Avec le développement des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication, les procédures de travail sont de plus en plus informatisées. Cette informatisation croissante des procédures pose la question de leur acceptation par les travailleurs qui doivent s’approprier de nouvelles manières de faire leur travail. La présente thèse vise à examiner les conditions de l’adoption de technologies véhiculant des procédures de travail par des techniciens de maintenance. Quatre études sont réalisées sur deux terrains de recherche (maintenance aéronautique et maintenance industrielle) avec comme objectif de comprendre comment des techniciens de maintenance perçoivent et utilisent ces procédures de travail informatisées. Deux études sont réalisées dans le domaine aéronautique et visent à investiguer l’acceptabilité sociale ainsi que l’usage de trois nouveaux formats de procédures (animation 3D, 2D et photos) avant leur mise en place au sein des ateliers. L’étude 1 porte sur la perception des nouveaux formats de procédures par des techniciens (N=136). Les résultats de cette étude montrent que les croyances liées à l’utilité et à la facilité d’utilisation sont les principaux prédicteurs de l’intention comportementale. De plus, il semble que les croyances diffèrent en fonction du type de comportement d’utilisation des procédures (utilisation quotidienne ou exceptionnelle). Afin de comprendre les difficultés possibles lors de l’utilisation de ces nouveaux formats, l’étude 2 porte sur la réalisation de tests utilisateurs (N=41). L’objectif est d’étudier l’utilité et l’utilisabilité des nouveaux formats de procédures en comparaison avec le format actuel (texte + image). Les résultats montrent que tous les techniciens réussissent la maintenance, peu importe le format utilisé. De plus, d’une manière générale, les nouveaux formats permettent aux techniciens d’être plus efficients car ils mettent moins de temps avec les nouveaux formats (animation 3D et photos) qu’avec les formats de référence et les erreurs commises au cours de la maintenance sont réduites. Les nouveaux formats, avec la présence d’informations visuelles, facilitent la localisation des informations sur le matériel. Enfin, une grande majorité des techniciens a l’intention d’utiliser les nouveaux formats. Deux autres études sont réalisées dans le domaine de la maintenance industrielle sur l’acceptation et l’usage d’un logiciel de gestion de procédures par les techniciens. Dans ce cadre, l’étude 3 porte sur la perception d’un logiciel en cours d’utilisation par des techniciens de maintenance (N=61). Les résultats font ressortir la croyance liée à la compatibilité perçue comme principal prédicteur de l’attitude, de l’intention comportementale et de l’utilisation effective du logiciel. Afin d’investiguer l’usage réel du logiciel, l’étude 4 porte sur l’analyse de l’activité de 8 techniciens issus de quatre ateliers (observation filmée et entretien). Les résultats montrent que le logiciel est adapté pour une partie seulement des techniciens. En effet, il semble représenter un frein pour les techniciens expérimentés et moyennement expérimentés dans le sens ils sont contraints dans l’utilisation du logiciel (impossibilité de naviguer librement entre les étapes). Cependant, le logiciel se révèle être une aide précieuse pour les techniciens inexpérimentés (support d’aide, aide à la formation…). Des recommandations sont émises en vue d’améliorer la conception des logiciels étudiés. Notamment des améliorations dans la conception des trois nouveaux formats de procédures de maintenance aéronautique sont suggérées (adapter le format à la tâche réalisée, améliorer l’ergonomie de la tablette tactile…). Dans le deuxième cas, nous formulons des recommandations afin de modifier le logiciel de gestion de procédures et de le rendre plus compatible avec le travail des techniciens (mise en place d’un mode expert, faciliter la recherche d’information, naviguer librement entre les étapes…). / With the development of new information and communication technologies, working procedures are increasingly computerized. This increasing computerization of working procedures raises the question of their acceptance by workers who have to appropriate new ways of doing their work. The present thesis aims to examine the conditions for the adoption of technologies conveying work procedures by maintenance technicians. Four studies are carried out on two fields of research (aeronautical maintenance and industrial maintenance) with the aim of understanding how maintenance technicians perceive and use these computerized working procedures. Two studies are carried out in the field of aeronautics and aim to investigate the social acceptability and the use of three new formats of procedures (3D animation, 2D and photos) before they are set up in the workshops. Study 1 examines the perception of new procedure formats by technicians (N = 136). The results of this study show that beliefs related to usefulness and ease of use are the main predictors of behavioral intention. In addition, it appears that beliefs differ depending on the type of use behavior of the procedures (daily or exceptional use). In order to understand the possible difficulties in using these new formats, Study 2 concerns the realization of user tests (N = 41). The aim is to study the usefulness and usability of the new procedural formats compared to the current format (text + image). The results show that all technicians succeed in maintenance, regardless of the format used. In addition, in general, new formats allow technicians to be more efficient because they take less time with new formats (3D animation and photos) than with reference formats and so errors made during maintenance are reduced. The new formats, with the presence of visual information, facilitate the location of the information on the equipment. Finally, a large majority of technicians intend to use the new formats. Two other studies are carried out in the field of industrial maintenance on the acceptance and use of a management of procedures software by the technicians. In this framework, study 3 concerns the perception of software in use by maintenance technicians (N = 61). The results highlight the belief in perceived compatibility as the main predictor of attitude, behavioral intention, and actual use of the software. In order to investigate the actual use of the software, study 4 deals with the analysis of the activity of 8 technicians from four workshops (filmed observation and interview). The results show that the software is suitable for only some of the technicians. Indeed, it seems to represent a brake for experienced technicians and moderately experienced technicians in the sense they are constrained in the use of the software (impossibility to navigate freely between the steps). However, the software proves to be a valuable help for inexperienced technicians (help support, training aid ...). Recommendations are made to improve the design of the software studied. In particular, improvements in the design of the three new formats of aeronautical maintenance procedures are suggested (adapting the format to the task carried out, improving the ergonomics of the touch pad...). In the second case, we make recommendations to modify the procedure management software and make it more compatible with the work of the technicians (setting up an expert mode, facilitating the search for information, navigating freely between steps …).

<p>This mini-thesis attempts to explain the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure in public schools in the Western Cape. The mini-thesis uses the case study as research design to explore aspects such as the motivation for using ICT, funding models, infrastructure models, ICT curriculum integration and teacher development. In order to gather data on the above, interviews and observations are used as research tools. The study begins with the exploration of the history of ICT infrastructure in South African schools and subsequently an international perspective is added through the literature review. Officials and teachers of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) were interviewed to obtain their perspectives and a school was visited to observe procured ICT infrastructure. The results revealed that the WCED is using the Khanya project to deliver an ICT infrastructure to schools and to provide facilitation in the integration of ICT into the curriculum. It further showed that due to the rapid change in technology, Khanya had to adapt the hardware configuration on a regular basis and that this put considerable strain on and already small budget for ICT. The challenge that emerged is the lack of adequate ICT training for teachers. This could potentially hamper the integration of ICT and if not addressed, could serious hamper the WCED in its quest to deliver a technology based curriculum. The study concludes with conclusions drawn for the data as well as recommendations for effective ICT integration.</p>

<p>This research was undertaken to propose a model for eLearning adoption in Higher Education in Africa and to identify and empirically test measures to assess the model. The model identified eLearning, individual and organisational factors affecting eLearning adoption in higher education. eLearning factors were deemed to be aligned with the individual and organisational factors and therefore, the measurement of individual and organisational factors of eLearning adoption is essential in determining the current state, and future development that could enhance eLearning adoption in higher education. This study is a first attempt in Africa to define and present a conceptualization of an eLearning adoption framework. The framework is a combination of frameworks and models from various disciplines, including social psychology, information systems, anthropology, sociology, education, communication, marketing, management, geography, economics and cognitive psychology. These frameworks for eLearning adoption in Higher Education are synergised and contextualised in the study.</p>

The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region is faced with limited medical personnel and healthcare services to address the many healthcare problems of the region. Poor health indicators reflect the overall decline in socio-economic development. Shortages of access to health services in the region is further complicated by the concentration of health services in urban areas, the region’s multiple medical problems (over 70% of HIV/AIDS cases in the world); and the brain drain phenomenon – it is estimated one-third of African physicians emigrate to North America and Europe. The result is that the SSA region is left with about 10 physicians, and 20 beds, per 100,000 patients. Telemedicine has been found to offer socio-economic benefits, reduce costs, and improve access to healthcare service providers by patients, but previous attempts to move various information technologies from developers in the industrial world to the developing world have failed because of a clear neglect of infrastructural and cultural factors that influence such transfers. The objective of this study is to address key factors that challenge the introduction of telemedicine technology into the health sector in SSA in particular, and by extension, other developing countries with similar socio-economic structures. This research offers a distinctive perspective, focusing on visually-based clinical applications in the SSA region, and considerable attention to the national infrastructure and cultural impact of telemedicine transfer (social and value) outcomes. Two research models and its associated hypotheses are proposed and empirically tested using quantitative data collected from SSA physicians and other health professionals. The study also contributes to the ongoing debate on the potential of telemedicine in improving access and reducing costs. This research can help to understand the socio-economic impact of telemedicine outcomes in a comprehensive way. The finding from the survey shows the rapid advances in telemedicine technology specifically, visual clinical applications may become an essential healthcare tool in the near future within SSA countries.

<p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt / line-height:150% / font-family:&quot / Times New Roman&quot / ,&quot / serif&quot / ">The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) both in the General Education and Training (GET) and Further Education and Training (FET) bands is viewed as an innovative tool in enhancing a learner-centered approach to teaching and learning.&nbsp / As a result, a number of schools in rural and urban environments in South Africa have been provided with computers and other digital resources to facilitate teaching and learning. This study investigated the use of ICT in the teaching and learning of English First Additional Language (FAL) at Grade 10 level. It set out to discover digital resources and literacies to which teachers and learners were exposed in the English (FAL) classroom, and how these resources were used to enhance learners&rsquo / reading and writing skills. Following a qualitative research design, this study made use of classroom observations and interviews to collect data from teachers and Grade 10 learners. The collected evidence was from a single school which uses Khanya Project ICT materials.&nbsp / The school is located in one of the disadvantaged black townships in Cape Town. The study made use of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theory and the constructivist theoretical framework to make sense of classroom interaction and the extent to which ICT and other teaching strategies were used to facilitate acquisition of English language skills, particularly reading and writing. The findings of the study show that there are a number of factors influencing ICT integration in Grade 10 English (FAL).&nbsp / These factors include teachers&rsquo / and learners&rsquo / limited access to ICT and digital literacy.&nbsp / Other factors relate to pedagogy and support in the use of ICT in teaching and learning.&nbsp / All the identified factors indicate that there are a number of barriers to ICT integration in English teaching and learning.&nbsp / The study concludes that ICT use has great potential in providing creativity and innovativeness to facilitate language teaching and learning. Given the lack of adequate ICT resources and under-utilization of ICT resources in disadvantaged schools, there is a need to improve teacher and learner access to ICT, especially in disadvantaged schools.&nbsp / This could be done through monitored support and adequate teacher training and active involvement of higher education institutions through teacher training programmes which should prioritize ICT integration in their curricula.&nbsp / <br type="_moz" /> </span></p>

<p>This paper is inspired by the ills borne out of the internet. The internet has become a modern day tool for criminals seeking to conceal the proceeds derived from their crime, hence the&nbsp / problematic notion of cyberlaundering. This paper journeys through the world of cyberlaundering by looking into the structure of the crime in great depth. It explores various possibilities, and tries to hatch out viable solutions to the dilemma.</p>

This paper analyzes the relationship between effective state intervention and Information Communications Technology (ICT) dissemination. I theorize that investment in ICT leads to benefits for all firms; without government intervention and incentives, firms will have little reason to invest substantially in this arena. I demonstrate how the collective action problem leads to a lack of private investment as highlighted by the prisoner’s dilemma game. I conduct a multi country regression test to ascertain the factors that influence the dissemination of IT. I then analyze the impact of the United States and South Korean government on ICT by process tracing the role of each government in the dissemination of ICT. My results support my hypothesis. The policy implications for this study are the increase in the level of US government involvement in ICT through encouraging private sector participation, creating new laws, and increasing access to technology in public education.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) is in the discourse of international development,which is often considered as the key to socio- economic development in the sense that it helps tosolve social problems and increases the rate of economic growth. ICT policies are situated in thiscontext. Many international agencies advocate certain policies in order to accelerate economicgrowth and development in so-called developing countries. In 2009, Bangladesh enacted itsNational ICT Policy setting a broad vision to establish a transparent, responsive and accountablegovernment; developed skilled human resources; and to enhance social equity through anextended use of ICT. Following this vision multiple objectives have been addressed where socialequity and integrity are prioritized in the name of developing a socially equitable and integratedsociety through ICT. The research task of this work is to analyze the discourse of this strategyand to compare it to social reality. The ‘Theory of Communicative Action’ (TCA), which isbased on the four validity claims - truth, legitimacy, sincerity, and clarity - is used to demonstratehow social equity and integrity are addressed as objectives and what claims are made in theaction items with regard to these two objectives and how far such claims reflect social reality.Keywords:Information Communication Technology (ICT), National ICT Policy, Social Equity, Integrity,Communicative Action Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis, Validity Claims, ICT4D, CriticalTheory, Critical Information Systems research.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of schools of teacher education (STE) in Turkey in terms of how they prepare future teachers to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in their professions, and the current situation of K-12 schools in terms of how teachers employ ICT in their professions. The primary focus was to develop a deeper understanding of ICT perceptions, competencies, classroom use, related courses effectiveness, main barriers, and possible enablers to integrating ICT. This study may contribute to the existing literature by revealing and establishing baseline data on the current status of ICT integration into schools of teacher education and K-12 in Turkey. The results of this study can be used by policy makers, Ministry of National Education, Higher Education Council, universities, and K-12 schools to reexamine the current status of ICT and revise related policies, strategies, and courses. A mixed method approach was used by utilizing questionnaires from 51 deans, 111 faculty members, 1330 prospective teachers, and 1429 K-12 teachers / and interviews with 6 faculty members, 6 prospective teachers, and 6 K-12 teachers. It could be interpreted from the results that most of the participants expressed positive perceptions about the integration of ICT into teacher education and K-12 schools. Generally, faculty members perceived themselves as competent overall, while prospective and K-12 teachers did not. Faculty members and prospective teachers perceived ICT related courses beneficial and effective in ICT integration into education. On the other hand, K-12 teachers showed a degree of overall unsure (neutral) perception towards their ICT related courses and considered themselves well prepared for professional life. There were strong agreements between the participants as to the main barriers and possible enablers.

<p>One of the major reasons for political instability in Sub-Saharan Africa originates from the way elections are conducted. Most African countries have quite a handful of electoral malpractices which lead to political instability, civil wars and low economic growth.  Electronic voting might be a solution to the election problems and thus bring in a stable political atmosphere which attracts investors.</p><p>This thesis looks at the prospects and challenges of implementing e-voting in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa as a solution to the current manual paper-based system and proposes a framework and requirements which can be used as guidelines for its adoption and implementation.</p><p>The thesis has been conducted by studying literature on electronic voting and Diffusion of Innovations Theory. Furthermore, a case study has been conducted on the Ghanaian electoral process, by conducting interviews with the Danquah Institute of Ghana and through questionnaires to some Ghanaian citizens in both the rural and urban areas of Ghana.</p><p>The main results from the thesis show that the adoption and subsequent implementation of e-voting in SSA countries, can only be possible if the governments show strong committment and support by securing funds through donor organizations, and providing the necessary IT infrastructure and other resources needed to support the project. Voter education too is an absolute necessity. The adoption of e-voting is mainly based on how the innovation will be diffused and the perceived benefits that will be derived from the investment. Hence, particular attention should be paid to the various communication channels, especially the media, through which messages are passed across to the citizens.</p>