The Role of Open Source in New Business Formation: Innovations for Development

Innovative uses of ICTs can bring about development. The open source software movement offers new opportunities for innovation. In particular, the use of such platforms can enable entrepreneurs in low resource environments to access and use needed software to support their new businesses. This paper investigates the role of open source software for development. This research shows that participation in open source communities is significantly correlated with new business formation. Through an analysis of datasets from the World Bank and GitHub, the largest open source platform, this paper finds a relationship between open source participation, new business formation and their effects on development, through unemployment rates. There is a strong, positive correlation between new business registrations and active GitHub users, which was statistically significant. The implications for development are in the effect of a positive relationship in job creation based on business formation and open source participation

Performance strengthening model of sharia cooperatives (study on sharia cooperatives in Jambi province)

The model for strengthening the Performance of Sharia Cooperatives / BMT in Jambi Province is a model produced to strengthen the performance of Sharia cooperatives which is measured from the non-financial aspect, because so far the performance measurement of Sharia cooperatives is measured from the financial aspect. However, the measurement of performance from the financial aspect has no impact on performance. This study aims to explore transformational leadership, the use of information technology, partnerships can strengthen the performance of Sharia cooperatives, which have been experiencing slow growth. The survey data used were 33 Sharia cooperatives in Jambi Province, Indonesia, using the variance-based SEM modeling, Partial Least Square (PLS). This research produces a model that Transformational leadership and the use of information technology can strengthen the performance of Sharia cooperatives by building internal and external partnerships. The model illustrates that transformational leadership and the use of information technology have a positive and significant effect on strengthening the performance of Sharia cooperatives, but the influence of transformational leadership and the use of information technology has a greater positive and significant effect when strengthening performance through partnerships that are built

The Role of Open Source Communities in Development: Policy Implications for Governments

Open Source Software (OSS) communities engage in a shared design of software that meets the needs of community members. This dynamic may have a positive influence on development by enabling the growth of micro-enterprises thus offering opportunities for governments to stimulate their growth. This paper explores the connection between OSS communities and development outcomes to arrive at a theoretical framework that enables the investigation of the role of OSS communities in development. By examining existing government policies, we find that policymakers recognize the potential for OSS communities to create shared value through private-collective innovation. In understanding the transformative role of OSS, this research investigates (1) how OSS communities contribute to development efforts and (2) how government policy can stimulate development efforts through OSS. The contribution of this paper is in the policy implications for governments on how they may use OSS to drive development

Status and trends of e-Health tools in Kuwait: A narrative review

Background: Kuwait is witnessing an alarming increase in diabetes and high prevalence of multi-drug resistant strains. E-Health solutions have the potential to deliver timely, quality and cost-effective solutions to these public health challenges. However, little is known about the existing e-health solutions in Kuwait. Aims: This study aims to explore the current e-health tools and applications in Kuwait, and the factors that affect their adoption and implementation. Methods: A literature search was carried out for articles on e-health in Kuwait using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline and Proquest. Reference lists of all included items were additionally searched. A manual search was also conducted using WHO EMRO Virtual Health Sciences Library and MOH policies and standards. Results: 1121 papers were retrieved from databases and 29 papers were added from manual searching of reference lists. 495 papers were considered for review after the removal of duplicates. Thirty studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Implementing electronic health records and establishing a childhood-onset diabetes registry are the main e-Health achievements to date. Implementing e-Health tools has been hindered by various socio-political, financial, infrastructural, organizational, technical and individual barriers. Conclusion: The modest e-Health achievements warrant bigger and faster implementation steps focusing on developing an e-Health policy framework and drawing an implementation road-map that is evidence based and research informed

Education Enhanced by Information and Communication Technologies

 In all facets of human life, knowledge and communication technology (ICTs) are becoming indissoluble entities. The utilization of ICT has profoundly modified the processes and methods of nearly any type of job, policy and public services. ICT have started to participate in education although it hasn't had as much impact as compared to other areas of activity. The transition from environment to new medias and information has increased the importance of Information and Communication Technologies in education and will continue to expand and to evolve in the 21st century. ICT is a vital aspect of the new environment. ICT is an integral feature. Society and culture in fact have to be adapted to the difficulties of era of knowledge. The standard and quantity of schooling in tertiary educational establishments has undeniably influenced ICT. There needs to be a clear emphasis on the numerous constraints on ICT usage as a higher education change agent, such that ICT continues to perform its high position in transforming tertiary institutions

Posters and Development: A Case Study of Cell Phone Posters in the Rural Congo

One of the benchmarks of the information age often forgotten is the proliferation of posters or billboards in and around workplaces, neighborhoods, airports, shopping centers, restaurants, theaters, libraries, schools, etc. More interestingly, through cell phones, posters are rapidly entering rural areas in developing countries. Although these posters come with specific messages and graphics – continually upgraded and tailored to people’s attention -- they hardly undergo scientific inquiry in circles concerned with information and communication technologies [ICTs]. The lack of attention raises questions on the role of information systems and related wireless devices being deployed in developing countries. The present paper aimed to canvass cell phone posters and unbundle the underlying practices and routines. As well as positioning posters at the center stage of ICT research, the present paper applied critical discourse analysis to inquire into ways in which development was represented or effected among populations in the rural Congo. The paper determined that posters were not centered on local populations and their day-to-day struggles/needs, and that the information conveyed on posters was not geared toward the development of the world’s poorest. The paper crafted some paths for future work in ICT fields and cell phone bodies of work