Tying Strategic Alignment and IT Value to Business Success Using Business Process Analysis And Redesign (BPAR)

Information technology (IT) investments are made for the purpose of obtaining value. This paper proposes that the alignment of IT investments with organizational strategic objectives (strategic alignment) leads to the attainment of value. Value results in enhanced business performance. Business process analysis and redesign (BPAR) is offered here as a tool by which strategic alignment can be achieved. The achievement of organizational objectives adds value to the firm which enhances business performance and leads to business success. Business success may be measured by increased productivity, improved business profitability, and created value for the consumer

Process Redesign as an Intangible Benefit: Its Impact on Information Technology (IT) Investment Decisions

Traditional cost/benefit analysis is used extensively by organizations to compare alternatives and to make IT investment decisions. The objective is to select the project that maximizes the net present value of all benefits minus all costs. A major contribution of this study is expected to be the discovery of intangible benefits that IT investment decision-makers fail to include in their decision processes. The impact of the intangible benefit of process redesign is examined in the context of certain benefit factors. Organizations that pay close attention to the identification and measurement of value derived from IT investments (both tangible and intangible) are expected to obtain greater productivity from those IT investments that lead to business success

Influence of Introductory Accounting Course Teaching Methodology on Students’ Choice of Accounting Major in Kenyan Universities

The study examined the influence of Introductory Accounting Course teaching methodology on students’ choice of Accounting Major in Kenyan Universities.  This was based on the fact that most students in the bachelors of commerce program had developed a negative attitude towards Introductory Accounting Course. The study sought to establish an association between Introductory Accounting Course teaching methodology and students’ choice of Accounting Major in Kenyan Universities. Teaching methodology was used as an independent variable and the students’ choice of Accounting Major as a dependent variable.  The study applied the theory of Wearing Two Hats since Introductory Accounting Course comprise of the process of accounting cycle that requires a lot of illustrations by the accounting Instructor. The study assumed that teaching methodology of Introductory Accounting Course .was the only variable influencing students’ choice of Accounting Major. The study employed the use of a null hypothesis testing of the independent variable on the dependent variable. The study adopted a positivistic philosophical approach since the study was based on a hypothesis to be tested. A Descriptive Ex-Post Facto Research design type was employed as the study measured the relationships of its variables. The target population comprised of students undertaking Bachelor of Commerce Program in twelve selected Kenyan universities. The study adopted a mixture of purposive and stratified random sampling technique to select the sample of students from the target population. A pilot study was conducted on 10% of the sample size. Using logistic regression model for hypothesis testing, the probability value obtained was 0.026 which was less than 0.05, this implied that there was a significant influence of the independent variable on the dependent variable. Findings revealed that Introductory Accounting Course teaching methodology has a strong positive significant association with students’ choice of Accounting Major in Kenyan Universities.  The null hypothesis developed for the study was thus rejected by the actual findings of the study. The results of the study can be used to incorporate appropriate teaching methods in IAC to make accounting course more attractive to students and thus win more to the accounting profession. The study is expected to add to the existing literature by escalating the understanding of relevant teaching methodology  that Research Journal of  Accounting have given as influencing the  choice of accounting as a Major by the students. Since, it was conducted in a country which has undergone devolution and was looking forward to realizing Kenya Vision 2030; it would help Policy makers (regulators), ministry of education, Universities, and other interested parties. The study focused on the relationship between Introductory Accounting Course teaching methodology and students’ choice of Accounting Major as opposed to other studies that hitherto focused on the relationship of teaching methodology of IAC and students’ performance in the course. Keywords: Introductory Accounting Course, Teaching Methodology, Accounting Major

Payton at al. FOSS- development as freedom? Gendered Perspectives on the Digital Divide, IT Education and Workforce Participation in Kenya Abstract

In this paper, we present a study on gendered perspectives of the digital divide, IT education and workforce participation. Using an interpretive approach, a team of four Kenya- and USbased researchers interviewed thirty-two women and thirty-one men matriculating in an IT program offered by a university in Kenya. Our findings indicate significant similarities in male and female response. Both groups described the digital divide as a complex phenomenon that occurs at individual, national and global levels. However, men were more likely than women to see the divide as bridged as a growing number of Kenyans gain IT access and skills. Both sexes perceived significant opportunities for well paying careers in the IT workforce, and this served as a primary motivator for enrolling in the IT education program. However, women tended to reflect on significant structural barriers, such public policies that failed to facilitate the development of the IT sector, gender discrimination by employers, and training which provided them with insufficient technical skills to enable them to effectively perform in the workplace