Competitive Assessments for HAP Delivery of Mobile Services in Emerging Countries

In recent years, network deployment based on High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) has gained momentum through several initiatives where air vehicles and telecommunications payloads have been adapted and refined, resulting in more efficient and less expensive platforms. In this paper, we study HAP as an alternative or complementary fast-evolving technology to provide mobile services in rural areas of emerging countries, where business models need to be carefully tailored to the reality of their related markets. In these large areas with low user density, mobile services uptake is likely to be slowed by a service profitability which is in turn limited by a relatively low average revenue per user. Through three architectures enabling different business roles and using different terrestrial, HAP and satellite backhaul solutions, we devise how to use in an efficient and profitable fashion these multi-purpose aerial platforms, in complement to existing access and backhauling satellite or terrestrial technologies

Understanding Teacher's Perspectives in Media Literacy Education as an Empowerment Instrument of Blended Learning in Early Childhood Classroom

Teacher's abilities to understand the benefits and use of media literacy play an important role in dealing with children as digital natives. Media literacy education can be an instrument through the use of blended-learning websites to address the challenges of education in the 21st century and learning solutions during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. This study aims to figure the teacher's perspective in understanding media literacy as an instrument for implementing blended-learning in early-childhood classes. Using a qualitative approach, this study combines two types of data. Data collection involved kindergarten teachers, six people as informants who attended the interviews and twenty-six participants who filled out questionnaires. Typological data analysis was used for qualitative data as well as simple statistical analysis to calculate the percentage of teacher perspectives on questionnaires collected the pandemic. The findings show five categories from the teacher's perspective. First, about the ability to carry out website-based blended-learning and the use of technology in classrooms and distance learning is still low. It must be transformed into more creative and innovative one.  Encouraging teacher awareness of the importance of media literacy education for teachers as a more effective integrated learning approach, especially in rural or remote areas, to be the second finding. Third, national action is needed to change from traditional to blended-learning culture. Fourth, the high need for strong environmental support, such as related-party policies and competency training is the most important finding in this study. Finally, the need for an increase in the ease of access to technology use from all related parties, because the biggest impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is on ECE, which is closely related to the perspective of teachers on technology. The research implication demands increase in technology systems and connections between educators, parents, institutional managers, and education policy holders, for ECE services in urban areas for disadvantaged children, and all children in rural or remote areas.  Keywords: Blended Learning, Early Childhood Classroom, Media Literacy Education References Aktay, S. (2009). The ISTE national educational technology standards and prospective primary school teachers in Turkey. International Journal of Learning, 16(9), 127–138. https://doi.org/10.18848/1447-9494/cgp/v16i09/46607 Arke, E. T., & Primack, B. A. (2009). Quantifying media literacy: Development, reliability, and validity of a new measure. Educational Media International, 46(1), 53–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523980902780958 Briquet-Duhazé, S. (2019). Websites Consulted by Future Primary Level Schoolteachers in France: Differences between Students and Trainees. 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What educators and parents need to know. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 11(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijmlo.2017.10003925 Papadakis, S., Kalogiannakis, M., & Zaranis, N. (2017). Designing and creating an educational app rubric for preschool teachers. Education and Information Technologies, 22(6), 3147–3165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-017-9579-0 Papadakis, S., Vaiopoulou, J., Kalogiannakis, M., & Stamovlasis, D. (2020). Developing and exploring an evaluation tool for educational apps (E.T.E.A.) targeting kindergarten children. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(10), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104201 Rasheed, R. A., Kamsin, A., & Abdullah, N. A. (2020). Challenges in the online component of blended learning: A systematic review. Computers and Education, 144(March 2019), 103701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103701 Rasi, P., Vuojärvi, H., & Ruokamo, H. (2019). Media Literacy for All Ages. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 11(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.23860/jmle-2019-11-2-1 Redmond, T. (2015). Media Literacy Is Common Sense: Bridging Common Core Standards with the Media Experiences of Digital Learners: Findings from a Case Study Highlight the Benefits of an Integrated Model of Literacy, Thereby Illustrating the Relevance and Accessibility of Me. Middle School Journal, 46(3), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/00940771.2015.11461910 Sabirova, E. G., Fedorova, T. V., & Sandalova, N. N. (2019). Features and advantages of using websites in teaching mathematics (Interactive educational platform UCHI.ru). Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15(5). https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/108367 Schmidt, H. C. (2019). Media Literacy in Communication Education. The International Encyclopedia of Media Literacy, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118978238.ieml0126 Ustun, A. B., & Tracey, M. W. (2020). An effective way of designing blended learning: A three phase design-based research approach. Education and Information Technologies, 25(3), 1529–1552. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09999-9 Valtonen, T., Tedre, M., Mäkitalo, Ka., & Vartiainen, H. (2019). Media Literacy Education in the Age of Machine Learning. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 11(2), 20–36. https://doi.org/10.23860/jmle-2019-11-2-2 Wan, G., & Gut, D. M. (2008). Media use by Chinese and U.S. secondary students: Implications for media literacy education. Theory into Practice, 47(3), 178–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405840802153783 Wu, J. H., Tennyson, R. D., & Hsia, T. L. (2010). A study of student satisfaction in a blended e-learning system environment. Computers and Education, 55(1), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2009.12.012 Yuen, A. H. K. (2011). Exploring Teaching Approaches in Blended Learning. 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Self-ordering kiosk usage and post-purchase behaviour in quick service restaurant / Noradzhar Baba, Aslinda Mohd Shahril and Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah.

This conceptual paper aims to explore the relationship between the customer self-ordering kiosk usage and post-purchase behaviour in quick-service restaurants. The self-ordering kiosk is the latest innovative technology to be offered by restaurants to improve customer experiences, especially in quick-service restaurants. However, the assessments of customers’ actual usage, as well as the question whether it motivates future behavior, have yet to be explored empirically. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) is found to be the most adopted model in foodservice and technology studies. To fit with the proposed research framework, the UTAUT2 model was adopted and modified by incorporating post-purchase behaviour that acts as the dependent variable. Seven theoretical propositions are suggested in reference to the literature review. This study serve as an addition to the literature of digital technology and application adoption on the menu-ordering transactions and also the foodservice system

Technological innovations and business model innovations : An empirical case study

ABSTRACT: Globalization and technological innovations are changing the ways of businesses all around the world. Due to rapid technological developments and the expansion of global markets, consumers demand higher value from the products and services they acquire. As a result, companies must adjust to the market's needs and consistently deliver customer value. Otherwise, companies may lose their competitive advantage and become irrelevant in their industries. The business model concept began to acquire traction and spark interest among academics and researchers after the emergence of the internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After the rise of the internet, it has become evident that many modern business models are arguably fundamentally linked with technological innovations. However, a common agenda regarding the research on this phenomenon is lacking among academics and researchers since there is no standard study framework on business models and the impact of technology on them. Furthermore, there is limited research on the relationship between technology and business model innovation. Some academics believe that technology innovation is a precursor of business model innovation, while others claim that business model innovation provides a framework for technological innovations. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the link between technological innovation and business model innovation to understand the topic better and provide theoretical and empirical evidence for further research. This thesis uses empirical research methods based on a qualitative case study. The primary research data was obtained through a structured questionnaire designed for the founders and board members of the case company. In addition, secondary data was obtained from the case company directly in the form of documents related to the company's business models and services. The questionnaire data were processed and analysed with the help of thematic analysis. Moreover, the empirical findings were compared to the literature review to gain further insights. The study's findings demonstrate a direct connection between technology and the case studies' business models. It also illustrates how vital technology is to the case company and provides insights into how the case company's business models were created. The author also compares these findings to other companies, especially tech start-ups. However, the empirical findings cannot be directly compared to other organizations. Therefore, it was stated that further research on the topic is vital, especially emphasizing start-ups and large tech companies. TIIVISTELMÄ: Globalisaatio ja teknologiset innovaatiot muuttavat yritysten toimintatapoja maailmanlaajuisesti. Teknologian nopean kehityksen ja globaalien markkinoiden laajentumisen vuoksi kuluttajat vaativat korkeampaa arvoa hankkimistaan tuotteista ja palveluista. Tämän seurauksena yritysten on mukauduttava markkinoiden tarpeisiin ja tuotettava johdonmukaisesti asiakasarvoa. Muutoin yritykset voivat menettää kilpailuetunsa ja tulla merkityksettömiksi toimialoillaan. Internetin yleistymisen jälkeen liiketoimintamalli-konsepti alkoi saada huomiota ja herättää kiinnostusta akateemikkojen ja tutkijoiden keskuudessa. Internetin yleistymisen jälkeen on käynyt selväksi, että monet nykyaikaiset liiketoimintamallit liittyvät oleellisesti teknologisiin innovaatioihin. Akateemikoilta ja tutkijoilta kuitenkin puuttuu yhteinen agenda tämän ilmiön tutkimiselle, sillä liiketoimintamalleista ja teknologian vaikutuksista ei ole olemassa yhtenäistä tutkimuskehystä. Teknologian ja liiketoimintamalli-innovaatioiden välistä suhdetta koskevaa tutkimusta on vähän. Jotkut tutkijat uskovat, että teknologinen innovaatio on liiketoimintamalli-innovaatioiden edeltäjä, kun taas toiset väittävät, että liiketoimintamalli-innovaatiot tarjoavat puitteet teknologisille innovaatioille. Siksi tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää teknologisen innovaation ja liiketoimintamalli-innovaatioiden välistä yhteyttä, jotta aihetta voitaisiin ymmärtää paremmin, ja tarjota teoreettista ja empiiristä näyttöä jatkotutkimukselle. Tutkielma toteutettiin empiirisellä tutkimuksella, joka perustuu kvalitatiiviseen tapaustutkimukseen. Ensisijaiset tutkimustiedot saatiin strukturoidulla kyselylomakkeella, joka oli suunniteltu tapausyhtiön perustajille ja hallituksen jäsenille. Toissijaiset tiedot saatiin suoraan tapausyhtiön liiketoimintamalleihin ja palveluihin liittyvien asiakirjojen muodossa. Kyselyn tiedot käsiteltiin ja analysoitiin temaattisen analyysin avulla, jonka lisäksi empiirisiä tuloksia verrattiin kirjallisuuskatsaukseen lisänäkemysten saamiseksi. Tutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat suoran yhteyden teknologian ja tapaustutkimuksen liiketoimintamallien välillä. Tulokset antavat näkemyksiä tapausyrityksen liiketoimintamallien luomisesta, sekä havainnollistavat teknologian tärkeyttä. Verraten havaintoja myös muihin yrityksiin, erityisesti teknologia-alan startup-yrityksiin, ei empiirisiä tuloksia voi suoraan verrata. Tästä syystä todettiin, että aiheen jatkotutkimus on tärkeää painottaen erityisesti startup-yrityksiä ja suuria teknologiayrityksiä

The Impact of a Private Water Enterprise on Household Water Services in Rural Ghana

The goal of this dissertation is to investigate the effectiveness and sustainability of a private water service delivery model in a rural, developing context. Recent studies have found evidence for greatly increased reliability and functionality rates, faster breakdown response times, and increased revenue for water systems managed by these novel service providers (Bey, V., Magara, P., & Abisa, 2014; Kayser et al., 2014; Koehler, Thomson, & Hope, 2015). In Chapter 1, we show how other historical paradigms have claimed improved water provision in the past, but various issues prevented government, public, community, and private providers alike from providing safe, continuous water supply in developing contexts. It is imperative that the service delivery approach be carefully evaluated to guard against similar challenges while identifying potential risks. This work will investigate Access Development (AD), a private service delivery model in Ghana. Results and discussions will use institutional, technical, financial, social, and environmental perspectives to craft a holistic understanding and assessment of this approach. In a recent assessment by the World Bank (2017), the authors called for a better understanding of water facility performance, service level received, and performance of the rural water providers. In order to address this need, Chapter 2 evaluates the overall water service of a private safe water enterprise as compared to historical management systems in the rural, developing context of the Wassa East District. A quasi-experimental design used key informant surveys, household surveys, and water quality testing to investigate the service received by households under various management schemes. Service indicators were compared using logistic regression analysis. Given the nature of private providers and the pre-payment required, it can be hypothesized that overall, the district will benefit from improved service, but the quantity of water collected, and the penetration rates, will be lower for those in poor socioeconomic classes. The results showed that AD Users received significantly improved water service as compared to non-users for the following indicators: water quality (fecal contamination, secondary disinfection), accessibility (distance), reliability (annual uptime), and acceptability (odor, appearance). No significant difference in service provision was observed for quantity, congestion, lather, and taste. However, Users received significantly lower scores in affordability and daily availability. Further, private customers were more reliant upon multiple water sources to meet domestic needs (p<0.05). Although there were slightly increasing trends, penetration (p = 0.43), water quantity collected from AD sources (p = 0.10), and the Joint-Monitoring Programme (JMP) service (p = 0.17) from AD water sources were not significantly affected by relative wealth. This evidence shows that both poor and rich households were being served by private kiosks under the current model. The performance of a service delivery model will inherently affect its penetration rate, or the proportion of households within a given service area that purchase its water. It can be hypothesized that Access Development, acting as a communal water provider, will be unable to reach a penetration rate approaching 100% as long as existing competition is readily available. Chapter 3 discusses this phenomenon and its relationship to financial sustainability. A cross-sectional assessment of sixty rural communities was used to evaluate the market share of the private service provider. Household survey results for motivations, willingness-to-pay, and actual spending were used to develop a customer profile. Distance, taste, appearance, and affordability were found to be the most common motivational drivers. Using this information, a Huff gravity model was developed to assess the actual and potential market share for the company in each community. While the model and actual results agreed that about 39% of respondents would be regular customers at the given price, the attractiveness of other sources would make it difficult to capture more than 58% of the sampled households, even if water was free. The hydrogeological setting is important in understanding the resource availability and limitations of the water service provider. Chapter 4 outlines the process of producing a manual drilling feasibility map for the Upper East Region of Ghana. This coincides with potential groundwater exploitation for the Precambrian Basement in West Africa. While regional siting techniques have been developed in the past, this type of assessment had not yet been conducted in Ghana (Danert, 2015; Fussi et al., 2017; Martínez-Santos et al., 2017). Variables of interest include well yield, static water depth, laterite thickness, depth to hard rock, water quality parameters, and the degree of weathering. Indicator kriging is proposed as an interpolation method that builds upon previous efforts to identify suitable zones for manual drilling, particularly in weathered crystalline basement aquifers. This approach allows for heterogeneity within weathering profiles and provides probability mapping of success for regional planning. Indicator kriging interpolations for depth to hard rock predicted binary variables with over 90% accuracy. The model predicts that drilling into highly weathered layers will often be necessary to reach the required depths for groundwater use, emphasizing the importance of percussion techniques in the Precambrian Basement

Technological innovations and business model innovations : An empirical case study

ABSTRACT: Globalization and technological innovations are changing the ways of businesses all around the world. Due to rapid technological developments and the expansion of global markets, consumers demand higher value from the products and services they acquire. As a result, companies must adjust to the market's needs and consistently deliver customer value. Otherwise, companies may lose their competitive advantage and become irrelevant in their industries. The business model concept began to acquire traction and spark interest among academics and researchers after the emergence of the internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s. After the rise of the internet, it has become evident that many modern business models are arguably fundamentally linked with technological innovations. However, a common agenda regarding the research on this phenomenon is lacking among academics and researchers since there is no standard study framework on business models and the impact of technology on them. Furthermore, there is limited research on the relationship between technology and business model innovation. Some academics believe that technology innovation is a precursor of business model innovation, while others claim that business model innovation provides a framework for technological innovations. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the link between technological innovation and business model innovation to understand the topic better and provide theoretical and empirical evidence for further research. This thesis uses empirical research methods based on a qualitative case study. The primary research data was obtained through a structured questionnaire designed for the founders and board members of the case company. In addition, secondary data was obtained from the case company directly in the form of documents related to the company's business models and services. The questionnaire data were processed and analysed with the help of thematic analysis. Moreover, the empirical findings were compared to the literature review to gain further insights. The study's findings demonstrate a direct connection between technology and the case studies' business models. It also illustrates how vital technology is to the case company and provides insights into how the case company's business models were created. The author also compares these findings to other companies, especially tech start-ups. However, the empirical findings cannot be directly compared to other organizations. Therefore, it was stated that further research on the topic is vital, especially emphasizing start-ups and large tech companies. TIIVISTELMÄ: Globalisaatio ja teknologiset innovaatiot muuttavat yritysten toimintatapoja maailmanlaajuisesti. Teknologian nopean kehityksen ja globaalien markkinoiden laajentumisen vuoksi kuluttajat vaativat korkeampaa arvoa hankkimistaan tuotteista ja palveluista. Tämän seurauksena yritysten on mukauduttava markkinoiden tarpeisiin ja tuotettava johdonmukaisesti asiakasarvoa. Muutoin yritykset voivat menettää kilpailuetunsa ja tulla merkityksettömiksi toimialoillaan. Internetin yleistymisen jälkeen liiketoimintamalli-konsepti alkoi saada huomiota ja herättää kiinnostusta akateemikkojen ja tutkijoiden keskuudessa. Internetin yleistymisen jälkeen on käynyt selväksi, että monet nykyaikaiset liiketoimintamallit liittyvät oleellisesti teknologisiin innovaatioihin. Akateemikoilta ja tutkijoilta kuitenkin puuttuu yhteinen agenda tämän ilmiön tutkimiselle, sillä liiketoimintamalleista ja teknologian vaikutuksista ei ole olemassa yhtenäistä tutkimuskehystä. Teknologian ja liiketoimintamalli-innovaatioiden välistä suhdetta koskevaa tutkimusta on vähän. Jotkut tutkijat uskovat, että teknologinen innovaatio on liiketoimintamalli-innovaatioiden edeltäjä, kun taas toiset väittävät, että liiketoimintamalli-innovaatiot tarjoavat puitteet teknologisille innovaatioille. Siksi tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää teknologisen innovaation ja liiketoimintamalli-innovaatioiden välistä yhteyttä, jotta aihetta voitaisiin ymmärtää paremmin, ja tarjota teoreettista ja empiiristä näyttöä jatkotutkimukselle. Tutkielma toteutettiin empiirisellä tutkimuksella, joka perustuu kvalitatiiviseen tapaustutkimukseen. Ensisijaiset tutkimustiedot saatiin strukturoidulla kyselylomakkeella, joka oli suunniteltu tapausyhtiön perustajille ja hallituksen jäsenille. Toissijaiset tiedot saatiin suoraan tapausyhtiön liiketoimintamalleihin ja palveluihin liittyvien asiakirjojen muodossa. Kyselyn tiedot käsiteltiin ja analysoitiin temaattisen analyysin avulla, jonka lisäksi empiirisiä tuloksia verrattiin kirjallisuuskatsaukseen lisänäkemysten saamiseksi. Tutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat suoran yhteyden teknologian ja tapaustutkimuksen liiketoimintamallien välillä. Tulokset antavat näkemyksiä tapausyrityksen liiketoimintamallien luomisesta, sekä havainnollistavat teknologian tärkeyttä. Verraten havaintoja myös muihin yrityksiin, erityisesti teknologia-alan startup-yrityksiin, ei empiirisiä tuloksia voi suoraan verrata. Tästä syystä todettiin, että aiheen jatkotutkimus on tärkeää painottaen erityisesti startup-yrityksiä ja suuria teknologiayrityksiä

Rural telecommunications policy reform

This publication summarises the issues and points to possible changes in rural telecommunications policy. The purpose was not to revisit the usual arguments about the cost of the universal service obligation, or the comparison between metropolitan areas and remote areas. It simply aims to draw together clear thinking about the issues, in the hope of a better outcome for users and providers of telecommunications

Managing Humanitarian Relief Organizations with Limited Resources in Ghana

During disaster operations in Ghana in 2015, as a result of flood and fire, there was evidence of poor coordination between the workers and victims of the NGO, as well as inappropriate use of funds, which consequently caused compounding problems for disaster victims especially the outbreak of diseases. Little, however, is known about what conditions precipitated these events that may have delayed humanitarian, non-governmental organizations\u27 (NGOs) ability to engage in disaster relief to victims. Using Freeman\u27s stakeholder theory as the foundation, the purpose of this case study of the 2015 fire/flood disaster in Ghana was to understand from the perspective NGOs what events and conditions may have contributed to lack of coordination and inefficient practices. Data were collected from 13 executive directors, employees, and volunteers of the NGO through personal interviews. Interview data were deductively coded and subjected to a thematic analysis procedure. Findings revealed that participants perceived that the NGO provided financial accountability to donors, but not to disaster victims, nor were victims involved in the NGO\u27s operations. The study\u27s findings have implications for how future researchers in related disasters may approach studies in disaster management by including the perspectives of both NGO and victims in humanitarian aid operations. Implications for social change include recommendations to NGO management to develop and engage in accountability practices to ensure financial accountability to all stakeholders as well as active involvement of the disaster victims