Diffusion Of Information Communication Technology Research Articles

Financial innovation and banks performance in developing countries: Evidence from Ghana

AbstractIncrease in the diffusion of information communication technology in Africa has resulted in the increase of technology‐based financial products and processes. The rollout of financially innovative products and processes is being undertaken on both the macro level (by regulators and government agencies) and the micro level (banking institutions). To determine whether or not this capital‐intensive investment is worthwhile or otherwise, the study collected firm‐level data on banks operating in Ghana, West Africa, to examine the relationship between financial innovation indicators and bank performance. Using a quantitative design, the study employs panel regression to analyse a panel data of 21 banks (both local and foreign‐owned). operating in Ghana between 2007 and 2015 The results show that financial innovation, proxied by two industrywide interventions, has a positive and significant impact on bank performance. It is recommended that deposit‐taking institutions in developing countries invest in financial innovative services to increase their performance. On the macro level, governments and banking industry regulators in Africa are encouraged to invest in creating and supporting the proliferation of technology‐based systems that will improve banking processes.

Synergy effects of ICT diffusion and foreign direct investment on inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The present study critically examines the synergy effect of information communication technology (ICT) diffusion and foreign direct investment (FDI) on inclusive growth in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries using a modified system-generalized method of moments (GMM) model based on panel data covering the period 2005–2020. This study differs significantly from the previous studies in four ways: (i) this study uses a more comprehensive measure of ICT by computing a composite ICT index, which takes into account several ICT indicators; (ii) some existing study uses a narrow proxy of inclusive growth using the Gini index as a proxy, while others consider three patterns of economic growth dynamics (GDP growth, real, and per capita GDP). For robust analysis, we computed a composite inclusive growth index that takes into account several shared growth indicators; (iii) our model captures the heterogeneity effect of the interaction term of FDI and ICT diffusions on two groups of SSA countries, unlike the previous studies that estimated the joint impact of FDI and ICT on the whole group of countries; (iv) we contribute to the extant studies by determining the threshold level at which ICT diffusion may determine the effect of FDI on inclusive growth. Overall, empirical results show that the positive effect of FDI on inclusive growth could intensify when ICT diffusion is beyond a given threshold level, while inflation and vulnerable unemployment deteriorate inclusive growth, among others. We are of the opinion that ICTs should engage to cushion present and future environmental threats/natural catastrophes through improving geographical monitoring and concerted reaction coupled with other policy recommendations paying special attention to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fifteen (15)—inclusive growth.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-22689-3.

Development of strategies to improve information communication technology diffusion in Nigeria's logistics and transport industry: adaptation of structure-process-outcome model

Development of strategies to improve information communication technology diffusion in Nigeria's logistics and transport industry: adaptation of structure-process-outcome model

Information communication technology diffusion and financial inclusion: an inter-state analysis for India

ABSTRACT The paper investigates the impact of ICT (information communication technology) diffusion on the financial inclusion across 16 Indian states during the time period 2007–2008 to 2014–2015. Tele-density, usage of mobile phones and internet connectivity can improve the accessibility, reduce the transaction cost and travel cost of the commercial banking sector. This increases the access of institutional credit, products and services to marginalized unbanked population of society. Inter-state comparison reveals the fact that there are disparities in the spread of ICTdiffusion and financial inclusion across the regions and these disparities are persistent in nature. ICT diffusion index is consistently high in Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, whereas low in Assam, Bihar Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Dynamic panel data analysis exhibits that ICT index has a strong positive significant impact on financial inclusion index. It also illustrates that lack of education, age composition of population, rural-urban location, poor status of financial literacy play a very vital role in spreading financial inclusion. The elderly people in rural as well as in urban areas are still not that familiar with mobile and internet, they may not be able to get benefited by ICT revolution.

Women at work in Saudi Arabia: Impact of ICT diffusion and financial development

We investigate the determinants of female labor force participation in Saudi Arabia , where religion and natural resources play a significant role in defining the social and economic parameters. Using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test, we provide evidence that the supply of female labor and increased cost of living promote female labor force participation; while diffusion of information communication technology (ICT), membership of Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), oil resources, supply of foreign labor force, and the size of the government hinder it. We also show that financial development alters the negative impacts of ICT diffusion, CEDAW membership, and size of service economy on the female labor force participation.

Digital Divide in Rural Tertiary Education

Recent studies show that Digital Divide continue to exist persistently despite efforts in a global scale to address the same through diffusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT). Inequality of access to technology as the main driving force behind these efforts, suffered deficiencies to fully capture the entire picture of the gap. The focus now is on the ability to use the technology among those who have access to it where skill and education plays a pivotal role. This is supported by findings of certain studies where digital skill particularly strategic and operational skill dictates a new frontier for bridging the gap especially in rural areas of developing countries where it is prevalent. To investigate whether there exists a digital divide among students enrolled with computer related programs in Eastern Samar State University Borongan City, Eastern Samar Philippines, the researchers conducted a survey using a questionnaire employed by Krause (2014) primarily based on LoTi H.E.A.T. Digital Age Survey developed by Dr. Chris Moersch of the LoTi Institute Carlsbad, California with modification. Data regarding gadgets and access to internet were solicited from the respondents including their perception about their related skills and later analyze and described using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that there exists a digital divide among the four groups of students (BSIT, BSCS, BSCpE, ACT) in terms of availability/access to internet and related technologies including a substantial deficiency in skill/knowledge to use the same.

Does ICT Diffusion Increase FDI Inflow? : 2SLS for Panel Data Model

This study focuses on examining the relations between ICT(Information & Communication Technology) and FDI(Foreign Direct Investment) inflow through 2SLS(Two-Stage Least Squares) analyzes. My research presents a more generalized result compared to previous studies by using a wide range of data sets from 1980 to 2010 for 199 countries. Furthermore, in order to supplement the possible endogeneity problem in setting variables in the panel analysis, this paper conducts 2SLS using the 15～24 age group as an instrument variable at the country level. The main results based on 2SLS analysis are as follows. All three variables set as ICT infrastructure exhibit a positive significant relationship with FDI inflow. Specifically, at the 5% significance level, the increasing numbers of fixed-broadband subscribers, internet users and mobile phone subscribers of 10% leads to 5.33%, 5.08%, 7.40% increase in FDI inflow, respectively.

Multichannel marketing: the operational construct and firms’ motivation to adopt

Multichannel marketing has been gaining attention to its importance in both practice and research in the recent years with the rapid diffusion of Information Communication Technology. Due to the relative recency and rapid proliferation of research in the subject, the literature lacks a well-defined construct of multichannel marketing generalizable to different types of firms, and lacks understanding of the actual reasons that firms adopt multichannel marketing. Through comparing and complementing the extant literature with practitioners’ perspectives from interviews with 32 Italian firms, the authors propose a comprehensive and generalizable framework of the multichannel marketing construct, and identify and categorize the firms’ motivations to adopt the multichannel marketing practice. Furthermore, some unforeseen but interesting factors emerged from the interviews. Future research opportunities and managerial implications of the study are discussed.

Dynamic linkages between diffusion of Information Communication Technology and labour productivity in South Asia

At present, diffusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a significant area of concern for sustainable development and growth of a country. Regions with abundant labour such as South Asia require significant improvements in the diffusion of ICT to achieve higher productivity for their labour, which in turn can increase the pace of economic growth. In this context, the objective of this study is to investigate whether ICT could be used to improve labour productivity for countries in South Asia. This study first investigates the general status of diffusion of ICT among South Asian countries. The initial results based on descriptive statistics indicate that there is a significant gap among the South Asian countries, with Maldives having the highest ICT facilities. Second, using robust panel data methodologies, this study concludes that South Asia’s drive for higher productivity of its abundant labour force can substantially be improved in the long-run by increasing diffusion of ICT in the presence of trade openness as well as domestic capital formulation.

IT‐enhanced communication protocols for building project management

PurposeBuilding project management requires real time flow of information between all the project team members or the supply chain members. In the present scenario, when project participants are geographically separated, adoption of Information Communication Technology (ICT) enables such effective communication. But strategic adoption of ICT requires that all the supply chain members follow the accepted methods of communication or the communication protocols. The majority of the construction organizations are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This research, therefore, proposes to focus on developing IT‐enhanced communication protocols for building project management by SMEs.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopts a sequential mixed methods approach, where data collection and analysis are conducted in both the quantitative and qualitative phases of research.FindingsThe protocols are proposed as a “Strategic Model for Enhancing ICT Diffusion in Building Projects”. The framework for the model is discussed at three levels of study, i.e industry, organization, and people.Practical implicationsWhile the research was conducted in an Indian context, the research outcome is envisaged to be widely applicable in other countries with due considerations.Originality/valueThe developed framework has implications for national level bodies and academic institutions, organizations, people or project managers and is applicable at the international level after due considerations.

Financial development, the structure of capital markets, and the global digital divide

This paper examines the extent to which financial development and financial structure may explain cross-country diffusion of information communication technology (ICT). Using panel data for 76 emerging and advanced countries for the period 1990–2003, it finds that credit and stock market development tends to foster ICT diffusion, but financial structure does not appear to have any significant relationship with it. The conclusions, which are consistent with what theory might predict, highlight the role of financial development in the market for knowledge-based products. The finding that financial development is an important determinant of ICT diffusion implies that countries with underdeveloped financial markets may sink even further to the information-poor and noncommunicating side of the global digital divide.

Information communication technology (ICT) implementation constraints

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report upon research undertaken on deployment of information communication technology (ICT) diffusion initiatives in the Australian construction industry. The paper seeks to explain how innovation implementation drivers and barriers facilitate diffusion at the organisational, group and individual levels.Design/methodology/approachData from two web‐based document management case studies and one intranet document management system case study are used to analyse ICT diffusion dynamics within three large information technology (IT) literate Australian construction firms. The sample was purposefully limited to large IT‐literate construction contracting organisations with a need to use ICT for their operational effectiveness.FindingsConstraints at the personal level include limited budget for ICT investment, commitment from other project participants, issues of ICT standardisation, and security problems. At the organisational level, constraints include basic levels computer experience, time available to learn, and the identification of clear benefits of ICT use. Constraints at the group level include time available to share information, quality of personal contact and geographical distance.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample was purposefully limited to large IT‐literate construction contracting organisations with a need to use ICT for their operational effectiveness.Practical implicationsThe driver and barrier models presented indicate that ICT innovation implementation requires intense management interventions to facilitate a supportive workplace environment that strongly links personal and organisational resource investment with demonstrated outcome benefits.Originality/valueThis study provides rich insights of the dynamics of ICT innovation implementation. Few studies in the literature have provided such insights that link the organisational, group and individual levels.

Financial Development, the Structure of Capital Markets, and the Global Digital Divide

This paper examines the role of financial development and financial structure in explaining cross-country diffusion of information communication technology (ICT). Using panel data for 76 emerging and advanced countries for the period 1990-2003, the paper finds that credit and stock market development tends to foster ICT development. Financial structure, however, does not appear to have any significant relationship with ICT development. The conclusions of the paper highlight the role of financial development in the market for knowledge-based products, and are consistent with theoretical predictions. The finding that financial development is an important determinant of ICT development implies that countries with underdeveloped financial markets may continue to lag behind in the use of ICT.

Financial Development, the Structure of Capital Markets, and the Global Digital Divide

This paper examines the role of financial development and financial structure in explaining cross-country diffusion of information communication technology (ICT). Using panel data for 76 emerging and advanced countries for the period 1990-2003, the paper finds that credit and stock market development tends to foster ICT development. Financial structure, however, does not appear to have any significant relationship with ICT development. The conclusions of the paper highlight the role of financial development in the market for knowledge-based products, and are consistent with theoretical predictions. The finding that financial development is an important determinant of ICT development implies that countries with underdeveloped financial markets may continue to lag behind in the use of ICT.

Are Scottish firms meeting the ICT challenge? Results from a National Survey of Enterprise

This paper examines the diffusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) into firms in Scotland and northern England. Data concerning the adoption of micro-computers, e-mail, the Internet, ISDN, in-house website, and the automation of business functions is analysed by industry, firm size, firm age, rate of growth, export involvement, and innovation activity. The results from a sample of 1347 firms found an overall increase in the adoption of ICT in firms between 1998 and 2001. The increase is led by older and larger firms in comparison to younger and smaller firms. In addition, the diffusion of the automation of business functions was found to be sequential, from generic to specific applications. Further increases in the diffusion of ICT are likely to come from upgrading existing equipment and increases in the range of business functions that can be automated. Finally, although use of the Internet and web-based trading has increased in the sample firms, this has not replaced traditional marketing and sales. The results support the view that more firms are taking up the challenge of using ICT in-house, with older and larger firms leading the way ahead of younger and smaller firms.

Information Communication Technology and Social Change

Due to the rapid development and diffusion of information communication technology in all walks of life, the entire human society is on the verge of a transition or transformation. The large scale of computerization in each and every activity, tremendous and rapid growth of electronic information, combined with global access of information via telecommunication infrastructure etc. are some of the underlying factors of the present transformation process. For each and every user activity information is emerging as a valuable resource at all levels, such as education research and development, advancing the frontiers of knowledge, competitiveness in business and indust1),. economic and social development, improving the quality of day-to-day life etc. There is no doubt that information will occupy a center stage position governing human life in the coming century making a profound impact on social, economic and political activities of every society.