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1 – 10 of 200Thai Do Manh, Duong Dang, Morten Falch, Tuan Tran Minh and Tuyen Vu Phi
This paper aims to examine the role of stakeholders and their relationships in the sustainability of telecentres in Vietnam through the lens of stakeholder theory.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the role of stakeholders and their relationships in the sustainability of telecentres in Vietnam through the lens of stakeholder theory.
Design/methodology/approach
This study methodologically adopted a qualitative case study to identify stakeholders that have been involved in telecentres in Vietnam. It then categorizes those stakeholders’ salience through the lens of stakeholder identification and salience theory. Secondary data and interviews were used as data sources for the present paper.
Findings
The authors identify six main stakeholders that have been involved in telecentres, including the government, entrepreneurs, international donors, telecommunications providers, civil society organisations and individual community members/users. Among these stakeholders, the government, entrepreneurs and users belong to definitive stakeholders, which have the greatest impact on the sustainability of telecentres in comparison to other groups of stakeholders (e.g. dominant, dependent and dormant stakeholders). Moreover, the authors propose a model to identify the relationships of stakeholders towards the sustainability of telecentres. In particular, the authors indicate that each group of stakeholders has its own role in contributing to sustainable telecentres and they also influence others in either direct or indirect ways.
Originality/value
This study provides an additional approach for managers to make judgments in prioritizing the interests of some of their stakeholders while still maintaining a level of satisfaction among other stakeholders. For example, stakeholders that should be of the highest concern to the sustainability of telecentres are the government, entrepreneurs and users, while civil society organisations can be maintained in lower priority to other stakeholders. In addition, we propose the model of interactions and relationships of stakeholders, which can be seen as a starting point for a study on the roles of stakeholders in sustainability not only in telecentres, but also in other fields, such as digital transformation, cyber security and e-government.
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Edda Tandi Lwoga and Wallace Chigona
This paper aims to assess the usage pattern of telecentres, how rural women frame telecentres and barriers that limit use of telecentres. Further, the study examined the effects…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to assess the usage pattern of telecentres, how rural women frame telecentres and barriers that limit use of telecentres. Further, the study examined the effects of demographic characteristics and location on telecentre usage.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used a sequential mixed research design in three rural districts surrounding telecentres: Kongwa, Sengerema and Kilosa districts. The study population comprised rural women who were users and non-users of telecentres. The study conducted six focus group discussions (FGDs) with 37 users and six FGDs with 36 non-users in the first phase of the study in 2014; questionnaires were administered to 90 users and 90 non-users in the second phase of the study in 2015.
Findings
The primary use of telecentres among users was to access internet (71.4 per cent, n = 60), followed by information and communication technology (ICT) training courses (63.1 per cent, n = 53) and secretarial purposes (63.1 per cent, n = 53). Rural women used internet for educational purposes, followed by news, information on health issues, job opportunities, social and entertainment issues. Rural women currently using internet were more likely to be better educated (ß = 1.926, p = 0.001) and have higher incomes (ß = 5.318, p = 0.021) at both bivariate and multivariate analysis. Users indicated that they faced the following barriers towards using telecentre: short duration of ICT training, frequent power outages, low speed of internet and few computers at the telecentres. Non-users were not using telecentres because of lack of ICT skills and language barriers.
Originality/value
This study provides empirical evidence to telecentres, libraries and other rural ICT initiatives to design rural ICT services that are gender-sensitive and demand-driven.
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Premila Gamage and Edward F. Halpin
The overall aim of this study is to examine the impact of e‐Sri Lanka's Telecentre Development Programme in bridging the digital divide.
Abstract
Purpose
The overall aim of this study is to examine the impact of e‐Sri Lanka's Telecentre Development Programme in bridging the digital divide.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey research method was used in the study to collect qualitative and quantitative data from actual and potential Telecentre users in relevant communities. The study was carried out through a survey. The primary sample comprised of 30 percent of the Telecentres. The secondary sample included users and potential users around the Telecentres. The total number of users and potential users was 338. The study was conducted from early January 2005 to the of end February 2006.
Findings
The survey data disclosed that still only a small percentage of the total population are aware of Telecentres and use the facilities offered by them. The crucial factor affecting usage is language. According to the majority of respondents, as they understand only native languages they have not benefited from services such as like the internet and e‐mail. The content or the information that can be offered through Telecentres plays a pivotal role in this regard. Out of the 70 percent of rural population, the majority are not familiar with the English language. Therefore, Sinhala‐ and Tamil‐speaking people are disadvantaged. The survey data confirms that all Telecentres are highly (100 per cent) dependent on subsidies provided by ICTA. Hence, the sustainability of Telecentres is questionable at present.
Research limitations/implications
The Telecentres situated in the North East region had to be excluded from the study due to the resumption of hostilities between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and a corresponding lack of access and security in the region. The North East Province contains 9.84 per cent of Telecentres set up under the project.
Practical implications
The findings of the study will help policy makers, decision makers and donors to properly address the key issues such as connectivity, accessibility, content and services, sustainability, skills development, partnerships with stakeholders and the needs of disadvantaged groups. Further, the problems and successes identified by the study will be useful for policy and decision makers to ensure the sustainability of the Telecentres and how the e‐Sri Lanka initiative and especially the 1,000 Telecentre project could be used to narrow the digital divide in Sri Lanka.
Originality/value
This will be the first in‐depth study on the Telecentres, which are one of the major components of the government's e‐Sri Lanka initiative. The findings and methods used to analyse the data will be relevant to future studies of community‐based ICT initiatives and the broader areas of information‐seeking, information‐seeking behaviour, and user needs.
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Ana Rosa del Águila Obra, Sebastián Bruque Cámara and Antonio Padilla Meléndez
In this paper, we present the concept of telecentres as an aid to socio‐economic development in deprived rural and urban areas, and analyse the use of information technology in…
Abstract
In this paper, we present the concept of telecentres as an aid to socio‐economic development in deprived rural and urban areas, and analyse the use of information technology in these workplaces. Numerous public and not‐for‐profit organisations are subsidising these initiatives as pilot development aid projects on a international scale. We have undertaken an empirical study on a Spanish scale with the following objectives: to know how many telecentres exist in Spain; to identify their state, category and organizational characteristics; to discover what services they offer; to determine the marketing strategies they employ; and to identify the principal factors that determine their success.
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Antonio Cordella and Jakob Hesse
This paper aims to introduce a new approach to the framing of e-government projects. It discusses e-government as a continuing process of interaction and change. The paper uses…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to introduce a new approach to the framing of e-government projects. It discusses e-government as a continuing process of interaction and change. The paper uses general concepts borrowed from actor–network theory (ANT) to highlight the on-going negotiation that is an endogenous characteristic of every e-government projects.
Design/methodology/approach
The research builds on the findings of a case study. The case of the Akshaya e-government project in Kerala, India, is presented to offer an instance of the negotiation that occurs among the different actors involved and the consequent changes the project itself experiences.
Findings
The paper shows that e-government initiatives are unstable and change over time, as they are cast in the dynamic interaction that occurs between the actors involved in the e-government project. It also suggests that the ANT is a valuable framework to study these dynamics.
Research limitations/implications
Main contribution of the paper is the evidence that e-government projects should be studied in their making and not as a result of planned action and sequential evolutionary phases.
Practical implications
The paper offers new insights for the planning, design and most importantly management of e-government projects.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the literature by shedding light on the importance of the dynamic interactions that shape the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on government policies. The proposed framework is a basis for further theorisation with regards to the complexity underpinning the deployment of ICTs in the public sector.
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Shariful Islam and Nazmul Hasan
The purpose of this paper is to discuss multipurpose community information and knowledge centres (MCTs) and then describes and assesses the telecommunication facilities (and hence…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss multipurpose community information and knowledge centres (MCTs) and then describes and assesses the telecommunication facilities (and hence information access and provision) of such telecentres in Bangladesh including radio, television, telephone and internet facilities. The paper then highlights problems and prospects, in rural areas of Bangladesh, of information access through the telecentres.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a review of literature collected through the internet, personal visits and other secondary sources such as research reports and articles.
Findings
The paper highlights the existing MCT initiatives in rural Bangladesh and discusses their problems and prospects.
Originality/value
The paper is one of the very few studies which focuses on the prospects of MCTs for rural Bangladesh, particularly as regards information and knowledge access and provision, and proposes future directions for the development of MCTs in Bangladesh.
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The purpose of this research is to highlight issues related to the management of indigenous and scientific knowledge, and the approach towards transferring these from one…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to highlight issues related to the management of indigenous and scientific knowledge, and the approach towards transferring these from one community to another, to therefore reduce risk in communities living with multiple hazards and disasters in cyclone, flood, earthquake and drought prone regions of India.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study based approach and secondary research have been used to understand the disaster‐related problems and the mitigation strategy. Lessons are drawn from Indian scenarios such as Orissa super cyclone, Bhuj earthquake, etc.
Findings
The study highlights a few important points for practising managers/officers. Rural telecentres need to evolve for relief and rehabilitation work. Indigenous knowledge is more in tacit form; therefore, a carefully designed strategy would be needed to manage this.
Practical implications
The study focuses on many practical issues related to disaster management in India. These issues are derived from past experiences.
Originality/value
The research provides insight to researchers and practising officers/managers. Newer insights have been presented on tacit‐knowledge management and use of scientific understanding on the management of natural disasters.
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Lakshmi Shankar Iyer and Subba Rao R.N.
It is the responsibility of any government to ensure efficient, transparent and reliable services to the common man through telecentres. The purpose of this study is to take into…
Abstract
Purpose
It is the responsibility of any government to ensure efficient, transparent and reliable services to the common man through telecentres. The purpose of this study is to take into account the influence of people and process on transparency that leads to effective e-governance.
Design/methodology/approach
This study involved collecting data through questionnaire method from 400 citizens who visited the telecentres. Data were analysed by conducting chi-square test and independent sample t-test, and it was found that there exists significant influence of location on transparency.
Findings
The current study reiterates the fact from literature that transparency in transactions enables effective e-governance. Beneficiaries perceive that people and processes have influence on transparency.
Research limitations/implications
The research adds up to the literature in establishing that there exist differentials among the rural and urban population with respect to transparency. Results could be skewed, as there could be an impact of population density across urban and rural areas.
Practical implications
This study brings out a framework and an action plan for the government to implement and ensure transparency in processes leading to effective e-governance.
Social implications
The action plan ensures transparency in service delivery leading to effective e-governance. Increased transparency empowers citizens with increased trustworthiness towards services delivered through telecentres.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils the need for an action plan to assure citizens to use deliveries through telecentres with better transparency. The aspect of transparency is not being studied in the present context of service delivery by the government authorities in India. Moreover, the influence of transparency on e-governance is also under-explored.
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The prevalent approach to providing the Internet in rural areas of developing countries takes the form of ‘telecentres’, where, it is assumed that ‘access to’ this technology will…
Abstract
The prevalent approach to providing the Internet in rural areas of developing countries takes the form of ‘telecentres’, where, it is assumed that ‘access to’ this technology will confer benefits on the target groups. The purpose of this paper is to show that this approach diverts attention from the many variables that determine whether and to what extent, access is translated into well‐being. During this part of the paper we draw on Sen's analysis of the complex relationships between consumption and welfare. The second part of our critique is concerned to show that excessive concern with access, has led to the neglect of an alternative type of model in which knowledge rather than technology is the main concern.
Ricardo Gomez and Elizabeth Gould
This paper aims to determine how trust and perceptions shape uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in public access venues (libraries, telecentres, and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to determine how trust and perceptions shape uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in public access venues (libraries, telecentres, and cybercafés) in 25 developing countries around the world.
Design/methodology/approach
As part of a global study conducted by the Technology & Social Change Group at the University of Washington, local research teams conducted surveys, site visits, and interviews of over 25,000 respondents in different types of public access venues in the selected countries, using a shared research design and analytical framework.
Findings
The use of public access venues is shaped by the following trust factors: safety concerns, relevance of the information, reputation of the institution, and users' perceptions of how “cool” these venues are. While libraries tend to be trusted as most reputable, telecentres tend to be trusted as most relevant to meet local needs, and cybercafés tend to be perceived as most “cool”.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is limited by its descriptive and not predictive nature, and is not based on a statistically representative sample of the population.
Practical implications
The insight presented in this paper can help inform policy decisions about public access initiatives, and inform future research to better understand the causes and consequences of trust in public access ICT. Understanding these perceptions helps gain a more nuanced understanding of the way services are provided in venues that offer public access to ICT.
Originality/value
This paper is novel as it covers public access to ICT in 25 developing countries across different types of venues, using a shared design and methodological approach. A study of this magnitude has never been done before. The findings provide valuable insight into understanding how people trust different types of public access ICT venues.
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