Information And Communication Technology Capabilities Research Articles

Leveraging ICT Capabilities in Potentially Deceptive Interactions: An Integrated Theoretical Model to Improve Detectability

With the proliferating use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), deception is increasingly being perpetrated through technology-mediated channels. Deception can result in substantial costs to individuals and organizations. However, the mechanisms by which ICT capabilities influence the detection of deception remain largely unexplored. This paper discusses how specific ICT capabilities can be leveraged to detect deception before, during and after the exchange of deceptive messages. We develop an integrated theoretical model and detail propositions grouped under two broad media capabilities—transmissibility and extensibility—derived from Saussurean structuralist theory that views ideas and artifacts in terms of binary opposition. Further, our theoretical model includes two key contingencies that affect deception detection—the overtness of deception and the skill disparity between the deceiver and the receiver. Finally, we conclude by discussing the implications of our theory for practice and offer suggestions for future research.

A study of how ICT capabilities can influence dynamic capabilities

Purpose– Prior studies have argued that small firms with dynamic capabilities can revise and reconfigure their internal resources to meet the uncertainties of their business environment. However, there is a lack of understanding of how they can develop such critical capabilities. The purpose of this paper is to propose that small firms can employ information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities as a facilitator for developing dynamic capabilities. Thus, the study builds on resource-based view (RBV) literature and information systems (IS) literature by examining the influence of ICT capabilities on the dynamic capabilities of small firms.Design/methodology/approach– Several hypotheses were tested by analysing the survey data from 291 small high-technology firms in Sweden.Findings– The results reveal that ICT capabilities influence dynamic capabilities of small firms. More specifically, the ICT use for internal efficiency positively influences adoptive capabilities, collaborative use of ICT positively influences networking capabilities, and ICT use for communications positively influences both adaptive and innovation capabilities. Consequently, the results suggest that the different components of ICT capabilities facilitate the development of the different organizational capabilities that together represent dynamic capabilities and thus, can contribute to a small firm’s competitive advantage.Practical implications– This study has few implications for the managers and CEO’s of small high-technology firms. First, by prioritizing ICT capabilities, small firms can benefit from the development of dynamic capabilities that will support them to meet the challenges of turbulent business environment. Second, because small firms usually lack internal resources (i.e. financial resources and competence), the study provides more specific direction on how they can strategically invest and build different components of ICT that will positively influence their adaptive, absorptive, innovative, and network capabilities.Originality/value– The study provides an alternative view of how ICT capabilities influence the performance of small firms, and outlines how such capabilities influence the development of dynamic capabilities. Therefore, the study in hand contributes to the RBV and IS literature by specifically linking the components of ICT capabilities to dynamic capabilities and its related sub-capabilities.

ICT Adoption, Capabilities Development and Innovation Processes in Argentina: An Employment Approach

The discussion on innovation and the adoption of new information and communication technologies (ICT) and their impact on economic growth and development have flared up in the past few years. This debate has become increasingly relevant mostly in emerging countries like Argentina, which, in spite of high economic growth rates in the last decade, has been facing the challenge of quality employment creation. This article analyzes the impact of the ICT diffusion process in Argentine companies from a firm-level employment and innovation capabilities development approach. Recent findings support the linkage between different firm level ICT adoption patterns and the development of innovation capabilities and employment dimensions, while capturing the heterogeneity of the productive structure. These results provide useful evidence to think and develop new productive and technological policies not only for Argentina, but also to the rest of Latin American countries and other emerging regions such as Africa.

Redefining learning networks through ICT capabilities: representations, behaviours and intermediation strategies

This paper aims to shed light into the complex interaction instigated by the introduction and use of an information and communication technology (ICT) system in a learning network of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the role of human agency in these interactions. It draws evidence from a research and technology development project where an ICT system was implemented in three established learning networks in Europe. The research looks into the representations of the system by various network actors, their behaviours and the degree to which the interaction between them results to the development of new routines in the network. The paper outlines three types of intermediation between network actors: (1) the liberal strategy, (2) the critical intervention strategy and (3) the heavyweight strategy. The strengths and weaknesses of each strategy are discussed based on the reviewed evidence.

Enabling development through governance and mobile technology

The impact of mobile technology on governance and development has attracted significant interest in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Development and Electronic Governance communities. There is growing consensus that governance mechanisms must complement access to technology to achieve greater impact on development. However, few or no rigorous research exists to show how such mechanisms can support the delivery of mobile services to vulnerable groups. This study fills this important gap by first providing a conceptual framework, based on the Choice Framework and the Structuration Theory, to elaborate on the relationship between ICT, governance and citizen capabilities. Second, the framework is applied to analyze livelihood needs of 45 women head porters interviewed in Accra. Third, as all women under study have access to mobile phones, we determine which governance mechanisms are needed to support the delivery of mobile services to them. Results show that three governance mechanisms enable the contribution of mobile technology to meeting the livelihood needs of this group: 1) updating financial and telecommunication regulations to enable the provision of mobile-based services e.g. mobile microfinance, to vulnerable groups; 2) mobilizing local communities in the production of local contents; and 3) engaging non-governmental organizations in building capacity of government agencies in mobile service delivery and in training vulnerable communities in effective use of mobile technology to access information and services critical to their needs. We conclude by discussing the use of the Structuration Theory along with the Choice Framework to shape development processes based on citizen needs and by discussing the applicability of our framework to similar vulnerable groups.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as keys to the enhancement of public awareness about potential earth impacts

The 2007 Planetary Defense Conference recommends “to provide or enhance Internet sites to show how threats evolve and to illustrate possible action scenarios”. Thereby, establishment of informational and communicational AsteroidAware web-site with the exact, authentic data about the past and the present of Earth's impact events will assist in achievement of positive results and progress in different directions on political, international, social and scientific levels. Expanded ICT's capabilities for popularization of planetary defense can help in resolving the problem of low public interest. The project's primary intent lies in popularizing the concept of planetary defenses and attracting attention to the potential dangers that threaten the Earth from outer space. The result of the efforts falling into the boundaries of this project would be an increased amount of social participation in the process of developing solutions for and increasing awareness of potential collisions between various astral bodies and the Earth. The project is also aimed at creating a foundation for the interaction between scientists and executives from around the world to facilitate international efforts of searching for fitting measures towards lowering threat levels and developing strategies revolving around united actions against potential threats.

Identifying appropriate information and communication technology (ICT) in improving marketing of agricultural products in Garmsar City, Iran

One of the most important factors for agricultural development is marketing of agricultural products. Information, as the most important facilitator and main core of the marketing system, has an effective role in increasing the marketing system efficiency. Today, farmers need access to updated and exact information in order to improve the quality and quantity of the agricultural products marketing. Information and communication technology (ICT), by accelerating the information delivery, have a key role in agricultural products marketing. This study, for this reason, is aimed to identify ICT capabilities in marketing the agricultural products of Garmsar city. This is an applied study and the research methodology is correlation. The main research tool was questionnaire and dependent variable was the agricultural products marketing. The statistical population of the study was 109 agricultural experts and extension agent working in agricultural service centers. After data collection and extraction, statistical analysis was done through SPSS Version 16� Descriptive results show that the situation of agricultural products marketing is fairly desirable. ICT also have a moderate role in the improvement of agricultural products marketing. Regression analysis results indicate that computer, electronic journals, website and mobile determined about 14% variance of agricultural products marketing.

Factors effective on Familiarity and Usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran

In today's world, professionals with little or no knowledge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have a much more difficult task before them in comparison to co-workers at the same level but with a reasonable knowledge of ICT. To insure an effective competitive status in educational organizations, and universities there is a need to improve the ability of such organizations to improve consistently their ICT capabilities. The main goals of the research have been to determine the level of Familiarity and Usage of university college of Agriculture and Natural resources, University of Tehran's staff members (Faculty and Experts). A researcher's made questionnaire was used. The sample population based on Cochran's formula has been 124 staff members and the reliability of the questionnaire was approved by experts’ opinion and the validity was approved by calculating the Cronbach's alpha which has been 0.95. The results indicated that the areas of familiarity of most of the members was more of public websites, for example search engines such as Yahoo and Google, and largely used software like Microsoft Office Word, and the University of Tehran's e-office system. There was a positive relationship between the level of ICT usage and field of education and academic ranking, and negatively related to work experience, and there was no correlation to age. The results of mean analysis showed a difference between the amount of usage of and familiarity with ICT between men and women and the variance analysis results showed that the amount of familiarity with and usage of ICT is different between different levels of education, academic ranks and different types of employment. Regression analysis showed that the three variables of level of education, type of employment and age had a meaningful effect on the dependent variable of amount of familiarity with organizational ICT, and the three variables of familiarity, type of employment and gender had a meaningful effect on the dependent variable of the level of usage of organizational ICT. In general familiarity with organizational ICT is the most important factor effecting organization usage of ICT opportunities.

The strategic value of SOA: a comparative case study in the banking sector

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has helped to drive increasingly intense global competition. In turn, this intensity increases the need for flexibility and rapid changeability in ICT to support strategies that depend on organisational agility. We report a comparative, cross-cultural case study of the implementation of Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) at a Scandinavian bank and a Swiss bank. The strategic rewards in the adoption of SOA appear to go beyond marketplace issues of ICT capability acquisition, and unexpectedly arise in the creation of an extensible organisational ICT architecture. The extensibility of the ICT architecture that results from the adoption of SOA provides potential for greater organisational agility (and thereby competitiveness).

Toward a Personal Health Society in Cardiology

In this paper, we present a new generation of health services that has emerged due to the development of advanced information and communication technology (ICT) solutions, like the Enhanced Personal, Intelligent, and Mobile system for Early Detection and Interpretation of Cardiac Syndromes (EPI-MEDICS). It is a personal self-care system that allows any citizen to self-record high-quality ECGs on demand with a smart portable device, which is endowed with powerful ICT capabilities: self-adaptive embedded intelligence, mobile health record management support on SmartMedia card, embedded Web server, and wireless communication. The EPI-MEDICS solution design also provides ambient, intelligent, and pervasive computing services offering any citizen a ubiquitous, reliable, and efficient management of his/her own cardiac status. A multicentric evaluation performed in Europe with a series of device prototypes and the performance assessment of the original methods of signal synthesis that were designed to guarantee a high interoperability level of the recorded data within the clinical practice, as well as of the decision-support methodologies that were developed for an early detection of life-threatening myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia, at home or anywhere, demonstrate the pertinence of going toward a personal health society in cardiology, which still yields the highest mortality rate in industrialized countries.

How do small firms use ICT for business purposes? A study of Swedish technology-based firms

This study examines the extent to which Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability is possessed and utilised by technology-based small firms and investigates the contingent effect of firm size and age on ICT capability. The empirical base is a survey with data from 291 technology-based small Swedish firms. The result suggests that technology-based small firms are high users of ICT in several areas. Regarding contingency effects, firm size was related to significant differences in the utilisation of ICT. Although the smallest firms as a whole use ICT less, a substantial part of them are high users.

Spotlight on ICT in early childhood education: An interview with Ann Hatherly

Ann Hatherly believes Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has much to offer learning and teaching in early childhood centres around New Zealand. Ann works for CORE Education (www.coreed.net), which is contracted by the Ministry of Education to run a national pilot known as the Early Childhood Education Information and Communication Technology Professional Learning (ECE ICT PL) Programme. The three-year programme involves 60 centres nationwide, who develop their own ICT investigations, access professional development, and disseminate their work. She is the national facilitator. The programme is one of several initiatives to result from Foundations for Discovery (2005), the Ministry of Education's framework for ICT use in early childhood education. It builds on research showing that the biggest impact on effective ICT use is teacher beliefs, confidence, and motivation. It's not about the technology, it's about how you use it, she says. You can have all the ICT tools in the world and it won't make a scrap of difference if you're not prepared to also look at how teaching and learning might need to be changed as a result. So when the ECE ICT PL Programme began, they asked centres to put the ICT to one side while they wrote a vision of what they wanted to develop. Once they had the vision, centres had to come up with a research question, which then framed their ICT investigation. A big part of the first year of the programme was increasing educators' confidence and capability with ICT. This included undertaking workshops in cyber safety, which were an eye opener for many. This early phase was more about the educators' learning than the children's. However, now, almost two years into the programme, the emphasis has shifted. I think we've now got to the point where teaching teams feel they know enough about the 'how to' aspect of ICT and are asking 'so what does this mean for our teaching and children's learning?' Effective ICT professional development is a balancing act between the excitement generated by the resources, and teaching teams really asking the big pedagogical questions. Most centres in the project are using ICT for documentation, for research, for communication, and for children's creativity. Enthusiasm for Web 2.0 tools such as blogging and Skype has grown, as educators have tried them and seen the possibilities. The project has three goals: to build ICT capability for children and educators, and in some cases parents; to transform teaching and learning and build communities of practice that can be sustained; and to enhance learning outcomes for children. Educators have given presentations at conferences about their work, and there are plans for findings to be synthesised and case studies disseminated. Ann Hatherly is in no doubt there have been huge gains from the project. I would say it has made a difference in every centre that's been involved, for many in quite significant ways. She's found that educators of all ages have embraced the professional learning opportunity. …

Opportunities and the spread of information and communication technologies: evidence from the Indian clusters of small- and medium-sized enterprises

The wide spread of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) characterising the recent competitive scenario is giving rise to the great interest of researchers and practitioners. Many studies are addressed to give answers to different questions concerning, for example, the impact of ICTs on organisations, the role of ICTs in economic development, the opportunities given by ICT adoption in Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and its performance measurement. In this paper, the opportunities provided by the adoption and implementation of ICT solutions in a particular SME-intensive productive environment, the geographical cluster, are examined. To this end, first, the ICT capabilities and their effects on the value-creating processes characterising a generic supply chain are analysed. Successively, the analysis is contextualised to the geographical clusters in order to identify the more appropriate ICTs for the clusters of SMEs. Finally, the actual ICTs' spread within the Indian clusters of SMEs is examined.

Exploring the structure of trainee teachers’ ICT literacy: the main components of, and relationships between, general cognitive and technical capabilities

There is growing concern over graduating trainee teachers’ insufficient level of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy. The main purpose of this research was to describe the nature of trainee teachers’ ICT literacy at the beginning of preservice training: (a) to explore the structure and to identify the main components of ICT-related capabilities, and (b) to examine possible relationships between these components. Data from trainee teachers’ ICT literacy self-assessment survey were examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Two elements of ICT-related general cognitive capabilities and three elements of technical capabilities were identified, respectively: (a) problem solving, (b) communication and metacognition, (c) basic ICT capabilities, (d) analysis and production with ICT, (e) information and Internet-related capabilities. It was found that general cognitive and technical capabilities are two separate areas of ICT literacy; however basic ICT capabilities are an important component of both areas.

Applying the strategic alignment model to business and ICT strategies of Singapore's small and medium‐sized architecture, engineering and construction enterprises

The concept of strategic alignment advocates that decisions on business strategy, information and communication technology (ICT) strategy, business infrastructure and ICT infrastructure need to be coordinated in order to better realize the benefits from ICT investments. In Singapore, there is a 10‐year plan presented by the government to transform the sector of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), and ICT is identified as an area for SMEs to acquire new capabilities. In this context, the strategic alignment framework is used to evaluate Singapore's small and medium‐sized architecture, engineering and construction enterprises on their current practices in the ICT domain. An industry‐wide postal survey, adopting the IT Barometer questionnaire and applying stratified sampling, obtained 84 responses out of a total of 754 companies contacted. Of the 84, 67 responses were further stratified by size and annual turnover, according to the SMEs definition, to allow a closer examination of each strata or class. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis are used, and the main findings of the research are: (1) targeted schemes need to be set up to address the specific needs and concerns of the micro and small enterprises as distinct from those of the medium‐sized enterprises pertaining to building ICT capability; (2) the two common alignment perspectives adopted by the larger ‘designer’ and ‘builder’ SMEs are ‘strategy execution’ and ‘competitive potential’; and (3) the medium‐sized ‘designer’ and ‘builder’ enterprises are shown to favour technology leadership and customer satisfaction, respectively, as their niche performance criteria for the strategic use of ICTs.

Information technology, networks and community voices

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have altered the form and structure of urban centres across the globe. Scholars suggest that hybrid spaces of electronic networks and urban sites herald the future of city planning, representing a fluidity of material place and cyberspace that transforms patterns of city life. This project examines the regenerative capabilities of ICTs in decaying urban neighbourhoods that link virtual networks of community participation and expression with the physical presence of community media centres. Using symbolic interactionism and qualitative interviews, this research suggests that inner-city residents find ICTs to be a key element in neighbourhood and community revitalization. Overall, this research considers the notion that ICTs are integral components of contemporary urban planning.

Towards a framework for benchmarking ICT practice, competence and performance in small firms

PurposeThis paper aims to provide a review and critique of the benchmarking literature with respect to information and communication technology (ICT) adoption and usage within small firms. This is used as the basis for developing a competence based model contingency framework to be used for comparing practice and performance with respect to ICT within small firms.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical approach is proposed whereby the key metrics and questions related to the development of an ICT benchmarking framework are derived from recent empirical research reported in the literature.FindingsThe main findings indicate a paucity of empirical research with respect to benchmarking ICT and also underdeveloped theory in terms of IT adoption in small firms. The ICT competence and capability approach is proposed as a viable research avenue for investigating IT performance within small firms.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of this research are related to its current phase as work in progress. Testing of the theoretical framework and its development within the context of comparing ICT performance across small firms has yet to be carried out.Practical implicationsPractical implications of the research are very high as there could be a direct link between adoption and use of the benchmarking tool and improved ICT performance.Originality/valueThe development of an ICT benchmarking framework and tool that is directly focused on improving small firm performance – linked to a human and organisational competence approach as opposed to only measuring technological capability.

Stepping ahead with technology: but not too far!

This paper is concerned with how the customer experience needs to be viewed from a strategic perspective when businesses grapple with the important question of the extent to which and what type of information and communication technologies (ICT) might be used to take the business forward. The paper introduces a framework and offers a methodology for diagnosing ‘zones of customer opportunity’. This diagnostic could typically be used by decision-makers and managerial teams — working in partnership with heads of customer service and ICT specialists — to apply a business persective to consideration of adoption of emergent ICT capabilities. In the absence of such a diagnostic, there are tendencies for businesses uncritically to use turnkey proprietary tools of a generic nature or to emulate the approaches used by other businesses and competitors. The framework is built on earlier work by the authors, and represents a practical application of a research-based, grounded methodology which reflects the potential of ICT enablement in enhancing the customer experience, or the use of no technology at all. The diagnostic would most typically be used in strategic planning sessions, or on a more frequent basis where there are fast-moving changes to markets, products or services. In an era where ICT offers significant opportunities for businesses to re-think the means of relating with existing and new customers, the authors advocate active exploration of available and emerging technologies, but counsel against going a step too far and risk weakening or even fracturing the customer relationship. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nurturing Information and Communications Technologies in Africa

Information is a very important asset that must be managed in order to enhance its creation, sharing and application for the sustenance of society. This view arises from the globally accepted fact that information is an essential ingredient in the socio-economic development process of any society. There is no sector or economic activity that can function effectively without information. The advent and application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionized information-handling activities to an appreciable sophisticated level. In the wake of ICTs development, Africa finds herself on the other side of what has come to be termed the Digital Divide. She lags behind the industrial societies in acquisition and application of ICTs and subsequently the benefits thereof for various reasons. The paper asserts that a conducive environment to promote and sustain the growth and development of ICTs must be created if Africa is to benefit fully from ICTs. The paper suggests steps that can be taken to nurture ICTs: creating a permanent official coordinating agency that would be responsible for all aspects that relate to ICTs and formulate a national policy as a means of strengthening national ICTs capabilities. Humanities Review Journal Vol.4 2004: 11-17

Information and communication technology and geographical clusters: opportunities and spread

The widespread adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) characterising the recent competitive scenario has been of great interest to researchers and practitioners. Many studies have been carried out to provide answers to different questions concerning, for example, the impact of ICTs on organisations, the role of ICTs in the economic development, the opportunities given by ICTs’ adoption to SMEs. In this paper, the opportunities provided by the adoption and implementation of ICT solutions in a particular SME-intensive productive environment, the geographical cluster, are examined. To this end, first the ICT capabilities and their effects on the value-creating processes characterising a generic supply chain are analysed. Subsequently, the analysis is contextualised to geographical clusters in order to identify the more appropriate ICTs for cluster firms. Finally, the actual ICTs’ spread within the Italian industrial districts is examined.