Information Technology Policy Research Articles

Developing a Taxonomy for Identifying Stakeholders in National ICT Policy Implementation

Information and communication technology (ICT) policies attract different stakeholders in the policy cycle phases. Whilst most studies on stakeholder analysis focuses on identifying stakeholders at the beginning of the policy process (ex-ante), we argue that stakeholders may change during the course of the policy process and hence the need to review previous policy stakeholders and identify new stakeholders in the subsequent phases of the policy process. The article proposes a taxonomy of ex-post stakeholder identification for ICT policy implementation phase. The taxonomy comprises the following steps for identifying stakeholders: categorise policy goals, list stakeholders, decide on stakeholders, categorise stakeholders, assign roles to stakeholders, highlight participation of stakeholders, manage stakeholders, and evaluate stakeholders. The taxonomy may be used by those responsible for recruiting stakeholders in the ICT policy implementation.

Health Policy Engagement Strategy for the Health Information Technology Policy Project of the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for Health Disparities Research.

Rulemaking is one of the most important ways the federal government makes public policy. It frequently has significant impact on individuals, communities, and organizations. Yet, few of those directly affected are familiar with the rulemaking process, and even fewer understand how it works. This article describes a case study of the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for Health Disparities Research Health Information Technology (TCC HIT) Policy Project's approach to health-policy engagement using: 1) social media; and 2) a webinar to educate stakeholders on the rulemaking process and increase their level of meaningful engagement with the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) proposed rule public comment submission. The webinar "Paying for Quality: What Is the Impact on Health Equity" was promoted through Twitter and held in June 2016. In total, we posted 19 tweets using two distinct hashtags (#MACRA4Equity, #MACRA2Equity) to raise awareness of the upcoming MACRA proposed rule and its possible effects on health equity. Overall, 252 individuals registered for the webinar, and more than half participated (n=133). Most (67%) registrants reported that health policy was not the primary focus of their current position. Based on information provided in the webinar, 95% agreed that their understanding of the topic improved. By the end of the webinar, 44% of participants indicated that they planned to submit public comments for MACRA, a 12% increase compared with those who planned to submit at the time of registration. The TCC health-policy engagement strategy demonstrates the feasibility of engaging a diverse audience around health policy issues, particularly those who are not typically engaged in policy work.

Spatiotemporal Evolution of the Taiwanese-Funded Information Technology and Electronics Industry Value Chain in Mainland China

The Chinese Mainland has become the largest production base and a major potential market for Taiwan’s information and electronics industry. Thus, studying the spatiotemporal evolution of the Taiwanese-funded information technology and electronics industry in the Mainland from the value chain perspective is necessary. This will help deepen the labor division and collaboration between the cross-strait information technology (IT) and electronics industry for sustainable development. Using Taiwanese investments during 1991–2012 and detailed firm-level data for 1976–2012, this study examines the spatiotemporal trajectory and geographical patterns of the labor division of Mainland China’s Taiwanese-funded IT and electronics industrial value chain from a modular perspective. Based on the characteristics of the modular production process, the Taiwanese-funded IT and electronics firms in Mainland China are divided into four modules—parts manufacturing (PM), key parts manufacturing (KPM), complete machine manufacturing (CMM), and design and marketing (DM). We found that: (1) technology and value witnessed clear stage changes; (2) the PM and CMM modules were more decentralized, and the four modules formed five clusters; and (3) despite an increase, the degree of the four geographical divisions of labor was relatively low. This study offers implications for research and IT policy and electronics enterprises’ production practices.

TCBH Duncan Tanner Essay Prize Winner 2018 Financing the Information Age: London TeleCity, the Legacy of IT-82, and the Selling of British Telecom.

This article is a history of the privatization of British Telecom. BT's privatization occupies a central position in histories of Thatcherism as a pivotal moment in Thatcherism's ideological focus on popular capitalism. These histories, however, overlook the important intersection of financial institutions and information technology policy in shaping BT's privatization. Financial institutions in the City of London formed a lobbying group, the City Telecommunications Committee, that pressured for BT's privatization and secured preferential treatment for the City from BT, ending a decades-long policy of uniform telecommunications services across Britain. Margaret Thatcher's government positioned BT's privatization as central to the success of two of Britain's information industries, electronics manufacturing and the City of London. Her government also cast BT's privatization as essential to an 'information revolution' that, through personal, networked computing, would further personal freedom and free markets. BT's privatization thus performed two important and related functions. First, it oriented Britain's telecommunications network to the City of London's needs, and secondly, it enacted an 'information revolution' that was portrayed as essential to the success of the City of London and British electronics. I label this fusion of City finance, neoliberal politics, and British telecommunications the 'London ideology', and this ideology shaped the broadly-held assumption that privatizing telecommunications was essential to reaching the 'information age'.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE OF RETAIL SUPERMARKETS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY IN KENYA.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between inventory management policies and supply chain performance of supermarkets in Nairobi City County in Kenya. The study specifically sought to examine the relationship between inventory control policies, risk management policies, information technology policies, and stakeholder management policies and supply chain performance of retail supermarkets in Nairobi City County in Kenya. The study’s theoretical review was based on the Balanced Score Card, Contingency theory, Resource Based View and Stakeholder theory.Methodology: Descriptive research design which employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches was used to investigate the relationship between inventory management policies and supply chain performance. The target population was 112 supermarkets in Nairobi City County as listed in the 2016 master file of the Nairobi City County licensing department. Stratified random sampling was used to determine the study sample of 88 using Slovin’s sample size formula. Primary data was collected through questionnaires that were administered to supermarkets’ supply chain managers by drop and pick technique. Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 21 was used to code, enter, process and analyze data into descriptive and inferential statistics.Results:The study’s response rate was 84.1%. Pearson correlation Coefficient (r) and multiple regression models were used to determine the relationship between the study variables. ANOVA was also used to test the significance level of the independent variables on the dependent variable at 95% confidence level. The regression model study results had an adjusted R2 value of 0.672 which showed that the independent variables in the study were able to explain 67.2% variation in supply chain performance with the remaining 32.8 % being explained by other variables outside the model. The study findings established that a positive significant relationship exists between inventory management policies and supply chain performance of retail supermarkets in Nairobi City County in Kenya.Contribution to policy and practice: The study recommended that supermarkets supply chain managers to periodically assess their inventory management policies to ensure that they were effective and adequate in controlling inventory levels and the associated inventory risks while regulating the use of information technology and supporting stakeholder management policies that encourage good relations, timely payment to suppliers, employee efficiency and customer loyalty.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE OF RETAIL SUPERMARKETS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY IN KENYA.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between inventory management policies and supply chain performance of supermarkets in Nairobi City County in Kenya. The study specifically sought to examine the relationship between inventory control policies, risk management policies, information technology policies, and stakeholder management policies and supply chain performance of retail supermarkets in Nairobi City County in Kenya. The study’s theoretical review was based on the Balanced Score Card, Contingency theory, Resource Based View and Stakeholder theory.Methodology: Descriptive research design which employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches was used to investigate the relationship between inventory management policies and supply chain performance. The target population was 112 supermarkets in Nairobi City County as listed in the 2016 master file of the Nairobi City County licensing department. Stratified random sampling was used to determine the study sample of 88 using Slovin’s sample size formula. Primary data was collected through questionnaires that were administered to supermarkets’ supply chain managers by drop and pick technique. Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 21 was used to code, enter, process and analyze data into descriptive and inferential statistics.Results:The study’s response rate was 84.1%. Pearson correlation Coefficient (r) and multiple regression models were used to determine the relationship between the study variables. ANOVA was also used to test the significance level of the independent variables on the dependent variable at 95% confidence level. The regression model study results had an adjusted R2 value of 0.672 which showed that the independent variables in the study were able to explain 67.2% variation in supply chain performance with the remaining 32.8 % being explained by other variables outside the model. The study findings established that a positive significant relationship exists between inventory management policies and supply chain performance of retail supermarkets in Nairobi City County in Kenya.Contribution to policy and practice: The study recommended that supermarkets supply chain managers to periodically assess their inventory management policies to ensure that they were effective and adequate in controlling inventory levels and the associated inventory risks while regulating the use of information technology and supporting stakeholder management policies that encourage good relations, timely payment to suppliers, employee efficiency and customer loyalty.

From Autonomy to Anonymity: Information Technology Policy and Changing Politics of the Media System in Indian Democracy

The prominence of information and communications technology (ICTs) in defining India’s media modernity can be gauged by the growing reach of online social media as well as continuing expansion of digital media channels and satellite broadcasting even in the early 21stCentury. Policies concerning information technologies, from telegraph to satellite networks, have also been central to media politics and with the rise of new media, internet related policies have similarly become pivotal to the interaction between the state and media system. Drawing from a comparative media system perspective, this paper argues that while there has been no major constitutional or legal overhaul, as yet, new ideas and information technology policy activism are reshaping the contours of state action and ‘autonomy’ of the press in India’s democracy. Comparing technology debates in an earlier era, when satellite networks swept across the media system, with the more recent deliberations around liabilities for digital intermediaries, the paper unpacks the nature of change and locates its origins in the revival of discursive institutions (Schmidt 2002, 2008) of technology policy since the early 2000s. Technology related ideas, I argue, now serve as institutions, able to function as a ‘coordinating discourse’ (ibid) that have revived ideals of an autonomous media. Technology inflected ideals of ‘anonymity’ also counter the ‘communicative discourse’ (ibid) of Hindutva and cultural nationalist politics of media which framed the issue of autonomy in the ascendant phase of print and electronic media capitalism until the 1990s.

Implementação dos mecanismos de governança de tecnologia da informação em uma universidade pública

This article focuses on the implementation of information technology (IT) governance mechanisms at the Federal University of Reconcavo da Bahia (UFRB), Brazil. In this context, the main objective is to indicate which mechanisms need improvement actions. To do so, a questionnaire was used using the five-point Likert scale to indicate the degree of attitude of university decision-makers about the implementation of IT governance mechanisms. In addition, we sought evidence of implementation in the Institutional Development Plan (MDP) 2015-2019, in the management reports for 2015 and 2016, in the institutional self-assessment report 2015-2017, and on the institution's website. The analysis indicated that the implementation of the mechanisms investigated at UFRB is at an embryonic stage, with the inertia of the strategic IT decision-making structures, and the absence of the definition of IT principles, policies and models, which hinders the implementation of the other categories of IT governance mechanisms. The findings regarding the embryonic stage of the implementation of IT governance mechanisms has led to the conclusion that there is no strategic alignment between IT and business and, consequently, a hindrance to the delivery of value provided by IT to the academic community.

National ICT policy challenges for developing countries: a grounded theory informed literature review

This paper presents a review of the literature on the challenges of national information and communication technology (ICT) policies in the context of African countries. National ICT policies have been aligned with socio-development agendas of African countries. However, the policies have not delivered the expected outcomes due to many challenges. Studies have been conducted in isolation to highlight the challenges in the policy process. The study used grounded theory informed literature review to holistically analyse the problems in the context of African countries. The results were categorised in the typology of the policy process to understand the challenges from a broad perspective. The problems were categorised into agenda setting, policy formulation, legal frameworks, implementation and evaluation. In addition, there were constraints related to policy monitoring in the policy phases and imbalance of power among the policy stakeholders. The review suggests areas of further research.

Evidence-Based Review and Discussion Points

Evidence-Based Review and Discussion Points

Evaluating the explanatory power of theoretical frameworks on intention to comply with information security policies in higher education

Higher education institutions have invested heavily in their high-tech infrastructure to ensure the security and integrity of their information. Incompliance with information technology policies has shown to lead to mass information leaks, reputational damage and potential litigation. Little research has been conducted on the subject of employees’ compliance with such sensitive protocols. This paper presents a comprehensive theoretical model based on Theory of Planned Behavior, Protection Motivation Theory, General Deterrence Theory and Organizational Theory for predicting intentions of higher education employees' compliance with information security policies. Utilizing a survey instrument and using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares method, this study found that perceived vulnerability, response efficacy and response cost to be the most predictive indicators that are positively associated with intentions of information security compliance among university staff and faculty. But, little support was found for the General Deterrence Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior and Organizational Theory in explaining the variance of higher education staff intentions to comply with information security policies. Results indicated that the Protection Motivation Theory provides the best theoretical framework to understand higher education employees’ behavior with respect to compliance with information security. Such results confirmed earlier empirical investigations attempting to understand the basic question of why do employees differ with respect to compliance with information security. Consistent with the prior research, severe sanctions, close management supervision, peers’ pressure and attitudes towards information security do not matter as much as perceived vulnerability and response efficacy in ensuring higher levels of intentions to comply with ISPs in organizations. The study recommends universities and colleges to invest in applied information security training for their staff, as well as for the university overall community.

Global discourse on ICT and the shaping of ICT policy in developing countries

This paper provides a critique of information and communication technology (ICT) policies in developing countries. Based on critical discourse analysis (CDA) of Iranian government discourse in the case of electronic fund transfer at the point of sale (EFT-POS) system, we illustrate the influence of global discourse on the policies and their contributions to the outcomes. We also analyze how policy shaped the ways in which different actors were included and allowed to participate in the implementation process. We show that enhancing the mainstream criteria like the rate of ICT adoption and diffusion, do not necessarily mean that policy will reap the expected benefits. From this standpoint, we propose that the focus of debate in policy making and defining policy objectives should move beyond setting objectives exclusively adopted from global discourse to also considering local issues and concerns. In such conditions, there will be less resistance to the government plans and fewer social challenges.

Impact of broadband uses on labour demand derived from the innovative behaviour of firms in creative industries

This research explores the effect of the implementation and intensive use of broadband on the labour demand induced by the innovative behaviour of Peruvian firms of creative industries (CI) in comparison to Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS) and Services companies. The 2015 Business National Survey database was used. It was found that both productive and intensive uses of broadband encourage labour demand as a reflection of successful innovations' introductions, in the three analysed industries (except for CI's second use). In contrast, the market-oriented uses of broadband reduce the likelihood of hiring staff as corollary of innovative behaviour among the KIBS and CI firms. In addition, among CIs firms, the study found that only the productive uses of broadband -in line with the intrinsic characteristics of its own knowledge base- could promote processes that lead to successful innovation results and positive effects on labour demand to a greater extent than services and KIBS firms. The results highlight the feasibility of stimulating innovation processes and employment through information and communications technology policies among strategic service sub-sectors as creative industries in emerging digital ecosystems.

Creating Future Ready Information Technology Policy for National Education Systems

With the increasing relevance of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the global transition towards the knowledge society, school systems and higher education now face increasing challenges involved in preparing students for successful participation in the knowledge society. In many countries, this is leading to manifold efforts and changes in national policies concerning ICT integration into education systems. This paper outlines four challenges concerning the design, implementation, and evaluation of national policy: (1) creating future ready policy, (2) achieving systemic perspectives in stakeholders, (3) promoting commitment to learning from policy, and (4) developing and implementing supportive processes. The paper shares an international perspective on these four major challenges and proposes strategy perspectives and solutions, as well as tactics that could be applied to advance a nation’s educational system empowered by technology.

IT Productivity Paradox pada Perguruan Tinggi Swasta

Pengambilan kebijakan terkait implementasi teknologi informasi pada perguruan tinggi harus disertai dengan komitmen yang didukung oleh analisa mengenai besarnya kontribusi teknologi informasi pada kinerja institusi. Sehingga implementasi tersebut tidak serta merta hanya mengikuti tren yang berlaku, dimana hampir semua perguruan tinggi yang lain telah melakukan implementasi teknologi informasi. Serta menghindari adanya investasi yang sia-sia dikarenakan adanya kesalahan kebijakan dalam implementasi teknologi informasi. Information Technology Productivity Paradox merupakan sebuah perspektif baru dalam bidang tatakelola teknologi informasi untuk mengetahui besarnya kontribusi teknologi informasi pada peningkatan kinerja. Implementasi teknologi informasi selalu melibatkan banyak pihak dan membutuhkan biaya yang cukup besar, sehingga selalu timbul sebuah pertanyaan dalam benak pengambil kebijakan, apakah biaya dan sumberdaya yang dialokasikan untuk implementasi teknologi informasi adalah sebuah investasi yang tepat atau sia-sia. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mendapatkan sebuah model konseptual tentang variabel yang berperan dalam pengaruh implementasi IT/Teknologi Informasi terhadap peningkatan produktivitas pada perguruan tinggi dengan menggunakan pendekatan secara langsung dan tidak langsung. Diharapkan dengan adanya model ini, pimpinan perguruan tinggi mampu menghindari/meminimalisasi terjadinya kegagalan investasi Teknologi Informasi/ Paradox. Dari hasil penelitian, dapat disimpulkan bahwa sumberdaya TI memiliki pengaruh secara langsung yang lebih signifikan daripada pengaruh secara tidak langsung,

Assessment of the Achievement of Information and Communication Technology Policy in Technical Colleges in Adamawa State

Assessment of the Achievement of Information and Communication Technology Policy in Technical Colleges in Adamawa State

A comparative study of factors associated with technology-enabled learning between the United States and South Korea

Using nationally representative data for lower secondary teachers from the 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey, we examined differences in factors associated with technology-enabled learning between the United States and South Korea. The results confirmed the importance of teachers’ self-efficacy and their participation in professional development for technology-enabled learning in both countries. However, we found differences in the degree to which participation in professional development mattered to technology-enabled learning between the two countries. In addition, we found that cooperation and gender were significant predictors of technology-enabled learning in South Korea but not in the United States. By contrast, having constructivist beliefs was a significant predictor in the United States, but not in South Korea. The article goes on to highlight differences in information and communication technology policy environments between the United States and South Korea that may potentially explain these between-country differences in factors associated with technology-enabled learning.

Misunderstanding IT: Hospital cybersecurity and IT problems reach the courts

The corruption of patient data in a hospital prompted a criminal investigation, resulting in approximately 70 nurses being disciplined, with some charged with wilful neglect contrary to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Some nurses received custodial sentences. This paper explains the background. The paper demonstrates the inability of hospital information technology (IT) systems and management to provide reliable evidence and highlights broad problems with poor IT culture affecting manufacturers, hospitals, police, lawyers, and advisors — all the way through to regulators and legislators. Widespread misunderstandings of IT and data compromises both the provision of effective care and legal processes. This paper includes recommendations, the most urgent being that hospitals (the UK National Health System (‘NHS’) and other national healthcare systems more generally) should acknowledge that IT is unreliable, and that they should procure and actively manage IT equipment with this in mind. Keeping up-to-date with legal issues relating to IT generally, as well as keeping up-to-date with cybersecurity measures should be routine. The NHS needs to improve its IT maturity, management and policies. The police, the legal system and regulators also need a more mature approach to IT. Manufacturers are not currently providing dependable systems that are fit for purpose to operate safely and reliably in normal, complex hospital environments. All parties should engage qualified external oversight.Index words: National Health Service, United Kingdom, State Medicine, cybersecurity, information technology, medical ethics

PERENCANAAN STRATEGIS SI/TI DENGAN METODE ANALISA SWOT DAN BSC UNTUK MENINGKATKAN DAYA SAING DI UNIVERSITAS XYZ

ABSTRACT XYZ University is an institution that has applied ICT in academic and non academic operations. ICT infrastructure has been built to connect campus A and campus B with wired and wireless based connectivity to support the running of various information systems as a campus conceptual system. The information system owned by XYZ University has not been fully integrated. There are several systems such as Academic Information System, e-learning, financial system, staffing system, e-Slip and various other applications that are not fully integrated yet. The many systems and applications are an asset to XYZ University's institutions, because in its development it has taken quite a bit of time and resources. Therefore, the institution must fully utilize to support the institution in accelerating the achievement of the vision and mission that has been set so that the application of ICT be aligned with the business interests of the institution of Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya. Then the institution must prepare a strategic information system / information technology (SI / IT). From here the initial idea of the need for a research entitled "Strategic Planning SI / IT With SWOT and BSC Methods At XYZ University. The final result of this study is the portfolio of applications required by XYZ University. Strategic Planning SI / IT With SWOT and BSC Methods At XYZ University aims to provide an overview and recommendation on internal and external business and SI / IT conditions and IT / IT policy management and Information Technology policy at XYZ University. Keywords: Strategic Planning SI / TI, application portfolio, SWOT Analysis, BSC Analysis.

Information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and economic growth: A causality evinced by cross-country panel data

This study examines certain long-run relationships hypothesised to be present among per capita real GDP, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, consumer price index, labour force participation rate, and gross fixed capital formation manifest in G-20 countries recorded for the 2001–2012 period. Using panel cointegration, the study finds that the variables are cointegrated and do not drift apart in the long run. Methodology using vector error correction models (VECM) further confirms that embellishment of ICT infrastructure – an apparent imperative in an economy's information technology (IT) policy formulation – for both fixed broadband and internet users causes a boost in the per capita GDP.