This thesis aims to explore the challenges of ICT industries to have access to financial sources in Turkey. The specific subject of analysis is the Turkish software industry. First, it is identified that the global course of the science and technology policies and economic developments are intertwined and they are the major determinants of the current situation of high-tech sectors and their finance all over the world. The importance of finance is based on its association with the innovativeness of high-tech firms. The financial commitment is crucial for firms to sustain innovative activities before revenue generation. Today there is a widely used mainstream model of financial growth cycle defining the sources of finance and the specific needs of high-tech firms along their growth paths. Second, the historical course of finance in Turkey are analyzed and milestones of science and technology policies as well as the development of ICT industries are briefly discussed in order to exhibit the underlying structure of the present issues of high-tech sectors&rsquo / finance in Turkey. Later, the growth cycle model is implemented for Turkey to analyze the potential of financial sources for Turkish software firms with relevant quantitative data. It is seen that the interest of available financial sources towards high-tech sectors is limited and unconcerned. In addition, an inquiry for the finance of the software industry is also done through the analysis of interviews performed with managers of software firms and several funding organizations. Instabilities and uncertainties of the Turkish economy, underdevelopment of a national strategy on software and the lack of interest of available financial sources towards software industry are the major handicaps for the growth of software firms and the industry as a whole. A selective national industrial strategy on software is crucial for the true allocation of financial resources towards software firms.

Development and enhancements in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is following a high level trend promising many opportunities to the economy, environment and society. Utilizing ICTs to enable improvements in the field of energy efficiency is becoming a very hot topic across the globe in this context. In this study both the enabling role of the ICTs for ensuring energy efficiency and the carbon footprint of ICTs considering also the rebound effects was analyzed as a case study for Turkish consumer electronics sector. Desktop research and in depth interviews with representatives of the sector, aimed at assessing current situation and trends in the field, provided a basis for a qualitative analysis. In our assessment main focus was put on the enabling role of ICT in achieving energy efficiency gains and / thus, we intend to explore whether utilization of ICTs can help improving energy efficiency in consumer electronics sector in Turkey. Results of the analysis showed that there is a limited inclusion of ICT directly enabling energy efficiency in the sector. Moreover, there is a lack of awareness on the concept of ICT for energy efficiency concept in the sector. Discussion of the results was followed by policy recommendations for the enabling role of ICTs for achieving energy efficiency targets in Turkey. We argue that, by increasing the awareness on the topics, utilizing the potential strength of R&amp / D capacities of the firms and deployment of links between the sector and global context on the ICT for energy efficiency, ICT can help improving energy efficiency in Turkish consumer electronics sector.

An explanatory mixed method research design was utilized to examine the elementary teachers&rsquo / (classroom teachers) perceptions towards ICT integration in education and its effect on their teaching. In the first phase instruments were translated into Turkish and pilot tested with 282 classroom teachers. For the main study, the survey was distributed to classroom teachers in 90 schools in Ankara. With a 45% percent return rate, 1055 surveys from elementary teachers were used in the quantitative data analysis part. Two simultaneous multiple regression analysis were conducted and the results showed that teachers&rsquo / perceptions towards ICT integration in education and its effect on their teaching can be explained by different sets of variables where the most important one is teachers&rsquo / pedagogical beliefs. In the third phase, teachers were clustered under constructivist and behaviorist groups and ten teachers from each group were interviewed to reveal the differences on teachers&rsquo / ICT integration perception in relation to education and their teaching. The research result presented that elementary teacher pedagogical beliefs affect their perceptions towards ICT integration in teaching and learning process. Qualitative data analysis presented differences between constructivist and behaviorist group participants in relation to ICT integration in teaching and learning process.

This thesis investigates the effects of ICT on economic growth in Turkey and other OECD member countries. After discussing the theoretical relationships between ICT usage and economic growth, we test the positive impact of ICT revolution on economic growth econometrically. In the empirical part of the study, we perform panel data analyses by employing data sets that belong to 30 OECD member countries for 1999-2008 period as well as carrying out time series analyses for only Turkey by using data between 1980 and 2009. We find out that ICT usage and production have a positive significant effect on economic growth in OECD case. However, due to some methodological difficulties and insufficiency of critical mass regarding ICT area and complementary physical and social infrastructures in Turkey, we cannot find any significant relationship between ICT and economic growth for Turkish case.

The purpose of the study was to identify the factors affecting the information and communication technologies. integration in the basic education schools. Mixed Model Research Design was utilized to find out the factors directly affecting integration of ICT integration in schools of K-8. Three different research methods were use sequentially. In the first step, new curricula used for Math, Social Studies and Science and Technology courses were examined to draw the pattern of ICT use defined by these curricula. In the light of the information gained through examination of curricula, 20 teachers were interviewed to understand whether they can put ICT based activities defined by curricula into practice or not. Simultaneously, they also identified common problems preventing them to integrate educational technology in their lessons and possible solutions to have a better ICT and education relationship. The literature and the information gained through first two step of the study suggested computer self-efficacy of teachers is very important factor within the integration of ICT. To assess teachers&#039 / computer self-efficacy, a questionnaire was designed by the researcher and necessary pilot studies were completed to conduct exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Final form of the questionnaire was distributed to K-8 schools&#039 / teachers from 12 predefined cities of Turkey according to statistical information provided by EUROSTAT (Statistical Office of European Union). 1025 correctly filled questionnaire forms were returned and the data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics techniques. Result of the study suggested that, Internet is the most vital technology to successfully apply the curricula. Use of Office programs and different educational software also constitute considerable part of the curricula. But teachers indicated that they cannot apply curricular ICT based activities in school setting because of lack of access to technology, literacy, training, time and confidence/self-efficacy. It is also found that, teachers&#039 / age/ and teaching experience negatively contributed to their level of computer self-efficacy when their personal or home computer use was contributing very positively. On the other hand, existing computer training programs were found less effective than expected in terms of ICT integration. Based on these results, some basic improvements and modifications in curricula, training programs, and technology infrastructure of schools were suggested.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the dynamics of innovation and technological diffusion from the channels of international linkage at the microeconomic level. We specify and want to learn about the effects of sectoral innovation and technology transfer with international linkages: Imported technology, Information and Communication Technology, Foreign direct investment and its spillovers and trade. We apply a dynamic factor demand model to analyze the relationship between four channels of international technology transfer and diffusion, allowing for heterogeneous international linkages and their contribution to productive performance on Taiwan¡¦s manufacturing industries. We adopt the econometric method of the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) to estimate the parameters of related equations. Throughout the empirical analysis, we hope to understand how degree of effects the four channels of technology transfer have on firm¡¦s productivity performance and the adjustment process of quasi-fixed input, capital, because of technology transfers. We found that:(1) It has the highest output level in Electrical and Electronic Manufacturing in Taiwan¡¦s manufacturing industry.(2) The exogenous technical change has a positive effect on output growth. As for the channels of international linkage, imported technology and R&D all have positive contribution to productivity. FDI has a negative impact on output growth except for Petroleum & Coal Products Manufacturing, but the effect of the FDI spillover has a positive contribution in the Taiwan¡¦s manufacturing industry.

Technological initiatives should be contextualized in the social, cultural and economic sectors. As information and communications technologies (ICT) have evolved with the process of globalization, ICT has played a significant role in supporting the development for both the marginal group and developing countries. In spite of the increasing numbers of ICT development projects, there is a lack of the robust research and evaluation regarding to ICT project outcomes. This study attempts to examine the ICT projects carried out in the Aboriginals community in Taiwan. Drawing the attention to the issues of power, identity, culture, and society, the postcolonial perspective is adopted. As the nature of the problem and the lack of previous understanding of the phenomenon, the interpretive ethnographic method is deployed in order to explore the cultural and social issues involved. During the two-year research, three ICT projects are examined through participate observation, interviews and related data retrieve. From the reviews of these ICT projects, the findings present in three themes: ¡§Technological Utopianism¡¨; ¡§Power Struggle¡¨ and ¡§Polarization¡¨. Although project Principal-initiator, teachers-project members and Parents- the community agree on the potential of ICT, they approach and expect ICT differently as their disparities in their position in the ICT projects, ICT literacy, and limitation from their social/economic reality. Each stakeholder has faced different context and carried different perception and vision toward ICT and ICT projects. After the ICT projects are carried out, the unanticipated and hidden gap of perception results in dissatisfied stakeholders. Although the media cover the project outcomes with positive tone, and both TY School and Principal obtains the reputation in ICT education, teachers are reluctant to execute ICT project and parents are disappointed and think the projects don¡¦t really help them. In order to accomplish these ICT projects under the disharmony, Principal takes advantage of his power from administration of school, knowledge legitimacy, and the control over resources. The power-laden process occurs and the communication gap is unable to close. Moreover, the relationships between stakeholders are eventually polarized. As failing to taking account of the dynamic context difference and lacking of communication, ICT projects in this study fail to deliver its promise to the people they intended to serve.

<p>The concept of IT has developed into ICT (Information- and Communication Technology) over the years. ICT has an increasing impact in society and the Swedish curriculum (Lpo 94) highlights the importance of school to convey lasting knowledge that constitutes the general frame of reference that everyone in society is in need of. The purpose of this study was to find out how teachers perceive and use ICT in secondary school and discover the teachers’ vision concerning ICT.</p><p>The used approach for the study is a qualitative research with a basis of interviews. Four interviews are made with teachers from the early years of secondary school, at two different schools. The results of these interviews indicate that teachers use ICT such as computers, video, digital cameras, tape recorders and projectors, but in varying degrees. The discussion reveals how the teachers’ usage of ICT, as well as their visions, is limited for various reasons. One reason appears to be the confidence that the respondents feel towards older technologies.</p> / <p>IT-begreppet har kommit att utvecklas och idag används ofta begreppet IKT (Informations- och kommunikationsteknologi). IKT spelar en allt större roll i samhället och läroplanen (Lpo 94) belyser vikten av att i skolan förmedla varaktiga kunskaper som utgör den allmänna referensram som alla i samhället är i behov av. Syftet med denna studie är att ta reda på hur lärarna uppfattar och använder IKT i undervisningen i grundskolans tidigare år samt se vilka visioner kring informations- och kommunikationsteknik lärarna har.</p><p>En kvalitativ forskningsansats har använts med intervjuer som underlag. Intervjuerna är fyra stycken till antalet och har genomförts på två olika skolor med lärare från grundskolans tidiga år.  Resultatet av dessa intervjuer visar att lärarna använder sig av IKT i form av bland annat dator, video, digitalkamera, bandspelare och projektor men i olika stor utsträckning. I diskussionen framkommer hur lärarnas användande, likt deras visioner, är begränsade av olika anledningar. En av anledningarna visar sig vara den trygghet respondenterna känner inför äldre teknik.</p>

<p>eHealth has been adopted by many countries across the globe in response to cut down cost and improve the quality of life. Sweden has been engaged in providing web-based health care services for its citizens for the past decade and county councils have the responsibility to develop them. The main aim of this thesis is to present answers to the following research questions:What strategies (formal and informal) guide the development of web-based health care services provided by the Swedish county councils?What barriers exist in relation to the development and usage of web-based health care services provided by the county councils from the viewpoint of their IT leaders?From the perspective of IT leaders in the county councils and in their capacity to develop, manage and monitor their organizations‘ website content, which web-based health care services are mostly accessed by users and what age group utilize the services most?The thesis is an exploratory research conducted through a survey based on a mail questionnaire that was posted to all 21 county councils in Sweden with 18 councils responding. The results show that all county councils have formally adopted the National eHealth Strategy to guide the development of web-based health care services and some have other informal strategies as well. Technological barriers, resistance to use the web-based services and changing business process to integrate ICTs have been identified by IT leaders as major challenges that impede the development of web-based health care services in Swedish county councils. Swedish citizens more frequently access prescription renewal and booking and cancellation of appointments than other available web-based health care services which depicts a trend towards the use of advanced interactive services than basic information seeking, and people in the ages of 46 to 55 have been identified as the frequent users of web-based health care services according to IT leaders from the county councils.</p>

This dissertation explores how Internet use impacts four different measures of economic development using several econometric techniques on multi-country panel data. The economic development outcomes investigated are: per capita GDP, per capita export revenues, per capita market capitalization, and societal well-being as measured by the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Data from the World Bank, the International Telecommunication Union, and the United Nations -covering 202 countries over the period 1996 to 2007- are combined to allow for empirical investigation using dynamic panel data and finite mixture model estimation techniques on the total sample and subsamples stratified by country income level. The results suggest that countries benefit differently from increasing Internet use and the magnitude of the effect depends on the income level of the country. In low income countries, additional Internet use has a significant positive effect on per capita GDP and overall welfare, as measured by the HDI. Increasing Internet use has a significant positive effect on all four measures of economic development in countries that have achieved middle income status. Since Internet use affects economic development outcomes differently depending on the income level of the country, the policy recommendations must also vary according to the country's income level.