The Effects of ICT Development on Firm-Level Technology absorption: The role of IT Usage

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development on technology diffusion and firm’s capacity to absorb new technologies. The study analyses the relationship between ICT development measured by mobile broadband subscriptions, broadband internet, percentage of internet users and mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions on one hand and firm-level technology absorption on the other by examining the mediating role played by Information Technology (IT) usage by businesses and governments. A quantitative approach based on Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is employed to analyse country-level data across 134 countries for the year 2016 from both developing and developed countries. Analysis of the results presents evidence of ICT development having a significant role in shaping technology absorption by firms and that this direct relationship is also positively mediated by IT usage. The study provides implications for research, practice, and policy

MIGRATING FROM PAPER-BASED TO ONLINE LECTURER EVALUATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: AN ACTIVITY THEORY PERSPECTIVE (27)

The purpose of this study is to understand how a developing country Higher Education Institution migrated its paper-based lecturer evaluation to an online one. Information systems research on lecturer evaluations has focussed more on the paper-based evaluations as well as the cost, benefits and factors that contribute to the evaluation process. Less attention has been paid to how online evaluation evolves from paper-based evaluations. To address this research gap, this study employs activity theory and an interpretive case study methodology to investigate how an online lecturer evaluation evolved. The findings show a contradiction within and between students, evaluations guidelines and tools of the lecturer evaluation activity system and how this was used as a source of development and how changes in the elements of the activity systems over time affected the evolution

THE EFFECTS OF TRUST AND REGULATIONS ON MOBILE MONEY FRAUD AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

In recent years, mobile money fraud cases have been on a surge. Fraud causes financial losses to money mobile users and as well as dents the image of mobile money service providers. Amid fraudulent activities, service providers need to implement mechanisms or regulations that will promote users\u27 trust in mobile money services. This may translate into an economically developed society as individuals will increasingly rely on mobile money services for transactions. However, there is little literature on the nexus between mobile money regulations, trust, mobile money fraud and economic development. This study intends to investigate this nexus using survey data from mobile money users in Ghana. Data will be analyzed using Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling. The findings from the study are intended to highlight the essence of mobile money regulations and trust on economic development in Ghana

Knowledge and Practice Regarding Coronavirus Disease Prevention (COVID-19) Among Internally Displaced Persons in Camps in Central Darfur Region, Sudan

Background: The lacking healthcare system services in conflict areas and the emergence of infection with a pandemic of coronavirus disease may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis among the camp residents in the central Dafur region of Sudan. Adequate knowledge and practices are vital to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practice regarding COVID-19 among internally displaced persons in Sudan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through an online survey using a self-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was used for the internally displaced persons in two camps of Zalingei town, central Darfur region, Sudan. Results: In total, 143 participants responded; 75 (52.4%) of them were female, while 68 (47.6%) were male; 49 (34.3%) were between the age of 50 and 60 years; 78 (54.5%) were formally uneducated; 126 (88.1%) did not have a chronic disease; and 56 (39.2%) knew about COVID-19 from their relatives and friends. The overall mean of participants’ knowledge toward COVID-19 was 3.68 (SD ± 0.60(, denoting good with a rate of 73.6% and that of the practice was 2.65 (SD ±1.08), denoting moderate with a rate of 53%. A positive correlation was seen between knowledge and practice (r = 0.700, p < 0.000). Statistically significant differences were observed between the mean score of knowledge and practice with age, education, and information sources (p < 0.0001). While graduates showed a higher knowledge (116.29, p = 0.000), secondary respondents showed a higher practice (115.04, p = 0.000) than others. Conclusion: This study suggests educational intervention and awareness programs for uneducated and older people

Examining the Effect of Security Behavior on the Continuance Use of Mobile Money Services in Ghana: A protection Motivation Perspective

Mobile Money Services are essential for dealing with transactions in today\u27s digital economy. The use of mobile money services is an essential contributor to financial inclusion and economic development in developing countries. Unfortunately, the service has become a platform for fraud and other risky online activities. It is therefore imperative for users to rely on behaviors that protect their mobile money wallets in order to continuously use the service. However, there is no empirical evidence on this in the literature. This study therefore intends to investigate the effects of user security behaviors on the continuance use of mobile money services in Ghana. To do this, our study seeks to develop a conceptual model based on the protection motivation theory and validate it using survey data from mobile money users in Ghana and structural equation modelling. Findings from this study are intended to make major contributions to research, practice and policy. Keywords security behavior, continuance use, mobile money services, protection motivation

Reviewing Risk Process Integration Effectiveness into Malaysia’s Landscape Architecture Project Lifecycle

This paper explores the effectiveness of risk process integration into landscape architecture project lifecycles, a subject that found to be lacking in risk management studies. The fieldwork of data collection conducted through structured interviews as well as document reviews from three completed landscape architecture projects in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The collected data analysed using content and thematic analysis. The research found that the risk process ineffectively integrated into project lifecycle with results presenting incomplete process, unplanned and redundant activity flows. The study suggests that common practice constrains practical risk management application that then restrains its benefit realisation.Keywords: risk management; risk process; project lifecycle; landscape architecture projecteISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.199

Risk Management Challenges in Malaysia’s Landscape Architecture Project

This study aims to review current risk management challenges in Malaysia landscape architecture projects. This subject found to be lacking and yet essential to strategies for effective application. The data collection conducted through a semi-structured interview with twenty-four landscape architect professional based in the Klang Valley region. Then analysed using content and thematic analysis method. The research found that multiple challenges factor permits effective risk management application in the project. The study suggests for an extensive strategy to risk management application into the project to be formulated in enabling effective management of risk to improve project performances. Keywords: managing risk; risk management; risk challenges; landscape architecture project. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5i14.216

Risk Management in Parallel Projects: Analysis & Best Practices and Implications to Generic DBrain (gDBrain) Research Project

The increased stiffness in competition has dramatically increased the risk occurrence in project delivery. As the number of projects grows, enterprises or project managers have to eventually run simultaneous projects. Risk management in such cases becomes extremely necessary as failure of one project may lead to the near failure of all the parallel projects running under the same supervision. Therefore, it becomes necessary to understand the best practices for risk management in a parallel project operation environment. Though the issue is of high importance, yet not much has been discussed. This study was carried out in an enterprise environment whereby professionals of this field with high experience were interviewed and requested to share their experiences. The research results bear witness to the fact that risk is inevitable and leaves a strong negative impact on all the projects operating in parallel. As such there is a high need to understand the strategies and best practices that are being applied in this field to avoid heavy losses. We seek to apply lessons learned to managing the DBrain research project which has multiple collaborators working in parallel

Pattern of Neurological Disorders among Patients Evaluated in the Emergency Department; Cross–Sectional Study

Introduction: Neurologic disorders are common reasons for emergency consultations. Most neurologic disorders seen in the emergency department (ED) are life-threatening and require urgent treatment. The goal of this study is to investigate the pattern of neurological disorders among patients evaluated in the ED. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the ED of Mogadishu Somali Turkish Training and Research Hospital, from July 2021 to February 2022.  The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of adult patients with neurologic manifestations in the ED were evaluated. Age, gender, distribution of neurological disease manifestations, neurological examination findings, and neurological diagnoses made by consultant neurologists were assessed. Results: During the study period, 321 patients were assessed (3.7 % of all ED admissions). The majority of the patients in the study were above 50 years of age (62.6% male). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity among these patients with 122 (38%) cases, followed by diabetes mellitus with 65 (20.2%), and heart diseases with 26 (8.1%) cases. The main reasons for neurology consultations were altered mental status with 141 (44%) cases, motor weakness with 102 (31.8%), seizures with 33 (10%), headache with 17 (5.3%), and vertigo with 9 (2.8%) cases. 196 (61%) had hemiplegia, 60 (18.7%) had consciousness impairment, and 38 (11.8%) had normal neurological examination. The most frequent neurological diagnoses were ischemic strokes with 125 (39%) cases, hemorrhagic strokes with 65 (20.2%), epileptic seizures with 28 (8.7%), and metabolic encephalopathies with 13 (4%) cases. The median duration of the neurology consultations was 20 minutes. 251 (78%) of the patients were admitted to the hospital, while 70 (22%) were discharged from the emergency department. After neurology consultation, the neurology department made the most admissions with 226 (90%) cases, while 25 (10%) were admitted by other departments. Of those admitted, 186 (74.2%) were admitted to the neurology ward, and 65 (25.8%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Conclusion: In our study, neurologic emergencies accounted for 3.7% of all emergency admissions. Stroke, epileptic seizures, cerebral venous thrombosis, encephalopathies, and acute spinal cord diseases were the most common neurological disorders.  The admission rate was very high following neurologic assessment by neurologists