Entrepreneurship and poverty reduction: A study of resettled internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lankan post-war zones

This thesis provides an insight into entrepreneurial dynamics and poverty reduction in Sri Lankan post-war zones (PWZs) where entrepreneurs from resettled internally displaced person (IDP) communities depend upon enterprise activity to escape poverty. Here, entrepreneurship is linked to the capability approach and poverty traps in understanding the role of entrepreneurship in reducing poverty. Barriers to market entry and innovation are discussed, together with micro-level poverty traps that help to understand the local economic development (LED) of PWZs. The empirical findings reveal that outcomes of entrepreneurship in PWZs are largely subject to factors outside the control of entrepreneurs, arising from structural elements, thereby highlighting the importance of agency-structure arrangements in the role of entrepreneurship. It seems that GOSL was unable to balance security-development needs in PWZs, to a greater extent. The militarization of PWZs has contributed to predatory behaviour by public officials and substantially curtailed the entrepreneurial space, thereby restricting the role of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, GOSL was largely unable to capitalise on the unique window of opportunity presented by the end of the armed conflict, where resettled IDPs had to start their livelihoods from a point of ‘zero’. This was mainly due to inability to link urgent humanitarian needs with long-term development needs to the GOSL-led relief, recovery and reconstruction response (RRR). The RRR response also did not adequately embed entrepreneurship on a substantial scale that could have positive outcomes for communities. PWZs could benefit from focusing on deagrarianization of the local economy. The empirical evidence established entrepreneurship is a favourable way of enabling structural adjustments in local economies. The interventions are required to enable the transition of largely semi-formal enterprises in PWZs to formality so as not to enlarge the informal sector. The empirical evidence demonstrated being an entrepreneur allows people in poverty to escape poverty traps, earn an income that supports lifestyles as well as to be able to participate constructively in their respective communities. As a result, there are advantages of being an entrepreneur, which help them in an increased level of choice and the ability to live lives they have reason to value even in constrained post-war contexts

Talking Technology Enabled Care - A personalised, visual digital platform to transform health, social care and housing services

The aim of the Talking Technology Enabled Care project was to conduct a feasibility study to co-design, implement, evaluate and deliver a novel, visual, digital care management application for those who find communicating their health needs challenging. The project has been funded by Innovate UK. Effective communication is at the heart of holistic healthcare. Enabling people to talk about their needs and concerns is the first step in providing care that addresses these concerns, supports recovery and self-management. Technology is a potential enabler of communication between individuals and those in their informal or professional care network. Technological solutions can enhance communication among professionals who are encouraged to work together across traditional boundaries to provide holistic healthcare that addresses individuals’ health, social care and housing needs. However, for individuals with communication difficulties expressing their needs is especially challenging and the inability to collect and share information electronically inhibits interagency working. Harnessing –and developing –existing technology that enables talk between individuals with communication difficulties, carers and service professionals can address communication barriers and enhance integrated care delivery between the health, social care and housing sectors

Role of technology anxiety within UTAUT in understanding non-user adoption intentions to virtual learning environments : the state university lecturers' perspective

Aim of this study is to examine the significance of technology anxiety within the UTAUT framework by determining VLE adoption intentions of Sri Lankan state university lecturers. A developing country like Sri Lanka can potentially expand higher education sector potentials through ICT integration into the state universities. Thus, understanding lecturer's perceptions about educational technologies such as VLEs is valuable. An online survey tool was used for data collection. # 219 valid responses were obtained. Data analysed using structured equation modelling. By adding technology anxiety as an external component (i.e., affection) to UTAUT factors (mainly cognitive and behavioural), this study enhanced the response power of the framework. Further, the theorised relationships between UTAUT factors and technology anxiety would fulfil the gap in the lack of literature that connects affective, cognitive components to predict technology adoption. Results revealed that performance expectancy and facilitating conditions have positive correlations with VLE adoption intention, while technology anxiety confirms its significant negative effect on the same. Further, it was found that technology anxiety has positive effects on both performance expectancy and effort expectancy although only PE indicate a mediation effect. The effect of technology anxiety on all hypothesised relationships was moderated by lecturer's age and gender