Expanding Human Capabilities Through the Adoption and Utilization of Free, Libre, and Open Source Software

Free, libre, and open source software (FLOSS) is software that is collaboratively developed. FLOSS provides end-users with the source code and the freedom to adapt or modify a piece of software to fit their needs (Deek & McHugh, 2008; Stallman, 2010). FLOSS has a 30 year history that dates to the open hacker community at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where information and knowledge was freely shared among a community of programmers and end-users (Lessig, 2006; Stallman, 2010; Sullivan, 2011). The advent of a proprietary or closed software development model in the late 1970s and early 1980s prompted FLOSS advocates like Richard Stallman to develop tools to protect end-users\u27 rights to modify, share, and create software (Lessig, 2006, Stallman, 2010). Since then, the FLOSS and proprietary software development models have become two diametrically opposed points-of-view with advocates and detractors on both sides. This qualitative case study sought to understand in which human spaces FLOSS helped promote sustainable human development by expanding human capabilities in accessing the world\u27s knowledge and information in one community. It sought to answer: How has FLOSS helped to expand human capabilities by providing access to information? Amartya Sen\u27s (1999, 2009) capability approach was used to explore Reglue, a non-profit organization in Taylor, Texas, whose mission is to close the digital divide by providing students and their families with Linux-based computers. Heuristic inquiry was used to analyze participants\u27 experiences using or migrating to FLOSS to explore FLOSS\u27 influence on human capabilities within the boundaries of the case (Moustakas, 1994). Creswell\u27s (2008) qualitative data handling and analysis methodology was also used to identify themes. Five themes emerged from the data that included 14 sub-themes. The study\u27s results revealed that FLOSS does promote sustainable human development by expanding human capabilities in accessing the world\u27s knowledge and information. The results, however, indicate that continued training and guidance were needed to ensure that the participants\u27 success with migrating to and using FLOSS were successful. Conclusions and recommendations were made within the framework of the capability approach that serve to inform practice and policy for future FLOSS ventures or studies as well as to fill a gap that exists within the corpus of current FLOSS literature by adding a human-based case study to the body of FLOSS literature

Group level influence on blog's design behaviour

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The purpose of this research is twofold. Firstly, this research aims to investigate whether the design preferences of bloggers in selected countries from different cultural backgrounds are influenced by national culture traits. The investigation involves two categories of blogs selected within a country where the bloggers share similar attributes such as language or geographical location. Secondly, simultaneously, this research intends to discover the possibility of the impact of group level influence on design preferences of bloggers who are linked together in a network through bloggers’ linkage or blogrolls. To achieve the said purposes, observations on both the global and local blogs of six selected countries are conducted using the content analysis method. This method allows this research to observe web pages and rate design preferences of bloggers via a coding system, similar to the method used to analyse documents or manuscripts to find common themes or keywords. A total of 612 blogs (306 global and 306 local) are observed for a period of nine months to identify cultural traits on design behaviour based on national culture indicators chosen from prominent literatures. To prevent a systematic error, an independent second observer was appointed and the results obtained are compared using a statistical methodology. In addition, translators were also engaged to verify that the translations are of a correct meaning and comprehension since blogs use various national languages on their web pages. The data were statistically tested using SPSS engaging in statistical analysis of frequency table, Cross-Tabulation and cluster analyses and MANOVA. Results shown that design preferences between both the global and local blogs in each country, has significant differences in most of the design indicators chosen. The findings indicate that the national culture influence on design preferences in linked networks of blogs is weakening indicating another type of influence might be in existence. The results also provide evidence that blogs in linked networks are statistically significant as a cluster or a group by themselves and are independent from one cluster to another. The research, however, studies only six countries from six different cultural dimensions. The inclusion of other countries, similar to or different from the countries under investigation, would be an added advantage. Furthermore, the use of only a single type of global blog provider (blogspot.com) in this research could be extended to other global blog providers such as wordpress.com to give fairer coverage of major and popular global blogs as well as providing a wider generalisation effect of the research findings

A correlational study of telework frequency, information communication technology, and job satisfaction of home-based teleworkers

In 2008, 33.7 million Americans teleworked from home. The Telework Enhancement Act (S. 707) and the Telework Improvements Act (H.R. 1722) of 2009 were designed to increase the number of teleworkers. The research problem addressed was the lack of understanding of factors that influence home-based teleworkers\u27 job satisfaction. Job dissatisfaction has been found to have a significant impact on voluntary turnover. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship among telework frequency, information communication technology (ICT), and job satisfaction. The research questions were designed to answer whether correlational relationships exist among telework frequency, ICT, and job satisfaction and to identify primary concerns of home-based teleworkers regarding social interaction, recognition, and career advancement. Sociotechnical theory was the theoretical framework used in this quantitative correlational study. Data were collected from 218 home-based teleworkers via an online survey. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to test the hypotheses. A Pearson product-movement analysis showed a significant positive relationship between ICT usage and job satisfaction. There was no significant relationship between telework frequency and job satisfaction. Pattern matching analysis indicated that teleworkers\u27 concerns centered on a perceived desire for increased face-to-face communication with managers and coworkers. Organizational leaders could use the results of this study to develop strategies that leverage ICT media to enhance communication and collaboration and improve the quality of work life in virtual organizations

The development of the e-commerce technology adoption in Libya : evidence from the Libyan oil and gas industry

The style of doing business electronically, especially using the Internet, is now popularly known as e-Commerce technology. It is generally acknowledged that e-Commerce is revolutionizing the way of doing business. Internet and e-Commerce experts and researchers have recognized the potential of e-Commerce applications for the success of any organization. There is evidence that many companies have benefited from such technology. However, despite numerous studies of e-Commerce, there is a little research identifying the factors associated with the adoption of e-Commerce within petroleum companies. This research investigates factors that influence the adoption of e-Commerce in Libyan Oil and Gas Companies (LOGCs). The study provides insights into the perceptions of Internet and e-Commerce in Libyan petroleum companies who are developing or will develop Internet and e-Commerce technology. However, the LOGCs lack information technology (IT) infrastructure, technical expertise and good management, which appear to be real barriers to adopting e-Commerce. This study will assist those LOGCs that are considering or currently conducting their business using the Internet and e-Commerce. A framework of e-Commerce adoption will be developed to investigate the factors that potentially influence the adoption of e-Commerce. Many oil and gas companies are transferring part of their businesses to the Internet. So how are the LOGCs rising to face the challenges of the fast-moving information age? The Libyan petroleum industry seems to be very slow in responding to this area of information technology. If so, then the full potential of the industry and economy will be compromised. This research examines the factors that hinder or facilitate e- Commerce adoption. A questionnaire was developed utilizing ideas from the existing literature. The sample consisted of top managers in LOGCs (n--21 1). Multiple methods were used to collect and analyse the data: descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis. All analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The results confirmed the findings of the literature survey, in that organizational characteristics influence e-Commerce adoption level. This study proposes a theoretical framework with influential factor groups including organizational, innovation, industry, and environmental factors. Some themes have emerged from previous literature explaining the reasons for rejecting e-Commerce adoption. The results confirm that organizational factors are highly significant in explaining e-Commerce adoption. The results also confirm that environmental factors are crucial and there was a significant relationship between the level of e-Commerce adoption and environmental factors. It is also confirmed that the perceived benefit coefficient has a negative sign and it is not significantly related to adoption level. Finally, the industry factors are not related to e-Commerce adoption level as hypothesized. This study has various limitations, and further research is needed in order to develop a more comprehensive e-Commerce technology adoption model