260 research outputs found
From product centricism to systems-wide education design: making corporate systems work for the learning organisation. Paper presented at The
No full textThis is the published version Corbitt, Brian, Holt, Dale and Segrave, Stephen 2004, From product centricism to systems-wide education design: making corporate technology systems work for the learning organisation, in 2004 Information System
Thai ICT policy and the globalising role of the internet
No full textThis chapter deals with the role of globalisation in the development of Thai ICT policy. Much is made of the effects of globalisation on economic and social structures (Stiglitz, 2002; LeGrain, 2002; Drahos and Braithwaite, 2002), on the ethics of globalisation (Singer, 2002), and on the impacts in various sectors and segmentations within a society (Sheil, 2001). However almost no attention has been paid to the importance of globalistion as an effect on ICT policy. This is especially important because so many countries have invested considerable resources in ICT developments and positioned their national status according to their technology use (Corbitt and Thanasankit, 2002; Corbitt, 1999). Thailand has made ICT a significant element of government policy. This chapter discussed the globalisation impacts on the development and changes in that policy over a seven-year period
Culture at the Edge: an Exploration of Cultural Adaptation and Sense-Making Across Workgroup Boundaries in Complex Organizations
No full textThe nature and conduct of relationships between functionally specialised workgroups in complex organization is explored in this dissertation. Interviews with twenty eight individuals and two entire workgroups from four large organizations are used as the basis for an experiential phenomenological study that seeks to understand the essences of the lived experience of being a member of such a workgroup. The situated outcomes of the phenomenological study are scrutinised in the light of the literatures of organizational theory, organizational communication theory, and social identity theory. These literatures are used as lenses to explore the possibility that problematic dimensions of intergroup relations might be diminished by the deployment of technology mediated communication channels between the groups concerned. The research finds that, with few exceptions, workgroup membership is a strong part of the individual's sense of social identity. This is consistent with the key elements of social identification theory and self-categorization theory. It also finds that the construction of stereotypes creating mutually oppositional beliefs of positive distinctiveness is unavoidable. Further, the research tends to confirm that individuals in workgroups believe that they are performing their allotted tasks as well as possible. Such beliefs are not necessarily consistent with the expectations of management, but they address issues related own self image and perceived role-performance. Although perceived issues of media richness associated with presently available technologies tend to undermine perceptions of technological solutions in the participant organizations, the research points to useful future opportunities for more effective selection and deployment of appropriate technologies as a basis for the conduct and management of intergroup relationships
Implementing IT Policy and the Bedevilment of Post-Colonialism - A Case Study in Tanzania
No full textThis chapter is concerned with how Tanzania has been socially and economically affected by post-colonialism at a policy level as well as at an ordinary (public) level during the IT policy development process in the country. An IT policy according to Corbitt (1999:309) “is a reflection of the society in which it is formed and is socially constructed within the ideologies which frame that society.” Corbitt (1999:312) goes on to describe the implementation phase of the policy: Policy is implemented in an environment influenced by ideologies which spawn values and beliefs, some of which are known, recognized and obvious to the actors involved, whilst other influences are not recognized, nor obvious. This chapter examines the post-colonial influence, which comprises both directly and indirectly, observed implications within the IT policy development process in Tanzania. The discussion focuses on challenges which face decision and policy-makers in the country. The chapter also proposes an IT policy model which might be developed or designed using a different approach from the traditional policy-making model.</jats:p
Implementing IT policy and the bedevilment of post colonialism - A case sudy of Tanzania
No full textThis chapter is concerned with how Tanzania has been socially and economically affected by post-colonialsim at a policy level as well as at an ordinary (public) level during the IT policy development process in the country. An IT policy according to Corbitt (1999:309) is a 'reflection of the society in which it is formed and is socially constructed within the ideologies which frame that society.' Corbitt (199:312) goes on to describe the implementation phase of the policy: Policy is implemented in an environment influenced by ideologies which spawn values and beliefs, some of which are known, recognized and obvious to the actors involved, whilst other influences are not recognized, nor obvious
ICT for eco-sustainability: an assessment of the capability of the Australian ICT sector
No full textExecutive summary
As eco-sustainability issues become increasingly important to most, if not all, Australian organisations, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry is expected to provide solutions that reduce material consumption (dematerialise), emissions (decarbonise), and energy use and waste production (demobilise) in both the ICT infrastructure and the business processes and practices of industries. The term \u27Green ICT\u27 represents this eco- sustainability enabling role of the ICT industry.
The School of Business Information Technology and Logistics, RMIT University in collaboration with the Australian Information Industries Association (AIIA) surveyed all members and affiliates of the AIIA at the beginning of 2010 to understand Australian ICT firms\u27 capability to enhance the eco-sustainability of other industries. Based on data collected from 133 ICT firms, this report constitutes the first comprehensive study that exclusively focuses on the Australian ICT industry
Using the Internet as an effective survey tool - an exploratory study on Internet survey theories and techniques
No full textThe popularity of the Internet has sparked a wide interest in conducting surveys on it. This study examines survey participation behaviours on the Internet and techniques to improve survey performance. A student population was surveyed to assess the impact of various survey techniques and certain respondent attributes on Internet survey responses. While quantitative method was adopted as the primary analysis method, qualitative method was also used to analyse survey respondents' feedback to expand the understanding on survey response behaviour.
While the quantitative method did not provide enough statistical support for the four existing survey theories, the qualitative analysis results showed great support for Social Exchange Theory. Based on survey feedback, reward and trust seemed to be the most positive influencing factors on respondent's willingness to participate in an Internet survey, cost seemed to be the biggest barrier to Internet survey participation. Furthermore, Dissonance Theory, Self-Perception Theory and Commitment Theory also received some degree of support from the respondent's feedback.
Survey techniques were found to have significant effect on survey response level. Follow-up contact and incentives were found most effective in inducing Internet survey response rate. In addition, using incentives was also found to significantly improve the level of accuracy in survey responses. Statistical evidences also suggested that prernotification could significantly increase survey response speed and avoiding using skip-questions could significantly improve survey completion rate.
The findings provided empirical support for the view that Internet survey response behaviour is explainable by traditional survey theories and strongly influenced by various survey techniques
Post-colonial impact on information technology policy adoption in developing countries: the case of tanzania
No full textIt is considered that the information technology (IT) revolution is rapidly changing economic as well as social activities by providing opportunities and challenges for accelerating development in the world. Governments and other institutions in industrialised countries (ICs) have changed their planning and other operation systems to benefit from these IT advancements. One of the major activities which has been considered to enable industrialised countries to achieve IT potential is to adopt IT policy. This is a documentary research which has used a qualitative approach to explore IT policy adoption.
In developing countries (DCs), IT is not yet exploited because of various factors hindering the IT policy development process. This research investigated the factor that had not been studied, of the post-colonial impact on IT policy adoption in DCs, focusing Oil Tanzania as a case study. Specifically, it explored how IT advancement on the one hand, and post-colonialism on the other hand, influence policy-making activity in Tanzania. The study illustrated, among other aspects, the interaction between Tanzanian society and IT through observing existing government policies; opportunities to access IT; people's awareness regarding IT use for their socio-economic development; and IT infrastructure.
The study revealed that there were several obstacles hindering IT use and development in relation to post-colonial influence in Tanzania. The factors identified include the following: insufficient funds located to the IT sector; lack of information policy that would facilitate IT investment; poor IT infrastructure; language barriers - as the majority of Tanzanians do not use English; poverty - as a large number of Tanzanians cannot purchase a computer and also are unable to afford Internet services; negative mindset of some policy-makers against IT use - as they lack IT knowledge and skills; lack of understanding of the importance of IT for national development; lack of commitment of the government regarding IT investment and use in various sectors; and the post-colonial impact at policy level - as the government is still influenced by colonial government structures in terms of existing too much bureaucracy, laws, and policy formulation procedures.
The study also realised that, although it may take some time for IT use benefits to accrue, it is clear that the provision of IT access in the rural areas would help to break the rural-urban inequalities persisting in Tanzania, some being influenced by post-colonial legacy. Thus, it is emphasised that, as IT advances quickly, Tanzania like other developing countries (DCs) has no option other than embracing IT as a vital tool for accelerating her socio-economic development. Moreover, it could be argued that people must be at the "centre" of any social and economic planning, whether this is in the private or public sector. Much policy and planning in Tanzania of recent decades have not been people-centred but driven by a range of models from industrialised countries (ICs) which some have been proved unsuitable for the Tanzanian context.
Thus, the study suggests that Tanzania needs a new organisation system at the policy level which would bring change from the traditional planning and governance approaches that are influenced by post-colonial legacy into a new approach of policy-making. Policies, which are confined to old technologies, have to be changed to account for the new emerging technologies. Similarly, Tanzania has to develop a new policy adoption model that would be people-centred so as to build the attitude of resource sharing among the people and encourages them to participate in the process of policy adoption and implementation. The new policy-making approach, which is essential to overcome post-colonial influence in Tanzania, would be expected to focus on how to integrate peoples' thinking in the course of using IT potential. Therefore, policy-makers in Tanzania need to foresee social and economic future impacts, and thus, design IT policy along with technological solutions that would match and support these future visions. In this way, Tanzania would be moving beyond the existing post-colonial influence by designing socio-economic and institutional instruments that would be meant to adjust the potential of IT to a full-employment future
[Photograph 2012.201.B0240.0345]
No full textPhotograph taken for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Helen Corbitt, noted cookbook author is visiting Oklahoma City.
‘Our Infant State’: the Māori Language, the Mission Presses, the British Crown and the Māori, 1814-1838
No full textThe role of the pre-colonial Protestant missionaries, in convincing the Māori - and other Polynesian peoples - to accept the value of literacy, and to accept the ability to communicate in a written, rather than an oral mode, has been neglected by the historians of New Zealand and of its colonisation. The importance of reading and writing was not that it assisted religious teaching but, rather, that it enabled communication at a distance and across time, instead of being confined to the present place and audience. The thesis exposes the earliest documents written in Māori by Māori (1825-26) including letters and land deeds which were the basis for written diplomatic communications and facilitated political involvement in New Zealand affairs under missionary guidance. The advent of literacy made possible diplomacy, commerce and protection against perceived hostile threats such as France and 'popery'.
The period covered is roughly that between the Battle of Waterloo (1815) and the accession of Queen Victoria (1837) with attention to the events of the following year, the first of her reign. This is the period in which literacy became established among the Māori and in which the printing press was introduced into New Zealand. The thesis is divided into four parts: 'Polynesia and literacy' introduces general themes with particular reference to the first mission, that of the London Missionary Society to Tahiti, 1797-1821; 'Mr King Hongi 1815-1828' concerns the New Zealand missions before Māori literacy was established; 'Our infant state 1828-1835' concerns the period in which Māori literacy became established and printing was introduced; and lastly 'Colonisation has commenced 1836-1838' considers the use of printing and publication in the mission against the background of the European influx diplomacy, political change and the inevitable demise of iwitanga. The underlying structure can be considered (using a musicological analogy) as a piece of polyphony through which diverse themes (the history of printing / publication) the problems of translation and the religious and political context are resolved. The four parts will enable political history to be considered part by part in parallel with the narrative of the history of Māori orthography, literacy, printing and publication.
The thesis concludes with the death of King William IV ('the parent of our infant state' as he had been called in the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand in 1835) and with the almost contemporary visit of Captain William Hobson (May to July 1837) and the death of Samuel Marsden, the founder of the mission to New Zealand (1838).
The methodology used is primarily that of narrative history but attention is given to the cultural syncretism that resulted (inevitably) from the mutual accommodation of Māori traditional culture and Protestant evangelical culture in which 'the Book' and book-based learning was so prominent. This interaction privileges speech (korero) rather than writing (tuhituhinga) for most of the period before 1839. The thesis is based on the printing and publication history of a series of original documents (including manuscripts, printed proof copies, and published documents of the period) in order to establish the practical impact of the European concept of literacy upon the Polynesians (particularly the Māori) by retrieving its physical evidence. The evidence supports the thesis that the advantages of literacy for the Polynesians underwrote the Protestant objectives to exclude Catholic and French interests while promoting the advantages of British trade and British colonisation. 'Holy Persuasion' provided the basis for the 'covenant' between the Māori people and the British Crown which was subsequently formalised in the so called 'Treaty' of Waitangi of 6 February 1840. The principal chiefs approved of this policy as the 'infant state' acquired more and more resident Europeans between 1831 and 1838, but as the Europeans arrived the Māori found their little-regarded 'sovereignty' was ebbing away. The strategy employed for the thesis has been to investigate the provenance and associations of authentic historical documents which are now widely scattered and which, consequently, have remained poorly known to both political historians and historians of print culture
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