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2016 Journal of Systems and Information Technology
doi: 10.1108/JSIT-07-2016-0048
PurposeThis study aims to investigate the uptake and usage patterns of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by women small business owners (SBOs).Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 women SBOs who were recruited through purposeful sampling methods. Interview data on communication technologies participants used were broken down into six main categories: internet search, internet advertising, online transactions, telephone, email and fax. Participants were also asked questions regarding proximity between them and different business contacts, and whether technology influenced how they communicated with these individuals.FindingsAll participants had moved up from having a basic website to transacting goods and services online. ICTs were used to acquire tangible and intangible resources as well as for informal learning. Geographical distance between SBOs and individuals within their business and convenience of ICT failed to affect participants’ preference for face-to-face communication with key business contacts.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has limitations that tend to be commonly found in exploratory studies, such as a small sample size. However, the findings lay the groundwork for future quantitative studies that examine the potential influence of other factors, such as gender and culture, on adoption of ICT by SBOs.Originality/valueThis study responds to a call for research that develops a more nuanced understanding of how women SBOs use ICTs in their business. The findings can be used by policymakers and development agencies in their teaching and training interventions.
Engotoit, Benard; Kituyi, Geoffrey Mayoka; Moya, Musa Bukoma
2016 Journal of Systems and Information Technology
doi: 10.1108/JSIT-06-2016-0037
PurposeThis paper to examine the relationship between performance expectancy and behavioural intention to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural market information dissemination in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive field survey method was adopted. A total of 302 commercial farmers and agribusiness traders in Eastern Uganda participated in the study from whom data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation and regression analyses were used in the study.FindingsThe findings reveal a significant positive relationship between performance expectancy and behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural information access and dissemination. This implies that, commercial farmers’ behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural market information dissemination and access will be influenced if they anticipate mobile-based communication technologies to offer greater performance in their daily transactions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was conducted in the context of resource constrained countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, however reflecting knowledge from other contexts. The study was conducted with a structured questionnaire being the main data collection tool, and this limited the study from collecting views outside the questions asked in the questionnaire. The variables studied could not be analysed for a long time, given that the study was cross-sectional in nature.Practical implicationsThe study provides recommendations on how to further boost farmers’ behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural information dissemination. Policy makers need to ensure that policies are put in place that encourage third party software developers and telecommunication companies to provide software products and solutions that are beneficial to the commercial farmers and can enable them complete their agricultural transactions in time.Social implicationsThe study provides critical literature on the influence of performance expectancy on commercial farmers’ behavioural intentions to use mobile-based communication technologies for agricultural market information access and dissemination in resource constrained settings.Originality/valueIt is noted that farmers in Uganda are slowly progressing to newer mobile information and communication technology tools for market information access and dissemination; however, little is known as to why there is slow adoption of these mobile technologies for agricultural purposes; yet policy makers need to come up with proper strategies to encourage wide scale use of mobile technologies for agricultural market purposes.
Domdouzis, Konstantinos; Akhgar, Babak; Andrews, Simon; Gibson, Helen; Hirsch, Laurence
2016 Journal of Systems and Information Technology
doi: 10.1108/JSIT-06-2016-0039
PurposeA number of crisis situations, such as natural disasters, have affected the planet over the past decade. The outcomes of such disasters are catastrophic for the infrastructures of modern societies. Furthermore, after large disasters, societies come face-to-face with important issues, such as the loss of human lives, people who are missing and the increment of the criminality rate. In many occasions, they seem unprepared to face such issues. This paper aims to present an automated social media and crowdsourcing data mining system for the synchronization of the police and law enforcement agencies for the prevention of criminal activities during and post a large crisis situation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper realized qualitative research in the form of a review of the literature. This review focuses on the necessity of using social media and crowdsourcing data mining techniques in combination with advanced Web technologies for the purpose of providing solutions to problems related to criminal activities caused during and after a crisis. The paper presents the ATHENA crisis management system, which uses a number of data mining techniques to collect and analyze crisis-related data from social media for the purpose of crime prevention.FindingsConclusions are drawn on the significance of social media and crowdsourcing data mining techniques for the resolution of problems related to large crisis situations with emphasis to the ATHENA system.Originality/valueThe paper shows how the integrated use of social media and data mining algorithms can contribute in the resolution of problems that are developed during and after a large crisis.
Franco, Mário; Haase, Heiko; Pereira, Ana
2016 Journal of Systems and Information Technology
doi: 10.1108/JSIT-06-2016-0036
PurposeThis study aims to show the role of social networks in the performance of small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in an inland region of Portugal. The main objective is to ascertain the motives for adhering to social networks and to understand if this type of network influences performance in this firm sector.Design/methodology/approachTo fulfill this aim, a quantitative research was adopted, based on application of a questionnaire, the final sample being formed of 86 SMEs.FindingsBased on the results obtained, it is concluded that the SMEs studied are connected to social networks, especially Facebook. The principal reason for this type of firm connecting to social networks has to do with the possibility of presenting services to a greater number of potential customers.Practical implicationsThe empirical evidence obtained also shows that the motives associated with cost reduction influence both financial indicators (profit growth) and non-financial indicators (human resource results), and communication and innovation influence only non-financial performance (level of satisfaction).Originality/valueThis study contributes to advancing theory in the field of social networks in SMEs. More precisely, this study suggests that to assess their performance, SME leaders should not use only measures of a financial nature (sales volume, level of growth, etc.), but rather in combination with non-financial indicators such as customer satisfaction, reputation and others.
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