Local Information And Communication Technology Research Articles

Does China’s Existing Regional Knowledge Base Stimulate or Hinder Diversification into FinTech: The Role of Local ICTs Base

ABSTRACT The strand research of regional branching identifies relatedness as a key driver of new specializations in a region. The purpose of the present paper is to extend the regional branching framework by investigating how a regional knowledge base of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and others (non-ICTs) influences the specialization of financial technology (FinTech) in China at the city level. Accordingly, the empirical analysis focuses on the relationship between relatedness and FinTech diversification using panel data spanning the period 2008–2021 covering 247 China’s cities. We obtain that the role of ICTs relatedness is positively relevant in explaining the emergence and development of new FinTech domains. However, non-ICT relatedness is a negative factor in the process of FinTech diversification, which we attribute to the fact that FinTech is less reliant on other knowledge base except ICT sectors. Additionally, the effects of ICTs relatedness are higher in peripheral cities compared to core cities in promoting FinTech diversification.

Beyond Smart: How ICT Is Enabling Sustainable Cities of the Future

Cities around the world face pressing sustainability challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and unsustainable growth. Smart cities have emerged as a response to these challenges, leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to create more efficient and liveable urban environments. However, the concept of smart cities is often defined in vague and ideologically driven terms that lack clear guidelines for promoting sustainability. In this study, we use qualitative methods to examine how the use of ICTs can support the goals of sustainability in smart city development, resulting in what we call a ‘smart sustainable city’. Drawing on a case study involving stakeholder analysis, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, we investigate the key roles of local government, ICT firms, and citizens in shaping sustainable urban development through smart city initiatives. Our findings shed light on the potential of ICTs to promote sustainability in smart cities and provide insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars working towards creating more sustainable urban environments. The findings of this research showed that ICT’s role in supporting sustainability in smart cities relies on understanding the interests and priorities of civic, ICT firms, and citizens, promoting effective collaboration and avoiding self-serving outcomes.

The emergence of artificial intelligence in European regions: the role of a local ICT base

The purpose of this study is to investigate how a regional knowledge base of information and communication technologies (ICTs) influences the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in European regions. Relying on patent data and studying the knowledge production of AI technologies in 233 European regions in the period from 1994 to 2017, our study reveals three results. First, ICTs are a major knowledge source of AI technologies, and their importance has been increasing over time. Second, a regional knowledge base of ICTs is highly relevant for regions to engage in AI inventing. Third, the effects of a regional knowledge base of ICTs are stronger for regions that have recently caught up regarding AI inventing. Our findings suggest that ICTs play a critically enabling role for regions to diversify into AI technologies, especially for regions’ catching up in terms of AI inventing.

Knowledge creation practices at organizational boundaries: the role of ICT in sickle-cell care for tribal communities

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in the knowledge creation practices adopted by a health care organization. The organization is delivering care to patients of a genetic disorder, called the sickle cell, in tribal communities. The paper identifies how ICT intermediates knowledge creation practices across the organizational boundaries wherein tribal patients, front-line counselors and expert physicians interact, which then produces context-specific, evidence-based medicine (EBM).Design/methodology/approachThe knowledge-in-practice approach is adopted to conduct an ethnographic study of sickle cell care practices in a non-profit health care organization in Western India. The analysis focuses on ICT-mediated interactional practices among the physicians, front-line counselors, tribal patients and their families, for more than a year-long observation. These are supplemented with informal and formal interviews, archival records and vignettes based on several episodes to explicate the key knowledge creation practices.FindingsTechnology-mediated informative interactions at organizational boundaries can bridge socio-linguistic and interpretive barriers between actors, while also providing a generative structure that leads to the creation of longitudinal clinical evidence about a rare genetic disorder. Three specific ICT-entwined knowledge creation practices emerge, namely, knowing the community, increasing interactional engagement and constructing gradients of socio-clinical history. These practices generate organization-wide knowledge about the social and clinical dimensions of the genetic disorder. The findings are presented through vignettes and a novel conceptual framework.Research limitations/implicationsThis study identifies various useful knowledge creation practices in health care delivery for resource-constrained emerging economy contexts. Further, the study suggests that the involvement of local front-line actors and ICT can become important resources in the delivery of health care in these settings.Originality/valueA novel framework is developed which demonstrates knowledge creation at organizational boundaries wherein the actors use ICT-based practices for effective delivery of health care. The proposed framework may be used by health care organizations in similar contexts providing care to marginalized communities.

E-Commerce, Taobao Villages and Regional Development in China*

ABSTRACT China’s phenomenal growth and unprecedented urbanization are accompanied by social and environment problems such as rising inequality and rural stagnation. However, a new form of development based on Alibaba Group’s Taobao e-commerce platform, known as Taobao villages, has emerged in rural China to capitalize from e- commerce and sustain rural development. We investigate development trajectories and organizational structure of Taobao villages to better understand e-commerce and regional development in rural China, including the role of entrepreneurs, firms, and local states. We find that Taobao villages are being produced through economic restructuring and institutional change in response to shifting economic contexts. We have identified five development models of Taobao villages: production-oriented Xishan, Qiaoyun and Bainiu models, and market-oriented Beishan and Qingyanliu models. We also find that local states and ICT (information and communication technology) firms have played an important role in facilitating the development of Taobao villages. Taobao villages have to work closely with their local and external networks to upgrade technology, enhance innovation, and increase added value. Local contexts and spatial networking are essential to the development of Taobao villages. As a new form of regional development, Taobao villages may provide a pathway to economic development for rural areas in other developing countries.

Towards E-Commerce Use for Pro-Poor Tourism Promotion: Local Providers' ICT Training Needs in Tanzania

Although e-commerce and related technologies are regarded as tourism business' natural partners, opportunities emanating from their use may not be fully realized unless users are equipped with required information and communication technologies (ICT) knowledge. A need for capacity building is thus critical to providing developing countries with opportunities to capitalize on the opportunities offered by ICT. This study was carried in Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to investigate ICT training level and current ICT training needs among the micro-small and medium tourism enterprises (MSMTEs). Using snowballing non-probability sampling technique, data was collected from willing 69 MSMTEs. While quantitative data was analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), descriptive answers were contently summarized. Activities identified include tour operating, souvenirs, Tingatinga drawings, Maasi carvings, boutique selling, hotel operation, animal zoos, backpacking and information services provision. Areas that revealed importance and urgency for training include internet usage, purchasing and selling products via the Internet, basic web designing and maintenance and troubleshooting. Others are basic software applications such as Microsoft word, spreadsheet, report processing and presentation. Need for government support in laying out infrastructure, supportive policies that favor sponsored trainings and subsidized investments in ICT was exposed as important ingredients for tourism competitive advantages.

ICT SKILLS ENHANCEMENT TRAINING IN TEACHER EDUCATION: THE CASE IN CENTRAL VISAYAS, PHILIPPINES

There are many evidence that the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education provides effective pedagogical benefits. This paper describes the ICT skills enhancement training among faculty members in the teacher education in the four provinces, in Central Visayas, Philippines. The technology literacy training was designed for teacher educators who have the minimal or no knowledge or who have the ability to explain and discuss the task, but have not experienced the actual process of ICT operations in the classroom. It aimed to enhance skills in ICT operations and concepts using international and local ICT competency standards for teacher education. A total of 60 trainees who are coming from 30 private and public higher education institutions in the region participated in the training. The success level of the training program was measured in terms of the effectiveness of the trainers, learning level acquired by trainees, effectiveness of the administration of the training, relevance of the topic, and adequacy of information shared by the trainers. The evaluation shows that trainers were extremely efficient, and training is excellent in terms of the administration, relevance of the topic, and adequacy of information shared by the trainers. This study concludes that the training program attained its objectives, and it turned out into a big success. To ensure sustainability, a structured training program should be conducted.

Dynamics of knowledge diffusion: the ICT sector in Lombardy

AbstractThis paper analyses the evolution of the information and communication technology (ICT) industry in Lombardy, with a specific focus on the Milan metropolitan area, where most major ICT firms are located. Until the early 1990s, Lombardy's firms enjoyed a technological advantage, which led to relevant profits, innovative products on the markets, and the emergence of a competitive ICT district. Since the early 1990s, however, this positive trend inverted; local companies lost their competitive edge, and several firms restructured or closed. The restructuring process affecting this industry determined an evolution of the type of knowledge generated in the local district, which gradually moved production from full‐fledged computing machinery to marginally‐innovative software. Finally, the availability of financial capital originated by the 2000–2001 ICT frenzy stimulated the emergence of new companies, which sought a third, intermediate mode of innovation. Qualitative evidence collected by interviewing local ICT key representatives suggests that indeed ICT firms in Lombardy developed over time a specific mode of innovation, whereby externally‐manufactured ICT products are complemented, and improved for the Italian market, with local innovations. The recovery of Lombardy ICT firms in the second half of the 1990s suggests a likely shift from a fully endogenous, to a creative application pattern of innovation.

ICT policy planning in a context of curriculum reform: Disentanglement of ICT policy domains and artifacts

Researchers and policy makers around the world are increasingly acknowledging the importance of developing a school-based ICT policy plan to facilitate the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in education. Despite this interest, not much is known about how schools can develop their local ICT policy capacity and how to establish an ICT policy plan. In order to fill the gap in research on ICT policy planning, a multiple case study analysis with a mixed-method design was carried out with three Flemish primary schools. Primary schools in Flanders are encouraged by the government to develop local ICT policy planning in a context of ICT curriculum reform. Data from multiple sources (e.g. interviews with school leaders and ICT coordinators, focus group interviews with teachers, school policy document analysis, and a teacher questionnaire) were gathered and analyzed. The results indicate that ICT policy planning in schools should be considered as a multifaceted phenomenon grounded in school culture. ICT policy consists of different policy domains: vision development, financial policy, infrastructural policy, continuing professional development policy, and curriculum policy. Each policy domain can be described in terms of policy artifacts (tools, routines, and structures), and differences exist between schools concerning the involvement of teachers in the policy planning process and in the distribution of management tasks. As such, the study illustrates a distributed leadership perspective on ICT school policy planning. The results are of particular importance for school leaders, ICT coordinators and professional development trainers, and illustrates that ICT school policy is as much about developing shared meanings among stakeholders for ICT, and coordinating their relations and interactions in keeping with the school's culture as it is about content related decisions.

Interação, Aprendizado Tecnológico e Inovativo no Pólo de TIC da Região de Campinas: uma caracterização com ênfase nas atividades tecnológicas desenvolvidas pelas empresas beneficiárias da Lei de Informática

Este artigo busca caracterizar as atividades tecnológicas desenvolvidas no pólo de tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC) da região de Campinas, identificando as interações entre agentes e instituições locais. O artigo analisa o desenvolvimento tecnológico do pólo em dois períodos: ao longo da década de 1980 até meados dos anos 1990, e no período pós-privatização. Assim pode-se analisar as transformações que o aprendizado tecnológico e inovativo local sofreram devido à desestruturação do Sistema Telebrás e à consolidação de um novo arcabouço institucional (Lei de Informática). Tal análise permite afirmar que essas transformações não significaram o fim dos esforços tecnológicos formais. Os investimentos em atividades tecnológicas e inovativas efetuados nas empresas e nas instituições de pesquisa da região foram mantidos, ainda que mediante transformações. Essa constatação mostra que as atividades de importantes laboratórios, departamentos de P&D ou institutos de pesquisa vinculados às empresas de TIC locais são, em grande medida, resultado da existência de um arcabouço institucional de fomento.

The Sustainable Development of ICTs in China: An Empirical Study of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Abstract The wide application of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has been argued to be critical to business success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially to those in the developing countries. Drawing upon existing literature, this article will examine the determinants of ICTs application in SMEs in China based on data collected from interviews with top managers and/or owners of 70 SMEs. We identify 20 factors affecting ICTs application in SMEs in China and divide them into four broad categories, namely pressures, firm specific factors, technical factors and local milieu. We also pay special attention to the Chinese business environment affecting ICTs application. Our analysis shows that local ICT infrastructure, external pressures from competitors and ICT knowledge of employees are the determinants of Internet application by SMEs, while product characteristics and market target are important factors of e-commerce adoption.

Training with ICT for ICT from the trainee’s perspective. A local ICT teacher training experience

The introduction of ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) presents new challenges for teachers and often meets with their belief that ICT, as well as other changes present a factor, which can cause several changes in school. Although there have been many education reforms regarding teachers' training policy in recent years and the number of training programs has been increased, they have not been able to satisfy teachers' needs to a substantial degree. In this research the results from an exploratory study conducted within the framework of a national training programme in Greece on ICT known as "In-service teacher training in the use of ICT in Education" are presented. Based on a specially constructed questionnaire intended for the educators, this research elicits teachers' attitudes towards this programme. Some of the main results point out the preparedness of these teachers to use ICT in the daily school practice. Furthermore, they expressed their wish for further in-training programmes concerning the pedagogical development of the ICT use in class practice.

Together but Apart: ICT and Productivity Growth in Israel

There is widespread agreement about the important role played by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the US productivity revival and in the evolving US-EU productivity gap. In Israel, the ICT sector grew very rapidly during the 1990s and became a hotbed of innovation and technological advance by worldwide standards. Yet, Israel's overall productivity growth remained sluggish, with traditional sectors both in manufacturing and services seemingly unable to benefit from the success of the ICT sector. The main goal of this paper is to shed light on these twin developments. We use newly constructed data on industry-level ICT investments between 1990 and 2003 and estimate production functions for manufacturing industries augmented to include ICT capital. We find a significant elasticity of value-added with respect to ICT capital, which increases considerably with the technological sophistication of the industry. We also find that ICT capital deepening is the most important factor contributing to value added growth in manufacturing during 1995-2000, before the burst of the dot.com bubble. Because most ICT capital is concentrated in high tech industries, growth in manufacturing has been mostly confined to the high-tech sector. Facilitating the adoption of ICT in traditional industries is therefore crucial to achieving economy-wide growth. The Israeli experience described here - although restricted to the manufacturing sector - provides a useful example of the benefits and limitations associated with a growth strategy centred on a local ICT producing sector, however successful it might be.

Building the national ICT frontier: The case of Korea

A new, systematic and integrated way of building a national information and communication technology (ICT) frontier is proposed for countries specialized in ICT for export. Using patent citation as a proxy of interaction between technologies, a national ICT network is developed. Local core ICTs are identified by using two centrality measures and five brokerage measures. The importance in terms of direct flow and indirect flow is captured separately. To keep abreast of global trends, global ICT network is developed and benchmarked. Adding locally missing but globally important ICTs to local core ICT lists, an overall national ICT frontier is built. Cluster-based strategic frontiers are also established to provide a way of focusing on key technologies efficiently and to open various strategic opportunities for national ICT development. Korea’s ICT industry is exemplified in order to make the application of the method clear.

Globalization and Regional Economic Development: A Note on Bangalore City

Most countries in the world have embraced globalization and information and communication technology (ICT) as tools for economic development. However, there are many factors that need to be considered when evaluating the impact of ICT and globalization on local economic development. In this paper, we develop an integrated framework that provides an explanation for the new relationships between ICT use for global needs (such as outsourcing), local ICT use, economic development and disparities, and we illustrate these developments using a case study of Bangalore, India.JEL Classification: R11, O14, O18

An investigation into the Wood Collective UKonline information and communication technology project

Adult education and ICT (information and communication technology) are intrinsically linked and ICT infiltrates every part of our lives. As those who have grown up and been educated in the ICT age become more prominent in society those who were not find themselves with the distinct possibility of becoming second‐class citizens if not so already. There is a large service industry in the United Kingdom which has been encouraged and grown especially over the last 10 years to combat this situation and to reverse the process. Much of this work is community based with national government playing an active role in supporting this sector. Working within this culture in the heart of one of the target areas for these initiatives, the author's study focused on local basic ICT in a national context—the UKonline ICT project. The author's study and its findings would hopefully help future local initiatives; his aim being to discover effective methods, roles and working plans and to give reason for any failings in order to improve his own work in adult education. He found many areas of interest where the adult client base were suitably catered for but equally found much that could be improved upon.

Les impacts de l'innovation des Technologies de l'Information et de Communication dans l'organisation administrative et territoriale : le cas de Paris face aux innovations en matière de télécommunications

This article analyses the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on local community throughout the growth of telecommunication. We will see how the three following concepts are underwoven : local community, ICT and local development for telecommunication and labour. Our purpose is to understand how innovation in ICT can influence the aspect and quality of workplaces in local communities.

The development of ICT clusters in European cities: towards a typology

This article is based on the results of the EU-funded research project MUTEIS (Macro-economic and Urban Trends in Europe's Information Society), that aims to provide deeper insights in the emerging digital economies in urban regions. The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is at the centre of interest to cities. In the 1990s, many of them invested heavily in developing and attracting this promising sector. Almost every city has developed and implemented ambitious policies to promote the local ICT sector. But not every city has benefited to the same extent from its rapid growth: there are substantial quantitative and qualitative differences between urban regions. This study reviews the development of ICT clusters across Europe, and assesses the role of local and national policies in this field. It highlights the diversity of cluster development paths in different local and national contexts.

Lifelong Learning and Digital Exclusion: Lessons from the Evaluation of an ICT Learning Centre and an Emerging Research Agenda

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are playing an increasingly important role within society. There are concerns, however, about unequal access to ICTs and the dangers of digital exclusion. The UK government has prioritized the development of ICT skills and access to learning through ICTs, the key policy instrument being a network of ICT learning centres in deprived communities. This article reviews the evaluation of a local ICT learning centre, focusing on the impact of the centre in relation to reducing digital exclusion and impact on skills development. The evaluation highlights a number of policy tensions and areas for further investigation.

Constructing the knowledge base for knowledge‐driven development

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) represent a major opportunity for world development. However, the “digital divide” is increasing rather than diminishing existing inequalities. This paper suggests several ways in which experiences with ICTs can be shared and in which more resources could be mobilised to support local ICT projects and locally‐defined goals. The activities of the Commonwealth’s agencies in this area are used to provide illustrations of a variety of initiatives. It is argued that strategic action on the part of agencies within their own organisations and in co‐operation with others is likely to help to facilitate the process of constructing a stronger knowledge base for knowledge‐driven development, but that there is no room for complacency. In addition to improved co‐ordination and co‐operation, effort is needed to focus on the purposes and goals of knowledge‐driven development, rather than on the short‐term interests of individual stakeholder organisations.