The research focused on examining the interplay between innovations in information and communication technology (ICT) in three different micro-level settings with broader development processes within the emerging global economy of Mozambique. There is a great deal of concern among different national governments, international and national agencies about the role of ICT in development. The question often asked is how we can understand the contribution of ICT initiatives to the socio-economic development of a country. This research was conducted as follows. First of all, the nature of the problem was analysed from four points of view: globalisation, focusing on the global-local debate, discourses around development, transfer of ICT-based innovations to developing countries and the relationship between IS/ICT and organisational change in the context of a developing country. Secondly, a literature survey was undertaken to discuss these issues. The results of the literature survey guided the empirical research undertaken in two organisations and one rural community in Mozambique. Thirdly, the results of the empirical work were analysed with regard to the four perspectives discussed earlier. The research objective required the development of a framework for understanding the process of the adoption and use of ICT-based initiatives for development. Theories such as Actor-Network Theory, the Human Environment Model and Structuration Theory form the basis of a framework that was constructed using the results of the fieldwork. The framework is composed of three levels of analysis: the micro-level analyses the ICT-related initiatives by using the sociology of the translation process from an ANT perspective and by applying the due process model. The meso-level examines the social context within which the ICT-related initiatives are implemented. For this purpose the human environment model (HEM) is used. Finally, the macro-level attempts to describe the interaction between the ICT-related initiatives and socio-economic development. This part of the framework is addressed by the application of the structuration theory and concepts related to sustainable development. The proposed framework can be used as an analytical tool to guide the analysis of the process of implementation of ICT-based initiatives in organisations and communities, and can also be applied as a normative tool to support the process of introducing a new ICT-based initiative in organisations or communities, especially within the context of developing countries. The author argues that the use of this framework can enhance the likelihood of achieving institutionalisation of an ICT-based initiative within a particular organisational setting. Appendices mostly in Portuguese. / Dissertation (PhD (Information Technology))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Informatics / unrestricted

It is crucial to understand how patient portals are used and adopted among different population groups. This dissertation follows a traditional 5-chapter format that includes three studies with the results of each study presented in an essay format. The first essay provides a systematic literature review of existing research on patient portal adoption, barriers, and predictors. This review reveals a gap in knowledge regarding emerging adults who are transitioning from adult care to self-care settings. The second essay presents an emerging adult patient portal behavioral model, which identifies the factors that impact patient portal usage. Finally, the third essay focuses on patient's trust in providers in secure messaging, which is one of the features available through patient portals. The results of Essay 1 revealed gaps in the literature, highlighting the need for understanding the perceptions of different subgroups of the population towards patient portals to promote their meaningful use. The findings from Essay 2 show that perceived risk and perceived usefulness are significant determinants affecting the behavioral intentions of emerging adults toward the usage of patient portals. Essay 3 describes how information reliability, structural assurance, persuasiveness, perceived ease-of-use, and patients' trusting beliefs in providers are related to the patient's intentions to use secure messaging and patient portals. In addition to addressing existing research gaps, the results of the research in this dissertation inform healthcare providers and developers on how to improve patient portal adoption. By identifying the factors that impact patient portal usage, healthcare providers can optimize the benefits of patient portals for patients and healthcare organizations. Additionally, understanding patients' trust in providers in secure messaging can help improve communication and further lead to better health outcomes.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-16T14:48:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal1.pdf: 1798793 bytes, checksum: a622918fa2dff41a673786c6c71acfcb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In this study, the research model based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) (DAVIS et al., 1989) and innovation diffusion theory (IDT) (ROGERS, 2003) was used to analyze the relation between the characteristics of innovation and teacher s behavior in the process of adoption and use of Moodle in the undergraduate courses at distance. Survey was applied with 162 teachers at distance of Universidade Federal da Paraíba Virtual, issue focusing on the perceived characteristics of innovation, attitude and intention about the use of Moodle. Multivariate statistical techniques were performed: 1) content-vality to analyze the complete structure of scale for relevance and representativeness of items and to verify which items refer to construct in question; 2) exploratory factory analysis to know the structure of interrelationship of the original variables of IDT; 3) confirmatory factor analysis to guarantee conceptual validity for the pattern observed; 4) coefficient alpha to verify the homogeneity of set of items; 5) ANOVA to verify the likely differences between the groups of respondents; and 6) multiple regression analysis to analyze the relation between constructs. Results showed that not all factors of IDT had effect on attitude and intention. Only three constructs had significant effect on attitude and/or intention: relative advantage+compatibility for work style (β = 0,792), visibility (β = 0,166) and result demonstrability (β = 0,152). Moreover, teachers had a positive attitude in relation to use of Moodle and a positive intention in relation to use in the future. It was not possible to confirm all the relation of TAM, probably this verification was been compromised for some problems in the measurement process, thus, the only unsupported relationship of TAM was the effect of complexity on attitude. An academic contribution was that although some constructs of IDT did not show effect on the constructs of TAM, the model provided evidence of appropriated application of constructs of TAM with IDT to measure attitude and intention of use of Moodle. A management contribution was the understanding and prediction the teacher s behavior in relation to adoption and use process of Moodle, being possible to verify the effectiveness of innovative project of distance learning in the UFPB Virtual. / Nesse estudo, o modelo de pesquisa baseado no modelo de aceitação da tecnologia (Technology Acceptance Model - TAM) (DAVIS et al., 1989) e na teoria da difusão da inovação (Innovation Diffusion Theory - IDT) (ROGERS, 2003) foi usado para analisar a relação entre as características de inovação e o comportamento dos docentes no processo de adoção e de uso do Moodle em cursos de graduação a distância. Foi utilizada uma estratégia de levantamento (survey) aplicado a 162 docentes a distância da Universidade Federal da Paraíba Virtual, focando questão sobre as características percebidas de inovação, atitude e intenção em torno do uso do Moodle. Foram realizadas técnicas estatísticas multivariadas: 1) validação de translação para analisar a estrutura completa das escalas em relação à pertinência e representatividade dos itens e a verificação de que os itens propostos remetem ao construto em questão; 2) análise fatorial exploratória para conhecer a estrutura das inter-relações das variáveis originais da IDT; 3) análise fatorial confirmatória para garantir a validade conceitual para os padrões observados; 4) alpha de Cronbach para verificar a homogeneidade do conjunto de itens das escalas; 5) ANOVA para verificar as possíveis diferenças entre os grupos de respondentes; e 6) análise de regressão múltipla para analisar a relação entre os construtos. Os resultados revelaram que nem todos os fatores da IDT tiveram efeito sobre atitude e intenção. Apenas três construtos apresentaram efeito significativo sobre a atitude e/ou intenção: avanço relativo+compatibilidade por estilo de trabalho (β = 0,792), visibilidade (β = 0,166) e demonstrabilidade de resultado (β = 0,152). Além disso, os docentes tiveram uma atitude positiva em relação ao uso do Moodle bem como uma intenção positiva em relação ao seu uso futuro. Não foi possível confirmar todos os relacionamentos do TAM, provavelmente essa verificação foi comprometida por alguns problemas no processo de mensuração das escalas, sendo assim, o único relacionamento do TAM não suportado foi o efeito de complexidade sobre atitude. Uma contribuição acadêmica foi que apesar de alguns construtos da IDT não terem apresentado efeito sobre os construtos do TAM, o modelo forneceu evidência de aplicação apropriada dos construtos do TAM com os da IDT para medir a atitude e intenção de uso do Moodle. Uma contribuição gerencial foi a compreensão e previsão do comportamento dos docentes EaD em relação ao processo de adoção e uso do Moodle, possibilitando verificar a efetividade do projeto inovador de EaD na UFPB Virtual.

Abstract There has been extensive literature published about NGO adoption and use of social media, however these studies have only focused on large, and primarily Western operated organizations, while research on NGO and social enterprise adoption in emergent nations is drastically limited. Cambodia was particularly relevant for a study on social media, because in fact Facebook has surpassed television as Cambodian people’s main source for gathering news. In particular this research focused on a famous Khmer-owned NGO, Phare Ponleu Selpak and their sister organization the Phare Performing Social Enterprise. This organization is well-known in Cambodia, because they produce world-renowned visual and performing artists, and are especially known for the circus, which is a major tourism attraction in Siem Reap. In this anthropological, exploratory case study, I conducted in-depth interviews with key staff members and executed a thematic analysis of PPSA and PPSE’s social media platforms in order to unveil the reasons for social media adoption as well as an in-depth analysis of the strategies involved. The results indicated that community engagement and organizational transparency were the key indicators for social media adoption. For strategy, community engagement and informational postings were also more important than posts that prompted actions such as donating, voting, or participating. Finally, social media was seen as a vital tool in the dissemination of information about Cambodian arts and intangible heritages, because Facebook has become the key source for information in Cambodia due to the state owned media. Therefore, Cambodians are able to learn about their history and the arts by following PPSA and PPSE, particularly on Facebook. Furthermore, tourists can also celebrate and learn about Cambodian art and intangible heritage through these social media channels. Keywords: Nongovernmental Organization, Social Enterprise, Social Media, Social Media Adoption and Use, Intangible Heritage