Research Articles (CSS)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.30.20:4000/handle/123456789/16
Browse
12 results
Search Results
Item Creating new actors and partnerships: Case of Tanzania(Aalborg University, 2017) Turcan, Romeo V.; Kwayu, Aikande; Tossy, Titus; Fraser, Norman; Nandonde, FelixThe purpose of this working paper is to highlight issues and challenges of starting up new sectors in emerging economies and of identifying and channeling appropriate support from development organizations. Although being addressed within the context of Tanzania, these issues and challenges are generic and ubiquitous throughout emerging economies and troublesome for development organizations. Hence another aim is to share these with a wider audience and stimulate a discussion among researchers, policy makers and support providers. The paper is an excerpt from a project application developed by a University from Denmark in cooperation with academic and business partners from Tanzania and submitted for funding to a development organization.Item Collaborating partnerships: A project-based legitimizing strategy amongst East African E-Learning providers(IGI Global, 2017) Tossy, Titus; Brown, IrwinThis chapter examines the phenomenon of e-learning in East Africa. The classic grounded theory methodology was used to carry out the study. Through multiple encounters with 24 e-learning providers, the investigation revealed legitimizing of e-learning projects to be a significant issue for these providers. Developing collaborating partnerships was a key strategy used by the providers to legitimize e-learning projects. The study identified two types of collaborating partnerships: Asymmetrical and Reciprocal. These findings are positioned within literature to highlight the contribution that this paper makes to the discourse on e-learning projects in developing countries.Item Doing classic grounded theory research in information systems: trust in emergence(IGI Global, 2017) Tossy, Titus; Brown, Irwin; Lowe, AndyGrounded Theory (GT) is a latent pattern recognition research method that was developed by Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss (1967). GT, which can use either quantitative or qualitative data, is a general research methodology and it produces empirically grounded but modifiable theory. Since the development of GT in 1967, some researchers have attempted to modify the original GT method, and remodelled GT approaches have been widely used in Information Systems (IS) research, often with unfortunate results due to disregard of the basic rules of the original GT. The continued use of remodelled GT methods has caused confusion and has prevented those in the IS research community from stimulating the development of new theory, which is the main benefit of using GT as it was originally outlined. Following publication of the original grounded theory by Glaser and Strauss (1967), Glaser (1978) went on to explain in detail how to operationalize the GT method. Despite this, some researchers mistakenly continued to classify GT as a subset of the qualitative data analysis research methodology. In doing so, they reveal that they have misunderstood both the purpose of GT and how to use it correctly. In this paper the author will concentrate on the authentic approach to GT, which is termed “Classic Ground Theory” (CGT), so as to differentiate it from any misconceived remodelled version of the theory. This paper explains how CGT can be carried out in an IS context by trusting in the emergence from the data of the required information, rather than forcing it.Item Evolutionary collaborative partnership model (ECPM): The East African elearning provider's project-based legitimization strategy(International Journal of Computing and ICT Research, 2014) Tossy, TitusThe paper examines the lack of legitimacy of e-learning projects including academic certificates through online distance programs. The paper analyses whether the lack of legitimacy that exist among e-learning projects can be eradicated through a sound proposed strategy. The rationale of this study is based on the fact that most scholars claim that various e-learning projects and programs lack legitimization, and the literature related to legitimization issues is limited. From the perspective of e-learning providers working in East Africa, this paper used Classic Grounded Theory. The study developed an Evolutionary Collaborative Partnership Model (ECPM). For legitimization to be achieved, the study revealed that three processes needed to be followed: the identifying and acquiring of collaborating partners, referral networking and strategic alliances. The study identified two types of collaborating partnerships: asymmetrical and reciprocal collaborating . The study discovered five stages in an incremental sequential process in the evolutionary e-learning collaborative partnership model including identification of key drivers, problem setting, direction setting, structuring and outcomes.Item Doing classic grounded theory methodology in information systems research: how to create and sustain transparency?(International Journal of Computing & ICT Research, 2014) Tossy, TitusInformation Systems(IS) field is fast growing. There is increase application of Classic Grounded theory (CGT) methodology in the Information Systems (ISs) studies. However, "how to create and sustain transparency when using Classic Grounded theory in studies is still answered." The Classic Grounded Theory [CGT] research method reveals latent patterns of human behaviour. It is a general research methodology because it makes use of all kinds of data. Whether the data are qualitative or quantitative, CGT main objective is to discover a robust empirically derived hypothesis or core variable. The core variable articulates the main concern of the respondents. It is so called because the core variable is able to explain most of the variation in the data. The particular feature of the CGT research method is that it is transcendent of both time and place. This is because CGT delivers a conceptual explanation rather than a low level descriptive context based narrative. As the number of IS researchers using CGT increases so does the likelihood for more confusion regarding the legitimate criteria for its evaluation. To contribute towards eliminating the confusion, this paper investigates how to create and sustain transparency in IS research when using the Classic Grounded Theory research method. This will, hopefully, enable IS researchers, supervisors and respective institutions to make more informed decisions on how to evaluate research, which has used the CGT research methodology.Item E-learning uptake among academicians and students in Tanzanian universities(International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), 2019) Kisanjara, Simeo; Tossy, Titus; Sife, Alfred; Msanjila, SimonThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent of current e-learning uptake in Tanzanian universities. The quantitative approach involving survey design was adopted in the collection of data. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 400 respondents, with a rate of return 85.5%. The average reliability of variables 0.949 was determined using Cronbach's Alpha. Fuzzy Logic model and t-test were adopted for data analysis. The findings revealed that the average extent of current e-learning uptake among students and academicians were less than half of threshold amounting to 50% (i.e. level of awareness was 16%, availability was 20.6%, accessibility was 17%, attitude was 15% as variables used). There was no statistically significant difference in e-learning uptake among students and academicians as the value of p > 0.05. The findings of this study established a base ground and guidelines to inform the e-learning stakeholders and policymakers to find and establish suitable policy as well as mechanism to adopt and encourage sustainable use of e-learning systems for life-long teaching and learning. The originality of this study is based on the addition of new variables and methodologies employed as empirical evidence based on the extent of e-learning uptake in Tanzanian universities.Item Investigating factors influencing the adoption and use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in Tanzanian higher learning institutions: towards an Individual-Technology-Organizational-Environmental (ITOE) framework(International Journal of Research in Business and Technology, 2014) Kisanjara, Simeo; Tossy, TitusThis paper is located within the global debates about adoption and use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in developing countries. From the Tanzanian Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs), this paper investigates factors influencing the adoption and use of the FOSS. The rationale for the investigation stems from the notion that Tanzanian HLIs is yet to fully adopt and use FOSS, despite huge investments and efforts being made on ground. This is facilitated by the lack of clear FOSS adoption and use framework. The source of this data was a questionnaire which comprised of structured questions, using a five-point Likert Scale. The population sample for the study was all HLIs stakeholders in Tanzania. Participants included both public and private HLIs. The positive factors include autonomy for code modifications, IT staffs and decision makers, organization awareness, trustworthiness of FOSS, licensing and scalability, collaboration and knowledge sharing, collaboration on international ICT, organization policy and good social economic policy. The negative influences that emerged included, Lack of proper plan, low confidence, lack of expertise, unfit for purpose, difficult to implement, lack of supporting software. Furthermore, this paper motivates other researchers to analyze why the adoption and use of Free and Open source software is still low to higher learning Institutions in East Africa even though their potential benefits that have been advocated in many previous studies. Finally, the paper has proposed Individual-Technological-Organizational- Environmental (ITOE) framework for adoption and use of FOSS.Item Major challenges and constraint of integrating health information systems in african countries: a Namibian experience(International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, 2014) Tossy, TitusThis paper is located within the global debates about integrated Health Information Systems (HIS) in developing countries. From a Namibian experience, this paper examines the major challenges and constrains facing the integration of HIS. The rationale for the examination stems from the notion that the Namibia healthcare is yet to integrate the HIS, despite huge investments and efforts being made on ground. Based on own experience and backed up by a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation, major challenges and constraint in the integration of HIS and possible solutions are presented and structured. Finally the paper proposes measures within the HIS in the form of annual health provider’s workshop that could be implemented in order to share the experiences and lesson learned.Item Measuring the impacts of e-learning on students’ achievement in learning process: an experience from Tanzanian public universities(International Journal of Engineering and Applied Computer Science, 2017) Tossy, TitusThis paper is located within the 21st century global debates about the impact of e-learning as one of the ICT on students’ achievements in teaching and learning process in universities. From the perspectives of Tanzania, this paper provides a model for measuring the impact of e-learning on students’ achievements in universities. The rationale for the investigation stems from the notion that despite the hundreds impact studies, the impacts of e-learning on student’s achievements remain difficult to measure and open too much reasonable debate. This raised contradiction and elusive findings on the conclusion based on the impacts of e-learning systems on student’s achievement. A Mixed method research methodology involving survey and interviews was employed in the collection of data for building the model. Multiple regressions technique was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships conceptualized in the research model. The model was built and validated using structural equation modeling and Delphi technique respectively. Measuring e-learning impact on student’s achievements, indicators such as student engagement, student cognitive, performance expectancy, student control, student satisfaction, continue using, student motivation, student self-esteem, student confidence on e-learning system have positive significance relationship with students’ achievement. The model has the potential to policy makers, universities and other stakeholder to understand the impacts of e-learning after implementation in order to justify the total investment based on that technology. The novelty of this research lies in the extension of the findings in literature with constructs such as frequency use and intention to use e-learning in learning context.Item Modelling the adoption of mobile payment system for primary and secondary school student examination fees in developing countries: Tanzanian experience(International Journal of Information Technology and Business Management, 2014) Tossy, TitusThis paper examines the Use of Mobile Phones for Examination Fees Payment among Primary and Secondary School Students. The paper analyses whether there are factors affecting the use of mobile payment systems for examination fee payment. The rationale of this study is based on the fact that most scholars claim that while number of mobile phones ownership, access and usage in primary and secondary school student’s increases, there is decrease of who opt mobile examination fee payment method. From the perspective of primary and secondary school exam candidates in Tanzania, this paper used Structural Equation modelling technique to examine whether the mobile payment systems technology acceptance level is affected by factors affecting the mobile phone uses. The study identified three significant factors: performance expectancy, social influences and trust.