Mlearning for India : any potential?

The trend towards mLearning is attributed to the growth of knowledge based societies (UNESC0,2005). In this paper, we examine if there is a case for mLearning in India, a developing nation with certain unique contributory factors such as rapid diffusion of mobile communication technologies negating the need for fixed line infrastructure; and the rising demand for flexible learning approaches by the eager, upwardly mobile, middle class population. Our research is informed by learning theory of constructivism that seems to underlie flexible adult learning in modem contexts. A speculative ongoing debate is examined through the lens of critical discourse analysis, to present an outlook for India. We open a launching platform for empirical work in India that would enable building of relevant models by extrapolating findings from this initial research. More significantly, the stakeholders in mLearning such as mobile technology/service providers, education providers and organisations that foster staff development in particular may be beneficiaries from the findings of this preliminary research.

E-governance-inhibitor or facilitator for democracy and citizen empowerment?

Democracies of the globalised world has been have been striving towards citizen empowerment in the recent decade where E-Governance is perceived as a facilitator. Democratic governments in general feel that being accessible online 24/7 to the average citizen not only makes them transparent, but also empowers the average citizen. In this process, citizen data privacy, information sharing across nations and uniform accessibility to electronic services delivery, emerge as pertinent issues. Through a critical discourse analysis, we take a deeper look at the perception of egovernance being a catalyst in empowering citizens in the global progress towards electronic democracies.

Potential of telemedicine : a preliminary evaluation through the innovation diffusion lens

With the rapid diffusion of innovative technologies in the healthcare industry, the potential of telemedicine has increasingly come into focus. Touted as a catalyst for an equitable healthcare framework among nations, research is wide and one spotlight is on the potential of this innovation to diffuse among the wider society. In this paper, we attempt a preliminary evaluation of the potential of telemedicine through the components of [Diffusion of Innovations (4th ed.). NY: The Free Press] diffusion of innovations theoretical lens, drawing also as relevant from reported literature. We expect that this preliminary evaluation will facilitate further academic research and make other stakeholders, such as regulators, medical practitioners, telecommunication providers and vendors, aware of potential steps to be taken to leverage telemedicine diffusion.

Agile approaches to software maintenance : an exploratory study of practitioner views

Whilst there has been some research into the application of agile approaches to the world of software maintenance, in this paper it is argued that there has not been a coherent investiga-tion that focuses on the collection and analysis of the views and perceptions of agile software maintenance approaches held by experienced software maintenance professionals. In this paper, we report such an exploratory investigation, which has seeded the development of a simple framework for classifying collected views and perceptions. Specifically, a matrix framework has been introduced, to facilitate comparison of the levels of understanding of the issues affecting an agile adoption decision, and the extent to which an agile approach has been implemented. Examples of organizations operating in all four cells of this matrix have been presented.

EDMS, ERMS,ECMS or EDRMS : fighting through the acronyms towards a strategy for effective corporate records management

Records management has been receiving increased attention around the world over the last two decades as governments issue ever more laws and regulations about the management of corporate records. An electronic system to manage records effectively is the ultimate goal of every organisation in both the public private sectors – whether to support the development of E-Government or to conduct business legally. Such systems are not yet clearly defined, however, as the obvious confusion and inconsistency of nomenclature makes very clear. This paper highlights the problem and calls for research into this essential but currently ignored area.

A possible journey to an Australian knowledge management framework

World wide there is a transition towards knowledge-based economies In order to foster them, many economies have built frameworks in conjunction with world forums that promote international cooperation. Our research focuses on Australia, an economy that has been named by the OECD as knowledge-based. Specifically, the paper appraises the transition towards knowledge economies in general. We then examine the Australian context through the implemented eEurope framework with the intent of providing suggestions to Australia in its transition towards building its knowledge management
framework.

Project quality management in virtual environments : a primer

The rise of geographically dispersed project teams enabled by technology has made project quality management a significant challenge for organizations. This paper uses findings from a project on geographically dispersed, cooperating SMEs in the building trade, to explore whether concepts and artefacts from the Rational Unified Process® (RUP®) software development approach could be adapted and used to better manage quality in virtual projects. Our future research aims to explore the use of RUP artefacts in a virtual environment and their impact on
project management and quality.

Mobile location based services

Mobility has become a key factor around the world, as the use of ubiquitous devices, including laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile phones, are increasingly becoming part of daily life (Steinfield, 2004). Adding mobility to computing power, and with advanced personalization of technologies, new business applications are emerging in the area of mobile communications (Jagoe, 2003). The fastest growing segment among these applications is location-based services. This article offers a brief overview of services and their supporting technologies, and provides an outlook for their future.