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This study aimed to systematically review the prospects and challenges associated with adopting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning at rural universities in South Africa. To achieve this aim, a systematic review methodology was employed. The systematic review findings revealed a multifaceted landscape wherein opportunities for enhancing education through ICT exist alongside significant challenges. Prospects include the potential for technology to bridge educational gaps, increase accessibility, and provide innovative learning experiences. However, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited connectivity, and varying levels of digital literacy pose significant impediments. The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to address these challenges, including infrastructure development, capacity building, and localized content creation. Additionally, recommendations for flexible learning models and collaborative partnerships are outlined to facilitate effective ICT adoption in the unique context of rural South African universities. Continuous research and evaluation are advocated to inform future strategies and ensure sustainable improvements in rural education through ICT integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid technological advancements, developing a digitally literate workforce is imperative for public sector organizations to enhance performance. However, research linking digital literacy and employee outcomes in developing country contexts has been limited. This study investigated the relationship between digital literacy and productivity among local government employees in Nigeria. A survey was conducted with 113 employees in Ilorin West Local Government in Nigeria. PLS-SEM was used for the analysis. Digital literacy demonstrated significant positive effects on productivity. Access to ICT positively moderated the digital literacy-productivity relationship. The study makes important theoretical contributions by extending ICT adoption research to public sector contexts and revealing the performance benefits of digital literacy in the workplace. Practically, it capacitates public organizations to increase investments in structured digital skills development programs to motivate employees and unlock productivity improvements.

This study investigates how various factors - innovation capabilities, labour market conditions, health, business dynamics, ICT adoption, and market size - affect the distribution of library services across 34 provinces in Indonesia. Using multiple linear regression analysis, the study found that overall, these factors significantly influence library service distribution (F = 10.558, p < 0.001, R² = 0.701). Specifically, higher innovation capabilities, better health conditions, and greater ICT adoption positively impact the availability of library services. Conversely, challenges in the labour market, fluctuating business dynamics, and larger market size are associated with reduced library service distribution. The findings highlight the critical role of health and technology policies in promoting fair access to library services throughout the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlighted the role played by digitalization elements, such as information and communication technology (ICT) adoption, the social internet of things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), in e-learning systems. It also examined the mediating role of digital literacy (DL) and pedagogical digital competence (PDC) and the potential moderating role of technostress (TS). A total of 262 responses to survey questionnaires were received from the IT administrators who worked under the directorate of information technology in top QS ranking Malaysian universities; the survey data was then analyzed through PLS-SEM. The study findings revealed that ICT adoption and the social IoT considerably impact e-learning systems and highlighted that artificial intelligence also has a partial impact. Digital literacy and pedagogical digital competence also significantly mediated the relationships between ICT adoption, artificial intelligence, and e-learning systems. Social IoT and technostress did not show a significant impact. The study developed a new theoretical concept for adopting innovative technology in e-learning systems through 'Four Tier Technology Gears', such as start-up, boost-up, smooth-up, and speed-up technology gears. From a theoretical perspective, the study has built-up a theoretical affiliation with the TAM and UTAUT models, which are especially proposed for technology adoption in real-life. The study provides remarkable and valuable recommendations to researchers, designers, policymakers, IT instructors, and structural developers in the context of awareness of key facts for e-learning systems in practical life – especially in an emergency condition, such as the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONExisting measurements of the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among practitioners in disability services often treat ICT adoption as a monolithic concept, overlooking its multifaceted nature within the disability field. This study introduces a stepped, inclusive approach to capturing this complexity, elucidating disparities in the utilization of various ICT dimensions, the present vs. anticipated use, and variations among different clinical-demographic groups.A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Hong Kong, gathering valid data from 324 practitioners spanning diverse disciplines and disability services.Data analysis produced a three-factor model categorizing ICT tools into (1) information and communication tools, (2) screening and monitoring tools, and (3) treatment and rehabilitation tools. The first category was identified as the predominant ICT utilized currently, with significant projected growth in the latter two categories’ usage. Variances in current ICT adoption were influenced by practitioners’ roles, clientele, positions, affiliating agencies, and educational attainments.This research provides a deeper understanding of the key dimensions of ICT adoption within disability services. It underscores the importance of devising specific and customized strategies for the effective integration of ICTs, ensuring a more tailored approach to meeting the unique demands of the disability field.Future studies focusing on information and communication technologies (ICTs) adoption or relevant concepts, such as e-health and telerehabilitation may consider employing similar methodological approaches accustomed to one’s local context.Future attention and investment in ICT adoption in disability services should focus more on domains directly relevant to clinical and rehabilitation practice, tailoring strategies to the specific needs of the field.There exists an urgent imperative to enhance ICT training, especially for psychosocial and medical professionals, while also increasing investments in non-governmental organizations.Such support needs to be gender- and age-inclusive, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of practitioners at all organizational levels.Future studies focusing on information and communication technologies (ICTs) adoption or relevant concepts, such as e-health and telerehabilitation may consider employing similar methodological approaches accustomed to one’s local context.Future attention and investment in ICT adoption in disability services should focus more on domains directly relevant to clinical and rehabilitation practice, tailoring strategies to the specific needs of the field.There exists an urgent imperative to enhance ICT training, especially for psychosocial and medical professionals, while also increasing investments in non-governmental organizations.Such support needs to be gender- and age-inclusive, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of practitioners at all organizational levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobile phone is one of the most accessible and transformative communication technologies globally and a staple in modern life. This study explores the impact of mobile phone usage among women on developing agricultural farm enterprises. Data were collected from 150 rural women involved in agricultural enterprise development. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, multiple linear regression, step-wise regression, and path analysis were used for quantitative data analysis. The study found that a large proportion (70.0% and 64.0%) of the respondents in crop and fisheries enterprises had a medium extent of mobile phone usage. In contrast, more than half (56.0%) of the rural women in livestock enterprises fell under the low usage category. Factors such as reduced transportation costs, time-saving, easy contact with stakeholders, and frequent contact with fellow entrepreneurs were identified as significant influences on rural women’s mobile phone usage. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 14 selected characteristics explained 66.0% of the total variation. Among them, membership in an organization, distance of residence from the nearest market, training received on mobile phone usage, skill in using mobile phones, attitude towards mobile phones, amount of money spent, and perceived ease of use had a significant positive contribution. The attitude towards mobile phones had the highest contribution, explaining 36.0% of the variation. The path analysis showed that attitude towards mobile phones had a positive direct effect (0.30) on the extent of mobile phone usage. Perceived ease of use had the highest total indirect effect (0.413), primarily channeled positively through attitudes towards mobile phones.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) adoption in manufacturing industries is gaining attention in academic discourse as a result of the undeniable improvement it has brought to industries in the past decades and the promising future it has for manufacturers that embrace it. The present study adds to the discourse from jewelry, textile, and fashion product manufacturing perspectives. With the PRISMA flowchart, data is gathered from the Scopus online database and analysed systematically to address research questions such as; what is the publication trend on ICT adoption in the jewelry and textile industries? How useful is ICT in the textiles and jewelry industries for sustainable fashion? How is the fashion industry sustained through textiles and jewelry making? The study reveals that technology adoption has helped the textiles and jewelry industries to meet market demand and sustain the fashion industry. Through digitalization, online marketing strategies have been adopted by firms to sustain the fashion industry. It is recommended that small-scale producers in the textile, jewelry and fashion industries should adopt technology to the fullest in their practices for a sustainable industry.

With rapid technological advancements, developing a digitally literate workforce is imperative for public sector organizations to enhance performance. However, research linking digital literacy and employee outcomes in developing country contexts has been limited. This study investigated the relationship between digital literacy and productivity among local government employees in Nigeria. A survey was conducted with 113 employees in Ilorin West Local Government in Nigeria. PLS-SEM was used for the analysis. Digital literacy demonstrated significant positive effects on productivity. Access to ICT positively moderated the digital literacy-productivity relationship. The study makes important theoretical contributions by extending ICT adoption research to public sector contexts and revealing the performance benefits of digital literacy in the workplace. Practically, it capacitates public organizations to increase investments in structured digital skills development programs to motivate employees and unlock productivity improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how information and communication technology (ICT) impacts the schooling environment within the primary sector in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province's Amathole East District. ICT adoption in education can fully modify the ways that instruction and learning are given to students, but it also comes with obstacles, especially in the rural primary schools in the Amathole East District. This research intends to shed light on the current ICT status adoption of Amathole East District's primary schools. Three primary schools were chosen, and three research participants from each school were chosen using the purposive sample technique. Data were gathered through focus groups and in-person interviews. The acquired data were analyzed and presented using a thematic approach. It was revealed as the findings that while teachers were willing to embrace ICTs into teaching and learning and had a good attitude toward technology adoption, they needed the necessary ICT competencies. Furthermore, several challenges and barriers were identified, and these included inadequate ICT infrastructure, a shortage of teacher training in technology integration and a lack of access to ICT tools. The study concludes that teacher training programs be expanded, invest in infrastructure development, and develop a comprehensive ICT policy framework. Taking the research's findings into account, the research offers practical recommendations in enhancing ICT adoption, investing in infrastructure development, expanding teacher development opportunities, to formulating a comprehensive ICT strategy framework so that schools are ready to run virtually in the event of another pandemic related to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study seeks to explore the current situation of the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in basic education schools, specifically at the primary level. For this purpose, a systematic review of scientific articles related to the topic published in 2023 was carried out. Three databases were used to find the articles (Scielo, Scopus, ScienceDirect), of which, of the 1169 articles found, 18 were chosen for analysis. examination. The results were obtained that the use of ICT in primary school has mixed effects on academic performance. Its adoption requires conditions such as equity in access to devices and the Internet, development of teaching and student digital skills, curricular adaptations and adequate infrastructure. Otherwise, instead of supporting learning, poor implementation can frustrate the educational community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the nuanced relationship between gender diversity in senior management and key aspects of organizational dynamics in the machines and equipment sector in the Republic of Serbia. The aim is to uncover differences in digitalization, growth strategies and gender equality measures between companies led by women and men. Employing field research methods, specifically utilizing Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing, the results show that companies led by women have a higher propensity to adopt information and communication technologies, a more optimistic view of their future development over the next five years, greater gender diversity among employees and more robust implementation of gender equality policies compared to companies led exclusively by men. The research findings highlight the significant impact of gender diversity in leadership on business outcomes and show that women-led companies are proactively embracing digitalization, promoting growth optimism and implementing gender equality initiatives. These findings offer valuable insights for business leaders, policymakers and researchers working on initiatives to promote diversity, equality, and technological progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can benefit mompreneurs, empowering them to start and expand their business. ICTs became even more important for mompreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic when small business owners had to reinvent themselves and seek alternative ways of maintaining their sales and remaining in the market. In this context, this paper aims to investigate factors related to ICT adoption by Brazilian mompreneurs. The data were collected during the first months of COVID-19 pandemic and were analyzed through structural equation modelling. The descriptive analysis shows that mompreneurs are adopting innovative technologies such as electronic payments, cloud computing, social networks, video conferencing, and others to manage their business. Moreover, the results indicate that two dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation (proactiveness and risk-taking) have a significant effect on perceived ease-of-use and an indirect effect on ICT adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionAccess to credit and information and communication technology (ICT) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the practices of small-scale sugarcane farmers, impacting their financial, social, and economic wellbeing. However, many small-scale farmers need help accessing these resources, thereby affecting their ability to generate sustainable income. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing the adoption of ICT and access to credit and their subsequent impact on small-scale farmers' income.MethodsEmploying a multistage sampling technique, 300 small-scale farmers were selected as participants in the study. The recursive bivariate probit regression model was used to assess the factors affecting adoption ICT and a selectivity-corrected ordinary least square regression model was utilized to estimate the synergistic effect of ICT adoption and access to credit on the income of small-scale sugarcane farmers.Results and discussionThe findings revealed that approximately 77% of small-scale farmers had access to credit, while more than 80% had adopted ICT. The results derived from the recursive bivariate probit (RBP) regression model indicated that access to credit, education, and extension support positively and significantly influenced the adoption of ICT. Conversely, marital status and non-farm income exhibited a negative and significant influence on the adoption of ICT. Gender and marital status were positively and significantly associated with access to credit, whereas age, education, and non-farm income showed a negative and significant relationship on access to credit. Subsequently, a selectivity-corrected ordinary least square regression model analysis revealed that factors such as gender, marital status, extension, government support, and transportation costs positively and significantly influenced farmer's income. In contrast, education, employment status, and non-farm income exhibited a negative and significant influence on income.Conclusion and recommendationsThe study concludes that socio-demographic factors, such as gender, marital status, extension support, government support, and transportation costs, positively contribute to farmers' income. Small-scale sugarcane farmer involvement in other non-farm activities is associated with reduced farm income. This implies that farmers' livelihoods options are reduced as they can only focus on sugarcane development as a source of income. There is a pressing need to educate small-scale farmers on ICT and provide them with access to agricultural credit. Additionally, extension workers should offer advisory support to small-scale farmers requiring assistance in accessing agricultural credit. There is a need to train sugarcane farmers on different agricultural income generating activities to reduce their over-reliance on sugarcane development. By addressing the identified socio-demographic factors and implementing targeted policy interventions, stakeholders can foster an enabling environment for small-scale farmers to thrive, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development of the sugarcane sector and the broader agricultural landscape in South Africa.

This paper examines the ordeals actors of SMEs face in the adoption process of Emerging Digital Marketing Technology (EDMT). A conceptual framework was proposed to capture actors that participate in EMDT and the difficulties they (themselves) pose that hinder successful adoption. However, a purposive sample of 26 participants drawn from Crunch online database, Luton were interviewed on unstructured and semi-structured bases and analyzed using a thematic approach. The interviews on the problems were coded and classified based on the actors involved in the adoption process to extend the T-O-E framework. The findings revealed that while extant problems relate to the contexts of technology, organization, and environment, the extended T-O-E framework unraveled more critical problems that are linked to the in-grained human context. Implicit is that vendors should work on decision-makers, given that some of the adoption decisions are critically and continuously influenced by the actors. Plain Language Summary: Critical issues facing SMEs Actors in Emerging Digital Marketing Technology adoption. This paper examines the ordeals actors of SMEs face in the adoption process of Emerging Digital Marketing Technology (EDMT). A conceptual framework was proposed to capture actors that participate in EMDT and the difficulties they (themselves) pose that hinder successful adoption. However, a purposive sample of 26 participants drawn from Crunch online database, Luton were interviewed on unstructured and semi-structured bases and analyzed using a thematic approach. The interviews on the problems were coded and classified based on the actors involved in the adoption process to extend the T-O-E framework. The findings revealed that while extant problems relate to the contexts of technology, organization, and environment, the extended T-O-E framework unraveled more critical problems that are linked to the in-grained human context. Implicit is that vendors should work on decision-makers, given that some of the adoption decisions are critically and continuously influenced by the actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of information and communication technology (ICT), such as the Internet, smartphones, and tablets, has increased markedly. The present study examines how this adoption affects objective and subjective well-being inequality, using the 2018 China Family Panel Studies data. We employ the Gini coefficient to measure objective well-being inequality indicators (income inequality and consumption inequality) and the variance to measure subjective well-being inequality indicators (happiness inequality and life-satisfaction inequality). The two-stage residual inclusion approach is utilized to address the endogeneity of ICT adoption. The results show that ICT adoption significantly lowers income and consumption inequality. The findings for subjective well-being are mixed: ICT adoption reduces happiness inequality, whereas it does not influence life-satisfaction inequality. Furthermore, income inequality does not influence subjective well-being; however, consumption inequality is positively associated with happiness inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although digital village projects have been vigorously promoted in China in recent years, the application rate of information and communication technology (ICT) is still low, while the ways in which governmental technology promotion turns into endogenous initiatives and the impact of informal institutions remains unclear. This study found that the neighbourhood effect, rather than institutional incentives, is decisive for ICT adoption. Perceived well‐being benefit was found to be an indispensable internal driver for ICT adoption, whereas government incentives varied across industries, producing a variety of impacts. The findings of this study provide practical insights into the effective promotion of ICT adoption, suggesting that government and community forces should be integrated, and that both cognitive and affective psychological drivers should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue contributes to the development economics literature by highlighting the role of information communication and technologies (ICTs) in supporting rural and agricultural development. It is comprised of nine papers. Key findings from this special issue include: (1) internet use increases rural consumption diversity and agricultural productivity; (2) smartphone use empowers rural women in household decision‐making and off‐farm work participation; (3) smartphone‐based agricultural extension services boost rural income growth; (4) a lack of ICT infrastructure and inadequate skills to use digital technologies are two key factors that lead to digital poverty traps for smallholder rural farmers; (5) ICT adoption increases the probability of rural households' access to credit and empowers rural women and farm households in relatively less developed regions to access credit; (6) digital financial inclusion reduces farmers' vulnerability to poverty; and (7) e‐commerce adoption increases both sales prices and marketing costs, but the magnitude of increasing the former is higher than the magnitude of increasing the latter, which finally contributes to a higher gross return. This special issue also proposes practical instruments and implications for advancing the application of ICTs in rural areas to accelerate rural and agricultural development in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technology (ICT) plays an important role in rural livelihoods and household well‐being. Therefore, this study examines the impact of ICT adoption on farmers' decisions to access credit and the joint effects of ICT adoption and access to credit on household income using 2016 China Labour‐force Dynamics Survey data. Both recursive bivariate probit model and a selectivity‐corrected ordinary least square regression model are employed for the analysis. The results show that ICT adoption increases the probability of access to credit by 12.8% in rural China and empowers rural women and farm households in relatively less‐developed regions to access credit. ICT adoption and access to credit affect household income differently. ICT adoption significantly increases household income, while access to credit significantly reduces it, primarily because farmers do not use the acquired credit to invest in income‐generating farm and off‐farm business activities. ICT adoption has the largest positive impact on household income at the highest 90th quantile. Our findings suggest that improving rural ICT infrastructure to enhance farmers' ICT adoption and developing ICT‐based financial products to enable households to access sufficient funds can improve rural household welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technology (ICT) is substantially beneficial for rural entrepreneurship. A better understanding of factors contributing to ICT adoption is needed for wide promotion, yet it remains underexplored This study investigated the factors affecting ICT adoption intention. From the technology, individuals, and environment dimensions, an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) was proposed, and data from 327 rural entrepreneurs and the method of SEM were used to test the hypotheses. The moderating effect of multi-group on each path was discussed, including online and offline organizations and entrepreneurs with and without previous experience. Results show that, except for core variables in the TAM, social influence and relative advantage positively influence ICT adoption intention directly and indirectly. Increasing the relative advantage of ICT among enterprises with offline businesses can significantly improve their ICT adoption intention. For entrepreneurs without previous experience, perceived ease of use significantly and positively affects attitudes toward ICT adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leadership is vital to the accomplishment of librarianship in the modern era. This paper investigated academic library leadership in Nigeria and ICT adoption. A descriptive research design was used for the study. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was used for data collection. The population of the study was 402 librarians in academic libraries in South-west, Nigeria. It was found that library leadership plays a significant role in ICT adoption in academic libraries in Nigeria. The study found that though both transformational and transactional leadership styles are good in an academic library setting, the respondents rated their leaders as more transformational than transactional. The extent of the adoption of ICT in performing library operations is high. The libraries benefited enormously from the adoption of ICT, even though the libraries face a lot of challenges in the adoption of ICT. It was recommended that Library leaders should imbibe transformational leadership practices in the management of their libraries as it offers effective leadership and is acceptable to the subordinates. The academic libraries should also make full-scale adoption of ICT in performing their operations due to the numerous improvements ICT brings to job performance and service delivery [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been an ally of women wishing to engage in entrepreneurial activity, especially of the mompreneurs. Within this context, this study aims to investigate the antecedents and outcomes of the use of ICTs by mompreneurs. The data were collected in Brazil through an online questionnaire and were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that perceived usefulness, social influence, and trust are antecedent factors of the use of ICTs by these women. Moreover, the use of ICTs has a positive impact on the perception of mompreneurs regarding the financial performance of their ventures in relation to competitors. The results also show that more than 97% of the mompreneurs use smartphones and WhatsApp to manage their business, suggesting that social media and mobile devices have assumed a predominant role in female ventures, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, period in which the data were collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at ICT adoption for e-learning in the higher institutions of Kogi State. The study adopted descriptive research design. The study's target population comprised of the Higher Institutions in Kogi State. Multistage random sampling technique was adopted. Data were gathered and analysed Multiple Regression and Principal Component Analysis. Finding revealed that ICT adoption for e-learning has significantly weak effect on the academic performance of students in the higher institutions of Kogi State. The study concluded that information technology is cardinal to improved performance. The study recommended that higher institutions should be adequately funded by the government to be able to cope with cost of IT subscription; users of e-learning technologies should be well trained in respect of the nature of technology in use; anxiety for e-learning should be minimized through constant orientations, and the perception of users towards the use e-learning technologies should be through seminars and programmes.

The ingrained tendency to implement information and communication technologies (ICT) in EU enterprises over the last decade has caused dramatic changes in the labor market. Since the de­mand for ICT personnel is growing, there is still a need to create a comprehensive strategy to effectively manage ICT specialists when restructuring enterprises. The aim of the research is to identify transferring processes between low‑ and high‑skilled ICT personnel and predict the employment rate in the ICT field until 2025. A Markov chain was used as the method of anal­ysis. Using statistical data about the employment rate of ICT personnel by education attainment level, we have built a Markov chain model that describes the processes of ICT personnel with different levels of education. Data from 2005 to 2019 was used to build forecasting because of the absence of the latest information. We demonstrate that with the help of digitalization, the employment rate of ICT staff in 2025 will increase by 64% compared to 2018. The research verifies that ICT personnel will be in great demand until 2023 and, importantly, low‑ and mid­dle‑skilled personnel will be in demand, as well as high‑skilled personnel. The employment rate in the ICT field will be at its highest level in 2022 as the favorable economic conditions for ICT adoption will help it. The growing demand for low‑ and medium‑skilled ICT staff are met both by staff relocation processes and by the increasing digitalization of business units and public sec­tor institutions. The added value of the analysis is the prediction that the largest growth in ICT personnel employment will occur by 2023, but employment growth will slow down after that. The main obstacle to employment growth through digitalization is the global economic crisis because of different reasons.

Although information and communication technologies (ICTs) are broadly acknowledged as a critical source of competitive advantage in the construction practice, the investment in ICTs in no ways guarantees effective technology adoption and implementation. Based on the Task-Technology Tit (TTF) view, successful adoption of ICT depends on that ICTs fit with the tasks they support and people who use them. Users with different tasks respond to technologies differently. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the linkage among task characteristics (task interdependence and equivocality), personal characteristics, TTF, and users' intention to adopt ICTs. Based on the Structural Equation Model analysis of 205 questionnaires and additional interviews from the construction industry, the findings show that the fit between ICTs and users' tasks contributes positively to ICT adoption; individuals with interdependent and equivocal tasks are more likely to favour ICT adoption; users' educational levels moderate the relationship between task equivocality and ICT adoption. This research extends the TTF view by considering both task and personal characteristics in the technology adoption domain and provides implications for users, managers and software developers to achieve better fit between ICTs, tasks and people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of instructional resources based on information and communication technology (ICT) by secondary English instructors is examined in this study. We investigate the importance of teachers' attitudes towards ICT, their selfconfidence in utilising these tools, and their competence in incorporating ICT into their teaching practises using a case study method. The data, collected through interviews, observations, and surveys from a sample of English teachers, highlight the complex interplay of these factors and suggest that positive attitudes, high selfconfidence, and strong competency are significant predictors of teachers' willingness and ability to adopt ICT-based instructional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The security situation in Nigeria, particularly in the country's North-West and North-Central Zones, has forced the closure of many educational institutions. Teaching and learning have become more erratic as a result of this. This issue has far-reaching repercussions for librarians and information specialists. Libraries have long been regarded and recognized by educational institutions for their contribution to high-quality teaching and learning. Several studies have found that information and communication technology (ICT) can improve teaching and learning by facilitating access to information. As a result, governments and school administrators have been working to promote the use of ICT in libraries to aid teaching and learning. Despite these efforts, ICT adoption is still very low in most primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. This research conducted a conceptual analysis based on a literature search to identify the major criteria that should be considered when promoting the adoption of ICT in libraries to enhance quality teaching and learning in the face of security problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has undoubtedly forms an important channel for improving student learning through continuous access to information and knowledge development. Evidence suggests that teachers in rural secondary schools are still unclear about how to use technology appropriately to facilitate particular approaches to educational practice. Quantitative research method and the modified Unified Theory for Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model were used to investigate factors that influence teachers to adopt ICT in rural secondary schools. A closed questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument and the data was analysed using descriptive statistics techniques. The results show that opportunities such as ICT infrastructure, training policy, collaboration, ICT assessments and ability to communicate using ICT influence teachers' adoption of ICT and make teaching and learning effective. ICT assessments facilitate the recording of responses, provide necessary feedback, empower teachers and students and transform teaching and learning processes from being teacher-centered to student-centered. Furthermore, communication platforms and collaboration models if implemented might be particularly effective in generating increased participation and improve learning outcomes. The ICT training policy guide teachers in the adoption of ICT in the classroom. Evidently, it is essential to adequately develop teachers' ICT fluency and put in place appropriate ICT infrastructure and training policy to enhance teaching and learning practices in rural secondary schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) transformed tourism and hospitality worldwide; however, few studies have been conducted to present local evidence on adopting ICT in the hotel sector. The study aimed to examine the effects of ICT on the hotel sector in the Kigezi region, the adoption of ICT in hotels during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and ICT trends in the hotel business for 2023. The study employed a case study design, utilising qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide relevant and accurate research information. Using simple random and purposive sampling techniques, 68 respondents were selected to participate from a total population of 250. Primary data was collected through questionnaires and interviews with the hotel participants. The ANOVA results show a significant effect of ICT on hotel guests and receipts since the P-value is between 0.00 and 0.05. This indicates that the impact of ICT adoption extended beyond hotel receipts and guests. This research demonstrates that many hotels have adopted ICT and improved service speed and quality through ICT adoption. Even still, ICT adoption by hotels in the Kigezi Sub-region is not at the anticipated level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), blockchain, fintech (financial technology), and insurtech (insurance technology) are some innovations that have been rolled out in the financial landscape and have captured the imaginations of policymakers and scholars alike. The African continent lags in embracing technology and is still grappling with financial access and enhancing financial inclusion. As such, it is bewildering whether African insurance markets are at a stage where they can leverage the possibilities offered by the 4IR. Against this backdrop, the aim of the study was to investigate whether information communication technology (ICT) adoption influences the development of African life insurance markets. We utilised a sample of 31 sub-Saharan African countries for the period 2005–2020. Panel data techniques were employed, and the pooled ordinary least squares, fixed effects, and random effect estimators were used to test the relationship between life insurance density and the measures for ICT adoption (proxied by fixed telephones, internet use, mobile cellular telephones, and broadband) as well as financial freedom being the control variable. We found that the life insurance market development variable was positively related to three of the four ICT adoption variables, namely, fixed telephone, mobile cellular telephone, and broadband. Further, the life insurance market development variable is positively related to the financial freedom variable. These findings suggest that ICT adoption fosters the development of the life insurance market in Africa. The findings also lend credence to the view that the degrees of financial freedom of insurance companies (who are unencumbered by regulations) have a bearing on the levels of insurance sales and, hence, promote life insurance access in Africa. The policy imperatives that flow from this study are that African governments must ensure that they (1) institute ICT adoption-friendly policies and (2) regulate the life insurance sector optimally, in order to foster the development of their life insurance sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information systems research lacks a validated scale for assessing and measuring the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The relevant literature is limited in studies mainly concentrating on developing country settings. Furthermore, the emergence of new technological elements and increasing digitalization and digital transformation efforts in the last two years have changed how an organization utilizes and adopts ICTs. Therefore, it is inevitable that the conceptual dimensions proposed in the previous literature and the definitions of these dimensions will also alter. Hence, it is essential to revisit and validate the prior work and enhance it based on current vitality and developments. This study developed and validated a scale for measuring ICT adoption and digitalization for SMEs in a developing country context. The researchers followed an eight-step scale development procedure: (1) comprehensive literature review on ICT adoption and digitalization; (2) identification of dimensions of the level of ICT adoption and digitalization; (3) generation of items; (4) item refinement through focus group; (5) pretest of the measurement; (6) scale purification; (7) data collection; and (8) measurement evaluation. Within the Turkish setting, the ICT adoption scale was determined to have sufficient reliability and validity. Data for this study were gathered from 421 respondents of 219 Turkish SMEs. Supporting the multidimensionality of ICT adoption, 14 items and five dimensions (communication, internal integration, integration with customers, interorganizational integration, and strategic integration) constituted the ICT adoption construct. Considering the dominance of conceptual frameworks that were proposed based on developed countries and the prevalence of unidimensional constructs in the field, the developed multidimensional scale is expected to contribute significantly. Practitioners and policymakers can utilize the suggested scale to discover areas where specific changes are required for the digital transformation in SME utilization efforts that need attention. The outcomes can be applied to industrial sectors and different geographic contexts. By considering stage-based integration, the developed scale can also be used in future studies to investigate the effects of different variables on the extent of ICT adoption and the impact of ICTs on several organizational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]