NGOS and Internet Use in Uganda

Information technology (IT) research has ignored examining\ud the impact of the Internet on unconnected stakeholder communities in the South. This research, which investigates how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with connectivity are utilising the Internet for their daily operations, and how they are able to acquire and disseminate information from the Internet to their stakeholders, hopes to correct such injustices. The research was undertaken over an eight-week period in early 1998 in Uganda, East Africa. The survey involved representatives of 33 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) responding to seven openended questions related to their organisations’ use of the Internet, and their information communication patterns. The paper begins with a brief background on Uganda and its telecommunications environment, including a summary of the seven Internet Service Providers (ISPs) currently operating in the country. The survey questions are identified, and the responses are organised into thematic categories which became apparent during the course of the study. The term “Internet” is used to refer to email-only services, as well as World Wide Web services. The research found that NGOs report benefiting from their use of the Internet through reduced transmission costs, access to new and relevant information, and greater contact with their own field sites and partner organisations. NGO representatives’ responses also indicate that the dissemination of Internet-acquired information is occurring with their stakeholders, regardless whether those stakeholders have connectivity or not. The majority of NGOs surveyed (70%) have only one computer with Internet connectivity within their offices; this presents challenges and restrictions in terms of the frequency with which the Internet can be accessed. A mere 5% of the NGOs with field sites reported that those sites were connected with either email or Internet; 33% reported having field sites without any means of direct voice or data transmission systems. The\ud majority of NGOs with World Wide Web service reported using the systems for accessing and researching documents relevant to their work, but 32% of those organisations reported that they either seldom or never used the Internet that was available to them. Most NGOs reported that they used the email to communicate with international partners; use of the\ud Internet for local communications is low. Respondents reported that email was a very convenient mode of communications, effective in transmitting documents at lower costs than other technologies. Obtaining access to the\ud computers, and the sending and receiving of attached documents proved the most problematic issues for respondents; the latter issue raises questions about the quality of training these organisations are receiving\ud from their ISPs. The paper concludes with lessons learned from the research, and recommends areas for more detailed study

Standard time of import paperwork clearance department for sustainability organization performance in forwarding company

In order to achieve sustainable performance, it was emphasized for an organization for improvement of the standard performance. This paper attempts to propose a benchmark for the standard time to complete daily paperwork received at a forwarding company by using the define-measure-analyse-improve-control (DMAIC) approach. Results showed that the import clearance agent required 3 days or more to clear paperwork for duty or tax confirmation. The impact led to delayed shipment delivery, caused by customer dissatisfaction and company loss of trusts amongst customers. It was also found that that the number of paperwork received daily was 516, distributed among an average of 15 employees, from January to April 2018. Each employee received an average of 34 paperwork daily. The amount of paperwork received by each employee was at alarming level. The time required to complete paperwork for duty/tax confirmation were 3 days or more for most of the employees, which stood at 62%. Therefore, based on the results of the findings, the proposed benchmark of the standard time for paperwork clearance should not be more than 1 day to allow for same day delivery to the customers, as per the commitment promised by the company

Exploring Mindsight via Email Communication in Learning Environment

This paper explores mindsight in virtual communication, examining problems people face while communicating in virtual spaces with a focusing on email communication. Many have documented the problems encountered when they are communicating with others on email. Face to face communication includes facial and interpersonal clues that enhances interaction. Other problems people face include misunderstanding in communication and information overload. These problems disrupt workflow, and can cause stress among workers, which in turn reduces job satisfaction and production. These problems are common in academic world, especially among people found in learning environment, who have to use email communicate continuously because of the nature of their job and activities. It is believed that every learning environment utilizes one form of email communication or the other on several levels and for different purposes. Scholars have put forward suggested technical solutions that are mainly software and policy inclined. This paper attempts to understand the human in-depth factors to the problem. Data collection for the study commenced by sending questionnaires to students to assess the levels of their communication in relation to their environment, personal tendencies, being understood and understanding others during email communication etc. Evidence in the data analysis suggested that most of the students found it difficult to retain attention while doing their emails and they were unable to understand how others felt. It was also discovered that people do not necessarily seek to be understood when they send email communication. Based on the findings, it was concluded, that an intervention, such as mindsight, might enable people to retain attention with some level of personal and environmental awareness that might enhance their ability to understand their feelings and that of others while communicating on email. Therefore, it is recommended that a more rigorous application of mindsight exercise should be explored by students who engage in virtual communication in learning environments

Examining conscientiousness as a key resource in resisting email interruptions : implications for volatile resources and goal achievement

Within the context of the conservation of resources model, when a resource is deployed, it is depleted - albeit temporarily. However, when a 'key', stable resource, such as Conscientiousness, is activated (e.g., using a self-control strategy, such as resisting an email interruption), we predicted that (1) another, more volatile resource (affective well-being) would be impacted and that (2) this strategy would be deployed as a trade-off, allowing one to satisfy task goals, at the expense of well-being goals. We conducted an experience‐sampling field study with 52 email-users dealing with their normal email as it interrupted them over the course of a half‐day period. This amounted to a total of 376 email reported across the sample. Results were analysed using random coefficient hierarchical linear modelling and included cross-level interactions for Conscientiousness with strategy and well-being. Our first prediction was supported - deploying the stable, key resource of Conscientiousness depletes the volatile, fluctuating resource of affective well-being. However, our second prediction was not fully realized. Although resisting or avoiding an email interruption was perceived to hinder well-being goal achievement by Conscientious people, it had neither a positive nor negative impact on task goal achievement. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. Practitioner points: It may be necessary for highly Conscientious people to turn off their email interruption alerts at work, in order to avoid the strain that results from an activation-resistance mechanism afforded by the arrival of a new email. Deploying key resources means that volatile resources may be differentially spent, depending on one's natural tendencies and how these interact with the work task and context. This suggests that the relationship between demands and resources is not always direct and predictable. Practitioners may wish to appraise the strategies they use to deal with demands such as email at work, to identify if these strategies are assisting with task or well-being goal achievement, or whether they have become defunct through automation

Determinants of Multitasking Behavior Among Young Adults During Group Meetings: Attitudes on Norms, Polychronicity and Multicommunicating

Research on the influence of multitasking behavior on efficacy of outcomes is mixed. Many researchers consider multitasking to enhance individuals’ productivity when it is managed properly, and others argue that it is detrimental in some cases. This study is about understanding multitasking behavior of young adults during group meetings. Group meetings are an integral part of communication practices in organization. Group meetings are essential for training, planning, and completing a task that requires participation from all members of a group. One of the norms in group meetings is the expectation to focus on task at hand and pay attention to what is going on in the meeting. However, today, as all of us carry powerful computing handheld devices, such as smartphones, there is a likelihood that we may use it to communicate with people outside a group meeting or to do a task unrelated to the meeting at hand. When young adults enter college, they get the opportunity to develop professional skills and abide by norms that guide such professional settings. They often put the skills and norms into practice as part of class projects, student organizations, work study employees in offices, or as interns in organizations. College students carry their experiences of working in groups and participating in office group meetings to the professional world when they graduate. However, today’s college students as digital natives seem to be more accepting of multitasking, especially using their handheld devices such as smartphones during group meetings. Studying college students’ attitudes with regards to multitasking during group meetings will help us understand their motivations for these behaviors. This study will examine the factors that influences multitasking behavior with respect to polychronicity, multicommunicating, utility of media and technology, social and professional norms, and big-five personality. The findings show that perception of media utility and technology and observing others behavior is stronger in predicting multitasking behavior. Additionally, the study found that when students come into college, they tend to be high multitaskers in group meetings, but as they stay in college and move from freshmen to senior, they tend to get socialized into multitasking during group meetings

Determinants of Multitasking Behavior Among Young Adults During Group Meetings: Attitudes on Norms, Polychronicity and Multicommunicating

Research on the influence of multitasking behavior on efficacy of outcomes is mixed. Many researchers consider multitasking to enhance individuals’ productivity when it is managed properly, and others argue that it is detrimental in some cases. This study is about understanding multitasking behavior of young adults during group meetings. Group meetings are an integral part of communication practices in organization. Group meetings are essential for training, planning, and completing a task that requires participation from all members of a group. One of the norms in group meetings is the expectation to focus on task at hand and pay attention to what is going on in the meeting. However, today, as all of us carry powerful computing handheld devices, such as smartphones, there is a likelihood that we may use it to communicate with people outside a group meeting or to do a task unrelated to the meeting at hand. When young adults enter college, they get the opportunity to develop professional skills and abide by norms that guide such professional settings. They often put the skills and norms into practice as part of class projects, student organizations, work study employees in offices, or as interns in organizations. College students carry their experiences of working in groups and participating in office group meetings to the professional world when they graduate. However, today’s college students as digital natives seem to be more accepting of multitasking, especially using their handheld devices such as smartphones during group meetings. Studying college students’ attitudes with regards to multitasking during group meetings will help us understand their motivations for these behaviors. This study will examine the factors that influences multitasking behavior with respect to polychronicity, multicommunicating, utility of media and technology, social and professional norms, and big-five personality. The findings show that perception of media utility and technology and observing others behavior is stronger in predicting multitasking behavior. Additionally, the study found that when students come into college, they tend to be high multitaskers in group meetings, but as they stay in college and move from freshmen to senior, they tend to get socialized into multitasking during group meetings

Strategising to effect change during a strategic change initiative: middle manager perspective in a South African higher education institution

Problem statement – The strategic roles and responsibilities of professional middle managers (at a South African university) are not aligned with the accountability and authority required while strategising to effect strategic change. Through an in-depth exploration of practitioners, their practices, behaviour, cognition and emotions during strategising, insights in the development of practical wisdom was gained. Purpose – The purpose of the empirical research study was to investigate how professional middle managers strategise to effect change during strategic change. The study context was a South African higher education institution undergoing internal organisational change. Four main research themes were explored with particular reference to the professional middle manager as a strategic practitioner, namely one who DOES, THINKS, FEELS and REFLECTS. Design, methodology and approach – An explorative and interpretive study was conducted utilising a single case and qualitative research methodology. An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted, which aimed to explore the rich experiences of the participants and the way they make sense of their personal journeys during the strategic change initiative. Strategy as practice theory was selected as the theoretical foundation for the study. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and participants provided self-reflection assessments contributing to a unique data gathering method. Findings – The results suggested the professional middle managers make use of holistic and comprehensive practices to effect change as they strategise during strategic change. Five formal strategic roles were confirmed relevant as enacted by the professional middle managers, i.e. implementing strategies, interpreting and communicating information, facilitating adaptability, downward supporting and upward influencing. In addition, six distinctive practices were identified, namely adapting, effecting change, collaborating, mobilising, peacekeeping and overseeing. v Research limitations and implications – The results of the study cannot be generalised due to the single case methodology; however, key learnings and insights can be utilised. Practical implications – It is recommended that the middle managers’ key performance indicators be aligned with the required accountability and authority required to fulfil their strategic roles while effecting change. In addition, the development of tailor-made training programmes as well as coaching and mentoring is advocated in order to transition adequately into a middle management role.Graduate School of Business LeadershipD.B.L

Digital dying in personal information management towards thanotosensitive information management

Tese de mestrado. Multimédia. Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Engenharia. 201

Electronic Communication for Professionals—Challenges and Opportunities

abstract: The 21st-century professional or knowledge worker spends much of the working day engaging others through electronic communication. The modes of communication available to knowledge workers have rapidly increased due to computerized technology advances: conference and video calls, instant messaging, e-mail, social media, podcasts, audio books, webinars, and much more. Professionals who think for a living express feelings of stress about their ability to respond and fear missing critical tasks or information as they attempt to wade through all the electronic communication that floods their inboxes. Although many electronic communication tools compete for the attention of the contemporary knowledge worker, most professionals use an electronic personal information management (PIM) system, more commonly known as an e-mail application and often the ubiquitous Microsoft Outlook program. The aim of this research was to provide knowledge workers with solutions to manage the influx of electronic communication that arrives daily by studying the workers in their working environment. This dissertation represents a quest to understand the current strategies knowledge workers use to manage their e-mail, and if modification of e-mail management strategies can have an impact on productivity and stress levels for these professionals. Today’s knowledge workers rarely work entirely alone, justifying the importance of also exploring methods to improve electronic communications within teams.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 201