The last two decades have seen rapid evolution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capabilities in the public sector which facilitate the adoption of several IT innovations. E-government is one of these strategic innovations that many government organisations have considered adopting to deliver government information and services to citizens and to support the modernisation of their business processes. This work therefore investigates this issue through a study of the impact of e-government on government organisations and their capabilities towards the e-government adoption. This has led to developing a framework for e-government adoption that outlines the implementation process, determines critical factors influencing adoption, and identifies barriers that could keep government organisations behind the advanced stages of the implementation process. The research also proposes a novel architecture framework for e-government that offers a clear picture of ICT requirements, along with a business process model needed for the implementation for e-government. This framework also supports the researcher in terms of validating the proposed conceptual framework in case organisations. The researcher, by adopting a qualitative case study strategy, examines the proposed framework in three government organisations in the Kingdom of Bahrain.. The analysis of empirical data comes up with a novel comprehensive framework for e-government adoption in the public sector that can be a benefit in multiple ways. The major benefit of this framework is to reduce the confusion surrounding e-government adoption in the public sector by understanding the implementation process, identifying the requirements of ICT tools, and highlighting the importance of organisational readiness and the impact of the environment. The framework can also help decision makers in government to provide a clear strategic action plan for e-government. Finally, the proposed framework can be used by IT experts to estimate the progress level of their e-government projects.

The main aim of this thesis is is to analyze the influence of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the development of poor countries and to identify and clasify the particular mechanisms, through which ICT are beeing enforced. The particular resarched ICT are computers, internet and mobile phones. The thesis consists from two main chapters. In the first one is analyzed the relation between ICT and development on aggregated "macro" level (mostly level of countries). Based on the scientific literature, there are researched the general linkages between ICT and development, measuring possibilities of development and ICT and differences in use of ICT between countries. Part of this chapter is as well the quantitative analyze of the relationship between ICT and socioeconomic development. The second "micro" chapter is finding mechanisms through which the ICT in developing countries are enforcing. and which are the conditions of mentioned "macro" linkages. The systematic review of scientific literature is trying to clarify and uncover the relationship between ICT and development which is working on the micro-level of poor countries based on mechanisms between particular technologies and component particular sphere of development. Moreover of the two main chapters, there is also the third part which...

Thesis Purpose: The study aimed to explore how the use of ICT has influenced the leadership role and thus also in what ways this has been helping the practice of the role among middle managers.The study was exploratory as an attempt to understand how the leadership role has been influenced in the new digital era. Theoretical Perspective: Previous literature has been examined where different concepts have been chosen in reference to the study. ICT, its connection to leadership and the composition of the managerial role has been presented in this thesis. Methodology: A qualitative method has been used for this case study with the aim to gain an understanding of the studied area. Collected data was analyzed using an abductive approach which involved back-and-forth engagement with theory and empirical findings.  Empirical study: For this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews was made with four middle managers, all positioned at the case company.  Conclusion: The leadership role was found to be both facilitated and made more difficult due to the use of ICT. Communication as a part of the informational roles among leaders has been facilitated the most. The facilitation of the roles was also found to depend on the technological skills among middle managers and the organisational structure.

A habilidade de uma organização em inovar é diretamente relacionada com a sua habilidade de alavancar ideias e gerenciar o conhecimento. As ferramentas baseadas na web viabilizam a interação e a colaboração, apresentando um papel muito importante no contexto do processo da inovação, e fundamentais no suporte à colaboração além fronteiras. A colaboração, por sua vez, é a competência que possibilita explorar o conhecimento com a finalidade de conduzir para a inovação. O potencial das ferramentas de TIC para a colaboração é demonstrado no emprego dessas ferramentas por muitas empresas para salientar e suportar a inovação colaborativa. Por esta razão, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar, sob o uso de tecnologias baseadas na web como facilitadores, quais são os fatores preponderantes que impulsionam a Colaboração para a Inovação e, a partir daí, propor um modelo conceitual. Este estudo evidencia a utilização de métodos mistos da mesma unidade empírica, a organização multinacional MAHLE do segmento automotivo. Esta abordagem é caracterizada pela utilização de estratégias de pesquisa quantitativa e qualitativa, permitindo que as lacunas deixadas por uma abordagem possam ser preenchidas pela outra. Essa etapa constituiu-se da revisão sistemática da literatura pertinente ao tema. A abordagem qualitativa foi composta por entrevistas semiestruturadas, procurando captar em profundidade a perspectiva dos atores pesquisados e permitindo fundamentar a análise na questão de pesquisa e nas dimensões importantes contidas. Quanto à abordagem quantitativa, foi realizado um levantamento do tipo survey com os profissionais das áreas de P&D&I. A partir da análise crítica da literatura e com base na opinião dos entrevistados, foram desenvolvidos o modelo conceitual e seus respectivos itens de mensuração, testados e refinados pela técnica de modelagem de equações estruturais MEE-PLS em termos de sua confiabilidade e validade. Os resultados mostraram haver um impacto dos fatores relativos da TIC sobre a Colaboração para Inovação, bem como validaram as dimensões de Confiança, Comunicação, Comprometimento e Motivação propostas no modelo. Os resultados apresentados contribuem com o entendimento do processo da Colaboração com a finalidade da Inovação, por meio do uso das ferramentas baseadas na web, para as empresas que almejam alcançar sucesso na capacidade de inovar. / The ability for an organization to succeed in innovation is directly related with its ability to encourage ideas and manage the knowledge. The tools based on the web enable interaction and collaboration, representing a very important role in the context of the process for innovation, and being fundamental to the support of collaboration across boundaries. The collaboration, in turn, is the capability that enables to explore the knowledge with the goal to direct it to innovation. The potential of the ICT tools to the collaboration is demonstrated through the usage of these tools by many firms in order to stress and support the collaborative innovation. For this reason, the objective of the present job was to analyze, by having technologies based on the web as facilitators, what were the dominant factors that drive the collaboration to the innovation and, from then onwards, propose a conceptual model. This study reveals the usage of mixed methods from the same empirical unit, a multinational organization MAHLE from the automotive sector. This approach is represented by the category of completeness for addressing a wide answer for the research question by the usage of quantitative and qualitative research strategies, allowing for the gaps left by one method to be filled by the other. This step consisted of the systematic revision of the literature relating to the subject. The qualitative approach was composed by semi-structured interviews, seeking to take in depth the perspective of respondents and allowing to explain the analysis of research\'s question. While for the quantitative approach a survey was taken with employees from the areas of R&D&I. From the critical analysis of the literature and with base on the opinion of the interviewed, the conceptual model was developed and its measurements tools, tested and refined by the structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS), in terms of its reability and validity. The results showed an impact of the factors of ICT towards the Collaboration to Innovation, and validated the dimensions of Trust, Communication, Commitment and Motivation. The showed results contribute towards the understanding of the process of Collaboration with the goal of Inovation, through the use of the tools based on the web, for the firms that want to reach success in the capability to innovate.

Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM) / Micro-enterprises solve many socio-economic issues facing developing nations because of their large contribution to economic development and progress. Micro-enterprises have been influenced by the continued globalisation, digitisation and modernisation of business practices. As a result, micro-enterprises’ are investing in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to enhance enterprise and economic growth, performance, productivity and a competitive advantage. However, the benefits of these investments are not always realised, often because of the ad hoc nature in which micro-enterprises function and a lack of formalised methods and strategy. When these are not realised, micro-enterprise suffer in terms of competitiveness, performance and returns. Maturity models, are tools that help solve issues relating to an enterprise’s current status in terms of its capabilities and resources, and how these issues can be improved. Maturity models may present the ideal solution for micro-enterprise to invest in ICT. Larger enterprises have been able to use maturity models for strategic ICT investments realising benefits. The benefits of using maturity models as a guide to ICT investment include: saving on long-term operational and tactical costs, self-evaluation and linking business and ICT strategy among others. This research sought to determine how micro-enterprises in the Western Cape can use a maturity model in planning strategy for investments in ICT. Data was gathered from micro-enterprises and their stakeholders to find the best maturity model fit. These model fitness considered the entire internal and external environmental factors influencing micro-enterprise ICT investment decision-making. The research investigated micro-enterprises, their current practices, focus and strategic, tactical and operational behaviour in terms of business and ICT. Of the 34 micro-enterprises that took part, most them knew of the concept of growth and maturity of the enterprise, they used none discernable metric to measure their internal and external activities regarding ICT investment. It highlighted the alignment of business and ICT as a major issue that needed to be addressed in order for micro-enterprises to be competitive, improve performance and returns. The recommended model from the research provides a formalised process that covers both the micro-enterprises internal and external matrices when deciding on the ICT investment to be made.

The impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is a significant issue in today's tourism industry. The development of the internet has made information easily accessible to consumers, and has therefore established a direct link between consumers and suppliers. As a result, traditional travel distribution channels are changing rapidly. A major feature of this change is "disintermediation", with principals such as airlines, hotels and rental car chains bypassing intermediaries and sell directly to consumers. Travel agents (TAs) are considered to be particularly vulnerable to this process. ICTs have the potential to replace their core competencies, which include transaction processing (ticketing and settlement) and information provision (raw product information provided by suppliers).This thesis focuses on the impact of ICTs on the TA sector, and specifically on the New Zealand TA case. A theoretical approach based on regulation theory combined with a mixed method approach was used to investigate the main issues in New Zealand. The research included a case study to identify the principal issues and trends in the TA sector, in-depth interviews with TAs and industry specialists to refine the main issues and allow the formulation of some theoretical assumptions, in-depth interviews with consumers regarding the role of TAs in the internet era and the quality of service they provide, and a fully-structured, national on-line survey of TAs to verify the assumptions made in the earlier interviews and test the applicability of the post-Fordism model for the New Zealand TA sector.Based on the findings, it is argued that disintermediation is particularly pronounced in the relationship between airlines and travel agents. To minimise the risk of disintermediation and improve business performance, TAs need to reposition themselves and review their core strategies to compete efficiently in the changing business environment. The thesis reveals that consumers perceive TAs as mainly "transaction facilitators". Nevertheless the thesis show that process of "reintermediation" is a reality for some New Zealand TAs.An application of regulation theory to the New Zealand TA case reveals that in its traditional form, the regulation theory cannot explain the complexities found in the modern TA environment. The thesis reveals several distinct modes in TA perceptions of their business environment and their survival strategies, which indicates a heterogeneous, clustered population. A "formula for success" is developed for TAs in New Zealand. In this respect, TAs that perceive ICT as a strategic tool and are orientated towards consumers appear to have a business advantage.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Leer en Onderrig)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

La letteratura sul digital divide ha fatto negli ultimi anni importanti passi in avanti: una velocità, quella dell’evoluzione del concetto di divario digitale, sorprendente, se si pensa che il termine nasce poco più di dieci anni fa (DiMaggio et al. 2004). Ancora più interessante è la duttilità del termine, che si è trasformato in un vero e proprio discorso, quasi in termini foucaultiani, assorbito da governi, istituzioni, associazioni, aziende. La flessibilità del termine sembrerebbe avere svuotato il concetto stesso di digital divide: se da una parte la letteratura e la riflessione accademica si sta progressivamente allontanando dal termine (Warschauer, 2003), dall’altra l’azione politica l’ha fatto proprio, perdendo sempre più aderenza col dibattito teorico in corso (van Dijk 2005; Barzilai-Nahon 2006). L’ambiguità del termine digital divide pone seri problemi circa la definizione della issue: alcuni studiosi (Compaine 2001) hanno definito il digital divide come un problema di semplice diffusione tecnologica. Tale impostazione, ampiamente superata dalla letterature accademica, è stata invece convintamente adottata dagli strategy makers istituzionale e politici, con effetti spesso contraddittori e discutibili sulle modalità di diffusione e adozione delle ICT tra la popolazione. E’ come se di fronte all’evoluzione del dibattito accademico, i soggetti pubblici non abbiano avuto la capacità (e la volontà politica) di far contestualmente evolvere le politiche adottate verso un avvicinamento al tema del divario di competenze. Al contrario, le strategie degli attori pubblici (privati e istituzionali) sembrano in alcuni casi essere ancora legate a interpretazioni, valori culturali, miti, retoriche tipiche della nascita dell’era digitale (Mosco 2004). In particolare, le istituzioni sono impegnate in un continuo processo interpretativo sul ruolo delle tecnologie (della comunicazione) nella società: ciò che sembra emergere dall’analisi dei principali documenti prodotti dalle istituzioni europee e statunitensi sul digital divide e sullo sviluppo della Società dell’Informazione, è la costruzione di un’ideologia di stampo diffusionista e determinista, all’interno della quale le tecnologie digitali (con Internet in testa) sono in grado di determinare una cesura storica e hanno la capacità di offrire alla società delle opportunità di sviluppo rivoluzionarie. Nonostante tale processo di costruzione narrativa delle opportunità sociali delle ICT, le concrete politiche di riduzione del divario digitale sembrano seguire un’altra strada (Milner 2006). La ricerca, dopo una panoramica sull’evoluzione del concetto di digital divide (Iannone 2007), affronta la più recente letteratura sul tema delle disuguaglianze digitali (Newholm et al. 2008; Sartori 2006; DiMaggio et al 2004), inserendola nella più ampia riflessione sulle disuguaglianze economiche e sociali del mondo contemporaneo (Gallino 2000; Milanovic 2007) e relazionandola con un’overview delle strategie e politiche pubbliche e private di riduzione del divario numerico, in particolare nell’Unione Europa e negli Stati Uniti. L’obiettivo finale del paper è dunque evidenziare il pericoloso scollamento tra l’essenza delle disuguaglianze digitali (la cui comprensione è possibile solo se inserita in una più ampia riflessioni sulle disuguaglianza societarie) e la loro discorsivizzazione, rappresentazione e messa in forma operata dai soggetti e dalle istituzioni che si sono assunti la responsabilità di messa a punto delle strategie di superamento del divario digitale (Carlo 2008). La tesi è che, nel processo di discorsivizzazione del digital divide, i soggetti pubblici abbiano costruito un apparato retorico in grado di offrire una rappresentazione del problema lontana dalla reale natura del fenomeno: il digital divide ha assorbito retoriche e miti del ciberspazio e della società contemporanea, trasformando tali miti in un’azione politica in molti casi inadeguata, inefficacia, fuori obiettivo (Colombo – Carlo 2006a). Sembra di essere di fronte in alcuni casi a una vera e propria azione mistificatoria: si discorsivizzano azioni politiche di riduzione del digital divide legate a un auspicato processo di sviluppo sociale e culturale (determinato dalle ICT) per perseguire, in verità, obiettivi di carattere puramente economico. Forse solo attraverso un’azione di disvelamento di tale mistificazione, è possibile riconoscere le vere politiche di riduzione del divario digitale che sono tali solo se inserite in una più ampia riflessione (e azione) attorno alla crescita delle disuguaglianze nella società globale, informatizzata, in rete (Colombo – Carlo 2006b). Il rischio è che tali azioni, altrimenti, siano semplicemente legate a dimensioni economicistiche di efficienza e di crescita, pericolosamente controproducenti per lo sviluppo di società più giuste (Feenberg 2002; van Dijk 2006). / In the recent years, the literature about digital divide makes an important breakthrough: the evolution of concept of digital divide it has been very quick, in particular if is related with the relative youthfulness of the term, that born only ten years ago (DiMaggio et al. 2004). Even more interesting is the “pliability” of the term: it’s seem to be transformed in a kind of discourse, near in Foucault’s concept, premise by governments, institutions, associations, companies. The flexibility of the term seems has transform (near empty out) the concept of digital divide: if on the one hand the academic reflections are gradually moving away from the term (making more complex the concept, Warschauer, 2003), on the other hand the political action still “use” the term, without understand the theoretical debate in progress and the changing of meaning of the concept (van Dijk, 2005; Barzilai-Nahon, 2006). Maybe only through an action of “unmasking” of this kind of mystification could be possible to recognize the true (or, the more efficient, useful, comprehensive) policies of reduction of the digital divide. Only if this policies are combined with a broader reflections (and actions) about the rising of inequality in the global, digital, network society, the effect of these measures of government will be visible. The risk is that these measures, without a deeply consideration about the morphology, characteristic, structurally unequal of contemporary society, are linking only with economic dimension of efficiency and development. This kind of “use” of digital divide term in a frame of economical policy could be very dangerous and counterproductive for the improvement of more equitable societies (Feenberg 2002, van Dijk, 2006). This paper, after a overview about the evolution of the concept of digital divide (Iannone, 2007) , face the most recent literature about digital inequality (DiMaggio, P., Hargittai, E., Celeste, C., and Shafer, S. 2004): on one side it frames the literature of digital divide in a broader reflection about economic and social inequality in the contemporary world (Gallino 2000; Milanovic 2007), on the other side it wants to related this literature with an overview of policy and strategy public and private for the reduction of digital divide, in particular in EU and USA (Milner, 2006). The aim of the paper is to stress the dangerous separation between the essence of digital inequalities and their discoursivization, representation and “shaping” made by the subjects that have taken the responsibility or have the role to manage and ideate strategies for fall digital divide.

No description available.

Politicians and educators are concerned about the level of literacy and numeric skills of learners in South-African schools. Educators are experiencing increased pressure to teach reading-, writing- and mathematical skills effectively (the so called 3 R's, namely reading, writing and arithmetic). It is imperative that the effective teaching of numeric and literacy should commence in the foundation phase, where the basis for more advanced skills should be established. The purpose of this study was to establish whether the development and implementation of multimedia learning and teaching support material (LTSM) by means of a digital book disc programmer (DBD) would contribute to effective facilitation of reading-, spelling- and mathematical skills. A positivist research paradigm served as the foundation for this study. A literature study was undertaken to establish how multimedia can be used as LTSM to improve reading, spelling and mathematical skills of foundation phase learners. Quantitative research was done wherein the variables were controlled and standardised procedures and measuring instruments were used to collect data. Statistical techniques were also used to analyse the collected data and draw conclusions, 'n Quasi-experimental pre-test post-test control group-design was used over a four month period, in which learners were exposed respectively to traditional teaching on the one hand (control group) and intervention by means of exposure to the DBD-multimedia programmer (experimental group) on the other hand, in order to test the effect of the DBD. The results of this study indicated that the integration of the DBD programmer, as a form of multimedia LTSM, effectively supports the facilitation of reading-, spelling- and writing skills. The proposed model indicates clear guidelines for the development and integration of a multimedia teaching and learning support programmer to enhance the effective facilitation of reading-, spelling- and mathematical skills in the foundation phase. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Leer en Onderrig)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.