Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2005. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 222-230).

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2005. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-176).

Over the past decade, rapid progress in ICT has encouraged many governments to incorporate new technology into their national economic development strategies. Egovernment is an important application within ICT and has become more significant in the agenda of policy and decision makers the world over. E-government created a new medium that changed the nature of the whole public sector and its relationship with its constituencies. It has had a profound effect on various socioeconomic and political aspects of society. E-government provides delivery of public services in a much more convenient and cost-effective way, offering huge opportunities to improve public sector efficiency. However, the process of change also gives rise to new challenges and difficulties, especially in developing countries, where many initiatives have not been successful. This is as a result of the massive deficiencies in basic infrastructure, human capacity and financial resources, along with the attendant political and cultural constraints. These factors are crucial and impede the adoption of egovernment and the building of an information based society and economy. Egovernment initiatives must therefore account for the specific government systems, technological infrastructure and environmental conditions of the host country. Many of the models and frameworks built to assist in the adoption process in developing countries have been adapted from e-government implementation experiences in Western developed countries. While there are important lessons to be learnt, these frameworks have limited application in Africa and developing countries in other regions. Previously it was difficult to investigate e-government in developing countries due to their low levels of development. Recent advances in e-government in these countries have made it possible to conduct studies and analyse their experiences and practices. This research empirically examined the adoption of e-government at a national and organisational level, taking the public sector in Sudan as a case study. A qualitative approach was followed and data was collected from Sudan using interviews with key officials and top managers; supported by published documents in the public domain.The data was analysed using content analysis and the results verified with experts from a Sudanese public organisation. The findings of the research contributed to the identification of the critical factors in Sudan, and to the development of an e-government adoption framework. The framework combines elements from the Technological, Organisational and Environmental (TOE) model; guiding decision makers to better manage issues related to the adoption process regarding the development of the technical infrastructure, management systems, values and strategies. The use of the proposed framework can help integrate e-government into the public sector in order to accelerate social and economic progress in developing countries.

Financial industry in Taiwan is facing the challenge of over-banking. When more and more banks are established and offering a variety of financial goods or services to their customers, the competition continues to heighten. Banks are increasingly taking the advantages of electronic commerce to provide e-banking services, intending to maximize their business profits. In this study, we use a technology-organization-environment framework to propose an e-banking adoption model. Seven factors, including perceived direct and indirect benefits of the e-banking adoption, financial readiness, technical readiness, mimetic pressures, coercive pressure, and normative pressures, are tested from 255 firms. Statistical analysis and the implications of findings are discussed in the following sections.

This descriptive case study focuses on how Technology teachers interpret and enact the interrelationship of the Technology-Society-Environment (TSE) theme with the Technological Process and Skills (TPS) and Technological Knowledge and Understanding (TKU) curriculum themes of the South African school subject, Technology. Science and technology have influenced society in the twentieth and twenty-first Century to a considerable extent. A critical study of this group of related influences is termed Science- Technology-Society and addresses socially relevant topics that encourage critical and high level thinking skills, problem-solving and decision making capacity. These issues are included in the Technology curriculum as the TSE theme. Using the TSE theme in teaching would have the potential to make the curriculum more relevant and learning more meaningful as it provides scope for teachers to engage learners to construct knowledge at a critical level in different real life contexts. This study investigated the relationship between teachers’ understanding of the interrelationship of TSE with Technological Process and Skills (TPS) and Technological Knowledge and Understanding (TKU) themes and the extent to which the unique features and scope for teaching Technology are met. The study was set in Bohlabela district of the province of Mpumalanga, in South Africa and implemented between August 2011 and April 2012. Four teachers of different schools and circuits were interviewed, three were observed during teaching, their lessons, work schedules and learners’ workbooks and project portfolios were analysed. A novel combination of an adaptation of the Ben-Peretz scheme of curriculum document analysis and Rogan and Grayson construct of implementation frame was used in the analysis of the information obtained through documents and observations. The study established that only in exceptional cases teachers use learner centred approaches that allow the integration of the TSE theme with the process (TPS) and knowledge (TKU) themes. Evidence was found that while teachers planned such integration, learners themselves do not show any examples of such integration in their workbooks. Teachers have difficulties with specific knowledge areas of the Technology curriculum, in spite of formal adequate basic training in the subject. Teachers ascribe these difficulties to resource limitations, the absence of specific technology training and inadequate support by teacher support personnel. It is recommended that teacher support groups be established, and that the Department of Education develop specific curriculum materials and train teachers in the interpretation and enactment of the documents. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / gm2014 / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted

Bakgrund: Bygg- och anläggningsbranschen är en bransch som bland annat bygger ut bredband. I Sverige, såväl som inom EU, har omfattande mål satts för bredbandsutbyggnad inom de närmsta åren. Detta ställer krav på branschen, specifikt att de måste digitaliseras för att kunna effektivisera sitt arbete, vilket de fått kritik för att ha varit långsamma med. Detta fenomen undersöks i denna studie genom att iaktta anammandet ett digitalt verktyg utifrån TOEramverket. Det är ett ramverk som är lämpat för att analysera vad som motiverar implementering och anammande av en ny teknologi. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att bidra med ökad förståelse för bolag verksamma inom anläggning vad gäller implementering och anammande av digitala verktyg, utifrån en teknologisk, organisatorisk och miljömässig kontext. Därför vill studien undersöka vad som motiverat bolag som jobbar med anläggningsverksamhet att implementera och anamma en ny teknologi. Metod: Studien omfattas av en kvalitativ forskningsmetod, interpretivistisk lins och abduktiv ansats. Studiens urval har tillämpats med hjälp av ett bekvämlighetsurval och snöbollsurval med fokus på respondenter som har en högre position i sin organisation. Datainsamling görs genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med flera fallföretag aktiva inom branschen, och data har analyserats genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Slutsats: Studien kan utifrån resultatet av den diskussion som förs i analysavsnittet visa att de faktorerna som ingått i TOE-ramverket påverkar anammande och implementering av teknologi i bolag verksamma inom anläggning. De faktorer som identifierat som spelar roll för en påverkan är: upplevda direkta och indirekta fördelar, komplexitet, kompatibilitet, organisatorisk beredskap, teknologisk beredskap, organisatoriskt stöd, upplevd press från branschen, upplevd press från handelspartners och upplevd press från konsumenter. Slutligen har ett antal nya faktorer identifierats som betydande i anammande- och implementeringsprocessen: nationell kultur, ålder, upplevda direkta nackdelar och indirekta nackdelar / Background: The construction industry is an industry that, among other areas, construct and develop broadband infrastructure. In Sweden, as well as within the EU, extensive goals have been set for broadband expansion in the next few years. This places a demand on the industry, specifically that they must digitize in order to increase efficiency, which is something that the industry has been criticized for. This study investigates this phenomenon by observing the adoption of a digital tool, based on the TOE framework. This is a framework that is suitable for analyzing what motivates firms to adopt new technology. Purpose: The aim of the study is to contribute an increased understanding of construction firms regarding the implementation and adoption of digital tools, based on a technological, organizational and environmental context. Therefore, the study wants to describe what motivated these construction companies to implement and adopt a new technology. Methodology: The study uses a qualitative research method, interpretivistic lens and abductive approach. The study's sample was selected using a convenience sample and snowball sample, focusing on respondents who have a higher position in their organization. The data collection is done through semi-structured interviews with several case companies active in the industry, and data has been analyzed through a qualitative content analysis. Conclusion: Based on the results of the discussion in the analysis section, the study can show that the factors included in the TOE framework affect the adoption and implementation of technology in firms in the construction industry. The factors identified that play a role in influencing are: perceived direct and indirect benefits, complexity, compatibility, financial readiness, technological readiness, organizational support, perceived pressure from the industry, perceived pressure by partners and perceived pressure from consumers. Finally, in the empirical material and subsequently in the analysis section, new factors that have been identified as affecting the adoption and implementation process have emerged: national culture, age, perceived direct disadvantages and indirect disadvantages.

Byggbranschen är sedan länge känd för sina kvalitets- och produktivitetsbrister vilket i Sverige årligen kostar miljarder att åtgärda. Det finns flertalet traditionella sätt att hantera kvalitet i byggprojekt men då dessa inte visat sig vara tillräckliga finns potential i att utveckla digitala kvalitetshanteringsverktyg för att skapa en förändring i branschen. Vid implementering av digitala verktyg råder dock en enad mening om att det inte bara är teknologin som påverkar utfallet. Detta beskrivs med hjälp av ‘Technology-Organisation-Environment framework’ vilket används som teoretiskt ramverk i denna studie. Med bakgrund av ovanstående syftar detta examensarbete till att skapa en ökad förståelse av implementeringen av ett nytt kvalitetshanteringsverktyg i byggbranschen. För att uppfylla detta syfte har implementeringsprocessen, ansedda framgångsfaktorer samt uppfattningar av implementeringen undersökts. Detta har gjorts genom en intervjustudie där kvalitativt material om ett nylanserat kvalitetshanteringsverktyg har samlats in och undersökts. De som deltagit i intervjuerna är mjukvaruleverantörerna som tillhandahåller verktyget, en forskare som bidragit i utvecklingen samt chefer och projektledare på tre företag som i dagsläget använder verktyget. Studien resulterar i en processkarta som beskriver den implementeringsprocess som företagen genomgått. Därutöver listas de framgångsfaktorer som ansetts vara av betydelse vid implementeringen samt deltagarnas uppfattningar. Vad som har visats är att ett intresse för förändringsarbete när det kommer till hållbarhet och kvalitet finns hos företagen där bland annat tidigare erfarenheter och ett starkt ledarskap behövs likväl som teknologins goda användarvänlighet. / The construction industry is known for its quality and productivity issues which in Sweden costs billions of SEK each year to repair. There are numerous traditional ways of managing quality in construction projects but since these have not shown to be sufficient there is potential in developing digital quality management tools in order to induce change within the industry. When implementing digital tools there is a consensus that it is not solely the technology in itself affecting the outcome. This is described in the ‘Technology-Organisation-Environment framework’ which is used as the theoretical framework for this study. Given this background, this master thesis has the purpose to create an increased understanding of the implementation of a new quality management tool within the construction industry. To fulfill this purpose the implementation process, considered success factors and perceptions of the implementation have been studied. This has been done through an interview study where qualitative material regarding a newly released quality management tool has been gathered and studied. The participants of the study are the software vendors that provide the tool, a researcher that has contributed to the development, managers and project managers from three companies that currently use the tool. The study results in a process map that describes the implementation process as experienced by the companies. In addition, success factors that have been considered important for the implementation have been listed and the participants' perceptions have been declared. What has been shown is that there is an interest for change management in regards to sustainability and quality within the companies. Previous experience and strong leadership is needed as well as the technology’s ease of use.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Information and Communication Sciences, Computing Department, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 503-514.

The adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is widely regarded as essential in contemporary organisational environments. Such technologies have substantial effects on an organisation’s productivity and competitiveness. However, the nature of the effects varies across types of organisation (small to large), by country-context (developed and developing countries) and with the type of ICT adopted. This thesis focuses primarily on Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in a less-researched developing country context, the region of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with special reference to Oman. In terms of the ICT under investigation, recognising the emergence of more interactive forms of technology, this thesis focuses on social media applications. It is widely recognised that the adoption and use of these applications change the ways in which organisations conduct their activities and represent a critical business opportunity for SMEs. This opportunity will only be realised by SMEs if, and when, social media are adopted in their organisations. This therefore creates a requirement to understand the factors that influence SMEs in making the adoption decision. The research related to such factors is scarce, not least because the technologies are relatively new. By using the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework, this study therefore attempted to understand the factors influencing the decision by SMEs to adopt social media. It employed a sequential, exploratory mixed method, where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were combined to meet the research objectives. In the first stage, a preliminary TOE model of 18 factors was developed from the analysis of semi-structured interviews with 18 SMEs owner-managers in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. In the second stage, a survey involving 205 SMEs in Muscat was conducted to examine empirically the preliminary model. The survey data were analysed using logistic regression (LR). Of the factors examined, compatibility, observability, trialability, trust, image, perceived lack of managerial time, market scope, customer pressure and family and friends’ support were found to have significant influence on SMEs’ decisions to adopt social media. These findings have important implications and value for the research community, SMEs and policy makers (in particular, the Public Authority for SME Development (PASMED)) in terms of formulating improved strategies for social media adoption. The resulting research model proposed in this thesis can improve these stakeholders’ understandings of why some SMEs have chosen to adopt social media technologies, while other SMEs which face similar market conditions have not.