Identification of Factors that Lead to Perceived Skill Development when Using Multimedia Materials

Considering conflicting research findings on the impact of multimedia on perceived skill development, this research investigates whether intervening variables such as task- technology fit factors might explain the difference in the findings. A pilot study was conducted where 39 students worked on a case study using both paper-based and multimedia based technologies. The findings from the pilot study suggested a strong indirect relationship between multimedia and perceived skill development with learning-driven constructs playing a major role. An exploratory factor analysis design employing a structural equation model will be used to further investigate whether other intervening variables such as the inclusion of an expert choice software, gender, and student major would influence perceived skill development

Global Diffusion of the Internet VII- Teledensity Growth Strategies for Latin America: The Case of Colombia and Ecuador

The Internet in developing countries grew substantially in recent years. Given the large income disparities and low telephone penetration. rates in most Latin American countries, only about 4% of the region\u27s population can access the Internet. The International Telecommunication Union reports that teledensity (the number of telephone land-lines per 100 people) in Latin America is currently at about 10.8%. Prior research identified specific factors that hinder growth of teledensity in developing countries and specific strategies used to overcome such limitations. This study investigates Latin American telecommunication stakeholders\u27 perspective of how these strategies can be used to address teledensity growth in the region. Survey participants (Latin America\u27s telecommunications stakeholders) analyzed the strategies critically and modified, enhanced, or added new insights. Using appropriate statistical procedures we examined the telecommunications stakeholders\u27 perceptions to find potential solutions the low teledensity problem. Qualitative comments to support the stakeholders\u27 responses are reported, together with future research implications

Testing a Modified TAM that Accounts for Realities of Technology Acceptance in Sub Saharan Africa

One of the motivations for this paper is to enhance our understanding of the interactions that come to bear between some socio-economic development needs and factors generally innate to sub-Sahara Africa that manifest to impede technological adoption in the region. Developing countries, of which all sub-Sahara Africa countries are part, lag in adopting foreign technologies for various reasons, among which are institutional, cultural, geo-political, tribal, and economic policy factors. This research is an examination of some antecedents to the perceived user resource model, which in turn was developed from the original TAM literature; it also extends ideas espoused in Information Technology literature related to socio-economic development. We validate the model by analyzing survey data gathered in two representative Sub-Saharan Africa countries. We offer some diagnostics and prescriptions for how to effect a sustainable technological adoption and development across the region

Toward Sustainable Adoption of Technologies for Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Precursors, Diagnostics, and Prescriptions

This paper proposes and merges an extension of technology acceptance model with ideas from human development research targeting least developed countries. Specifically, the paper proposes an extension of the influence of perceived user resource, which in turn was developed from the original TAM literature. It is also tied to the Information Technology literature about socio-economic development. Our objective is to shed light on the interactions between socio-economic development needs and factors generally innate to sub-Sahara Africa and other developing countries that impede sustainable technological adoption and diffusion. We argue that developing countries lag in adopting \u27foreign technologies\u27. We offer diagnostics and prescriptions for how to effect a sustainable technological adoption to support socio-economic development across Sub-Saharan Africa. This article should bring into focus this and other developing regions that are almost non-existent in mainstream information systems research

Global Diffusion of the Internet X: The Diffusion of Telemedicine in Ethiopia: Potential Benefits, Present Challenges, and Potential Factors

Delivery of healthcare services presents many challenges for governments in most developing countries. Some of these challenges include financial and human resources issues that might affect governments\u27 ability to manage and transform scarce resources to meet healthcare needs. Telemedicine, a healthcare delivery technology where physicians examine patients from distant locations using information technologies, is reported to be increasingly helpful in meeting the needs of the healthcare sector in developing nations such as those in sub-Saharan Africa. This conceptual study reports on the sectoral adoption of telemedicine in Ethiopia, a sub-Saharan African country. We examine the potential benefits of telemedicine diffusion in Ethiopia, addressing the country\u27s healthcare needs, and discussing the obstacles and challenges. Based on previous literature, as well as experiences drawn from other developing nations, we address three potential factors that could influence the diffusion of telemedicine in Ethiopia: active participation of institutions of higher education, Ethiopian foreign alliances, and government involvement. Although the initial successes are relatively small and involve isolated projects, they have been promising and have set the stage for researchers to investigate prevailing projects so as to gain better understanding of the aforementioned factors. Our study does not claim that telemedicine can solve all of Ethiopia\u27s medical challenges; however, we contend that it is a starting point to reach Africans that live in areas with limited medical facilities and personnel. Hence, our study could have far reaching implications as the world looks to help this country, and by extension, other developing countries, to overcome their medical challenges and join the information society

A Re-Examination of Racioethnic Imbalance of IS Doctorates: Changing the Face of the IS Classroom

There is an extremely low percentage of minority faculty in the IS field. This global trend is highly conspicuous-- a minority of blacks compared to a majority of white academics in England, a minority of Aborigines compared to a majority of white academics in Australia, a minority of blacks compared to a majority of white academics in Canada, and for the purpose of our study, a minority of Native American, Hispanic American, and African American academics compared to a majority of white academics in the United States. Between 1995-2000, not only do AACSB reports indicate a continuous decline in minority business doctorates, but the accreditation body reports that the IS discipline shows a significant under-representation of minority faculty. In this study, we argue that mentoring under-represented groups in the discipline offers the field a myriad of avenues to change the ¡°face¡± of the classroom and reduce this gap. We examine the absence of racioethnicity and mentoring in the IS field and offer lessons learned from the Ph.D. Project Model for engendering change and mentoring within the IS community. Using data from a six-year period, we discuss diversity issues, lessons learned, and recommendations from mentoring a group of under-represented IS doctoral students

The Neglected Continent of IS Research: A Research Agenda for Sub-Saharan Africa

Research with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a major region within the world’s second largest continent, is almost non-existent in mainstream information systems research. Although infrastructures for information and communication technology (ICT) are well established in the more developed and industrialized parts of the world, the same is not true for developing countries. Research on developing countries has been rare in mainstream IS and, even where existent, has often overlooked the particular situation of SSA, home to 33 of the world’s 48 least-developed countries. Ironically, it is such parts of the world that can stand to gain the most from the promise of ICT with applications that would help the socioeconomic development of this region. In this study, we present the need for focused research on the ICT development and application for SSA. The information systems research community has a unique and valuable perspective to bring to the challenges this region faces in developing its ICT infrastructure, hence extending research and practice in ICT diffusion and policy. We present here a research agenda for studying the adoption, development, and application of ICT in SSA. In particular, teledensity, telemedicine, online education, and e-commerce present important areas for research, with implications for research, practice, and teaching