Organisations are being forced to invest heavily in the deployment of information systems (IS) to... more Organisations are being forced to invest heavily in the deployment of information systems (IS) to obtain value and benefit in the new knowledge-based environment. Organisational intranets are being used as the platform for developing and deploying critical business applications to support business operations and managerial decision-making across the Internet-worked enterprise. Executive Information Systems (EIS) grew out of the information needs of executives. Web-based technologies are causing a revisit to existing information technology (IT) implementation models, including those for EIS. Some technologies include intranet, Internet, extranet, e-commerce business-to-business (B2B), e-commerce business-to-consumer (B2C), wireless application protocol (WAP), including other mobile technologies. The author conducted a survey of 31 well-established organisations in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which successfully implemented EIS. A validated survey instrument was administered to an EIS stakeholder in each organisation surveyed to rank Web-based technologies in order of their perceived impact on EIS implementation in organisations surveyed. The author reports that an organisational intranet has the highest level of impact on EIS implementation in organisations surveyed in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Given this impact, justifying investment in such IS and IT should be carefully evaluated and quantified.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used by community development programmes are dis... more Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used by community development programmes are distinguished by their advocacy of local interests. With the emerging discipline of Community Informatics (CI), we believe a need exists to critically examine one of its terms of reference - the ‘Community’. We contend that the term ‘Community’ has become used in an unspecific and general manner and that this may dilute and subvert the attention of practitioners in the field. In making this argument, we offer a critical account of the term ‘Community’. It is argued that the term is almost always used in a positive fashion and moreover has been deployed in differing discursive frameworks and political projects. We examine the historical origin of the term and some examples of the manner in which the term has been used in political and sociological projects. We conclude that (1) the term ‘Community’ remains unproblematised and unmindful of its history; (2) the term needs to be recognised as a politically emotive one; (3) as a term of reference its use should be carefully considered within specific contexts; (4) a fuller discourse and exploration of the term in the CI discipline is needed; and (5) ICT deployment in communities should factor in local requirements.
The availability of publicly accessible Internet networks and services are the first prerequisite... more The availability of publicly accessible Internet networks and services are the first prerequisite in ensuring that all citizens and nations can benefit from information on the World Wide Web (UNESCO, 2003). Information and communication technologies (ICT) are playing an increasingly important role in the daily lives of citizens, revolutionising work and leisure and changing the rules of doing business. ICT encompass all technologies that facilitate the processing and transfer of information and communication services (United Nations, 2002). In the realm of government, ICT applications are promising to enhance the delivery of public goods and services to citizens not only by improving the process and management of government but also by redefining the traditional concepts of citizenship and democracy (Pascual, 2003). The spread of ICT brings hope that governments can transform (Pacific Council on International Policy, 2002). This article is organised as follows: • Background to the research is given • ICT adoption in the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa is described • The research goals, method, data gathering, and results are discussed • Management implications towards implementing a successful e-government strategy are given • Future trends are then suggested and a conclusion is given
There is a concerted effort to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) for bene... more There is a concerted effort to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) for beneficial social change in communities. In the emerging discipline of Community Informatics (CI), one of its primary terms of reference, the 'community', has been critically examined by Averweg and Leaning (2009). They contend that the term 'community' has become used in an unspecific and general manner and that this may dilute and divert the attention of practitioners in the field. In making their argument, they provide a critical account of the term 'community'. They argue that the term is almost always used positively and, moreover, has been deployed in differing discursive frameworks and political projects in Western society. While their research has a Western focus, they note that there may be a need also to explore and review interpretations of 'community' in developing countries - such as those in Southern Africa. In this article a proposed questionnaire is developed in English and then translated into isiZulu to explore the term 'community' from a Southern African perspective. The classical African philosophy of Ubuntu is incorporated in the survey instruments of the term 'community'. It is argued that there is a need to explore the term 'community' within the philosophy of Ubuntu in southern Africa, since such exploration and research may yield new insights which will benefit practitioners in the field of CI and may serve to influence the future direction of community development. There is a need to create a Southern Africa society where ICT empowers all individuals to create, access, utilise, share and communicate information, thereby enabling the community around the individual to improve the collective community.
The work-in-progress study reports on established the methods used by Information Systems (IS) pr... more The work-in-progress study reports on established the methods used by Information Systems (IS) project managers, and other managers associated with the IS profession, in the Johannesburg area of the developing country of South Africa, to manage multicultural IS project teams. A three phase Delphi study was used to collect and rank the methods used to manage cultural diversity in IS project teams. Some of the projects undertaken by these IS project teams relate to e-Commerce. From these work in progress results, the authors present some useful pointers towards further research dealing with multicultural IS projects teams in organisations in South Africa.
i-manager's on information technology, Nov 15, 2012
In this article we examine the concepts of community, virtual community and virtual identity and ... more In this article we examine the concepts of community, virtual community and virtual identity and consider if they have any continued relevancy as analytic terms in relation to social media. Firstly, we trace the origins of the term ‘community’ and contextualize its interpretation arguing that the term has political overtones. We then consider the notion of ‘virtual communities’ and suggest a working definition for this term. Thereafter we consider virtual identities. Finally, we contend that while the categories are deeply rooted in a particular understanding of communication, community and identity they do offer some very useful terms of analysis for social media.
Information Technologies and International Development, Jun 9, 2011
... Marcus A. Leaning Marcus.leaning@winchester.ac. uk Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for M... more ... Marcus A. Leaning Marcus.leaning@winchester.ac. uk Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Media Studies University of Winchester Sparkford Road Winchester, HANTS SO22 4NR UK 44 (0)1962 826470 Visions of Community AVERWEG, LEANING Research Report ...
Organisations are being forced to invest heavily in the deployment of information systems (IS) to... more Organisations are being forced to invest heavily in the deployment of information systems (IS) to obtain value and benefit in the new knowledge-based environment. Organisational intranets are being used as the platform for developing and deploying critical business applications to support business operations and managerial decision-making across the Internet-worked enterprise. Executive Information Systems (EIS) grew out of the information needs of executives. Web-based technologies are causing a revisit to existing information technology (IT) implementation models, including those for EIS. Some technologies include intranet, Internet, extranet, e-commerce business-to-business (B2B), e-commerce business-to-consumer (B2C), wireless application protocol (WAP), including other mobile technologies. The author conducted a survey of 31 well-established organisations in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which successfully implemented EIS. A validated survey instrument was administered to an EIS stakeholder in each organisation surveyed to rank Web-based technologies in order of their perceived impact on EIS implementation in organisations surveyed. The author reports that an organisational intranet has the highest level of impact on EIS implementation in organisations surveyed in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Given this impact, justifying investment in such IS and IT should be carefully evaluated and quantified.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used by community development programmes are dis... more Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used by community development programmes are distinguished by their advocacy of local interests. With the emerging discipline of Community Informatics (CI), we believe a need exists to critically examine one of its terms of reference - the ‘Community’. We contend that the term ‘Community’ has become used in an unspecific and general manner and that this may dilute and subvert the attention of practitioners in the field. In making this argument, we offer a critical account of the term ‘Community’. It is argued that the term is almost always used in a positive fashion and moreover has been deployed in differing discursive frameworks and political projects. We examine the historical origin of the term and some examples of the manner in which the term has been used in political and sociological projects. We conclude that (1) the term ‘Community’ remains unproblematised and unmindful of its history; (2) the term needs to be recognised as a politically emotive one; (3) as a term of reference its use should be carefully considered within specific contexts; (4) a fuller discourse and exploration of the term in the CI discipline is needed; and (5) ICT deployment in communities should factor in local requirements.
The availability of publicly accessible Internet networks and services are the first prerequisite... more The availability of publicly accessible Internet networks and services are the first prerequisite in ensuring that all citizens and nations can benefit from information on the World Wide Web (UNESCO, 2003). Information and communication technologies (ICT) are playing an increasingly important role in the daily lives of citizens, revolutionising work and leisure and changing the rules of doing business. ICT encompass all technologies that facilitate the processing and transfer of information and communication services (United Nations, 2002). In the realm of government, ICT applications are promising to enhance the delivery of public goods and services to citizens not only by improving the process and management of government but also by redefining the traditional concepts of citizenship and democracy (Pascual, 2003). The spread of ICT brings hope that governments can transform (Pacific Council on International Policy, 2002). This article is organised as follows: • Background to the research is given • ICT adoption in the eThekwini Municipality in South Africa is described • The research goals, method, data gathering, and results are discussed • Management implications towards implementing a successful e-government strategy are given • Future trends are then suggested and a conclusion is given
There is a concerted effort to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) for bene... more There is a concerted effort to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) for beneficial social change in communities. In the emerging discipline of Community Informatics (CI), one of its primary terms of reference, the 'community', has been critically examined by Averweg and Leaning (2009). They contend that the term 'community' has become used in an unspecific and general manner and that this may dilute and divert the attention of practitioners in the field. In making their argument, they provide a critical account of the term 'community'. They argue that the term is almost always used positively and, moreover, has been deployed in differing discursive frameworks and political projects in Western society. While their research has a Western focus, they note that there may be a need also to explore and review interpretations of 'community' in developing countries - such as those in Southern Africa. In this article a proposed questionnaire is developed in English and then translated into isiZulu to explore the term 'community' from a Southern African perspective. The classical African philosophy of Ubuntu is incorporated in the survey instruments of the term 'community'. It is argued that there is a need to explore the term 'community' within the philosophy of Ubuntu in southern Africa, since such exploration and research may yield new insights which will benefit practitioners in the field of CI and may serve to influence the future direction of community development. There is a need to create a Southern Africa society where ICT empowers all individuals to create, access, utilise, share and communicate information, thereby enabling the community around the individual to improve the collective community.
The work-in-progress study reports on established the methods used by Information Systems (IS) pr... more The work-in-progress study reports on established the methods used by Information Systems (IS) project managers, and other managers associated with the IS profession, in the Johannesburg area of the developing country of South Africa, to manage multicultural IS project teams. A three phase Delphi study was used to collect and rank the methods used to manage cultural diversity in IS project teams. Some of the projects undertaken by these IS project teams relate to e-Commerce. From these work in progress results, the authors present some useful pointers towards further research dealing with multicultural IS projects teams in organisations in South Africa.
i-manager's on information technology, Nov 15, 2012
In this article we examine the concepts of community, virtual community and virtual identity and ... more In this article we examine the concepts of community, virtual community and virtual identity and consider if they have any continued relevancy as analytic terms in relation to social media. Firstly, we trace the origins of the term ‘community’ and contextualize its interpretation arguing that the term has political overtones. We then consider the notion of ‘virtual communities’ and suggest a working definition for this term. Thereafter we consider virtual identities. Finally, we contend that while the categories are deeply rooted in a particular understanding of communication, community and identity they do offer some very useful terms of analysis for social media.
Information Technologies and International Development, Jun 9, 2011
... Marcus A. Leaning Marcus.leaning@winchester.ac. uk Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for M... more ... Marcus A. Leaning Marcus.leaning@winchester.ac. uk Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for Media Studies University of Winchester Sparkford Road Winchester, HANTS SO22 4NR UK 44 (0)1962 826470 Visions of Community AVERWEG, LEANING Research Report ...
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