Gender, social capital and information exchange in rural Uganda:

"Changing agricultural research and extension systems mean that informal mechanisms of information diffusion are often the primary source of information about improved seed and practices for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper investigates the interactions between gender, social capital and information exchange in rural Uganda. Within the framework of farmer-to-farmer models, we conceptualize the informal information diffusion process to comprise social capital accumulation and information exchange. We assume that each agent participates in information exchange with a fixed (predetermined) level of social capital and examine how endowments of social capital influence information exchange, paying close attention to gender differences. A multinomial logit model is used to analyze multiple participation choices of information exchange facing the farmer. Findings demonstrate that social capital is an important factor in information exchange, with men generally having better access to social capital than women. We also find strong evidence in support of group-based technology dissemination systems. " Authors' AbstractGender, Social capital, information exchange, Informal mechanisms, Agricultural research, Seed systems, Agricultural technology, Collective action,

MODEL OF HUMAN RESOURCE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT BASED ON HUMAN CAPITAL AND SOCIAL CAPITAL WITH THE MODERATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

This study investigates the effect of human capital and social capital on human resource performance, and the moderating effect of information technology. Based on a total sample of 88 respondents from the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of Monitor Radio Frequency Spectrum Class I Semarang and Yogyakarta which is analyzed using structural equation modeling based smartPLS 3.0, the results indicated that 1) human capital is positively related to social capital and human resorce performance; 2) social capital is positively related to human resorce performance; 3) information technology moderates the relationships between social capital and human resorce performance; and 4) information technology moderates the relationships between human capital and human resource performance.Keywords: Human capital, Social capital, Information technology, Human resource performanc

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN IMPROVING INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOUR AND HUMAN RESOURCES PERFORMANCE IN SEMARANG REGENCY GOVERNMENT

The purpose of this study was to test a model in which social capital and information technology predict innovative behaviour  and human resource performance. A total of 105 respondents completed questionnaires on social capital, information technology, innovative behaviour, and human resource performance. Results from structural equation modeling based smartPLS 3.0 confirmed that 1) social capital was positively related to innovative behaviour and human resource performance; 2) innovative behaviour was positively related to human resource performance; and 3) information technology moderated the relationships between innovative behaviour and human resource performance.Keywords:  Social    capital,    Innovative. behaviour, Information technology, Human resource performance

Proceedings of the Conference on Human and Economic Resources

Knowledge and technological innovation play a crucial role in economic activities in parallel with the technological infrastructure recognized by managers, scientists, and engineers, together with the related telecommunications, information systems, environment, microelectronics machinery and computer-based transportation. As it could be easily seen, technical progress has direct effects only on production. Through process or product innovation, it is evident that to maintain a kind of feedback on education and human capital formation is the natural result of the investment inputs closely connected with the scholastic fashion. Education and technological change are major determinant of economic, cultural, political, social, demographic changes. It must be borne in mind that considering the global aspect of the economic system, one should emphasize the importance of the inclusion of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education, which naturally result in the productivity of education outputs. In parallel with the close relationship between human capital and social capital, which are closely connected with each other and at the same time trigger each other. All of them aim at the well being of economy. It related theoretical literature framework of our study would be analysed in the light of variable such as globalisation, ICT, education, human capital, social capital, and economy well being.education,knowledge, information technology, communication technology

Surfing Alone? The Internet and Social Capital: Evidence from an Unforeseeable Technological Mistake

Does the Internet undermine social capital or facilitate inter-personal and civic engagement in the real world? Merging unique telecommunication data with geo-coded German individual-level data, we investigate how broadband Internet affects several dimensions of social capital. One identification strategy uses panel information to estimate value-added models. A second exploits a quasi-experiment in East Germany created by a mistaken technology choice of the state-owned telecommunication provider in the 1990s that still hinders broadband Internet access for many households. We find no evidence that the Internet reduces social capital. For some measures including children’s social activities, we even find significant positive effects.internet, social capital

Surfing Alone? The Internet and Social Capital: Evidence from an Unforeseen Technological Mistake

Does the Internet undermine social capital or facilitate inter-personal and civic engagement in the real world? Merging unique telecommunication data with geo-coded German individual-level data, we investigate how broadband Internet affects several dimensions of social capital. One identification strategy uses panel information to estimate value-added models. A second exploits a quasi-experiment in East Germany created by a mistaken technology choice of the state-owned telecommunication provider in the 1990s that still hinders broadband Internet access for many households. We find no evidence that the Internet reduces social capital. For some measuresincluding children's social activities, we even find significant positive effects.Internet, social capital

Technology and restructuring the social field of dairy farming : hybrid capitals, ‘stockmanship’ and automatic milking systems

This paper draws on research exploring robotic and information technologies in livestock agriculture. Using Automatic Milking Systems (AMS) as an example we use the work of Bourdieu to illustrate how technology can be seen as restructuring the practices of dairy farming, the nature of what it is to be a dairy farmer, and the wider field of dairy farming. Approaching technology in this way and by drawing particularly upon the ‘thinking tools’ (Grenfell, 2008) of Pierre Bourdieu, namely field, capital and habitus, the paper critically examines the relevance of Bourdieu’s thought to the study of technology. In the heterogeneous agricultural context of dairy farming, we expand on Bourdieu’s types of capital to define what we have called ‘hybrid’ capital involving human-cow-technology collectives. The concept of hybrid capital expresses how the use of a new technology can shift power relations within the dairy field, affecting human-animal relations and changing the habitus of the stock person. Hybrid capital is produced through a co-investment of stock keepers, cows and technologies, and can become economically and culturally valuable within a rapidly restructuring dairying field when invested in making dairy farming more efficient and changing farmers’ social status and work-life balance. The paper shows how AMS and this emergent hybrid capital is associated with new but contested definitions of what counts as ‘good’ dairy farming practice, and with the emergence of new modes of dairy farmer habitus, within a wider dairy farming field whose contours are being redrawn through the implementation of new robotic and information technologies

Understanding the effect of IS change: A social capital perspective

This paper argues that by adopting a social capital perspective of the effects of Information Systems (IS) implementation we are able to provide insights into both human and technological aspects of change interventions. This theoretical paper is firmly embedded within socio-technical approaches and aims to conceptualise and address concerns relating to organisational issues of systems and technology management. IS implementation inevitably impacts upon the existing work and social relationships within organisations where there is the potential experience of reduced system effectiveness through a periodic lack of coordination and control. It is evident, in this respect, that the adoption of IS produces challenges to human collaboration which clearly add a social dimension to systems management. The paper broadly outlines how a social capital perspective may determine the areas of focus from IS-driven organisational change and provide indications about potential ways to improve system and technology adoption. This may support more appropriate designs for change interventions that enable organisations to accrue more value from IS

Digital Divide: An Econometric Study of the Determinants in Information-poor Countries

There can not be two opinions on the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for economic development. However, real disparities exist in access to and use of ICT across countries. The digital divide is a complicated matter of varying levels of access, basic usage, and applications of ICT among countries and peoples. Using the Gompertz Technology Diffusion model, this paper attempts to measure the contribution of factors such as affordability, knowledge, infrastructure, human capital, trade openness, and economic and social environment in the technology diffusion process, specially in the case of information-poor countries.Digital Divide, Information and Communication Technologies, ICT, Gompertz Model, ICT Diffusion, Economic Development, ICT Infrastructure

Framework for studying reflective social capital in ICT4D

Social capital is an important concept in Information and Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) research. It is tightly linked with reflexivity and more research is needed on how reflective practices contribute to the sustenance of social capital in ICT4D interventions. Also, there is a call for greater probe of how ICT4D interventions translate into quality of life. This exploratory study looks at the relationship between reflexivity and social capital and how this relationship translates into wellbeing of individuals using information and communications technology in the developing countries. The study is based on critical incident reflection methodology and analyzes twenty incidents from two ICT4D projects in India. Our study indicates that in ICT4D initiatives social capital helps achieve the desired individual outcomes, but its activation does not translate into overall wellbeing of the users of social capital. Also, users of social capital are reflective about its use and produce reaffirmation schemas about their social context