A computação em nuvem emerge quando se trata da necessidade dos desenvolvedores de TI de sempre aumentar ou incluir novas capacidades, o mais rápido possível, com o menor investimento possível. Ela vem sendo apontada como uma das maiores inovações em TI nos últimos anos e por isso vem chamando a atenção tanto da comunidade acadêmica quanto da comercial. Apesar deste crescente interesse na tecnologia pela literatura acadêmica, a maior parte do foco das pesquisas se dá nos aspectos técnicos, como potencial computacional e custos. Pesquisas sobre as preferências dos profissionais da área relativa à computação em nuvem como uma ferramenta de negócios estão limitadas a estudos de consultorias e empresas privadas. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo apresentar um estudo do impacto de diferentes dimensões sobre a intenção de adoção da computação em nuvem por profissionais de TI. Para isto, utiliza uma variação do modelo TAM/UTAUT para verificação de intenção de adoção de novas tecnologias. O método escolhido foi a pesquisa survey, realizada a partir de um instrumento previamente proposto e adaptado, sendo feita em duas etapas: estudo de pré-teste e estudo final. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória, utilizando o método PLS (Partial Least Squares) para Equações Estruturais. Como resultado deste refinamento emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo 8 dimensões e 36 itens. Como contribuição para a área de SI, o modelo teórico de pesquisa final se mostrou adequado para avaliar a intenção de adoção da computação em nuvem por profissionais de TI. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é o modelo de intenção de adoção da computação em nuvem, que pode auxiliar provedores de computação em nuvem, através da mensuração das principais razões para sua adoção, que são Utilidade Percebida e Atitude Frente à Inovação Tecnológica. Também demonstra que não existe uma relação positiva entre Segurança e Confiança e a Intenção Comportamental. Doze hipóteses foram validadas e seis das hipóteses propostas foram negadas pelos dados. Estas informações buscam fornecer material para que se possa inspirar os esforços no desenvolvimento da tecnologia como ferramenta de negócio. / Cloud computing emerges when we talk about the necessity of the IT developers to always increase or add new capabilities, as soon as possible, with the lowest investment possible. It has been appointed as one of the biggest IT innovations in the recent years, and for that reason it’s been calling the attention of the academic and management communities. Even with the growing interest by the academic community, most of the research focus on technical aspects, such as computational potencial and costs. Researches involving professionals’ preferences with cloud computing as a business tool are limited to consultant and private studies at most. This research has the purpose of presenting a study about the impact of different dimensions in the intention of adoption of cloud computing by IT professionals. To do so, it uses a variation of the TAM/UTAUT model for the verification of the intention of adopting new technologies. The research method is the survey research, made with a previously proposed and adapted instrument, conducted in two stages: pre-test study and final study. Different statistical techniques were used to refine the instrument, such as Reliability Analisis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, this one using the PLS (Partial Least Squares) Path modeling for SEM (Structural Equation Modeling). As a result of this refinement, emerged a theorical research model containing 8 dimensions and 36 measuring items. As contribution to the IS area, the theorical model proved adequate to assess the intention of adoption of cloud computing by IT professionals. The research’s main contribution to the business practice is the model of cloud computing intention of adoption, that aids cloud providers, trought the measurement of the main reasons behind the adoption of the technology, wich are Perceived Utility and Attitude Towards Technology Innovation. Also demonstrates that there are no positive relation between Security and Trust and the Behaviorial Intention. Twelve of the hypothesis were sustained, and six of the proposed hypothesis were denied by the data. This information intends to inspire efforts in developing the technology as a business tool.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / The present study aimed to evaluate the level of technological adoption in castor production in Cearà and the impact of the incentive offered to produce castor on the generation of employment and income of family farmers included in that program. To this end, we selected a sample with a group of producers of castor and a second group of non-producing of castor in order to make comparisons. The research was based on primary data, obtained through the application of semi-structured interviews in the municipalities of Santa QuitÃria, Monsenhor Tabosa and Boa Viagem. As methodology, the following techniques were used descriptive statistics, the construction of the Technology Adoption Index (INATEC), analysis of variance, analysis of logistic regression and propensity score matching. The main results showed a low level of technology adoption by producers. They also revealed that the incentive to produce castor generated significant impact on total farm income, farm income per hectare and total employment of the producers of this cultivar. However, are not observable impacts on the level of employment per hectare. / O estudo aqui apresentado teve como objetivo principal avaliar o nÃvel de adoÃÃo tecnolÃgica na produÃÃo de mamona no Estado do Cearà e os impactos do programa de incentivo à produÃÃo de mamona sobre a geraÃÃo de emprego e renda dos agricultores familiares. Para tanto, selecionou-se uma amostra composta por dois grupos: um primeiro grupo de produtores de mamona e um segundo grupo de nÃo produtores de mamona, a fim de estabelecer comparaÃÃes e anÃlises de impacto. A pesquisa baseou-se em dados primÃrios, por meio da aplicaÃÃo de entrevistas semiestruturadas nos municÃpios de Santa QuitÃria, Monsenhor Tabosa e Boa Viagem. Como metodologia, o estudo fez uso de mÃtodos de estatÃsticas descritivas, construÃÃo do Ãndice de AdoÃÃo de Tecnologias (INATEC), anÃlises de variaÃÃo, anÃlise de regressÃo logÃstica e mÃtodo Propensity Score Matching. Os principais resultados obtidos revelam um baixo nÃvel de adoÃÃo de tecnologias por parte dos produtores. Revelam ainda que o programa de incentivo à produÃÃo de mamona gerou impacto significativo sobre a renda agrÃcola total, renda agrÃcola por hectare e emprego total dos produtores desta cultivar. Contudo, nÃo sÃo observÃveis os impactos sobre o nÃvel de emprego por hectare.

A computação em nuvem emerge quando se trata da necessidade dos desenvolvedores de TI de sempre aumentar ou incluir novas capacidades, o mais rápido possível, com o menor investimento possível. Ela vem sendo apontada como uma das maiores inovações em TI nos últimos anos e por isso vem chamando a atenção tanto da comunidade acadêmica quanto da comercial. Apesar deste crescente interesse na tecnologia pela literatura acadêmica, a maior parte do foco das pesquisas se dá nos aspectos técnicos, como potencial computacional e custos. Pesquisas sobre as preferências dos profissionais da área relativa à computação em nuvem como uma ferramenta de negócios estão limitadas a estudos de consultorias e empresas privadas. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo apresentar um estudo do impacto de diferentes dimensões sobre a intenção de adoção da computação em nuvem por profissionais de TI. Para isto, utiliza uma variação do modelo TAM/UTAUT para verificação de intenção de adoção de novas tecnologias. O método escolhido foi a pesquisa survey, realizada a partir de um instrumento previamente proposto e adaptado, sendo feita em duas etapas: estudo de pré-teste e estudo final. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória, utilizando o método PLS (Partial Least Squares) para Equações Estruturais. Como resultado deste refinamento emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo 8 dimensões e 36 itens. Como contribuição para a área de SI, o modelo teórico de pesquisa final se mostrou adequado para avaliar a intenção de adoção da computação em nuvem por profissionais de TI. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é o modelo de intenção de adoção da computação em nuvem, que pode auxiliar provedores de computação em nuvem, através da mensuração das principais razões para sua adoção, que são Utilidade Percebida e Atitude Frente à Inovação Tecnológica. Também demonstra que não existe uma relação positiva entre Segurança e Confiança e a Intenção Comportamental. Doze hipóteses foram validadas e seis das hipóteses propostas foram negadas pelos dados. Estas informações buscam fornecer material para que se possa inspirar os esforços no desenvolvimento da tecnologia como ferramenta de negócio. / Cloud computing emerges when we talk about the necessity of the IT developers to always increase or add new capabilities, as soon as possible, with the lowest investment possible. It has been appointed as one of the biggest IT innovations in the recent years, and for that reason it’s been calling the attention of the academic and management communities. Even with the growing interest by the academic community, most of the research focus on technical aspects, such as computational potencial and costs. Researches involving professionals’ preferences with cloud computing as a business tool are limited to consultant and private studies at most. This research has the purpose of presenting a study about the impact of different dimensions in the intention of adoption of cloud computing by IT professionals. To do so, it uses a variation of the TAM/UTAUT model for the verification of the intention of adopting new technologies. The research method is the survey research, made with a previously proposed and adapted instrument, conducted in two stages: pre-test study and final study. Different statistical techniques were used to refine the instrument, such as Reliability Analisis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, this one using the PLS (Partial Least Squares) Path modeling for SEM (Structural Equation Modeling). As a result of this refinement, emerged a theorical research model containing 8 dimensions and 36 measuring items. As contribution to the IS area, the theorical model proved adequate to assess the intention of adoption of cloud computing by IT professionals. The research’s main contribution to the business practice is the model of cloud computing intention of adoption, that aids cloud providers, trought the measurement of the main reasons behind the adoption of the technology, wich are Perceived Utility and Attitude Towards Technology Innovation. Also demonstrates that there are no positive relation between Security and Trust and the Behaviorial Intention. Twelve of the hypothesis were sustained, and six of the proposed hypothesis were denied by the data. This information intends to inspire efforts in developing the technology as a business tool.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:08:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao marcia computacao.pdf: 1655396 bytes, checksum: c4709164650ccf898257560c6d7914e6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-06-27 / The study of behavior adoption products and services - based technology by the consumer is as a great helper choices for design projects and in targeting market, represented a challenge for new products and technological services therefore means intensive growth of these products, various studies indicate also the frustration of consumers interact with technology acquired. Such evidence are particularly important as consumer beliefs are positively related to your acceptance or resistance in adopt products and technological services. In this context, the readiness to technology emerges as construct fundamental to understanding attitudes on consumer technology. This work is the general objective to propose a method to help engineers electricians in the design project automation home (AR) based on user profile technology from the analysis of personal characteristics, rather evaluating the propensity of individuals with adopt products and technological services air from drivers and inhibitors mental related optimism, inovatividade, discomfort and insecurity. We use as method technology readiness index (TRIx). With this, this work is useful in engineering project air, leading to a design of a project as close as possible claim preference and characteristic of the user / customer is aimed at greater satisfaction and quality products and solutions offered by AR / O estudo do comportamento de adoção de produtos e serviços baseados em tecnologia pelo consumidor tem se mostrado como um grande auxiliar nas escolhas para concepção de projetos e no direcionamento de mercado, representado assim um desafio para novos produtos e serviços tecnológicos, pois, em meio ao intenso crescimento destes produtos, diversos estudos apontam também a frustração do consumidor em interagir devidamente com a tecnologia adquirida. Tais evidências são especialmente importantes à medida que as crenças do consumidor estão positivamente relacionadas à sua aceitação ou resistência em adotar produtos e serviços tecnológicos. Nesse contexto, a prontidão para tecnologia emerge como construto fundamental para o entendimento das atitudes do consumidor diante da tecnologia. Este trabalho tem o objetivo geral propor um método para auxiliar os engenheiros eletricistas na concepção de projetos de Automação Residencial (AR) baseando-se no perfil do usuário da tecnologia a partir da análise das características pessoais, mais propriamente avaliando a propensão dos indivíduos em adotar produtos e serviços tecnológicos de AR a partir de condutores e inibidores mentais relacionados ao otimismo, inovatividade, desconforto e insegurança. Utilizamos como fundamento o método de Technology Readdiness Index (TRIx). Com isto, este trabalho busca ser útil no auxílio à projeto de engenharia de AR, levando a uma concepção de um projeto mais próximo possível da pretensão, preferência e característica do usuário/cliente ao qual se destina, visando maior satisfação e qualidade com os produtos e também nas soluções proporcionadas pela AR

Submitted by JÚLIO HEBER SILVA (julioheber@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-03-28T19:58:38Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Heverton Eustáquio Pinto - 2017.pdf: 2633492 bytes, checksum: 36847d4ff7c45f84e544a3521c462a4d (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-03-31T10:38:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Heverton Eustáquio Pinto - 2017.pdf: 2633492 bytes, checksum: 36847d4ff7c45f84e544a3521c462a4d (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-31T10:38:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Heverton Eustáquio Pinto - 2017.pdf: 2633492 bytes, checksum: 36847d4ff7c45f84e544a3521c462a4d (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The use of technology in production has become the main driver for the competitiveness of agricultural businesses. Investigating the process of technological adoption in a society that presents a heterogeneous technological structure is essential for a harmonious modernization process on the field. The present study investigates the process of adopting technologies in precision agriculture in the states of Goiás and Federal District, in Central Brazil. By means of primary data, the characterization of farm usage, its conditioning factors for adoption and their interactions, through estimation of econometric models. In view of the 15 years of commercial availability in Brazil of the main technologies in precision agriculture, soybean producers in the region have been adopting this set of technologies, on average, for 5 years. The use of management practices, previous experience with technologies, participation in cooperative networks were important conditioning factors for adoption, as well as their time of adopting technologies in agronomic diagnoses. The use of these technologies is initially interrelated, however, when interacting with the size of farm, with time of adoption of soil diagnoses technologies, grid soil sample and remote censoring become substitutes. The data show that the larger farm size, the greater the substitution effect. Policies that aim at the formation of cooperatives and implementation of technical infrastructure of communication should be implemented for the adoption and diffusion of technologies in precision agriculture, thus acting by these indications, public sector can foment the modernizing process in the field. / O uso de novas tecnologias na produção vem, a cada ano, tornando-se o principal direcionador para a competitividade dos negócios agrícolas. Investigar o processo de adoção tecnológica em uma sociedade que apresenta uma estrutura tecnológica heterogênea é essencial para um processo modernizador harmônico no campo. O presente estudo busca investigar o processo de adoção de tecnologias em agricultura de precisão (TAP) no estado de Goiás e Distrito Federal. Os dados foram coletados em dois grandes eventos de exposição agrícola na região. Após aplicação de 105 questionários a produtores de soja, foi levantada a caracterização do uso de cinco tecnologias em agricultura de precisão, seus fatores condicionantes de adoção e o seu uso interrelacionado de tecnologias em diagnósticos de solo, através de estimação de modelos econométricos. Em 15 anos de disponibilidade comercial, no Brasil, das principais tecnologias em agricultura de precisão, aqui investigadas, produtores de soja da região estudada adotam, em média, há cinco anos esse grupo de tecnologias. O uso de práticas de manejo, experiência anterior com tecnologias, participação em redes de cooperativas foram importantes fatores condicionantes para a adoção, bem como o seu tempo de adoção de tecnologias em diagnósticos agronômicos. A inter-relação dessas tecnologias, quando avaliada com o tamanho de propriedade, sobre o tempo de adoção de tecnologias de diagnóstico, amostra de solo em grade e sensoriamento remoto se tornam substitutas entre si. Os dados evidenciam que quanto maior o tamanho de propriedade, maior o efeito substituição. Políticas que visam à formação de cooperativas e implantação de infraestrutura técnica e de comunicação devem ser implementadas para maior adoção e difusão das tecnologias em agricultura de precisão, desta forma atuando por essas indicações o poder público fomenta o processo modernizador no campo na região.

According to some commentary, employees are empowered by simple, flexible and lightweight social software such as blogs and wikis. Using such software, it is claimed they will be able to connect and collaborate beyond boundaries and to benefit organisations in innovation and growth. Extending such claims, commentators also argue that social software challenges existing ways of networking, communicating and collaborating and is likely to cause disruption to some organisations. However, a literature search reveals that it is still unclear for both researchers and practitioners how social software can be exploited for work purposes, and what are the grounds for its adoption. Systematic investigation of the adoption of social software for work collaboration is found to be absent in academic writing. Organisations continue experimenting on social software, seeking ways to encourage their employees to adopt the tools, and expect to benefit from self-organised, distributed collaboration. This technology adoption is a contingent process. The way members use social software is embedded within the social interaction process, group characteristics, tasks and environments. Adaptive structuration theory (AST) is adopted for social software-supported collaboration in a way that emphasised its value as a contextual analysis approach. A conceptual framework was developed from the researcher's experiential knowledge, AST and empirical evidence, and then revised with the findings from exploratory studies. The main theoretical insights induced from empirical evidence are: influence from 'meta-users', e.g., supervisors and managers, affects both users' use intention and behaviour. Social structures embedded in social capital can enable or inhibit the adoption of social software. Nevertheless, new social structures do emerge from online conversations. Additionally, the results show that task-technology fit has little relevance to social software adoption. A case study approach with mixed methods is adopted in this study. Social network analysis and statistical analysis provide complementary support to qualitative analysis. The UK public sector was chosen as the research context. Individuals are knowledge workers in distributed and cross-boundary groups. The asynchronous social software applications studied are blogs and wikis.

This work is focused on the newly emerging field of Cloud computing and view of adoption of this technology in various industrial sectors. The first section explains the concept of cloud computing, its characteristics and individual models. The following part is a brief analysis of the size and development of the current market for cloud services. Next section focuses on the creation of industry categories acording to area of their business, together with their description. The actual categories are examined in part four, along with their expenditures on IT and state of Cloud's adoption, in addition with specific advantages and obstacles. Results from previous section are summarized in part five. In conclusion, the hypothesis is verified and the main findings summarized.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / The aim of the research was to identify what female and male farmersthink are the best strategies to enhance the role of conservation farming as a buffer against social, economic and environmental hazards, and a means of ensuring livelihood sustainability and food security. The study also aimed at coming up with information useful to policy and other decision makers on how to improve adoption of these technologies. The empirical component of the research included a questionnaire survey of one hundred and fifty two(152) selected households in one identified ward in Insiza District, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with key informants and in-depth interviews of individual male and female members of a few selected farming households from the sampled population. The desktop portion of the study used secondary data from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government and other stakeholders involved in conservation farming. Collected data was then disaggregated by gender and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Perception statements that emerged as significant in chi-square tests of independence were be subjected to factor analysis and weighted factor scores from factor analysis were then used as independent variables in binary logistic regression analysis. The study concluded that both practising and non practising farmers were of the opinion that conservation farming was good though they indicated that information on conservation farming was not readily available The study found out that most farmers agreed on the possible positive effects of CA in addressing livelihood challenges effected by hazards such as HIV and AIDS and environmental hazards such as declining soil fertility but it had is labour intensive therefore is not suitable for people affected and infected by HIV and AIDS. / South Africa

No description available.

Magister Commercii - MCom / Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem with a high mortality rate. Self-management is an essential part of diabetes management and it includes self-care behaviour tasks such as healthy eating, being active and taking prescribed medication. In the current digital age, the use of technology for self- management of the disease is an important consideration. As a first step towards this, individuals have to first accept and use the technology. However, the literature indicates low levels of technology use amongst diabetic patients in environments with low socio- economic indicators and amongst minority groups. Previous studies suggest that there are many factors that influence technology acceptance such as economic, social and cultural factors. Mobile health (m-health) received recognition in healthcare literature in recent years and are known for delivering effective and efficient interventions to patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes. An investigation into m-health acceptance for diabetes management is vital as it impacts the achievement of development goals, including the United Nations’ SDG 3. This research posits that the culture of patients is a possible reason for the low acceptance and use of technology. Research based on the proliferation of culture as a determinant for diabetes self-management at an individual level is limited, especially in the South African context. The main research question pursued in the study reported in this thesis is How does culture influence m-health acceptance of diabetic patients in disadvantaged communities? Research design and methodology: Using an interpretivist paradigm, a case study research design provided the basis to collect data from 20 diabetes patients in Mitchells Plain and Strandfontein. The theoretical model that was used as a lens for investigation comprised a juxtaposition of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and Unified- Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2). The analysis of the qualitative data was undertaken with Atlas Ti, using a thematic content analysis process. Results: Eight themes emerged from the data and key results of the study indicate that opinions towards medical practitioners, which reflects power distance has a positive impact on users and non-users. Diabetic patients comply with the opinions of their doctors as they fear disagreeing with them. As such, this may result in having a positive influence on a participant’s ability to adopt and use mobile applications. Caregiver influence, which reflects femininity, has a negative influence on users as a result of diabetic patients being responsible for taking care of their family and others are both home carers and providers for their families. This indicates that patients are more concerned with the quality of their life and family than with the adoption mobile applications. Future work: It is recommended that research should be conducted in other areas in the Western Cape, specifically in the Cape flats to see whether the same sorts of results will be achieved in different communities. This could help policymakers and application developers tailor mobile applications for this target population.