Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Catalyst for Women Development in Africa (Published)
The paper examines the opportunities information and communication technology presents for women in Africa. No doubt that information now flows to African women with less distortion; it equally provides access to same information as their male counterpart on the continent. ICT has proven to create and re-create new opportunities by expanding information horizon and educational thereby making communication more flexible and accessible. Data for this paper came from secondary sources while it adopted the strategic model as its theoretical framework and its core argument is that beyond the opportunity presented by ICT, women must tap into its full advantage. It was discovered that the gap between men and women in terms of access to development-oriented information has been drastically reduced, as such women, voice their opinions, demand for their rights and have more control over their destiny cannot be said to be hidden by the men. ICT today has proven to be a veritable tool in transforming socio-economic and political life globally, African women inclusive. Findings shows that ICT is a Veritable tool for empowering women of all status The conclusion of the paper is that African women now have an opportunity in ICT to maximize their potentials for the overall development of the continent. The paper however recommends among other things that to mitigate further economic marginalization women must wholly embrace all the opportunities presented by ICT.
Keywords: Africa, Development, Information and Communication Technology, Women
DEVELOPMENT AND UPTAKE OF ENTERPRISE 2.0 IN SMEs: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE (Published)
IT and new-networked business structures are removing the sources of friction, producing major dimensions of change that affect every firm and its operations (Tapscott, 2008). They have constantly thrown at us new buzz phrases; the thresholds of dramatic shift in ways firms organize, innovate, and create values. IT infrastructures have become democratized by the Internet; people no longer consume and convey information alone but also create and share contents with others on the Web, be it textual, aural, or visual. The use of Web, which extends to websites, B2B, B2C and e-business application, has made it imperative for organizations to conduct their business and e-business over the Internet. As new ITs such as Enterprise 2.0 emerge, organizations device new strategies and directions to utilize the web to reach out their customers and business partners. Organizations develop new and innovative ways of doing business and react positively to their customers. They often adapt and rely on enterprise systems as its accompanying budget cuts affect travels, marketing expenses, capital investments, and staffing levels (McKinnon, 2009). This theoretical paper builds on existing body of knowledge on Enterprise 2.0 to expand its understanding and applicability by SMEs.
Keywords: Development, SMEs, Uptake of Enterprise 2.0
DEVELOPMENT OF BASIC ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE AND TRAINER (Published)
This research was aimed to produce the module and trainer on mastering basic electronic competency of the students at Education of Electronic Engineering Faculty of Engineering State University of Medan. Developing and implementing the module and Trainer and given a posttest to the student. The research method used was Research and Development model by Borg & Gall (1983) which is known as R & D Cycle. To develop the instructional material of the module used Dick and Carey’s model and Cruch Kilton criterion to plan and build the trainer. The data collecting instrument were field study, observation, interview and questionnaire as long as development activity and posttest to know the effect of the module by using objective tes. To know the effectiveness of the module and trainer to higher the instructional outcomes or mastering the competency done by differentiating outcomes between module group and control group. The differentiation analysis by using t-test to find out significance differences. The subject research was 5 lecturers, 40 students of first semester regular class at Education of Electronic Engineering. The research result of the development of the module consist of nine learning topics include student guidance, student practical activity, and the trainer which consist of electronic components that support practical activity which is integrate with the topics, lecturer guidance, and posttest and it’s key answer. The mean score achievement by module group was 82.80, mean while the score achievement by control group was 74.74. The result of the t test was 4.63 and t table with df =73 on 95 % significance is 1.960. Because the t observed = 4.63>1,960 t table, so the module and trainer effective, and efficiency to higher the student out comes on basic electronic.
Keywords: Development, Module, Trainer