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Learning management systems (LMS), such as WebCT, Blackboard, and Moodle, are commonly employed in modern educational settings. However, while these applications have proven their worth, they do not typically take the individual needs of students into consideration, especially those with learning difficulties. Furthermore, research into the value adaptive e-learning systems can offer students with learning difficulties is lacking. \ud \ud This thesis aims to address gaps in existing research by examining the use of an adaptive e-learning system that can adapt to the needs of students with learning disabilities (LD). The research conducted in this thesis focused on dyslexia because there are various forms of dyslexia and, as such, it cannot be categorised as a single condition that can be served by one specific e-learning system.\ud \ud Following an extensive literature review, three models by which the characteristics of students with dyslexia could be taken into consideration within an adaptive LMS were formulated: a consensus-based model of dyslexia signs and symptoms, which includes consideration of reading, writing, memory, mathematics and speaking difficulties; a comprehensive listing of the existing assistive technologies that can be employed to assist dyslexic students in their educational process mapped according to dyslexia symptoms; and a learning styles model that was based on the Felder-Silverman learning style model that establish relationships between dyslexia type and learning styles.\ud \ud The three models were subsequently incorporated into the Dyslexia Adaptive E-Learning (DAEL) Framework, which specified the design requirements by which an e-learning technology that can facilitate dyslexic student’s learning can be developed. The proposed framework was validated using a quality assessment approach.\ud \ud This thesis proposes an innovative semantic approach to dynamically generate personalised learning materials in the form of the Adaptive E-Learning Management System (DAELMS). The DAELMS is an ontology-based engine that composes and adapts learning experiences according to learner’s dyslexia type and learning styles. This novel approach aims to improve flexibility, extensibility and reusability of systems, while offering a pedagogically effective and satisfactory learning experience for learners with dyslexia. The evaluation of the system revealed that the proposed concept successfully supported students learning in general and students with dyslexia specifically. It is anticipated that this research will pave the way for the development of advanced adaptive learning systems that can support the needs of multiple learners and learning disability types.

The nature of the business today is very competitive for small businesses (SMEs) since they have limited resources comparing to large organisations. ITs have helped businesses to look for new competing ways in persuading their customers. Social media (SM) are considered one of these technologies and there have been successful existing practical examples in the literature about its effectiveness in business. SM have given SMEs an opportunity to create a global customer base in a cost effective manner which was not possible in other business model. The main aim of this research was to investigate how SMEs can benefit from SM. Although there are many IT adoption models but there are very few which focuses on SM alone. According to our knowledge there is none which focuses on SM adoption by SMEs until the Before, Process and After (BPA) framework has been proposed (Abeysinghe & Alsobhi 2013). This research also aimed to critically review of existing frameworks.

Information Technologies (IT) have helped businesses to look for new ways of competing. Social Media (SM) are\ud considered as one of these technologies. There are ample examples in the literature about its effectiveness in business.\ud Especially for small businesses (SMEs) SM have given an opportunity to create a global customer base in a cost effective\ud manner which was not possible in other business model. The main aim of this research was to investigate how SMEs\ud whose businesses are dependent on their networks can benefit from SM. Although there are many IT adoption models,\ud only a very few focus on SM alone. According to our knowledge there is none which focuses on SM adoption by SMEs.\ud This research aimed to come up with a suitable model which will help SMEs to evaluate their readiness in adopting SM.