Expert survey on priorities for the information society in the Caribbean

An on-line survey of experts was conducted to solicit their views on policy priorities in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Caribbean. The experts considered the goal to “promote teacher training in the use of ICTs in the classroom” to be the highest priority, followed by goals to “reduce the cost of broadband services” and “promote the use of ICT in emergency and disaster prevention, preparedness and response.” Goals in the areas of cybercrime, e-commerce, egovernment, universal service funds, consumer protection, and on-line privacy rounded out the top 10. Some of the lowest ranked goals were those related to coordinating the management of infrastructure changes. These included the switchover for digital terrestrial television (DTT) and digital FM radio, cloud computing for government ICT, the introduction of satellite-based internet services, and the installation of content distribution networks (CDNs). Initiatives aimed at using ICT to promote specific industries, or specific means of promoting the digital economy, tended toward the centre of the rankings. Thus, a general pattern emerged which elevated the importance of focusing on how ICT is integrated into the broader society, with economic issues a lower priority, and concerns about coordination on infrastructure issues lower still.

Individual and Organizational Factors Influencing Technology Adoption for Construction Safety

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Essays on the Issue of Piracy in the Market of Information Goods

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Electronic patient records: Achieving best practice in information transfer between hospital and community providers - an integration success story

Effective healthcare integration is underpinned by clinical information transfer that is timely, legible and relevant. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate a method for best practice information exchange. This was achieved based on the generic Mater integration methodology. Using this model the Mater Health Services have increased effective community fax discharge from 34% in 1999 to 86% in 2002. These results were predicated on applied information technology excellence involving the development of the Mater Electronic Health Referral Summary and effective change management methodology, which included addressing issues around patient consent, engaging clinicians, provision of timely and appropriate education and training, executive leadership and commitment and adequate resourcing. The challenge in achieving best practice information transfer is not solely in the technology but also in implementing the change process and engaging clinicians. General practitioners valued the intervention highly. Hospital and community providers now have an inexpensive, effective product for critical information exchange in a timely and relevant manner, enhancing the quality and safety of patient care.

A state-of-practice questionnaire on verification and validation for concurrent programs

Research in verification and validation (V&V) for concurrent programs can be guided by practitioner information. A survey was therefore run to gain state-of-practice information in this context. The survey presented in this paper collected state-of-practice information on V&V technology in concurrency from 35 respondents. The results of the survey can help refine existing V&V technology by providing a better understanding of the context of V&V technology usage. Responses to questions regarding the motivation for selecting V&V technologies can help refine a systematic approach to V&V technology selection.

O IMPACTO DA INFLUÊNCIA SOCIAL SOBRE A INTENÇÃO DE USO DE SITES DE COMPRAS COLETIVAS: UM ESTUDO BASEADO NO MODELO UTAUT

A aceitação e o uso de Tecnologia da Informação (TI) pelo indivíduo têm sido estudadas por diferentes modelos conceituais que, em geral, derivaram de teorias da Psicologia como a TRA Theory of Reasoned Action e a TPB Theory of Planned Behavior, derivada da primeira. Um importante modelo de análise dai derivado, resultado da minuciosa análise de outros 8 modelos anteriores, o UTAUT - Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology de VENKATESH et. al. (2003) tem sido largamente analisado e validado em vários cenários de tecnologia e ambientes. Este trabalho visa compreender de uma maneira mais ampla dos fatores antecedentes da intenção de uso e comportamento de uso a partir do modelo UTAUT, bem como os fatores que melhores explicam a intenção e o comportamento de uso, assim como a análise de seus moderadores. Em seu desenvolvimento, Venkatesh et al. empreenderam comparações em três etapas de implantação e em dois cenários: na adoção mandatória, aquela em que se deu em ambiente empresarial onde o sistema é requerido para execução de processos e tomada de decisões, e na adoção voluntária, cenário em que a adoção se dá pelo indivíduo. No segundo caso, os autores concluíram que o fator influência social tem baixa magnitude e significância, não se revelando um fator importante na adoção da tecnologia. Este trabalho visa analisar também se o mesmo fenômeno ocorre para adoção que se dá de forma voluntária, mas passível de ser altamente influenciada pelos laços sociais, como o que ocorre entre usuários das redes sociais como Orkut, Facebook, Twitter e Linkedin, especialmente em tecnologias que habilitam ganhos associados ao exercício desses laços, como no caso do uso de sites de compras coletivas tais como Peixe Urbano, Groupon e Clickon. Com base no modelo UTAUT, foi aplicada uma pesquisa e posteriormente foram analisados os resultados de 292 respondentes validados que foram acessados por e-mails e redes sociais. A técnica de análise empregada consistiu do uso de modelagem por equações estruturais, com base no algoritmo PLS Partial Least Square, com bootstrap de 1000 reamostragens. Os resultados demonstraram alta magnitude e significância preditiva sobre a Intenção de uso da tecnologia pelos fatores de Expectativa de Desempenho (0,288@0,1%), Influência Social (0,176@0,1%). Os primeiro, compatível com estudos anteriores. Já a magnitude e significância do último fator resultou amplamente superior ao estudo original de Venkatesh et al. (2003) variando entre 0,02 a 0,04, não significante, dependendo dos dados estarem agrupados ou não (p.465). A principal conclusão deste estudo é que, ao considerarmos o fenômeno das compras coletivas, em um ambiente de adoção voluntária, portanto, o fator social é altamente influente na intenção de uso da tecnologia, o que contrasta fortemente com o estudo original do UTAUT (já que no estudo de Venkatesh et al. (2003) este fator não foi significante) e apresenta várias possibilidades de pesquisas futuras e possíveis implicações gerenciais.

Information system planning in drug service:a case study

The development of an information system in Caribbean public sector organisations is usually seen as a matter of installing hardware and software according to a directive from senior management, without much planning. This causes huge investment in procuring hardware and software without improving overall system performance. Increasingly, Caribbean organisations are looking for assurances on information system performance before making investment decisions not only to satisfy the funding agencies, but also to be competitive in this dynamic and global business world. This study demonstrates an information system planning approach using a process-reengineering framework. Firstly, the stakeholders for the business functions are identified along with their relationships and requirements. Secondly, process reengineering is carried out to develop the system requirements. Accordingly, information technology is selected through detailed system requirement analysis. Thirdly, cost-benefit analysis, identification of critical success factors and risk analysis are carried out to strengthen the selection. The entire methodology has been demonstrated through an information system project in the Barbados drug service, a public sector organisation in the Caribbean.

Design and development of an agent-based information system for process improvement

To meet changing needs of customers and to survive in the increasingly globalised and competitive environment, it is necessary for companies to equip themselves with intelligent tools, thereby enabling managerial levels to use the tactical decision in a better way. However, the implementation of an intelligent system is always a challenge in Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, a new and simple approach with 'process rethinking' ability is proposed to generate ongoing process improvements over time. In this paper, a roadmap of the development of an agent-based information system is described. A case example has also been provided to show how the system can assist non-specialists, for example, managers and engineers to make right decisions for a continual process improvement. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Self-service technology and the service encounter

Self-service technology is affecting the service encounter. The potential reduction in personal contact through self-service technology may affect assessments of consumer satisfaction and commitment, making it necessary to investigate self-service technology usage, particularly the long-term impact on consumers' relationships with service organisations. Thus, this paper presents a framework for investigating the impact of self-service technology on consumer satisfaction and on a multi-dimensional measure of consumer commitment. Illustrative quotes from exploratory in-depth interviews support the framework and lead to a set of propositions. Future research directions for testing the framework are also discussed, and potential implications of this research are outlined.

To reveal is to critique:actor-network theory and critical information systems research

It has been suggested that, in order to maintain its relevance, critical research must develop a strong emphasis on empirical work rather than the conceptual emphasis that has typically characterized critical scholarship in management. A critical project of this nature is applicable in the information systems (IS) arena, which has a growing tradition of qualitative inquiry. Despite its relativist ontology, actor–network theory places a strong emphasis on empirical inquiry and this paper argues that actor–network theory, with its careful tracing and recording of heterogeneous networks, is well suited to the generation of detailed and contextual empirical knowledge about IS. The intention in this paper is to explore the relevance of IS research informed by actor–network theory in the pursuit of a broader critical research project as de? ned in earlier work.