For sometime there has been a push for developing countries to adopt information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a pathway to economic development. However, to date, the widespread adoption and use of ICTs in these countries has been sluggish. This is especially true amongst small enterprises, which play a major economic role in developing countries. In the context of developed countries a number of benefits have been linked with the use of the ICTs amongst large, medium, and small tourism enterprises (STEs). This suggests that STEs in developing nations can also derive some benefit from the use of ICTs. However, entrepreneurs in developing countries are hindered by the underlying environmental limitations that characterise these countries (such as the inadequate and unreliable infrastructure, high cost of ICTs, and unstable political environment). This suggests that a tool for STEs that allows them to assess their business environment by reflecting inwards and outwards of the business to make informed decisions on e-commerce would be of use. The purpose of this thesis was to develop an e-readiness framework for STEs in developing countries. The threshold of twenty employees was used to classify businesses as ‘small’. In developing the framework, the intention was to take into account the specific characteristics of small businesses in developing countries. The study was carried out across two major phases. Phase One involved an online focus group with a panel of experts. The purpose of this phase was to take the framework that was developed based on a literature review and present it to a group of experts and use their comments to refine it. After making changes to the framework the researcher set out to refine it further using an investigation of actual STEs in two developing countries. In total twenty-six tourism operators participated in the study. In addition to discussions with the tourism operators this phase also involved examining their online activities, observations, and an investigation of the country e-commerce environment. The final framework, produced as a result of thorough literature review and two data collection phases, has been placed through rigour at the conceptual design stage by academics and at the applied level with actual by STEs. The resultant framework identifies the most relevant determinants of e-readiness and identifies how STEs may exploit e-commerce.

The Enterprise Modelling (EM) approach to systems design is followed to promote business information systems integration and a high degree of data integrity. This research reports on a comprehensive case study of one of Australia’s leading telecommunications carriers and service providers. The case study relates to the advent of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) into the Australian telecommunications market on 25 September 2001, a world’s first, real-time ‘Churn’ business process. Specifically, it reports on Service Level Agreement (SLA) and reporting performance of two similar systems evaluated in terms of accepted Information Systems Architectural Criteria. The researcher derived a number of architectural evaluation criteria from the literature, which provided insight into the ways of evaluating information systems. One purpose-built operational system, named the Mobile Number Portability System (MNPS) was designed and built using the latest object-oriented techniques and tools. The other system, named the Data Repository System (DRS) was designed using the EM approach. The MNPS failed to meet SLA functionality and reporting functionality. It performed poorly when evaluated in terms of accepted Information Systems Architectural Criteria. For example, the MNPS’ support of fundamental business rules was extremely poor. It should be noted that the SLA functionality was the most complex aspect of the system to design and implement, as it constantly changes according to the requirements of the Regulator (ACA). Hence, it was decided to build this functionality into a separate system, the DRS using a different approach based on EM. The new system was designed using this top-down approach. The DRS successfully met all SLA functionality and reporting functionality. It performed extremely well when evaluated against the Information Systems Architectural Criteria. The DRS significantly outperformed the MNPS confirming the claims made for the EM approach.

This thesis has been supported by an ARC Industry Linkage grant and sought to explain the process of adoption of information technologies by comparing two main theories that have been developed to explain adoption of innovations, that of innovation diffusion and that of actor network theory. In the process of analysis for this thesis I decided very early on that the better way of explaining the pattern of adoption was by using the framework of actor network theory supported by qualitative methodology. A major contribution of this thesis could be seen as an ANT analysis of IT/IM in general practice. It appears that the multi partner, multi discipline research approach was a success for it created the opportunity to draw on diverse backgrounds. More importantly this research indicates that the qualitative research methodology of Actor Network Analysis has delivered an insight that is richer in data than the quantitative research that is usually undertaken in this field. This process assisted with enlightening the barriers and enablers to the adoption of information technology/information management (IT/IM) in general practice in a particular study area and to explain why, in the study area the pattern is fragmented and unclear. This study found it is important to note the difference between the adoption of IT/IM by general practice and adoption and use by general practitioners. The adoption process has been complex and many stakeholders have grappled with issues such as the cost of computerization, the rapid changes in technology, the lack of agreed standards and the problems of introducing technology information solutions in to the daily work place of general practice. Through comparison via case studies, extended interviews and implementing several study phases to develop a longitudinal aspect for the research, the teasing out of such issues as decision making in general practice and general practice as small business was undertaken. Through review of models that seek to explain adoption I will finalise by formalizing which theory of adoption better suits explanation of adoption of innovation within this study area. This thesis reports that while there are generally pockets of high uptake and use of IT/IM, this is not the complete picture across the study area and this reflects the situation in Australia. There are differences in adoption from one practice to another and even within practices; there are differences in adoption in terms of acceptance of an idea versus doing; in the study area there is only one practice which can reasonably claim to be paperless. Throughout this thesis a series of vignettes will be developed which set out to provide a whole play. Each vignette presents an aspect in the total picture of computerization. This thesis does not set out to provide the whole picture as that is still a work in progress, as such this thesis has no definite border, and the vignettes will sometimes show only the head and shoulders of the story with the background fading off. Other vignettes are very clear but as with all vignettes there are questions about the shaded areas. It is in these areas that questions arise to demonstrate there is greater depth in the story of the adoption of IT/IM in general practice in the study area, and, that adoption of IT/IM in general practice is complex and a continuing developmental story.

The aim of this research project was to develop an implementation framework for the prevention and management of chronic diseases in general practice. Chronic diseases - or conditions as it is also commonly known, like Diabetes, Asthma, Cardiovascular Disease, etc., are persistent or recurring illnesses or impairments lasting for years that cannot be cured, however some can be prevented from becoming a chronic disease. Unfortunately, millions of chronic diseases sufferers worldwide end up dying prematurely and in many cases unnecessarily due to lack of appropriate care.