced growth of using this technology among the EM-SMEs, yet few studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of utilising this new technology to mitigate the internationalisation barriers of the EM-SMEs towards their accelerated internationalisation. Therefore, this research study endeavours to explore the effectiveness of the CCU in mitigation of the EM-SMEs’ internationalisation-barriers towards an accelerated internationalisation. The research survey was conducted online by SurveyMonkey with the use of random and snowball sampling methods for the collection of data from the top managers of 227 SMEs in different industries in two contexts of Iran and Turkey. A quantitative research methodology was conducted with the use of self-administrated questionnaires. In addition, the structural equation modelling (SEM) was used in data analysis by the use of IBM® SPSS® Amos software. The key findings of this research study shed light on the effectiveness of the CCU for the EM-SMEs to accelerate their internationalisation. The findings of this research confirm that the CCU enables the EM-SMEs to mitigate informational, operational, marketing and environmental barriers and consequently this technology enables the EM-SMEs to accelerate their internationalisation. This research study contributes theoretically in both International Business (IB) and Information System (IS) respectively by identifying and classifying the EM-SMEs internationalisation barriers, and by providing and confirming a series of effective the CCU’s solutions to mitigate the EM-SMEs’ internationalisation barriers. Moreover, this research study contributes methodologically by applying the SEM data analysis with the use of AMOS software in order to investigate the effectiveness of the CCU as well as quantifying the magnitude level of EM-SEMs’ integration with CC based on the definition of cloud computing (CC) which has been defined by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, 2011). Furthermore, the empirical outcomes of this research study contribute that the CCU facilitates the EM-SMEs to mitigate their informational, operational, marketing and environmental barriers towards an accelerated internationalisation. Therefore, this research contributes empirically to the EM-SMEs’ decision-makers and the cloud service providers (CSPs) in order to get the most out of this phenomenon.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2005--Mainz.

This thesis examines the interaction in the network of international and regional organizations in setting the norms, rules and strategic directions for international development and governance of global information society. Situated within the theoretical framework of international regime theory and Gramsci’s concept of hegemony, it uses the “Africa Information Society Initiative (AISI): An action framework to build ICT infrastructure in Africa” as its case study. Based on the empirical evidences gathered from the historical policy document analysis and qualitative semi-structured interviews, it provides a critical analysis of how the diffusion of global neoliberal agenda through the international organizations shaped the AISI policy prescriptions. It analyzes the challenges confronting the AISI implementation and ICTs for development agenda in Africa. In view of the inherent contradictions between the transnational character of the AISI and the national characters of the region, it examines the implication of these problems and suggests potential ways of addressing them. It concludes by stressing the importance of contextual local institutional forces and cultural ethos in the ICT policies and development process in Africa.

The mobile communication technology has evolved from the first generation (1G), when the first radiotelephone service was introduced in the US in late 1940s, to the third generation (3G). In each generation, different standards and technologies were promoted by technologically and economically advanced countries. For example, the major 1G communication standards were: AMPS promoted by the US, NMT promoted by Nordic countries, and TACS promoted by the UK. The second generation (2G) communication standards include GSM promoted by the European countries and CDMA (IS-95) promoted by the US. Behind these different standards, there are entire industry chains and huge profits. To catch up with these forerunners, lagging countries usually need to go through different stages including duplicative imitation, creative imitation, and then real innovation. In the 1G era, China did not have its own standard, but it adopted the British TACS systems. In the 2G era, China did not have its own standard, and it adopted both the European GSM systems and the US CDMA systems. However, when the 3G era was approaching, China decided to seize the opportunity and developed its own 3G standard: TD-SCDMA. In January 2009, China issued three different 3G licenses to three different operators who utilized TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, and CDMA2000, respectively. The Chinese proposed 3G standard began to be commercialized with this first licensee. China has been trying to catch up with the leading countries in the mobile communication industry. This thesis examines the question of whether this catching-up process was successful or not. The purpose of this thesis is to give readers insights into the Chinese 3G market, and to help them to understand the catching-up process being undertaken by China’s mobile communication industry. The thesis first introduces some background information about 3G, TD-SCDMA, and the Chinese telecom market. Then, it reviews theories of technological catching-up and leapfrogging. After that, it presents a case study of the TD-SCDMA Industry Alliance that examines six determinants measuring the catching-up process: Sources for Competitive Advantages, Strategies and Policies, R&D Efforts, R&D Outcome, and Market Success. The final part of the thesis gives answers to the research question and reveals the profound impact brought by the catching-up process of China’s mobile industry.

<p>This thesis investigates the theoretical dimension of fuel transition in developing countries; and assesses the role of socio-cultural factors as determinants of fuel choice at household level. Past research has focused on income as a determining factor for fuel transition, as depicted by the energy ladder model, and the more development oriented energy leapfrogging model. This thesis challenges this notion by providing empirical evidence from Catembe, Mozambique; suggesting that socio-cultural factors are just as important determinants for household energy transition. By applying psycho-anthropologic research techniques, a series of qualitative and quantitative results from 402 households in Catembe, provide a framework for understanding the core factors responsible for household cooking energy choice. It was determined that factors such as taste preferences, cooking practices, local cuisine, kitchen type, gender relations and fuel preferences are culturally determined, and significantly influence on the adoption of modern cooking technologies. To demonstrate the importance for considering such factors, the introduction of an ethanol cook-stove is simulated and evaluated in terms of its applicability to user needs and preferences in Catembe. Results show that despite meeting developmental objectives, the stove falls short in conforming to the culinary traditional of intended beneficiaries.</p>

This thesis investigates the theoretical dimension of fuel transition in developing countries; and assesses the role of socio-cultural factors as determinants of fuel choice at household level. Past research has focused on income as a determining factor for fuel transition, as depicted by the energy ladder model, and the more development oriented energy leapfrogging model. This thesis challenges this notion by providing empirical evidence from Catembe, Mozambique; suggesting that socio-cultural factors are just as important determinants for household energy transition. By applying psycho-anthropologic research techniques, a series of qualitative and quantitative results from 402 households in Catembe, provide a framework for understanding the core factors responsible for household cooking energy choice. It was determined that factors such as taste preferences, cooking practices, local cuisine, kitchen type, gender relations and fuel preferences are culturally determined, and significantly influence on the adoption of modern cooking technologies. To demonstrate the importance for considering such factors, the introduction of an ethanol cook-stove is simulated and evaluated in terms of its applicability to user needs and preferences in Catembe. Results show that despite meeting developmental objectives, the stove falls short in conforming to the culinary traditional of intended beneficiaries.

WhatsApp’s growing presence in the developing world has led to a grassroots movement of messaging groups designed to serve relevant needs for small scale farmers in Kenya. These groups provide the means for as many as 256 members to ask questions, share experiences and solutions, gain access to information, and access markets for their products. This research project examines the use of these WhatsApp groups for agriculture in Kenya. The project seeks to understand the existing barriers to participation, and the use, benefits, and shortcomings of these groups for their members. Research findings indicated that farmers’ overall access to smart phones is a substantial barrier to their participation in groups for agriculture, and these barriers are expectedly more difficult for the poorest and most vulnerable (in which intersectional poverty creates additional barriers). However, while each group can vary significantly, members report that WhatsApp groups as a whole overwhelmingly benefit their livelihoods and practice. Systemic and societal change occurs when the experiences and successes of one individual are shared with a larger group – leading to rapid and shared prosperity. As each individual learns a new skill, technique, or input, the group must also learn and benefit from that knowledge. WhatsApp provides the means and the platform for this type of information exchange to occur at scale, and with individuals who would otherwise be unlikely to communicate. This research project examines the emerging use of grassroots WhatsApp groups as a potential example of this positive and inclusive approach to extension and development in agricultural communities.