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Cooperation in innovation activities is a key building block in forming entrepreneurial innovation networks. However, the impact on innovation of different forms of cooperation among multiple stakeholders composing a firm's relational environment can be dramatically different, depending on whether the modalities of cooperation are tacit or explicit and the type of functional relations between the cooperating organizations. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) facilitate cooperation and innovation outcomes. The main aim of this paper is to disentangle the effects of explicit vs. tacit and complementarity vs. competitive modalities of cooperation in innovation activities on innovation outputs. Based on pooled UK Microdata from 2004 to 2010, this paper's main finding is that tacit cooperation, emerging from R&D and ICTs spillovers, increases firms' likelihood to introduce process, product, and organizational innovations. We also find that a firm's functional relation with its cooperating peers determines the sign of the association with innovation outcomes: explicit cooperation among competitors lowers the level of innovations. In contrast, cooperation along the value chain brings more innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become an integral component of urban planning practice in the last 30 years. The applications, utility and fit of specific technologies within planning practice have been widely discussed, however the use of ICTs by planning practitioners beyond individual case studies is unknown. This paper explores the results of an online survey of Australian and UK planners and comparatively benchmarks the types and extent of use of ICTs in planning practice, and the factors inhibiting or enabling the use of different ICTs. The paper concludes with reflections on the relationship between ICTs and urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the slowdown in labour productivity growth in the UK and other advanced economies by decomposing its growth into contributions from different sectors of the economy, looking at both within‐industry productivity growth and labour reallocation between sectors. We find that the within‐industry contribution is the main source of the slowdown. Comparing trends pre‐ and post‐2008, the aggregate productivity slowdown can be attributed largely to the manufacturing sector and the information and communication (ICT) sector. Disaggregating further, the UK productivity growth slowdown can be attributed mainly to transport equipment and pharmaceuticals within manufacturing, and computer software and telecommunications within ICT. Strikingly, these are advanced, high value‐added sectors considered to be strengths of the UK economy. Looking across other advanced economies, our results confirm that manufacturing and ICT sectors are the main drivers of the slowdown, to differing degrees. Part of the explanation for the slowdown in in these sectors may relate to the underlying question of how to construct deflators for a modern economy when technological and structural changes are leading to large relative price shifts. The structure and supply chains of the key slowdown sectors also merit further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 15 years, productivity growth in advanced economies has significantly slowed, giving rise to the productivity paradox of the New Digital Economy – that is, the notion of increased business spending on information and communication technology assets and digital services without a noticeable increase in productivity. We argue that time lags are the most important reason for the slow emergence of the productivity effects from digital transformation. This paper provides evidence that underneath the slowing productivity growth rates at the macro level, signs of structural improvements can be detected. In the United States most of the positive contribution to productivity growth is coming from the digital producing sector. The Euro Area and the United Kingdom show larger productivity contributions from the most intensive digital-using sectors, although the United Kingdom also had a fairly large number of less intensive digital-using industries which showed productivity declines. We also find that increases in innovation competencies of the workforce are concentrated in industries showing faster growth in labor productivity, even though more research is needed to identify causality. Finally, we speculate that as the recovery from the COVID-19 recession gets underway the potential for significant productivity gains from digital transformation in the medium term is larger than during the past 15 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last 15 years have seen major changes in the availability and usage of broadband in the UK. Despite these improvements, rural areas continue to lag behind urban areas for broadband connection speeds – a divide that is exacerbated by lower rates of broadband adoption among rural Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This paper examines the experiences of SMEs that have participated in a publicly funded programme designed to stimulate demand for broadband in the rural region of Lincolnshire, UK. Drawing on interviews conducted over two periods of policy intervention (2003–2006 and 2010–2015) it examines the variety of business support approaches used and identifies the effects of these on use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovation, and sales within participating SMEs. The results show that while training events provide entry-level support for broadband use, more intensive support such as 1:1 advice and ICT grants leads to the significant changes within the business. Direct access to new technology in spaces such as Technology Hubs is identified as particularly important for rural SMEs. The paper concludes by identifying some common features of the business support that bring about the greatest benefits to SMEs in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This research aims to examine the main findings of the SusTEACH study of the carbon-based environmental impacts of 30 higher education (HE) courses in 15 UK institutions, based on an analysis of the likely energy consumption and carbon emissions of a range of face-to-face, distance, online and information and communication technology (ICT)-enhanced blended teaching models. Design/methodology/approach -- An environmental assessment of 19 campus-based and 11 distance-based HE courses was conducted using questionnaire surveys to gather data from students and lecturers on course-related travel: the purchase and use of ICTs and paper materials, residential energy consumption and campus site operations. Results were converted into average energy and CO[sub 2] emissions, normalised per student per 100 study hours, and then classified by the primary teaching model used by lecturers. Findings -- The main sources of HE course carbon emissions were travel, residential energy consumption and campus site operations. Distance-based HE models (distance, online and ICT-enhanced teaching models) reduced energy consumption by 88 per cent and achieved significant carbon reductions of 83 per cent when compared with campus-based HE models (face-to-face and ICT-enhanced teaching models). The online teaching model achieved the lowest energy consumption and carbon emissions, although there were potential rebound effects associated with increased ICT-related energy consumption and paper used for printing. Practical implications -- New pedagogical designs using online and distance-based teaching methods can achieve carbon reductions by reducing student travel via residential and campus accommodation. Originality/value -- Few studies have examined the environmental performance of HE teaching models. A new classification of HE traditional, online and blended teaching models is used to examine the role of ICTs and the likely carbon impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs) are documents stating the limitations users must agree to when first accessing information and communications technologies (ICTs) in organisations, such as employers, educational institutions and public libraries. AUPs lay out the parameters of acceptable use expected of someone accessing the ICT services provided, and should state in clear and understandable terms what behaviours will attract sanctions, both legal and in terms of restricting future access. Utilising a range of standard readability tests used to measure how understandable documents are, the paper investigates how readable the AUPs presented to public library patrons in the UK are in practice. Of the 206 AUPs in use across the local government departments who manage public library services 200 were obtained and subjected to a range of readability testing procedures. Four readability tests were used for analysis: the Flesch Reading Ease, the Coleman-Liau Index, the Gunning Fog Index and the SMOG Grade. Results for all four readability tests administered on all AUPs raise significant questions. For the Flesch Reading Ease score only 5.5% of AUPs scored at the standard readability level or higher (60+), and 8% scored at a very high level of difficulty akin to a piece of scientific writing. Similarly, for SMOG, only 7.5% of the 200 AUPs scored at the recommended level of 10. Likewise, very few AUPs scored at levels recommended for a general audience with either the Gunning Fog Index (11.5%) or the Coleman-Liau Index (2%). With such variability in readability, the fitness for purpose of the average AUP as a contract patrons must agree to can be called into question. This paper presents the first ever analysis of the readability of library AUPs in the literature. Recommendations are made as to how public library services may improve this aspect of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper responds to a range of theory and industry reporting, to provide an informed narrative which explores the current state of accessibility at UK festivals for people who are Deaf or disabled and the potential implications of developments in ICT for enhancing design, marketing, operations and performances across all phases of festival delivery, in order to improve inclusivity and accessibility. To this end, the paper addresses the following question: What do representatives of the UK live music industry perceive as barriers to accessibility and exemplars of current best practice for music festival attendees who are Deaf or disabled? What do representatives of the UK live music industry consider as the role of ICT to increase accessibility for music festival attendees who are Deaf or disabled? Design/methodology/approach: Primary research focused on supply-side considerations with a sample group of 10 UK live music industry professionals. The scope of the research was limited geographically to England and by artform to open-air music festivals, venues which host some music festival provision and a Sector Support Organisation. Open questions elucidated qualitative information around; awareness of accessibility and inclusivity initiatives; potential for co-creation; non-digital improvements; current technological influences; and potential digital futures for accessible "live" experiences. A conceptual framework was constructed and semi-structured face-to-face interviews were carried out with six respondents, and four respondents completed a structured, self-administered e-mail questionnaire. Findings: Findings include: ICT can facilitate enhanced dialogue with existing and potential audience members who are Deaf or disabled to both; reduce existing social exclusion (Duffy et al., 2019) and improve the visitor experience for all attendees. All respondents agreed that physical enhancements are important and some mentioned communications and customer care. Respondents reported increasingly ambitious usages of ICT at music festivals, which may support suggestions of a virtual experience trend (Robertson et al., 2015). Online ticketing systems have potential to grant equal functionality to people who are Deaf or disabled, as recommended by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (2015). Respondents broadly welcomed the potential for positive impacts of ICT on increasingly accessible live experiences at music festivals which retained a sense of authenticity and "liveness". Challenges around "as live" ICT-derived experiences were identified including risks of creating second-class experiences for Deaf and disabled attendees. Research limitations/implications: The limitations of this case study include the small sample size and limited scope. Practical implications: Promoters should: consider further developing the co-creation of accessibility initiatives, utilising ICT to both deliver improvements and engage with potential audience members who are Deaf or disabled. Seek to pro-actively recruit staff members who are Deaf or disabled and significantly increase their programming of performers who are Deaf or disabled. Consider reviewing their ticketing processes for music festivals, to identify accessibility challenges for audience members and implement appropriate ICT-based solutions. Consider maximising accessibility benefits for audience members who are Deaf or disabled from existing ICT provision on site and explore additional bespoke ICT solutions at music festivals. Social implications: Adopting the best practices described across the festival sector may improve inclusivity for disabled people at music festivals and other events. Event management educators should consider reviewing provision to ensure that best practice is embedded around accessibility for audience members who are Deaf or disabled. Additional public funding should be provided to drive ICT-derived improvements to accessibility for audience members who are Deaf or disabled at smaller-scale music festivals. Further research should be considered around inclusive approaches to digital experiences within a music festival environment for audience members who are Deaf or disabled and tensions between accessibility and notions of "liveness". Originality/value: The "snapshot" of digital aspects of accessibility at UK festivals within this research is of particular value due to paucity of other research in this area, and it's narrative from varied industry professionals. The paper makes recommendations to promoters, academics and public funders, to attempt to advance inclusion (or at least to mitigate current exclusion) and identify directions for future research into accessible digital experiences at music festivals for people who are Deaf or disabled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Creative agencies are well known for pioneering technological transformation due to its reliance on information and communication technology. Not surprisingly creative businesses are experimenting with mobile technology and increasing their investments into mobile business transformation. However, there is a lack of scholarly evidence about whether and how exactly mobile technology use facilitates or stimulates innovation practices in B-to-B firms. Is mobile technology a superfood or super fad of creative businesses? This paper aims to explore the mobile technology deployment and its role in innovation practices of creative B-to-B firms. Methodology: Innovation practices and mobile technology deployment are studied by interviewing business decision-makers from the 31 UK creative business-to-business agencies. The evolved grounded theory approach is used to analyze the interviews data as well as complimentary documents shared by interviewees. Findings: Applying a capability approach and innovation practices theoretical perspectives, this grounded theory research discovered that mobile technology is, in fact, a superfood that with the right combination of resources and capabilities delivers strategic benefits for creative B-to-B businesses. It is the interaction between mobile technology resources and mobile technology capabilities to stimulate and facilitate process and product innovation practices. Moreover, distinct three clusters of creative B-to-B firms have been identified, which demonstrate that depending on organizational commitment of creative businesses to mobile technology deployment, interaction between mobile technology resources and mobile technology capabilities can lead to both innovation practices, in particular process innovation practices only (Cluster A) and both process and product innovation practices (Clusters B and C). Practical Implications: The understanding of mobile technology deployment process that derives from this paper is particularly significant in showing creative businesses' managers the real value in embracing mobile technology. Considering the clustering of creative agencies based on organizational commitment they have towards mobile technology deployment, this study signals that business decision-makers can deploy mobile technology to effectively manage operations or/and produce new solutions. Originality/Value/Contribution: This paper's main theoretical contribution is in researching mobile technology deployment process using the capability approach. This study defines "mobile technology capabilities" as a firm's unique practices employed in orchestrating mobile technology resources to create a competitive advantage. Mobile technology capabilities consist of five distinct practices that firms perform to combine and integrate mobile technology resources into organizational processes, namely learning, leading, transforming, leveraging mobile technology resources and solving problems. Moreover, this study is first to integrate conceptually innovation practices and mobile technology deployment by grounding this conceptualization in an empirical setting – creative agencies delivering advertising, marketing, digital design and digital architecture services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of design for learning has arisen as education faces up to the implications of modern pedagogy, student diversity, and the affordances of information and communication technologies. This paper examines some of the benefits and issues for teachers in further and higher education surrounding the idea of learning design and its practical implementation in blended learning. It looks particularly at questions of documenting and representing learning designs so that they can be communicated to others. It explores the differing requirements of representations at various stages in the planning and sharing process, and for different communities of users, finding that multiple perspectives on a learning design are usually necessary. However, few representations to date have succeeded in capturing the essence of a good piece of teaching. Ways of representing designs as dynamic processes, rather than static products, may need to be developed. The paper is based on the outcomes of work with practising teachers during the UK Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)-funded Models of Practice Project, part of JISC's Design for Learning Programme, which runs from 2006 to 2007. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One feature of 'flexibilisation' concerns the growth of more individualised employment arrangements and career trajectories less connected to employing organisations. Informed by the Varieties of Capitalism approach, which emphasises the embeddedness of employment practices within discrete types of capitalist market economy, and based on rich qualitative data from interviews with 32 self‐employed and directly employed ICT professionals in the United Kingdom and Germany, we investigate comparative variation in their experience of flexibilisation. The research findings not only indicate some commonality, particularly in respect of perceptions of independence, but also highlight notable differences with regard to work pressures and insecurity. The paper advances theory by characterising two discrete varieties of flexibilisation, a 'liberalised' form evident in the United Kingdom and a more 'regulated' type apparent in Germany, contributing to a better understanding of comparative differences in flexibilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Al-Muhajiroun and its offshoots 'no longer exist' as organised groups in the UK because they have been proscribed by the British government, their ideology and worldviews have gained a constituency in a number of European countries such as Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Norway. The evolution of these groups can be categorised into three generations, and parallels the commercialisation and the availability of new modes of communication technology. The first generation during the 1990s and early 2000s used VHS and audiotape, the second generation started to use personal computers, the Internet and CDs, while today's third generation, continues to use personal computers, but now also takes advantage of Smartphones, iPad and the emergence of Web 2.0 technology - social media platforms. These groups are best known for their 'shock and awe' activism, which often resulted in members burning the flags of Western nations, especially the American flag. Flag burning has become an iconic image and a frame to understand the groups. It was a powerful symbol because it aimed to subvert and reject, as well as symbolically challenge everything that Western countries represent. Great attention has been paid to these groups over the last two decades by the British and international media, and some academics and think tanks. Although there has been ample media coverage of the groups and their members, there are only a few academic publications. Among these, the best known are those by Wiktorowicz (2005) and Baxter (2005), Pargeter (2008) and a report published by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) (Raymond, 2010). These works provide a good understanding of the history, ideology and activism of Al- Muhajiroun and its immediate offshoots but they do not consider how the groups laid down the foundations for a brand of political Islam, which I call 'brand Al-Muhajiroun', that is provocative, in your face, performance and salvation oriented. This paper focuses on how the first generation of Al-Muhajiroun groups started to develop their brand of political Islam. In doing so this paper will not try to establish connections with the Al Qaeda type groups or brand, nor will it detail the radicalisation processes, the ideology or the topologies that are used by experts, policy makers and the media to describe the groups because they are contingent and determined by a number of continuums that have different purposes, as well as members having a 'plasticity of positions' on a range of social issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper centres around a discussion of the design and rebuild of a secondary school in Birmingham (England) as part of the Building Schools of the Future (BSF) Programme. The BSF Programme was influenced by a vision of future schooling in which learning environments are transformed by the integration of ICT into teaching and learning practices. The vision behind the BSF Programme suggests that schools of the future will embrace a learner-centred and skills-centred perspective and that the boundaries between home and school learning will become eroded. By contrast, the vision of the senior management team of this particular Birmingham shool emphasised the importance of subject-based learning (for example mathematics, science, English), and was moving away from a skills-based approach to the curriculum. The paper draws on Young and Muller’s three scenarios for future schooling, in order to provide a framework for analysing the design of Park View School in Birmingham. The authors argue that the design of the new school is leading to new practices of teaching and learning that had not been anticipated by the senior management team. However, the BSF vision for how ICT would become embedded into the life of the school had not been realised at the time of writing this paper, and this, the authors argue, is because this vision is at odds with a focus on subject-based learning. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is a growing body of research looking at young people's use of digital technology in informal contexts. However, there is a gap in the literature about how to describe and categorise young people's digital practices in such contexts. This gap is important because in order to be able to understand the differences between young people's digital practices in informal contexts and how these differences arise, you first need to be able to describe and categorise those differences in meaningful ways. You need to be able to answer the question "How do young people use digital technology in informal contexts?" in order to be able to answer questions such as "How do children's digital practices in informal contexts vary?" and "Why do children's digital practices vary?". This paper is significant because it introduces The Digital Practice Framework, an original, theoretically informed, tool to fill this critical gap in the literature. It goes on to indicate how this framework has been used to analyse the factors that facilitate or hinder the development of young people's digital practices in informal contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the pivotal role of parents in their children's educational development, numerous studies have examined the impacts of parents' information and communications technology (ICT) proficiency on adolescents' information literacy. However, previous research has tended to treat parents as a holistic unit, ignoring the individual uniqueness of each parent in analyses. Thus, the first aim of this study was to explore the parent profiles in terms of ICT proficiency, which were developed through a person‐centered approach employing latent profile analysis. Three distinct parent profiles were identified: quiescent users, compliant users and active users. The second aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the parents' profile memberships and adolescents' information literacy. The results showed that, in general, adolescents whose parents were identified as active users and compliant users tended to perform better on an information literacy test than those of parents categorized as quiescent users. More specifically, those adolescents whose parents were classified as active users achieved significantly higher scores in the information literacy test than those of parents who fit within the profiles of compliant users and quiescent users. Based on the findings, this paper discusses several implications and strategies for enhancing the adolescents' information literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tourism & Management Studies is the property of Escola Superior de Gestao, Hotelaria e Turismo, Universidade do Algarve and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which employees have benefitted in the internet age and to identify research gaps that surround such activities. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is a combination of a systematic literature review and an empirical analysis of secondary data drawn from press reports of emergent employee internet activities. Findings – The internet continues to provide fresh and exciting opportunities for the employee to explore in relation to furthering employment-related interests. However, the internet very much represents a "double-edged sword" in that the many advantages of the internet can be quickly cancelled out by employer attempts to monitor, control, and exploit for themselves such activities, for their own ends. It is also evident that a full assessment of some activities cannot be made without further research. Research limitations/implications – The paper is reliant on extant literature and resources that are known to have limited scholarly application. Practical implications – A broad and eclectic discussion of employee internet activities is likely to be of interest to academics and human resource practitioners whose interests are based on a blend of employee relations practices and new internet-based technological developments. Social implications – The study addresses how a distinct actor in employee relations has faired in an age denoted by shrinking opportunities for collective action, yet also denoted by rapid developments in empowering user-generated and social networking forms of information communication technology. Originality/value – This paper synthesises literature and data from a wide range of largely incongruous academic and non-academic sub-disciplines to provide a fresh and authoritative account of emergent employee behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the empirical research looking at girls' and boys' relationship to ICT in the UK secondary school context. The empirical evidence base is discussed in terms of differences in access, use and experience, attitudes, confidence and self-efficacy, motivation and attainment. This paper highlights the competing UK policy agendas operating in this sphere that attempt to address various 'problems', and which impact differentially on girls' and boys' relationship with ICT. The employment policy agenda responds to a context of a recognised skills shortage in ICT professions, where women are seen to be able to plug the 'skills gap'. This has lead to various initiatives to encourage school-aged girls to engage with ICT so that they do not automatically rule out ICT linked professions. This paper will discuss one such initiative, Computer Clubs for Girls - an out of school computer club for girls 10 - 14 which aimed to change the perception of an ICT career. Another competing policy agenda can be seen in ICT policy in secondary schools, which seems to be increasingly subsumed into the wider push to increase boys' attainment. ICT is seen as a way to motivate boys in school, thereby contributing to increased attainment. This paper argues that there is a clear need for more synergies to be created between the different policy agendas and that ICT and gender equality strategies need to be mainstreamed throughout the education and employment spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses findings from a research study called Net.Weight to examine the concepts of interaction, information quality and Internet-based information from the perspective of people engaged in managing their weight. The Net.Weight study was a two-year project funded by the British government's Department of Health and located in the city of Brighton and Hove. It examined the potential for increased, innovative and effective uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support the self management of weight. The study had several inter-related research strands and the findings discussed in the paper emerged primarily from participatory learning workshops and evaluative interviews. The paper demonstrates that the interaction between people is an important aspect of the information process, which is often neglected in the literature. It suggests that exploring the user-user dimension might add to the understanding of information effectiveness. It also suggests that an approach to information and health literacy which includes a social as well as an individual perspective is necessary. On quality assessment, it supports findings from other studies that organisational authority is a key measure of reliability for lay users and that quality assessment tools have a limited role in the assessment process. The Net.Weight participants embraced the Internet as a medium for weight management information only when it added value to their existing information and weight management practices and when it could be integrated into their everyday lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of papers re-examined the evidence from a national initiative to train all teachers in England to bring them up to the level of newly qualified teachers, who are required to know when to use and when not to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in their professional practice. The first paper confirmed that multilevel evaluation of professional development was robust for ICT teacher training. This second paper contrasts the highest and lowest rated designs for ICT teacher training: an ‘organic’ approach that provided training in schools was highly rated, whereas a centralised computer-assisted learning approach with online access to trainers was the lowest rated design. The study supports an ecological view of the diffusion of ICT innovations in education and recommends that ICT teacher training be designed to support evolution of each teacher's classroom, school and region, as well as the training of the ICT teacher trainers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is one of a pair that re-examines the evidence from a national initiative to train all teachers in England to bring them up to the level of newly qualified teachers, who are required to know when to use and when not to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in their professional practice. Reanalysis of data gathered for the 2004 evaluation uncovers the complexity of such professional development. The effectiveness of contrasting approaches to ICT-related teacher training was analysed using the national survey of 496 trainees and experts’ reports on 11 of the 47 training providers. multilevel evaluation of professional development was shown to be robust for ICT teacher training, including a significant correlation between the views of experts and those of teachers. The presence of the middle level of ‘organisational support and change’ emerged as a particularly discriminating factor, indicating that higher-quality teacher training supports change in the classroom and in the school. Therefore, we recommend that all five of Guskey's levels be consistently adopted for the evaluation of ICT teacher training, and that research should also adopt a multilevel model. A second paper delves deeper to describe and contrast the highest and lowest-rated approaches to ICT teacher training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bournemouth University (BU) was recently recognised by the Higher Education Academy in the UK as a 'pathfinder institution' and as such, is engaged in a 'pathfinder project'. The Pathfinder Programme is enabling a range of projects to be taken forward across higher education, with a focus on extending and enhancing the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Initiatives are building upon existing good practice, developing synergies which contribute to leading change, and disseminating institutional developments. Essentially the Pathfinder Programme is intended to be a 'transformation initiative which has organisational change, development and dissemination as its core aims' with the goal being 'exploiting and developing synergies to enhance and change practice where necessary' (http:// www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/learning/elearning/pathfinder. At BU, 'practice change' is being taken forward under the umbrella of the 'e-Res project' with the specific aims 'to enhance the student learning experience.This paper provides a description and evaluation of just one of the 'case studies' that falls under the 'e-Res' umbrella: embedding e-resources in 'Global Perspectives', an online module for distance learners. The paper provides the context for this development, highlighting the importance of teamwork in the development of e-learning, and outlining the process by which a substantial 'resource pack' for an e-learning module became obsolete, once reading material became embedded in the modules content and activities. The paper highlights issues of copyright with regard to e-learning developments. An evaluation of how the students engaged with the e-resources is presented; this includes evidence from a student feedback questionnaire. Finally, conclusions address the extent to which learners prefer embedded resources and suggest that developing e-learning requires academics to rethink how they engage with subject librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever-increasing needs and demands by dentists and all other members of the dental team for education and training at all levels – undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing – are straining the resources of existing providers of such education. At the same time, there are ever-increasing opportunities to develop online delivery and the use of a range of information and communication technology (ICT) systems and services further, in all aspects of dental education. This paper reviews recent developments that have led to an increased demand for dental postgraduate programmes and continuing professional development (CPD) courses in the United Kingdom and then discusses how ICT has and will impact on teaching practice. Examples include the use of teaching and learning resources in a virtual learning environment (VLE) and the increasing use of blended learning. The paper then explores the need for both teachers and students to adapt to the new environment to ensure they can benefit to the maximum and that teaching and learning practices are changed accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the evaluation results of a training initiative, undertaken in Palestine, that targeted fresh graduates in information and communication technology (ICT) disciplines. It describes the implementation and results of a practical training model where industry and academia cooperate jointly to develop, upgrade and enhance students'' qualifications prior to their entrance into the labour market. Design/methodology/approach - This paper presents the short-term results, one to two years from completion, of a newly implemented technology training program which targeted more than 450 students throughout West-Bank and Gaza Strip. The researchers traced the trainees'' endeavours and behaviours through their pursuit of jobs utilizing focus group meetings, individual interviews with stakeholders, and semi-structured interviews, as well as questionnaires, surveys, observations of on-going activities and interviewing staff, graduates and students. Findings - The training program attempted to promote practical training and develop entrepreneurial capabilities. The vast majority of the surveyed trainees felt that they gained valuable knowledge and experience in their field of specialization, and believed that the training was critical to their successful job search. They clearly agreed that the practical training they received via the training program was a necessary supplement to their theoretical technical education in university ICT programs. Practical implication - The initiative involves the establishment of ICT Centers of Excellence in close proximity to Palestinian universities, which annually graduate large numbers of ICT students. The program serves multiple purposes in that it enables the ICT training centres, the Centers of Excellence, to generate revenues while also providing a needed service within the community, to equip fresh graduates with state-of-the-art technical skills, thus increasing the chance of fresh graduates being hired into positions related to their university degrees, and shortening their job search. Originality/value - The model and program, presented in this paper describes a modern training framework, where students receive practical training through a third party institute that works in cooperation with universities and industry. The model, when adopted, relieves universities from the pressure of constantly modifying their curricula to comply with the ever-changing needs of the technology market, allowing them to pursue their stated goal of providing their students with a theoretical technical education. The training program also helps the market to differentiate the large number of ICT students and graduates from one another, based not only on area of study but also on concrete skill sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to at least partially redress a paucity of current literature on the joint analysis of inter and intra firm diffusion of innovations within as well as across countries. In particular, by using two data sets derived from independent country-specific surveys, it undertakes an international comparison of inter and intra firm diffusion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in the UK and Switzerland. This allows one to address many of the problems that have prevented general conclusions on the drivers of inter and intra firm ICT adoption decisions. An encompassing model is proposed which gives quite satisfactory results for both countries. It is found that inter and intra firm ICT adoption decisions are driven by different factors, confirming the findings of Battisti and Stoneman [Battisti, G. and Stoneman, P. (2003) Inter and Intra Firm Effects in the Diffusion of New process Technology. Research Policy, 32, 1641-1655; Battisti, G. and Stoneman, P. (2005) The Intra Firm Diffusion of New Process Technologies. International Journal of Industrial organisation 23, 1-22.] and Hollenstein and Woerter [Hollenstein, H. and Woerter, M. (2004) The Decision to Adopt Internet-based E-commerce. An Empirical Analysis Based on Swiss Firm-level Data. KOF Working paper NG 89, Zurich.] that 'first use' and 'intensification of use' represent independent choices. The study also suggests that significant differences exist between the UK and Switzerland, probably as a result of their differing diffusion stages. In addition the importance of new organisational and managerial practices as drivers of diffusion stressed by recent theoretical and empirical work is supported for both countries. Overall the findings suggest that comparative research is a promising way to identify robust relationships and should be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• Multi-regime dynamics can both create barriers and opportunities for innovation. • High transaction costs of working together and competing priorities can exist despite symbiotic interactions. • Spill-overs come from the ICT sector to the electricity sector through the use of ICT platforms, processes and technology. • Cross-cutting institutions have not overcome the fundamental barriers to integration. • Further governance coordination across the electricity and ICT regimes is needed to deal with regulatory tensions. This paper uses historical analysis to explore the evolution of interdependencies between the electricity and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors in the UK. It explores the role of governance in shaping the interface between these two sectors, and subsequent implications for smart grid innovation. The analysis focuses on three periods between 1940 and 2016, with distinct institutional logics: state ownership, privatisation, and transitions to sustainability. The interactions between the electricity and ICT sectors are analysed through Raven and Verbong' (2007) typology: competition, symbiosis, integration and spill-over, drawing on social-technical transitions theories and discussed in terms of rules and institutions; actors and networks; and technology, artefacts and infrastructures of socio-technical regimes. The paper finds that a way to encourage more spill-overs and integration between the electricity and the ICT sector is through a more symmetrical and integrated governance approach that takes into account the needs and characteristics of both sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are justified concerns but little empirical evidence about the implications of the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the business of human smuggling. The knowledge base on the use of ICT in human smuggling has rarely gone beyond the rather generic observation that the Internet and mobile technologies are available to and are used by both smugglers and migrants, and there is a concrete knowledge gap regarding the extent and the mode in which the use of ICT is integrated in the process of smuggling. In this paper, which is part of a wider research effort concerned with the role of the Internet in human smuggling in the European Union, we interrogate the outlook and implications of the use of contemporary mobile technology and of social media in the organisation and conduct of human smuggling to the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Most studies in information behaviour have focussed on information behaviour aspects such as environmental uncertainty, scanning behaviour of top management executives, student and women information behaviour, information source and credibility, while little is known about the information behaviour of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) when the need for emerging information and communication technology (EICT) adoption decision-making arises. This paper, therefore, aims to explore the major determinants of perceived information need for EICT adoption by UK small service-oriented businesses. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted qualitative method to explore 13 key determinants of SME managers' information behaviour for EICT adoption decision-making by using both unstructured and semi-structured interviews at two different stages with 20 participants drawn purposeful from Luton directories. Findings: The study developed an extended technology, organisation and environment (TOE) framework by identifying and incorporating the information context which helped to unveil 13 key determinants of perceived information need and their impact on EICT adoption decision-making in SMEs. This further provided insight into understanding SMEs' information behaviour. While the determinants associated with TOE and information contexts influence SMEs' perceived information need for EICT adoption, the extent at which these four constructs shape SMEs' perceived information need for EICT adoption decision-making differs. Research limitations/implications: The limitation of this study emerged because of the use of qualitative methodologies in relation to the research design, rigour in the collection and management of the large volume of the raw data, the data analysis and the credibility of the findings. This may lead to unforeseen respondent – and research – bias in the data analysis, which may lead to limited understanding of alternatives and insights into the key determinants of perceived information need for EICT adoption decision. Hence, other measures and approaches such as case study and mix-method could be deployed to further validate the findings. Also, one of the limitations of qualitative study has been the issue of theoretical generalizability of the framework. The generalizability of the formwork needs to be established across a wider range of population. Future studies may apply a confirmatory statistical techniques to test and ascertain the validity and reliability of the framework across a wider population. Such studies may be used as a benchmark for the theoretical constructs and the factors that may lead to success or failure of mobile marketing technology adoption. Originality/value: The study has further enriched TOE framework and provided an analytical dimension for exploring key determinants of SMEs' perceived information need for EICT adoption decision-making. It also demonstrates the capacity to provide a reliable explanation of the determinants and serves as a tool for evaluating the benefits or challenges of SMEs' information behaviours when the need for EICT adoption arises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to accomplish three objectives: first, to investigate the role and impact of information and communication technologies on the practice of science in the UK; second, to examine and characterise changes in scholarly communication activities such as information seeking, publishing and collaboration; and third, to investigate the validity of the current scholarly communication models and to determine whether there is a need for a new model. Design/methodology/approach – The study deployed a naturalistic inquiry approach using semi-structured interviews as a qualitative research tool. A theoretical sample of 40 researchers in four universities were interviewed to gather data regarding informal scholarly communication practices, factors that affect the researchers’ decisions and changes in the scholarly communication system. Findings – The results of the interviews suggest that there are three types of scholars who engage in scholarly communication activities. First, the “orthodox scholar”, who only uses formal and traditional scholarly communication approaches. Second, the “moderate scholar”, who prioritises formal communication approaches but, at the same time, is trying to get benefits from informal channels. Finally, the “heterodox scholar”, who uses all channels available in scholarly communication. The study also proposes a model of scholarly communication that reflects the current changes in scholarly research. Research limitations/implications – The paper describes the changes in informal scholarly communication practices in four universities in the UK. However, because the study used a naturalistic inquiry approach, the results cannot be generalised to a different population. Originality/value – There is limited literature investigating the changes in informal scholarly communication practices. The value of the current study lies in being the first study in this area that uses a naturalistic inquiry approach to investigate the changes in informal scholarly communication practices, and to develop a new model of scholarly communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the development of an interactive creative writing website, developed after identifying the position of creative writing in mainstream education and exploring a spectrum of learning needs at primary and secondary school levels. The concept and website were developed by an author of children's fiction and uses interactive activities supported by a ‘virtual author’. It is designed to enhance creative writing skills for both pupils and teachers, thereby offering cross-curricular opportunities through the marrying of Literacy with Information Communication Technology (ICT). The paper further examines the place of authors in schools and their potential for impact on the emerging position of creative writing as an assessed subject. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Scotland's rich heritage in the field of science and engineering and recent curricular developments led to major investment in education to equip pupils with improved scientific knowledge and skills. However, due to its abstract and conceptual nature, learning science can be challenging. Literature supports the role of multimedia technology in addressing the difficulties associated with science learning. This paper reports on a two-phase investigation that explored the impact of multimedia resources situated in a national e-learning portal to (1) assist generalist and specialist science teachers' teaching practices and (2) stimulate pupils' interest, encourage engagement and improve overall science learning experiences. Our research also investigated how portal resources facilitated and/or acted as barriers for teaching and learning. Findings from our research affirm that multimedia technology has transformed science learning; with these resources accessible through a national portal, radically different learning experiences ensued. These findings raise serious implications for teacher education and professional development in ensuring that teachers acquire sound science content and pedagogical knowledge as well as practical strategies for utilising technology-rich environments, as this is likely to become the norm. Harnessing the fullest potential that information and communication technology, multimedia and e-learning portals can offer starts by addressing these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose While a substantial number of studies have examined information behaviour, most centred on choice of information source, student information behaviour, information behaviour of women, environmental uncertainty and scanning behaviour of top-level hotel executives. However, little is known about how the small and medium enterprise (SME) managers scan, seek, gather, document and use information relevant for emerging information and communication technology (EICT) adoption decision-making. This paper aims to examine the key success factors influencing SME manager’s information behaviour on EICT adoption decision-making.Design/methodology/approach This study deploys a qualitative approach to exploring 16 key success factors shaping SME managers’ information behaviour on EICT adoption decision-making. More specifically, the study adopted both unstructured and semi-structured interviews with 20 small business managers drawn purposeful from Crunch Database.Findings This study develops an extended technology, organisation and environment framework by incorporating the information context which helped to unravel 16 key success factors influencing small business managers’ information behaviour on EICT. From the technology context, uncertainty driven, compatibility, replacement of legacy technology, relative advantages, lack of technical know-how and perceived affordability fit for purpose influence SME managers’ information behaviour. Users’ acceptance information, efficiency driven, owner’s support shape the organisation context of perceived information need; competitor’s intelligence gathering, customer’s information gathering provider credibility and government policy influence the environmental context of perceived information need; and finally, perceived information sources credibility, herding event, testimonial and openness to other people’s ideas and experiences are shaped by the information context.Research limitations/implications Qualitative research is normally subjective, interpretive and limited on the sample used. Because of the limited number of interviews, the generalisation of the framework and the finding is difficult. Therefore, the finding and the framework need to be established across broader population. The findings are vital considering the fact that small business managers are limited in knowledge and the study may improve the way and manner they go about seeking and gathering information relevant in adopting new ICT.Originality/value This research provides further insight into SME managers’ information behaviour by developing a framework and identifying main factors influencing SMEs information behaviours on EICT. Therefore, understanding such factors will enrich their knowledge on some of the factors that may shape their decisions during EICT adoption decision to make effective decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are involved in emerging information and communication technology (EICT) adoption by concentrating on the adoption process and the role played by various actors in the process. Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption research, especially in SMEs, has moved from a simple adopters’ participation process to involving diverse actors that continually interact and influence the process. SMEs need to constantly interact with various human and non-human actors to keep up with the EICT adoption. However, this has proved difficult.Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative method to examine the dynamic process of EICT adoption in service SMEs in the UK, and deployed both unstructured and semi-structured interviews in two separate rounds with 26 participants drawn from Crunch Online Database and Luton Business Directory. The participants include managers, customers, government agencies, SMEs consultants and information technology (IT) vendors, with the help of purposeful random sampling.Findings The study develops a framework informed by actor network theory (ANT) concepts and found that using ANT to examine the process of adoption helps to unveil the recursive nature of the process and the roles of actors which vary from one stage to another. The finding reveals that adoption of EICT is not straightforward; rather, it is evolutionary and dynamic, and small business managers’ play an important role in the process amidst other actors influence. The framework supports businesses of all types. Although ICT applications are influenced by diverse actors including IT experts, customers and vendors, the decision of SME managers regularly shape the values and beliefs of other actors if adequate information are conveyed by the numerous actors. Therefore, adoption of EICT is embraced faster by organizations, especially small businesses, if diverse actors are committed in conveying the right information to the key actors, thereby helping them to make adequate decision, and streamline their business processes.Research limitations/implications This study is limited by its focus and other factors. Studying the opinions of small service UK SMEs limits the power of generalizing the identified causal relationships; therefore, extended measures are required on accounts of environmental, cultural, geographical and sectorial differences. While some errors seemed unavoidable when measures appear subjective and prone to common error biases, the study advised on recognizing the overriding influence of the roles at each stage of the adoption process to be proactive in committing resources.Originality/value This work is of value to practitioners and academics, as it provides further insight into ICT adoption framework by showing how the diverse actors guarantee EICT adoption in small service(s) businesses. This is relevant given that SMEs have limited knowledge of new ICT and understanding diverse actors and their roles in the adoption process would enhance their knowledge of the analysts in the context of new technology adoption and to cope with EICT continually amidst of the roles of actors in the adoption process. The framework serves as an analytical instrument in explaining ICT adoption process and its outcomes characterized by conflicting views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper presents lessons learnt from a Jisc-funded research project that developed and implemented an information communication technology tool enabling staff to understand the environmental impact of their activities and support sustainable procurement across De Montfort University (Leicester, UK). Results: An environmentally extended input–output calculation approach was adopted to calculate the emissions and a 'dashboard style' approach was used to present the information. While the tool was developed successfully, its institutional impact was limited by numerous barriers. Conclusion: These challenges provided several key learning points: cost remains the main priority in procurement teams much higher than environmental aspects; committed 'champions' are key to organizational change; and information communication technology carbon/sustainability tools need to be an integral part of an organization's existing procurement systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – While it is well known that leadership can play an important role in engendering effective knowledge management activity, relatively little is known about which styles of leadership are most appropriate for this task. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to theory by exploring dimensions of leadership as presented by Avolio and Bass (Transformational, Transactional and Passive-Avoidance Leadership) and the dimensions of organisational knowledge management activity as presented by Maier and Mosley through a survey of primary knowledge managers from information and communications technology (ICT) organisations in the UK. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the results of a quantitative survey of 111 primary knowledge managers from ICT organisations in the UK. Findings – The key finding is that when primary knowledge managers within organisations adopt the Transformational and Transactional leadership styles, there is a notable increase in knowledge management activity. Given the results, the authors argue that organisations must be cognisant of the leadership style adopted by their knowledge managers and that it is important that both the Transformational and Transactional leadership styles are mastered and can be employed by knowledge managers within organisations. Originality/value – The paper provides analysis of two well-known leadership styles and a full range of knowledge management activity, providing insights for practitioners and theorists alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reminiscence activity is commonplace as an activity that is widely recognized as beneficial to people with dementia. It can offer alleviation of the burden of care for those who look after people with this disease. In reminiscence activities, people may use items including photographs representing their lives, in some form. Reminiscence systems are the use of technology to support reminiscence work. This paper describes a study that carried out an evaluation of card-based versus device-based reminiscing using photographic images. The outcome of the study demonstrated no difference between traditional and device-based reminiscing of photographic images, indicating no barriers to the use of systems for reminiscing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muslims live in a 'modern' world where subjects such as the English language, mathematics, sciences, and information and communication technology (ICT) are highly valued and enthusiastically transmitted in schools. How some Islamic schools attempt to equip their students with 'modern knowledge' while remaining faithful to their religious traditions is the focus of this exploratory study. Using two Islamic schools in Singapore and Britain as illustrative case studies, this paper examines their history, aims, curriculum and pedagogy in their aspiration to acquire 'modern' knowledge within their Islamic world views. It further explores some common challenges faced by students and teachers in both schools in their quest for a balanced curriculum. By highlighting the Islamic schools in two Muslim minority countries, this paper aims to contribute towards the international literature on how religious schools assert their cultural heritage and negotiate their learning in the modern age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in knowledge and understanding needs to be obtained about the learning and support of older adults with ICTs. This is to promote autonomy, independence and quality of life for older adults via the influence of organisations such as Age UK, policy, research and practice. It also allows older adults to explore, identify and embrace effective learning methods to further their engagement with ICTs. Both learning and ICTs can provide a wealth of opportunities from ordering goods to maintaining social contact with others. In this paper, findings are presented on 1) The existing learning and support mechanisms that older adults use and 2) New and potential learning and support mechanisms which could be used to further older adult's engagement with ICTs. Potential effective solutions as well as preferences for learning are provided. The barriers to the learning uptake of ICTs are also addressed. The empirical based findings show that there are a number of widely used and established learning and support mechanisms that older adults adopt, as well as new and potential ones to consider. They also show that a key method of effective learning progression is for the learner to establish and articulate their motivations and learning methods when learning how to use ICTs. The lessons learned within Further and Higher Education can inform the learning and support associated with older adults and ICTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the domestication of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), particularly their use, in UK households reporting on research undertaken between 1998 and 2004. Issues raised are linked to the dominant discourse of the ‘digital divide’, which in the UK means engaging with ICTs in a ‘meaningful’ way to ensure the economic and social well-being of UK plc (public limited company—in the UK this refers to companies whose shares can be sold to the public. The acronym is used here ironically to indicate the motivation of the government to brand and promote the UK as a whole.). Utilising a framework of understanding digital inequality and the ‘deepening divide’, domestication theory is applied to discuss motivational, material and physical, skills and usage access in the gendered household, critically contrasting this approach to ‘smart house’ research. This qualitative enquiry contributes to the neglected area of domestication studies in Information Systems research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the adoption and use of information and communication technology (ICT) in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across four sectors in the UK. In the paper we report on a survey that explores the factors facilitating or hampering the successful adoption and use of ICT by SMEs. We find that SMEs are generally satisfied with their investments in ICT but that they are concerned about the cost of such investments and are uncertain about the business benefits. Much of the investment in ICT is directed at meeting bottom line issues of cost and productivity but little use is made of potential strategic applications. A particular case in point is the diffusion of ecommerce in which firms report increased consumer interest but there is little evidence in the survey to suggest that interest is being actively managed by SMEs. One concern that emerges from the survey is the SMEs' perceived dependency upon consultants. SMEs appear to be encountering knowledge/competency gaps related to ICT. They may be too small to be able to employ a dedicated ICT expert and lack the experience to have confidence in its reliability of consultancy advice. They often have limited experience in selecting, implementing and evaluating suggested ICT solutions. To help correct this gap in the provision of services, the government has tried to provide support with mixed success. Certainly, the UK government has had a strong interest in helping and supporting the SME sector. However, State sponsored solutions to meet this competency gap appear to be failing with little awareness or take up of such solutions by the SMEs that we surveyed. Something that remains unclear is whether this failure by SMEs to avail themselves of advice and guidance made available by the State reflects the quality of solutions offered or a more basic lack of awareness by SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we explore some of the results from a survey of 378 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based in the southeast of England. The objective of this survey was to build a snapshot of the state of play of the information and communications technology (ICT) use by SMEs in economically significant sectors in this region. The sectors chosen were as follows: food processing, transport and logistics, media and internet services. More specifically, the survey was intended to answer the following questions: what types of ICT are in use by SMEs in this region, what prevents and facilitates the adoption and use of ICT amongst these firms, and where do SMEs acquire information on ICT related issues. Our survey suggests that most SMEs in the southeast of England are in general positively inclined towards adoption and use of ICT. However, this adoption and use of ICT is mainly focused on operational matters with few extensions into potential strategic use of such technologies in their business environments. SME owner/managers perceive ICT to be often costly and complex and are wary of consultants and vendor organisations. We also discovered, somewhat surprisingly, that SMEs are largely unaware of existing policy instruments at the regional, national and European levels, designed to help them in their adoption and use of ICT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on qualitative research on the use of ICT in four foundation stage (3-5 years) classes in two state-maintained schools in the UK. The case study involved observations of and interviews with children between 4 and 5 years of age, as well as interviews with practitioners. Interpretation of the data drew on an editing analysis style. The paper supports claims that ICT has the potential to extend and enhance provision for younger pupils by providing new and complementary opportunities for children to be creative; to hone generic learning skills and aptitudes; and to practice their social skills. The paper also suggests that not all young children are enthused by the introduction of ICT and that in some cases pedagogy still has to catch up with resourcing in order to get the most out of the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports major themes emerging from 41 semi-structured interviews conducted with staff from one ‘old’ and one ‘new’ university in England about the use of the web in teaching and learning for campus-based students. The research set out to explore real-life instances of the use of the web in teaching and learning to determine the relationship between this reality and the rhetoric surrounding the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in universities. The focus of this paper is the motivations and/or barriers to adopting the WWW in teaching and learning at the institutional and individual staff level. The paper concludes by stressing that while there may be great potential for the use of ICTs for some aspects of teaching and learning, adoption of these new technologies is not straightforward; and, in the cases studied here, the use of the web in teaching and learning neither appears to be radically transforming teaching and learning within the university, nor to be providing (or even regarded as) a ready solution to the problems the sector currently encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever increasing explosion of highly attractive multimedia resources on offer has boosted the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the teaching and learning of modern languages. The use of ICT to assess languages is less frequent, however, although online testing is starting to develop. This paper examines the national context for the assessment of modern foreign language proficiency in England, outlines the kinds of assessment currently available and the development of electronic forms of assessment and compares the above with the survey results of a European Union (EU) funded project on current good practice in online assessment of languages in other European countries. The findings indicate that speaking is inadequately served by online testing as tests currently focus primarily on receptive language skills. The implications for future successful online testing include the incorporation of interactive skills and effective formative feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations in the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), give rise to organisational change as a more or less intended concomitant. At the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, ICT is being deployed in a number of innovative ways to support the delivery of education and training and associated business processes. Part of my role, as a learning technology specialist, is to act as a facilitator of organisational change. In this paper, I give an account of my work. For guidance, I draw on the action learning, action research and organisational change literatures. I also explicitly draw on sociocybernetics to provide key concepts and principles. I set out my understanding of these key concepts and principles and illustrate their relevance and application using my Defence Academy and some other experiences as case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - At the English local authority level, there has been significant investment in e-government infrastructure (e-channels) in the last five years, but take-up of these e-channels is low. This paper aims to look at e-citizen, a £3 million project funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and led by Norwich City Council, which has developed a methodology to enable local authorities to encourage their citizens to use e-channels. Design/methodology/approach - The paper undertakes a comprehensive research programme to inform the national approach towards the take-up and marketing of local authority e-channels. Findings - The study finds that there are a large number of English adults who are ready, willing and able to use e-channels, the so-called potential early adopters of e-government. Take-up is low, however, because awareness of e-channels is low. One solution to increase take-up is to run targeted marketing communications campaigns. The gross potential take-up market in England is 17.5 million adults aged 15 +. Research limitations/implications - The research conducted by e-citizen is the largest and most comprehensive study of the take-up of local government e-channels in the world. This work has established that there is a large potential market for e-government in England and that running marketing campaigns is one way of realising this potential. These findings can be applied throughout the UK and also internationally, although the project did not test whether different nationalities might have different reactions to marketing campaigns. e-citizen did not consider other variables which impact on take-up, such as accessibility of e-channels and their effectiveness. Practical implications - The methodology and findings from e-citizen have already been taken-up by a number of English local authorities. The UK Government, through the DCLG, has picked-up the e-citizen findings and applied them in a £4.6 million national marketing campaign. Originality/value - Work of this nature and scale has not been conducted before. It has been financed by central government but delivered by a consortium of English local authorities, government representatives and private sector suppliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]