Information Communication Technology Infrastructure Research Articles

Cybersecurity Awareness: Investigating Students’ Susceptibility to Phishing Attacks for Sustainable Safe Email Usage in Academic Environment (A Case Study of a Nigerian Leading University)

With the advancement in information communication technology (ICT), cyber-attacks have become a global phenomenon, with email phishing at the topmost. Academic institutions' ICT infrastructures are one of many targets, thus the need to facilitate cybersecurity awareness among students. This research is aimed at investigating students’ susceptibility to phishing attacks for sustainable safe electronic mail (email) usage in the academic environment. Two email phishing tests were carried out during this research work to discover how students reacted to phish emails and understand how students respond to phish emails where all group members are recipients. Finally, questionnaires are administered to participants after completing the exercise to ascertain the students' awareness of phishing attacks based on received emails. The results show that 70.6% of college students surveyed are susceptible to this form of attack due to unawareness. In conclusion, recommendations are outlined on securing the academic community and ICT infrastructures to achieve a sustainable and Safe email usage environment.

Challenges of Those in Leadership in The Digitalisation of Nigeria’s Government Organisations

It is becoming increasingly difficult to function without using information and communication technology in all areas of human endeavour. This is because it promotes accountability and openness, which provides citizen-centred administration emphasising easier access to better delivery of government services. Digitalisation is one of the techniques available to government organisations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering services to the public. This is predicated on the notion that efficient digitalisation of the day-to-day activities of government processes will result in the provision of adequate services to citizens. However, there are various obstacles to effective digitalisation in government organisations in Nigeria. For instance, lack of information technology infrastructure, intermittent power/electricity supply, lack of trained and competent employees, a general aversion to change, etc. Of all the challenges aforementioned, the challenge of those in leadership stands out as a significant component that hinders digitalisation in government organisations in Nigeria. This paper examines the challenges of those in leadership in the digitalisation of Nigeria’s government organisations, as well as proposes suggestions on how to deal with the challenges. Data was gathered from secondary sources such as relevant books, journals and the internet. This paper finds out that the attitude and reluctance to change by leaders in government organisations restrict the adoption and successful digitalisation of their day-to-day activities, which negatively impacts the delivery of high-quality services to the citizens. This paper suggested that the requisite Information Communication Technology infrastructure for digitalisation should be provided by the Federal Government, as the majority of government organisations lack the fundamental infrastructure required to properly digitalise their operations. The government should develop ICT policies that make computer literacy a requirement for hiring and promotion of public or civil servants at all levels, including the federal, state, and local governments.

Online learning for continuous professional development of healthcare workers: an exploratory study on perceptions of healthcare managers in Rwanda

Due to outbreaks of new diseases, development of new treatment regimens and requirement of evidence-based practice, health professionals continuously need to acquire updated knowledge and skills. This type of learning is known as continuous professional development (CPD). The scarcity of skilled health care professionals in developing countries further increases the need of CPD. Traditionally, face-to-face approach has been preferred as the best mode of CPD. Currently, health professionals have started using online learning for continued professional growth in different parts of the world. Consequently, research studies from different settings are needed to investigate the significance of online learning for CPD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the importance and challenges attributed to online learning by the managers of health facilities in Rwanda. Moreover, the study aimed to identify the status of infrastructures that could support online CPD, and assess the perceived enhancement and barriers for implementing online CPD. The study used a convergence mixed-method design to explore quantitative and qualitative data from 42 health care managers. A descriptive analysis was conducted on quantitative data while qualitative data were thematically analyzed to inform the study findings. It was revealed that 90.5% of managers, who participated in this study, consider positively the use of online learning for CPD. All managers acknowledged that online learning could improve the knowledge and practice skills of health care professionals. Nevertheless, 52.4% of health institutions who participated in this study currently do not use online for CPD. Participants demonstrated challenges such as the lack of access to digital devices, poor or lack of internet access, poor online learning design, low digital skills of healthcare professionals, lack of time dedicated to online learning, and heavy workload of staff. These findings indicate then that the managers of health institutions value the importance of online learning for CPD of health professionals. However, online learning should be designed to fit for the purpose and with a high consideration on needs and preferences of healthcare professionals and thereby improve information communication technology infrastructure that support online learning for CPD. Traditional in-person CPD courses are still recommended in health institutions with shortage in resources and technology. Also, the barriers of online CPD delivery such as low internet connectivity and lack of access to digital devices by healthcare professionals need to be co-creatively addressed through the pyramidal structure of the Rwandan health system.

Challenges and best practices for e-municipalities

Background: Electronic-municipality (e-municipality) is a reflection of e-government service in the local sphere of government, described as a way of producing useful information for citizens. Electronic-municipalities play a significant role in delivering effective and efficient services to citizens.Aim: To analyse the role of electronic municipal systems in improving the general welfare of citizens by means of service delivery. This article clarified the concepts of e-municipality by reviewing relevant literatures and further outlined critical factors that are affecting the implementation and adoption e-municipality intensively.Setting: The article focused on both international and South African local government best practices of electronic municipal systems. International best practices from developed countries, outline lessons that the South African local government can learn.Methods: The article used mainly the secondary data analysis, gathered from various sources such as articles, document analysis, government documents, amongst others. The analysis is based on various secondary sources linked to the aim of this article.Results: Key findings of the study showed that most municipalities particularly in developing countries experience challenges in adopting and implementing e-municipality. The concept of e-municipality has been derived from both global and local contexts.Conclusion: It concludes that just like any innovation, there are challenges related to the successful implementation of e-municipality, such as the digital divide issue, trust issues and technical, economical and social issues. Recommendations include that the local government should invest more in Information Communication Technologies infrastructure for e-municipality development.Contribution: The results of this research provides best practices for local government in transitioning to e-municipality, the best practice guidelines provide inputs for decision-making in local government.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities and information resource sharing activities in federal university libraries in North central, Nigeria

The research investigated the impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Facilities on Information Resource Sharing Activities in Federal University Libraries In North Central, Nigeria. The study was guided by four objectives and one null hypothesis. A descriptive survey was used with the target population of 121 librarians in the seven federal university libraries in North central, Nigeria. The questionnaire was used in data collection. 121 copies of the questionnaire were administered 102 were filled, returned and found usable representing an 87.2% response rate. Percentage, Means and standard deviation were used in data analysis and Pearson Product moment correlation was used to test the null hypotheses. The study found that the factors restricting the usage of ICT for information resource sharing in federal university libraries in North central, Nigeria, were inadequate funding and lack of ICT infrastructure and connectivity. H01 showed that there was a relationship between ICT and information resource sharing in federal university libraries in North central, Nigeria. The study found that the factors restricting the usage of ICT for information resource sharing in federal university libraries in North central, Nigeria, were inadequate funding and ICT infrastructure and connectivity. The paper recommended amongst others that federal universities in North Central Nigeria should ensure that the funds allocated to the university library should be increased and also should endeavour to provide adequate ICT facilities that are lacking such as video conferencing and intranet to enhance information resource sharing activities.

FinTech market development and financial inclusion in Ghana: The role of heterogeneous actors

Efforts to include many financially in Ghana continue to witness substantial progress as the nuptial between information communication technology and finance thrives. However, except for information communication technology infrastructure, the role of other actors in the development of the financial technology market and financial inclusion in Ghana is unexplored. Therefore, the study explores how other heterogeneous actors contribute to the development of the financial technology market and financial inclusion in Ghana through information technology infrastructure. Specifically, first, we identify how key actors emerged in the financial technology market of Ghana and how these actors ride on information technology infrastructure to develop FinTech and improve financial inclusion. Second, we estimate the relationship between financial inclusion and these actors using time series econometric modeling. The government, mobile phones, telcos, mobile money agents, mobile money customers, and traditional banks are identified as key actors in the market. Further, the time series model shows a significant positive relationship between the heterogeneous actors' financial inclusion in Ghana. Therefore, these actors become significant to the existence, furtherance, and sustainability of the FinTech market and financial inclusion in Ghana.

Selected Organisational Capabilities Affecting Implementation of ERP Systems

This research sought to find out the influence of top management support on ERP Implementation; find out the impact of business processes reengineering on ERP Implementation; identify the impact of ICT Infrastructure on ERP Implementation; and establish the influence of tacit knowledge users (user involvement) on ERP Implementation. The study used descriptive research design, where it obtained a sample size of 70 respondents and selected the respondents using stratified proportionate sampling. The study data collected from primary sources using structured questionnaire directly administered to the respondents based on the drop and pick method. Data was analysed using quantitative analysis to produce descriptive statistics followed by inferential analysis for estimating a model and it results represented using figures and tables and explained using narrative and its data analysis assisted by SPSS software. The study concludes that; there is a positive and significant relationship between top management support and ERP Implementation; business processes reengineering positively significantly influences ERP Implementation, Information communication technology infrastructure has a significant moderate influence on its ERP implementation, and tacit knowledge users have significant moderate influence on ERP Implementation. The study recommends that UN-Habitat should; clearly spell out the role of top management involvement, review its business process policy to accommodate various system development activities improves existing ICT infrastructure to match the proposed requirement of the vendor to implement ERP system; and acquire the appropriate tacit knowledge users for ERP implementation possessing.

ICT Policy Implementation as Correlate for Achieving Educational Sustainability: Approaching Development in Multi ICT Dimensions

The advancement in the national policy with regard to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in education has been updated by the demand for consistent and corresponding implementation of national policy on ICT for tertiary education in Nigeria. The policy identified the criticality of ICTs in the fulfillment of the national technology aspirations in the perspective of attaining sustainable development goals. The current research surveyed the level of ICT deployment in Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic in relation to core ICT policy implementation framework and provided justification for the adoption of top ICT infrastructure in the digital-centric academic environment. The survey adopted quantitative research methodology to obtain information from four hundred and twenty respondents randomly selected from four units in the institution. The result of the research indicated that ICTs implementation within the educational management is fundamental to students’ academic accomplishment, job satisfaction, productivity, and globalization, becoming unmistakably obligatory for governments, teachers, and management of institutions in the contemporary time to prioritize ICTs and incorporate electronic changes for opportunities in the digital age.

SHOPPING ENJOYMENT, IN-STORE BROWSING AND IMPULSE BUYING ON SPORT SHOES AMONG THE GENERATION Y

For almost two years, the restrictions imposed by the government of Indonesia to control the spread of Covid-19 pandemic have changed the way consumers shopping their necessities from conventional shops to online stores. Supported with good information communication technology infrastructures and vast network of logistic distribution, customers find conveniences while shopping online, thus, e-commerce rules over the conventional businesses. As the pandemic was under control, conventional businesses resume their activities, including the opening of malls and other public places by the fourth quarter of 2021. As a result, shoppers are returning to malls, and shop owners are launching marketing campaigns to attract buyers. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of shopping enjoyment and in-store shopping experience on impulse buying among the Generation Y while browsing in-store on limited edition sport shoes. Limited edition sport shoes are purchased by the Generation Y sport fans as collectible items which become a symbol of social identity embedded to that generation. Previous studies noted that the Generation Y often conducted unplanned shopping while hanging out in the malls. With the new normal in-store shopping opportunity, it is expected that shopping enjoyment will stimulate the urge to buy impulsively among the Generation Y. As this is a quantitative research, the data are collected using questionnaires which are distributed to 300 respondents. The questionnaire gathers data on shopping enjoyment, impulse buying tendency, in-store browsing, and impulse buying from the Generation Y. Then, the data are processed with a smart PLS software to obtain the validity and reliability tests, and to prove the hypothesis test. The results show that shopping enjoyment and impulse buying tendency have a positive significant impact on in-store browsing, and in-store browsing has a positive significant impact on impulse buying. However, the variable of shopping enjoyment brings more impact to impulse buying than the variable of impulse buying tendency.

Foreign direct investment and domestic entrepreneurship: insights from Asia

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the relationships between foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic entrepreneurship (DE) with the moderating role of formal institutions (FI) and informal institutions (II) and information communication technology (ICT) capacities in Asia.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on unbalanced panel data of 17 Asian countries from 2006 to 2018 at different stages of development, using the three-stage least squares estimation method.FindingsThe research findings indicate that FDI directly affects the establishment of domestic formal and informal entrepreneurship. In addition, FDI firms via the buffer mechanism of FI and II and ICT development for DE. Through its adjustment to the quality of institutions and ICT infrastructure, economic development determines the direction of FDI’s impact on DE.Originality/valueThe study findings grant empirical evidence and theoretical contributions to the relationship between FDI and domestic entrepreneurial development through the buffering mechanism of FI and II and the role of ICT.

Influencing factors and prospects of electronic service implementation in higher educational institutions of Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This study examines the influencing factors and prospects of electronic service implementation in Ethiopian higher education institutions. The study employed a descriptive and explanatory research design with a quantitative research approach. A multistage sampling technique was used to acquire the relevant data from 364 selected graduate programme students. With the help of Stata-16 software, the collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study’s findings showed that electronic service implementation has a potential advantage for educational provision regarding flexible access, greater speed, unlimited service time, and accuracy using the technology to assist teaching. However, the practice of electronic service implementation is weak. A web is present in the universities and the active functionality in terms of interaction, transaction, transformation, and full integration was at a low stage. The main factors that affect electronic service implementation are students’ electronic service usage capacity, top managerial commitment, information communication technology infrastructure, employee commitment, and training. Thus, there is a need to put a higher effort to facilitate the full implementation of service delivery by improving top management commitment, providing training for staff and students, improving information communication technology infrastructure, and developing students’ electronic services use capacity.

Impact of Information Communication Technology Infrastructure and Energy on Industrial Value-added Growth of Africa

Impact of Information Communication Technology Infrastructure and Energy on Industrial Value-added Growth of Africa

ICT Infrastructure and Trade in Services: A Cross-country Analysis

Share of services in the economy increased drastically in developed as well as developing countries in last couple of decades. However, the share of services was very less in the export basket of these countries due to the mobility constrains associated with services delivery, until 21st century. The drastic development in Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the form of mobile phone and internet played a vital role in removing this constraint in recent years. So the share of services in the total export almost doubled in many countries. Moreover, foreign exchange earnings through services export is the main source to finance technology embodied manufacturing goods import in many developing countries. Services export also had impact on long term economic growth via Total Factor Productivity (TFP). So, ICT induced services export has a prominent role to play in modern liberalised economies. The present study examines the impact of ICT on trade in services with Least SquareDummy Variable (LSDV) panel data estimation by controlling human capital, socio political conditions and other omitted country specific factors. The study period span from 2002 to 2016, for 34 services exporting countries, which is covering more than 85 percent of total world services export. The present study has two improvement over existing services trade and ICT literature. First, our ICT variable was constructed by a Principle Component Analysis (PCA) on the internet spread, and telephone and mobile phone connectivity, instead of using either internet spread or a compound index provided by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) as in the literature. Second, this study corrects omitted variable bias which is observed as a major problem in the literature, by employing LSDV estimation. We found that better ICT infrastructure increases share of services in total export. Moreover, ICT has contributed for the services export of developing countries than for developed countries in recent years. So, the policies to increase mobile phone connectivity and internet can restructure the trade pattern of a country. Countries with better human capital and healthy socio political conditions .

Sustainability of Digital Capital and Social Support during COVID-19: Indonesian Muslim Diaspora’s Case in South Korea

During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital capital and online activities have played significant roles as a tool for enhancing social support. Considering the increased role of information communication technology (ICT), in this study, we investigated the following research questions by focusing on the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in South Korea. To what extent do digital capital and online communities affect the formation of social support in the pandemic situation? How does the Indonesian Muslim diaspora pursue social support in South Korea, which has a high capacity for ICT infrastructure? We used the technology acceptance model (TAM) for the conceptual model and conducted semi-structured interviews and surveys for data collection. Structural equation modeling demonstrates that TAM can be applied in the case of South Korea’s Indonesian Muslim diaspora, especially during the pandemic. Findings suggest that digital capital and the perceived usefulness/perceived ease of use (PU/PEOU) of online communities reinforced the Indonesian Muslim diaspora’s participation in online communities after COVID-19. It also demonstrates the ways in which the Indonesian Muslim diaspora pursues social support through online communities under restricted situations.

A Qualitative Study on Barriers to E-Commerce Technologies Uptake by Informal Manufacturing Micro and Small Enterprises in Harare

This study focused on finding out the major barriers inhibiting the uptake of e-commerce by manufacturing Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Harare, Zimbabwe. E-commerce is one of the major forces to business success, hence small businesses should implement e-commerce systems so as to compete with their bigger counterparts. It has the prospective to increase productivity and effectiveness in many facets of the business operations. Several developing countries across the globe have since started to put critical attention on e-commerce. However, the majority of MSEs in developing nations are still oblivious of the importance of e-commerce in enhancing their business processes, improving their customer base, retaining existing customers and ensuring better customer relationship management (CRM). The sample of the study consisted of 10 participants from metal fabricators and furniture manufacturers operating at Mbare-Magaba area and Glenview Area 8 Home Industry Complex. Data was collected using semi structured in-depth interview questions and data was analysed using content analysis. The findings show that informal MSEs face several barriers that include: high cost of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) equipment and gadgets, incompatibility with business operations, lack of ICTs infrastructure support by the government, accessibility challenges, lack of education and awareness about e-commerce and cultural and trust issues.

Covid-19 and the virtual classroom conundrum in Zimbabwean universities

Whilst the virtual classroom has become the most tenable alternative to address educational needs under the circumstances of the Covid-19 crisis, most universities in Zimbabwe have been found wanting-lacking responsive information communication technology (ICT) infrastructures and techno-savvy human capital. This exploratory study employed in-depth telephone interviews with five purposively sampled deans, lecturers, and disadvantaged students-one each from each of five universities (three state, and two private). Forty more students for five focus group discussions were selected through stratified random sampling. Our study adopted a qualitative approach to collect, present, and analyse data. The key finding was that Covid-19 has certainly amplified the digital divide and preexisting inequalities in institutions of higher education, particularly in developing nations like Zimbabwe. Further, the study revealed that a techno-based curriculum delivery approach becomes discriminatory and intensifies social exclusion because some students living in poverty struggle to access the e-learning resource materials. In Zimbabwe, the situation has become dire and complicated because of the economic meltdown prevailing in the country. Universities as service institutions are thus encouraged to invest heavily in ICT infrastructure, and the government to subsidise the cost of internet bandwidth and data bundles to enable students to access the e-learning materials.

An assessment tool for stakeholder integration excellence and project delivery optimisation

PurposeThe aim of this study was to appraise the delivery of information communication technology (ICT) projects and identify key determinants for stakeholder integration.Design/methodology/approachGiven that empirically, little was known about stakeholder integration in the ICT sector and its influence or effect on project delivery; qualitative method was used. Forty-seven semi-structured interviews were carried out to derive senior project practitioners and policymakers' constructs of stakeholder integration and infrastructure performance improvement of ICT projects. The verification and validation of the proposed assessment tool were achieved through the use of focus group discussion.FindingsAs established in this research study, there is a need for project delivery teams to evaluate the level of stakeholder integration, the formulation of a project business case, the project processes and issues of compliance and regulation in ICT projects. What is evident in the findings of the study is that the management model adopted for the stakeholders in the Kenyan ICT sector ought to make communication the fulcrum of their engagement.Originality/valueThe inferences made herein are critical in contributing to knowledge regarding the ICT infrastructure project management terrain in developing countries. There is evidence in the study to conclude that the concept of stakeholder management and integration has implications for the sustainability of ICT projects. One of the issues that predominantly featured in the research was the input of stakeholder integration in terms of project sustainability.

Influence of Strategic Organizational Practices on the Performance of Electronic Procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya

Electronic procurement systems have proven themselves within various government organizations as an effective tool for instituting procurement reforms and establishing a fully transparent and open procurement environment. There has been growing interest in adopting of various strategic organizational practices for the purpose of improving the performance of electronic procurement in both private and public sector. The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of Strategic Organizational practices on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya. The specific objectives of this study were; to establish the influence of Information Communication Technology infrastructure on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya; to establish the influence of the employees' Information Technology competency on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya to establish the influence of public procurement regulations on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya and finally to establish the influence of managerial commitment on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya. The study used a descriptive research design to obtain information from the selected respondents on the current status of the phenomena under investigation. The study was carried out in Tana River County in Kenya. The sample size of 116 representing 30% of the total population of 385 drawn from Procurement department staff, Accounts Department Staff, ICT department staff, Administrative Officers, and Prequalified Contractors and Suppliers. The respondents were purposively selected to participate in the study because they were the leading implementers of Strategic Organizational practices. The researcher used a questionnaire as a tool for data collection in the study. These entailed both primary data and secondary data. Preliminary data was collected from the sampled respondents, while Secondary data was collected from textbooks, journals, and magazines. The study included quantitative analysis of the data collected to help identify the gap in knowledge related assessment of the influence of Strategic Organizational practices on electronic procurement performance in Tana River County Government, Kenya. Quantitative analysis was done with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and was presented through the use of frequency distribution, charts, and tables. The study found that Strategic Organizational practices positively and significantly influenced the performance of Electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya; ICT infrastructure with (β =0.307, p˂ 0.05); Employees IT Competence with (β =0.582, p˂ 0.05); Public Procurement regulations (β =0.898, p˂ 0.05) and Managerial Commitment (β =0.427, p˂ 0.05).

ICT Infrastructure and Economic Growth in G-20 Countries: New Insights form ARDL Modelling

This paper examines the long-run relationship between information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and economic growth in G-20 countries for the period 1961–2019. We use six different indicators of ICT infrastructure, namely telephone landlines, mobile phones, internet users, internet servers, fixed broadband, and a composite index. Using autoregressive distributive (ARDL) cointegration technique, the study warrants the support of long-run relationship between ICT infrastructure and economic growth in a few cases, typically with reference to a particular ICT infrastructure indicator and economic growth we use. Using vector error correction model (VECM) for testing the Granger causalities, the study acknowledges mixed evidence of the relationship between the ICT infrastructure and economic growth in the G-20 countries, both by individual country and at the panel setting. In some instances, ICT infrastructure leads to economic growth, lending support to supply-leading hypothesis (S) of ICT infrastructure-growth nexus. In other instances, it is the economic growth that engenders the level of ICT infrastructure, lending support to demand-following hypothesis (D) of ICT infrastructure-growth nexus. There are also circumstances, where ICT infrastructure and economic growth are mutually interdependent. That is the situation where both are self-reinforcing and offer support to feedback hypothesis (F) of ICT infrastructure-growth nexus. In addition, there are also instances, where the ICT infrastructure and economic growth are independent of each other. This is the situation where both are neutral and offer support to neutrality hypothesis (N) of ICT infrastructure-growth nexus. To summarize, Granger causality results vary from country to country within the G-20 countries, depending upon the type of ICT infrastructure and economic growth that we use in a particular empirical exploration process. The policy implication of this study is that the economic policies should recognize the differences in the ICT infrastructure and economic growth in order to maintain sustainable development in these G-20 countries.

Video conferencing as a teaching mode in higher educational institutions in Uganda: teacher perception

Recently, Information Communication Technologies (ICT) have gained significant usage in enabling institutions to continuously deliver education even during the COVID-19 pandemics lockdown. Its significant application in the education sphere has resulted in new capabilities at all levels of educational institutions. In Uganda, the use of video-enabled teaching is increasingly being established in universities especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns. In this study, we examine teachers' perception of the use of video conferencing, as a mode of teaching in higher educational institutions. The findings of this study show that teachers are of the high opinion about Video Conferencing (VC) as a mode of teaching at Higher Education Institution (HEI). In the study, several challenges that included poor ICT infrastructure, slow internet connection and those related to the cost of establishing a reasonable ICT infrastructure that can support VC were revealed. We conclude our study by providing recommendations required to improve infrastructure and to create policies to support online education as a whole and in particular VC as a teaching model that bridges in person, in class and remote learning.