ICT in the workplace: access for all or digital divide?

The paper presents the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access to ICT based communications for specific groups of staff in UK further and higher education organisations. Educational institutions disseminate key corporate information internally via email, intranets and Virtual Learning Environments. However, the extent to which access to electronic communications is available to all personnel within such institutions in the UK has not previously been established. The research arose from a concern that a significant proportion of staff were being routinely excluded from access, thus perpetuating and extending existing inequalities among personnel and creating a digital divide between the ‘information rich’ and the ‘information poor’. A questionnaire survey was used to quantify the extent of restrictions on staff access across the sector, whilst case study research was used to conduct a qualitative analysis of its impact on individuals and institutions. The findings indicate that lack of hardware and network infrastructure pose less of a barrier to access than does lack of ICT skills, lack of motivation either to use computers or to gain ICT skills, and line manager resistance to staff using computers or accessing ICT training in work time. Job function was the factor most associated with lack of access, with cleaning, catering and estates staff least likely to have access. However, there were also examples identified of effective practice in extending the range of personnel with access and ensuring inclusive communication with all personnel. These insights into good practice should be transferable to a wide range of workplace contexts

Understanding the digital divide: A literature survey and ways forward

The term digital divide was introduced in the mid-1990s and defined as the gap separating those who have access to new forms of information technology from those who do not. The digital divide remains an important public policy debate that encompasses social, economic and political issues. This paper presents a literature review and classification scheme for digital divide research. The review covers journal articles published between 2001 and 2010 in three types of journals: (1) Information technology & information systems, (2) Economics and business & management and (3) Social science. A classification of digital divide literature and a comprehensive list of references are provided. The results show that the digital divide is a multifaceted phenomenon, due to the many dimensions of determinant factors. Recent studies have included socio-economic, institutional and physiological factors in order to gain a greater understanding of the digital divide. Among other findings, they show that technological determinism is not sufficient to explain the emergence of the digital divide. Moreover, several types of technologies were investigated, both from empirical and conceptual standpoints. The Internet is the most commonly studied technology. The divide in access and usage are discussed at the global, social and democratic levels by employing a quantitative method, either a survey or data analysis, as the main method. However, there is less discussion in developing countries and at the level of the organization (i.e. SMEs, the private sector and the public sector). The qualitative research method could be seen as a complementary method to fill the gap in the current research. The choice of policies which have been recommended to the policy maker and national regulatory agency (NRA) are also presented and discussed at the end of this paper. Several initiatives made at the country and regional levels and by international organizations have also attempted to create a combined policy. This may suggest that the combined policy is the current trend among digital divide policies. Therefore, there is a need for future research to examine these determinants through the context of global, social and democratic divides. The results would provide some insight into how diverse people in different areas adopt ICTs. --Digital divide,Literature review,Future research

Information literacy is for life, not just for a good degree: a literature review

The concept and practice of information literacy has been widely discussed in library and information professional literature in recent years. In the main, these discussions have focussed on practice in Higher Education (HE), specifically on how librarians may be involved in developing the skills of students to enable them to maximise the use of academic resources, predominantly librarybased, in order to meet the requirements of learning outcomes of their courses. More recently this focus has widened to examine transition from school and Further Education (FE) into University but also into the workplace, recognising the UNESCO assertion that information literacy is a process for lifelong learning (UNESCO, 2006) (eg Antonesa, 2007, Julien & Barker, 2009). The identification of information literacy as an attribute of employability and the concepts, policies and practices of workplace information literacy is the subject of this review. Here, key texts are drawn from academic theoretical and practice-based research and official reports from stakeholders including government, professional associations and industry and commerce in order to provide an overview of the main issues around workplace information literacy, focusing on employability and transition, context and theory, practice and policy. The purpose of the review is to inform CILIP members of the wide range of issues in this developing area in order that they may contribute to its development at all levels in an informed manner

The Evolving Digital Divide Within Higher Education Institutions: a Quantitative Study

Technology has become an integral and important aspect of our world. As such, the author of this study aims to research how technology is used by college students, the people who hope to be tomorrows leaders and innovators. Ideally, all college students will complete their degrees with a comprehensive and well-versed understanding in the most basic and widespread technologies. However, strong technology literacy can be hampered by a students background. This notion is often referred to as the digital divide and can cause some people to have a weak technological background. This study will investigate the digital divide at different types of institutions and see what, if any, impact it has on present-day students.The primary research question asked in this dissertation is what influence does the digital divide have on the technology proficiency of college students. An instrument to analyze college students perceived technology proficiency was developed from the Computer Attitude Scale and Computer Self-Efficacy instruments. The survey was distributed to students at 7 institutions four 4-year public, two 4-year private, and one community college and had 4,860 responses. Data from the responding college students indicated that the digital divide is having an impact upon college students perceived technology proficiency. The data suggests that students that are attending community colleges will have a moderate correlation between their GPA and their perceived technology proficiency. This correlation does not exist at four year institutions. There are various technology constructs that have a statistically significantly difference between college students depending on the age, gender, and the institution type of the student. While caution is given to the results due to violation of assumptions within certain statistical methods used, the multiple findings of significance and magnitude on the variables suggests the need for additional research

Adapting to technological change in the workplace: An assessment of the effects of information and communication technology on older workers

Thesis advisor: John B. WilliamsonWhile much has been written about the effects of information and communication technology (ICT) on the workplace, little research has focused specifically on its effect on older workers. Using Pierre Bourdieu's theories of "capital" as a frame, I investigate how older academic faculty, clergy, and government employees have been affected by the rapid technological changes that have occurred in the workplace over the past 25 years. I conducted 75 semi-structured interviews and discovered that older workers, while generally limited in their technological familiarity and competence when compared to their younger coworkers, do have a wealth of skills that make them invaluable as employees in the modern workplace. Through the use of their social connections and organizational knowledge, I found that older workers are able to successfully mitigate almost any lack of technological skill. Moreover, as the responsibilities of workers change, because of globalization and the automation of work, I contend that the skills of older workers will be able to successfully manage the transition.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Sociology

Annotated bibliography of community music research review, AHRC connected communities programme

This research review, consisting of a 90-entry annotated bibliography, was produced as part of an AHRC Connected Communities programme project entitled Community Music, its History and Current Practice, its Constructions of ‘Community’, Digital Turns and Future Soundings. It supports a 2,500 word report written with this same title for the AHRC

The potential of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) in reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) frequently affect the health and well-being of workers and can hinder growth in the industrial sector. Research indicates that user requirements to reduce workplace risk factors for MSDs are not always effectively conveyed to practitioners of design. This creates a mismatch between these requirements and what is ultimately produced. Quality function deployment (QFD) is a structured collaborative design approach, widely used in industry. The aim of this research was to explore the potential of a QFD-based design tool to enhance such communication in the design process and help reduce work-related MSDs. In order to evaluate user knowledge and ability to identify workplace risks and the subsequent requirements for design, a multi-methods study was undertaken with cleaners (n= 10), joiners (n= 6) and plumbers (n= 6) and their line managers (n= 6). Methods included semi-structured interviews, task analysis, REBA and body part discomfort maps. The findings revealed that these workers were in general able to identify risks to their musculoskeletal health and make design suggestions related to specific tasks. All of the workers expressed concern about manual handling, and issues related to awkward postures were also identified by the majority. A QFD-based design tool (with guidance material) was then developed to facilitate communication in the design process. It consisted of six features to encompass the design process, and included tools and techniques with supplementary templates to aid practitioners. In order to evaluate its feasibility with respect to current practice, an online questionnaire survey was conducted with a cohort of practitioners of ergonomics and design (n= 32). Of these, the majority rated highly the importance of an integrated approach for participatory design to help reduce work-related MSDs. They also suggested elements to be included in the design tool, which were in congruence with the features already included. To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the design tool in the field setting, in-depth interviews using a walkthrough approach (n= 8) and case studies of specific work tasks (n= 3) were conducted with practitioners. The findings showed that the design tool would be very useful in managing and presenting design information. In particular, practitioners liked being provided with design principles to help systematically identify design solutions to reduce risks and using the QFD-based matrices to present such information. Limitations of the tool were identified as inadequacy of guidance, the lack of automated procedures and the time required to set up and learn. The design tool (and guidance material) seems to have potential in facilitating the sharing of design information among the stakeholders of the design process

Community planning in the network society

Models of social change have yet to emerge that deal with planning for change at the local community level due to the growth of public network, the Internet. The interactive network is changing the way people live, the way people earn a living, and perhaps more importantly, the way people spend their leisure time. The understanding of the impacts such technological diffusion plays in sustaining the social capital of the smaller communities of America will be of importance to developers of public networks and planners of the local and regional communities. This thesis discusses major trends that will shape the future of social participation in smaller American communities. The thesis will lead a discussion of the history of technological diffusion in society and will focus on the acceptance of advanced means of communication and information processing within various forms of social groups. After such discussion, a proposed Human/Network Interface (HuNI) model will provide a structure for the evolving roles of social groups with regard to the increasing pervasiveness of advanced network communications. Using the HuNI model as a framework, the thesis will conclude with a discussion of practical implications for planners concerning the influence the Internet will have on smaller communities

Metaphors, Myths and the Stories We Tell: How to Empower a Flourishing AI Enabled Human in the Future of Work by Enabling Whole Brain Thinking

Through the use of storytelling, literature review, interviews, workshops, and explorations using scenario planning, how to empower an AI enabled human being to flourish in the future of work by enabling Whole Brain Thinking is studied. The purpose of this report is to provide a roadmap for human success using the future of work as a focus. This report reaches five conclusions: 1. Training creativity is the key to building the capability to imagine new metaphors and myths in order to tell new stories to restore Ontological Safety. 2. Whole Braining Thinking is enabled by creativity. As people are able to ignite both left and right brain thinking to see other possibilities, training Whole Brain Thinking helps people to create new metaphors and stories about their future by shifting their mindset to imagine a future that is not dystopian. 3. As the nature of work changes and AI takes over more left brain tasks, Whole Brain Thinking as a skill set will place us in a position to be able to find meaningful employment alongside AI by creating new types of integrated careers, like Explainers. 4. Statisticians use AI for making predictions. If as predicted, Quantum Computing can enhance this capability by examining trends and predicting what is probably, then there is a place for people to use Whole Brain Thinking to expand predictions into the realm of the plausible and the possible outcomes. 5. Being AI Enabled requires comprehension of how AI works by breaking AI into its system components. Being Whole Brain Thinkers allow us to symphonically explain the ‘why’ and how things are linked

In Pursuit of Recognition in a Digitally Divided City: Conceptualizing voice, visibility and presence in the age of social media

With social media’s increasing importance in modern society, this thesis investigates its role in the digital economy and how it shapes the everyday lives of Sheffield’s residents. The significance of social media ties, transactional relationships and concepts about how new media functions in the public sphere are interwoven throughout the literature review. Digital interactivity is conceived as a process, which in turn, influences the perception of status, reputation and recognition. Qualitative interviews were conducted with participants from each of the following three cohorts: computer learners, knowledge workers and global elites. An interactivity spectrum was developed after participant interviews emphasised how social media usage related to employment prospects. This spectrum evaluates the cohort’s online interactivities based on the following categories: technology and data linkages; networking and engagement; representation and identity; information awareness and sociability. This conceptual framework draws on usage patterns and investigates the social ties forged through digital connections. Interactivity serves to amplify voice and visibility; thus, online presence becomes an active form of social capital incorporating both visibility and voice. These cases suggest how digital interactivity and social capital accumulation may be theorized using voice, visibility and presence on the social media sites of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. The three groups (learners, knowledge workers and elites) strive separately to achieve both local and national forms of recognition within the public sphere and are clearly marked out by their differences in social media interactivity. This research is important as it delineates a social capital creation pathway that begins with digital engagement and ends with social capital accumulation. The connection between engagement and capital creation also compels a rethink of the digital divide in light of new participatory media practices