An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems.

Human beings are described by many spiritual traditions as ‘blind’ or ‘asleep’ or ‘in a dream.’ These terms refers to the limited attenuated state of consciousness of most human beings caught up in patterns of conditioned thought, feeling and perception, which prevent the development of our latent, higher spiritual possibilities. In the words of Idries Shah: “Man, like a sleepwalker who suddenly ‘comes to’ on some lonely road has in general no correct idea as to his origins or his destiny.” In some religious traditions, such as Christianity and Islam, the myth of the ‘Fall from the Garden of Eden’ symbolizes the loss of the primordial state through the veiling of higher consciousness. Other traditions use similar metaphors to describe the spiritual condition of humanity:

The Human Condition.

What makes organizations so similar? We contend that the engine of rationalization and bureaucratization has moved from the competitive marketplace to the state and the professions. Once a set of organizations emerges as a field, a paradox arises: rational actors make their organizations increasingly similar as they try to change them. We describe three isomorphic processes-coercive, mimetic, and normative—leading to this outcome. We then specify hypotheses about the impact of resource centralization and dependency, goal ambiguity and technical uncertainty, and professionalization and structuration on isomorphic change. Finally, we suggest implications for theories of organizations and social change.

The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields (Chinese Translation)

/pdf/qualitative-research-in-information-systems-1sezxwy02d.pdf

Qualitative Research in Information Systems

https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A7bdae86a-0209-4e53-83d0-c531dd3465ec/datastream/OBJ/download

Artificial Intelligence (AI) : Multidisciplinary perspectives on emerging challenges, opportunities, and agenda for research, practice and policy

https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/files/13398523/SENYO_cright_Digital_business_ecosystem_literature_review_and_a_framework_for_future.pdf

Digital business ecosystem: Literature review and a framework for future research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of cloud computing adoption (CCA) in a developing country context through the lens of the technology, organisation and environment (TOE) framework. Design/methodology/approach – The study was carried out using the quantitative research methodology based on a survey of 305 organisations from different industries in Ghana. Based on the TOE framework, a conceptual model consisting of ten hypotheses were proposed and tested through a confirmatory factor analysis and logistic regression analysis. Findings – The findings indicate that relative advantage, security concern, top management support, technology readiness, competitive pressure and trading partners’ pressure were the TOE factors found to be significant in CCA in a developing country context. Conversely, firm size, scope, compatibility and regulatory support were found to be insignificant. Originality/value – This study provides insights into CCA across different industries in a dev...

/pdf/preliminary-insight-into-cloud-computing-adoption-in-a-2egifqsf89.pdf

Preliminary insight into cloud computing adoption in a developing country

This study explores the e-accounting practices among SMEs in Ghana. The study also looks at the expectations, realities and barriers in adopting e-accounting. The research design is based on a survey methodology using a sample of systematically selected SMEs throughout the country. The findings reveal that SMEs put in place accounting softwares to generate their financial information. The main value of this paper is the discussion of e-accounting practices of SMEs in Ghana.

/pdf/e-accounting-practices-among-small-and-medium-enterprises-in-393zjsc2am.pdf

E-Accounting Practices among Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana

Studies looking at e-learning adoption from a multi-dimensional perspective have remained below expectation especially in developing countries. This study explores the technological, organizational and environmental (TOE) determinants of e-learning adoption in universities in developing countries, with the 'nature of the course' added to the constructs to underpin the study. Using survey research, e-learning stakeholders in the University of Ghana responded to the questionnaire. The data was analyzed using factor analysis, correlation and multiple regression. The findings established IT infrastructure, Perceived ease of use, Organizational compatibility, Expected benefits, Educational partners, Competitive advantage, Content of the e-learning course and e-learning curriculum as jointly responsible for determining e-learning adoption. Originality of the study lies in the multi-faceted (student, lecturers/tutors and e-learning administrators) and the multi-dimensional approach to the study of e-learning adoption in a developing country. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions.

/pdf/determinants-of-e-learning-adoption-in-universities-evidence-1vhjbxwmez.pdf

John Effah

Papers

Digital business ecosystem: Literature review and a framework for future research

Preliminary insight into cloud computing adoption in a developing country

E-Accounting Practices among Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana

Determinants of E-Learning Adoption in Universities: Evidence from a Developing Country

Digital Platformisation as Public Sector Transformation Strategy: A Case of Ghana’s Paperless Port