A Multi-level Technology Acceptance, Adoption and Implementation Model for Achieving Government-Citizen Dialogue: An Omani Case Study

The number of commercial applications that exploit Web 2.0 social media is increasing rapidly. However, little is known about the challenges that public sector organizations face when they decide to adopt Web or other technology-based applications, and offer them to consumers; particularly when governmental and civil service organizations are involved. This is particularly true in developing non-Western regions, such as the Middle East, where 'Arab Spring' developments in 2011 stimulated interest in the ability of social networking to mobilize citizens against ruling elites. Consequently, this study investigated Oman's public sector to gain a deeper understanding of the adoption and use of information technology innovation and its potential to engage governments more closely with citizens. In essence, it aimed to develop a comprehensive model of ‘organizational adoption’ and ‘citizen use’ of technology for achieving meaningful online dialogue. The focus of this study is not social media applications per se, but rather it concerns any Web or other technology-based application that is suited to improving dialogue between government organizations and citizens. The final model was derived over three distinct phases of research using a mixed method approach. In Phase I, an initial literature review developed understanding of global trends in e-Government adoption and clarified the study aims, scope, and primary research question. A more extensive literature review was then undertaken to derive a tentative 'first-cut model' theoretical framework. This contains factors considered critical to both achieving successful organizational adoption of IT innovations and a meaningful dialogue between governments and citizens. These are presented from three distinct perspectives or levels; the National level, Organization level, and Management level. In Phase II of the research, case studies involving three Omani civil services organizations helped to refine the tentative model. Policymakers and citizens were interviewed to confirm issues and identify additional adoption and use factors. Finally, in Phase III a participatory action research approach was used to test completeness of the refined model, which culminated in the final model. This study has shown that meaningful online dialogue can be used for different purposes: for facilitating access to decision-makers (mainly), for responding to citizens' enquiries and for addressing rumours. At the National level, government support—meaning political, economic and technical aspects—plus social changes has driven the acceptance of technology for improving government-citizen interactions and for sharing of information. In contrast, the major National level inhibitors are: limited availability of broadband services, other digital divide barriers, national culture barriers and political barriers. At the Organization level, having an IT strategy and top management support, adequate human, financial and technical resources, and a strong citizen-centric orientation are all factors that drive the adoption. Conversely, lack of capability, inappropriate internal culture, and resistance to change can all inhibit adoption. At the Management level, good preparation, proficiency with technical issues, accessibility and marketing issues, appropriate consideration of operational issues and end user needs are critical for implementation of Web or other technology-based applications needed to create meaningful online dialogue. Conversely, major implementation challenges concern inadequate IT infrastructure, resistance to change, and inability to recruit a suitable management team. The research also found that creating a management team, recruiting qualified moderators, controlling the discussion, responding to citizens, and defining the interaction characteristics (objectives, target citizens, participation policies and rules, etc.) are all critical for achieving a meaningful dialogue. The developed model has added to the knowledge of how to encourage technology innovations in governmental organizations, in particular through online dialogue that motivates citizens and other stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions. For non-Omani governmental organizations having similar operational characteristics, the developed model offers lessons for policymakers and others who wish to enhance citizens' interactions; or who wish to improve the reputation of the organization; or bring about citizen-acceptable policies and decisions. Future work should be aimed at testing the developed social networking adoption model in other industries, sectors and national settings

Entrepreneurial ecosystem : Islamic leadership model - an exploration of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sultanate of Oman

Oman’s economic growth and development have recently shifted from the declining oil-dependent economy to other diversified sources of income generation, such as enhancing the performance of entrepreneurship as an economic growth driver. One of the ways through which such economic goals can be achieved is through the efficient management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, the review of existing literature features limited details in terms of how entrepreneurial ecosystems work in reality, as well as in terms of policy-related challenges in the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. By conducting interviews on 36 participants consisting of 18 policy makers and 18 entrepreneurs, the present research established that even though there are some positive factors that support the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (such as the existence of the support systems, networks, and connectivity), there are a lot of challenges that are hindering efficiency with regards to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Oman. The most noted challenges to the effective management of entrepreneurial ecosystems are policy vulnerability and the government’s use of a top-to-bottom approach in policy and decision-making that do not involve or engage entrepreneurs, creating, in return, a disconnect and lack of balance in the ecosystem. Low stakeholder engagement and poor implementation of set policies also hinder entrepreneurship in the country. Thus, this study recommends an Islamic leadership management (ILM) approach to the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. In this regard, effective management can be attained when skills are developed through inclusion and information sharing, incorporating religious principles such as fairness in policy making towards building institutional links, respecting cultural aspects such as diversity for an adaptive ecosystem, prioritizing strong relationships leading to effective networks, and viewing humans as custodians of earthly resources leading to equitable allocation of resources in the ecosystem. Additionally, an adaptive co-management approach can help reinforce the Islamic model as it emphasizes on learning-by-doing, relationships and the capacity of the communities and resource users.Oman’s economic growth and development have recently shifted from the declining oil-dependent economy to other diversified sources of income generation, such as enhancing the performance of entrepreneurship as an economic growth driver. One of the ways through which such economic goals can be achieved is through the efficient management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, the review of existing literature features limited details in terms of how entrepreneurial ecosystems work in reality, as well as in terms of policy-related challenges in the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. By conducting interviews on 36 participants consisting of 18 policy makers and 18 entrepreneurs, the present research established that even though there are some positive factors that support the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (such as the existence of the support systems, networks, and connectivity), there are a lot of challenges that are hindering efficiency with regards to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Oman. The most noted challenges to the effective management of entrepreneurial ecosystems are policy vulnerability and the government’s use of a top-to-bottom approach in policy and decision-making that do not involve or engage entrepreneurs, creating, in return, a disconnect and lack of balance in the ecosystem. Low stakeholder engagement and poor implementation of set policies also hinder entrepreneurship in the country. Thus, this study recommends an Islamic leadership management (ILM) approach to the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. In this regard, effective management can be attained when skills are developed through inclusion and information sharing, incorporating religious principles such as fairness in policy making towards building institutional links, respecting cultural aspects such as diversity for an adaptive ecosystem, prioritizing strong relationships leading to effective networks, and viewing humans as custodians of earthly resources leading to equitable allocation of resources in the ecosystem. Additionally, an adaptive co-management approach can help reinforce the Islamic model as it emphasizes on learning-by-doing, relationships and the capacity of the communities and resource users

Exploring the relationship between life experiences and early relapse among imprisoned users of illegal drugs in Oman: A focused ethnography

Background: Illegal drug use is a rising problem that affects Omani youth. This research aimed to study a group of young Omani men who were imprisoned more than once for illegal drug use, focusing on exploring their lifestyle experiences inside and outside prison and whether these contributed to their early relapse and re-imprisonment. This is the first study of its kind from Oman conducted in a prison setting. Methods: 19 Omani males aged 18–35 years imprisoned in Oman Central Prison were recruited using purposive sampling. Focused ethnography was conducted over 8 months to explore the drug-related experiences outside prison and during imprisonment. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews with the participants yielded detailed transcripts and field notes. These were thematically analysed, and results compared with the existing literature. Results: The participants’ voices yielded new insights into the lives of young Omani men imprisoned for illegal drug use, including their sufferings and challenges in prison. These included: entry shock, timing and boredom, drug trafficking in prison, as well as physical and psychological health issues. Overall, imprisonment was reported to have negatively impacted the participants’ health, personality, self-concept, emotions, attitudes, behaviour and life expectations. The participants reported how their efforts to reintegrate into Omani community after release from prison were rebuffed due to stigmatisation and rejection from the society and family. They also experienced frequent unemployment, police surveillance, accommodation problems and lack of rehabilitation facilities. The immensity of the accumulated psychophysiological trauma contributed to their early relapse and reimprisonment. Conclusion: This thesis concludes that imprisonment is largely ineffective in controlling drug use in Oman. Urgent action is required across multiple sectors to improve the lives and prospects of users of illegal drugs within and outside prison to minimise factors contributing to early relapse. Key Words: illegal drugs, drug users, Oman, addiction, Omani culture, prisoners, relapse, re-imprisonment, qualitative research, ethnograph

Trade Unionism and the Institutional Equilibrium in MENA States. A Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) Supported Study of the Arab Upheavals 2011 - 2013 in Twelve Countries

This study uses Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) inside a broader framework of Comparative Historical Research (CHR) in order to asses and categorise the role of trade unions during the „Arab Spring“ 2011 – 2013. QCA is a method initially developed by Charles Ragin based on Boolean logic that allows for the identification of multiple conjunctural causations. It s a comparative method that initially derived from electrical engineering and used the Quine-McCluskey Algorithm in order to find patterns of similarity and difference between cases. Those cases are classified into the presence (1) or absence (0) of a particular outcome, and turned into combinations of variables which are also coded according to the absence (0) or presence (1) of variables. The configurations can be minimised in order to eliminate variables that were not affecting the particular outcome. As argued in the thesis, the approach bears several advantages with regard to quantitative methods, especially in small-n samples. Furthermore, the methodological and theoretical part of this thesis argues that to hold the case studies as thick as possible and as parsimonious as necessary, and the minimisation and interpretations as thick as necessary and as parsimonious as possible. As regards content, the thesis identifies the institutional equilibria of twelve Arab countries as starting point for the research. The sample includes Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, and Oman. The institutional equilibrium is a concept borrowed from Rational Choice Theory which makes it possible to include particularistic approaches to explain the power structures of single MENA countries into a meta-framework, without the study becoming dependent on their individual parameters. These particularistic approaches include cultural, legal, historical, religious, and sociological aspects from the broad field of Middle Eastern Studies and beyond. The so called “Bargain Rule” is here taken as a common denominator, in which the common citizens surrender their political and social rights to participatory government and are rewarded with a variety of goods and services in return. This bargain has gotten under pressure from the early 1970s on. MENA states developed different strategies in order to secure power while introducing mostly rigged democratic institutions. The study identifies Violence, the legal frameworks, and questions of identity and legitimacy as main pillars of these new institutional arrangements. With the upheavals that started most visibly in 2011, MENA countries entered a critical juncture in which these equilibria got heavily under pressure. Different players entered the public sphere in order to demand economic enhancements and / or political change. These players, as long as they attempted to change the equilibria of power, are labelled critical interference factors. In a further step, and by the help of rich case descriptions, the thesis tackles the question whether the trade union movement it the respective countries can be defined as critical interference factors. Against that background, and using a constructivist stance, the term “trade union” is put first into the Middle Eastern context and made operational as a well-defined research subject. The study focusses on those organisations that are labelled by the national legal framework Naqaba, or those who label themselves Naqaba. This approach includes professional associations (Naqabat Mihniya) as well as workers unions (Naqabat ’Umaliya). Moreover, it is argued that a crucial historical role of many trade unions in MENA has been to protect the authoritarian bargain and taking the role as the demander for socio-economic enhancements within its very logic. The variables that are set up for the QCA analysis include the non-compliance of the State concerning the Authoritarian Bargain (SOEC), intertwinedness of trade unions with opposition forces (INOPP), the degree of centralisation of trade union structures (CEN), importance of tribalism for upward mobility within the state (TRI), and eventually the trade unions‘ bargaining power im key sectors of the economy (KEYS). These variables are minimised with the help of the Quine McCluskey Algorithim and the results are srutinised qualitatively. Major findings of the study indicate that CEN is a necessary condition for transformative trade union activity, in combination either with INOPP (Gulf Countries) or SOEC (North Africa). Furthermore, this study suggests that the lack of centralisation and / or a high degree of tribalism weaken independent trade unionism in MENA

Evaluating the institutional factors affecting e-government implementation

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This thesis focuses on e-government implementation and related institutional adoption and diffusion factors in Omani public sector organisations. With the advancement of the Internet and supporting Information and Communication Technologies, e-government has emerged as an effective means of delivering government services to citizens. While most early e-government efforts were concentrated on developed countries, in the recent past, it has also become popular in many developing countries. Most notably are the Middle Eastern countries that have continued to invest significantly into e-government initiatives in the last five years. However, compared to the West, the progress of e-government implementation and diffusion has been laggard in the Middle East region. The Sultanate of Oman is one such example, where, although large investments have been made since 2003 to facilitate the implementation of its electronic services, limited progress has been made in terms of realising fully functional e-government. The aim of this thesis is to examine the institutional factors influencing the development and implementation of e-government in the context of Oman using case study based research. From an institutional perspective economic, political and social as well as technological issues signify the most fundamental pressures that organisations face when initiating e-government implementation led change. Using institutional theory as a conceptual lens, this thesis aims to provide a better understanding of the internal and external pressures that influence the success of e-government projects. This research identified nineteen different factors influencing the progress of the national e-government project, e-Oman, from a public sector organisational perspective. Further, a conceptual model for examining e-government implementation has been developed and evaluated empirically within the context of Oman. By doing so, this research contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying the institutional factors that contributes to the success of e-government implementation and explaining its paradoxes.Oman, Ministry of manpower, sponsored Doctoral programme in the UK 2007-201

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in education in the Sultanate of Oman at the basic and post-basic education levels :towards a suggested framework

PhD ThesisThis research aims to explore the public–private partnership (PPP) phenomenon at the basic education and post-basic education levels in the Sultanate of Oman. Specifically, it identifies the types of existing PPPs and probes different stakeholders’ perspectives of PPPs. It also highlights the challenges that impede the effectiveness of PPPs in the Omani context and identifies approaches to alleviate them. Finally, it suggests a PPP framework for the Omani context. This study employed a case study design with a mixed-strategy approach to elicit data from a range of sources: the public education sector, the private education sector and other sectors. The research used semi-structured interviews, focus groups and documentary analysis as key data collection instruments. The public education sector participants comprised government officials, school principals and supervisors. The private education participants included school owners, school principals and chief executive officers (CEOs). Other participants were drawn from other governmental and non-governmental sectors. A total of four focus groups with 29 participants (six to nine participants in each group) and 32 semi-structured interviews covering participants from the different sectors were conducted. The research findings reveal that a range of PPPs exist in the Omani education context. These however, are predominantly informal and voluntary. They also seem to address financial aspects and rarely tackle key quality aspects such as curricula and learning outcomes. In this study, it transpires that in Oman, PPP is envisaged as a multi-stakeholder approach with reciprocal and long-term benefits rather than relating to privatisation or philanthropy. The research also concludes that PPPs in Oman seem to be challenged chiefly by political and regulatory impediments, as well as some practical barriers related to capacity and evaluation mechanisms. It is hoped that these results, together with the suggested PPP framework, will serve as a guideline for the promotion of public–private collaboration in education, as well as the development of a PPP programme at the basic education and post-basic education levels in Oman.The Government of the Sultanate of Oman

Constructing Grammar Instruction in the Omani ELT System: A Critical Literacy Perspective

Debate in the literature has been ongoing about whether to teach English language grammar explicitly, implicitly or integrate both approaches to achieve optimal learning. This research paper, hence, discusses this issue from an ideological perspective with a particular reference to the Omani English language teaching (ELT) education system. The paper triangulates data from various semi-structured interviews made with different agents involved in the Omani ELT education system, the pertinent literature, The Philosophy and Guidelines for the Omani English Language School Curriculum, which I will herewith refer to as the National English Language Policy/Plan (NELP), other policy texts and the English language national syllabus – Our World Through English (OWTE) Teacher’s Guide. The critical discussion revealed various contesting ideologies about teaching grammar in the Omani ELT system and the crucial role of teachers in the effective policy implementation or otherwise. The study has important implications for other similar contexts around the world

Strategic work between agencies in the planning system for sustainable flood management : the case of Oman

The history of Oman’s planning system has passed through many different stages, each requiring developers to enact different procedures. Current planning strategies and developments reflect present day concerns that new developments should be modernised to incorporate contemporary processes. Rapid urban development in the Sultanate has resulted in many policy overlaps, in relation to economic development and urbanisation. Oman has recently suffered from a recurrence of floods in successive years. After the two incidents, Guno and Phet, it became evident that it is necessary to create a planning system that can offer effective management of both water and city planning. It is also essential to create a sustainable flood management approach to preserve greater amounts of water while also controlling water flow. This thesis will focus on improvements to flood management and city planning systems, to protect the population of Oman from risk during flooding events. The research undertaken for this thesis combined quantitative and qualitative methods. These included 34 interviews with planners, experts, middle-aged/elderly people and specialists in both water management and meteorology, and 392 questionnaires to other stakeholders. The results show poor co-ordination between the different parties, and limited cooperation between administrators and planners within the government, leading to carelessness with regard to changing land uses and the ‘individual’ in decision-making. Furthermore, the acceleration in plot extensions for development and the creation of the new development plots on floodplains exacerbated flooding. There is evidence that the drainage system is very poor throughout most of Oman. The Muscat Municipality and the Haya Company have made some effort in some areas of Muscat; however, these efforts concentrate only on commercial and domestic wastewater. There is no clear strategy, however, for rainwater drainage, except along roads and related culvert systems. In addition, despite their potential benefits, some culvert systems, such as those in Al-Hail, create a major problem for flooding because of their location. The majority of the interviewees stated that they hoped the Supreme Council for Planning would resolve such issues, but others claimed that they were still unclear about whether the council was a supervisory, economic or planning body. To achieve sustainable flood management in Oman, and to address those phenomena that will negatively affect the Oman's cities if flooding occurs requires considerable effort, partnership and co-ordination between different agencies and members of the community. It is also important to involve the water resources agencies in any planning procedures to limit conflicts between water projects and planning projects