Winston Tellis

IT Education: Service Learning as an Experiential Component

Winston Tellis et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:31 PDT

This paper describes a Service Learning course offered to residential college students within a Jesuit University who are expected to perform service during the year. The authors previously taught the course without the semester-long service requirement, with great success. The course titled, “Technology and Society”, is ideally suited for a service-learning format. The students work in an inner-city high school for the service component. A major element of the course is each student’s weekly reflection on the service component, and its impact on the student.

Using Media and Information Systems to Explain the Effects of Globalization and Migration

Winston Tellis et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:29 PDT

In this paper, the authors present the plight of a significant segment of immigrants – unaccompanied minors – who are not just alone in frightening circumstances, but often need services. The authors explore the role of Information Technology (IT), Particularly the Internet in providing information to organizations who serve this population.

Microfinance in Action: A Business Process Analysis of an Operation in Nicaragua

Julio Martinez et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:28 PDT

This paper is a business process analysis of an existing and successful microfinance institution in Nicaragua. The authors visited the main office and branch offices to determine the data flow and process relationships between the main office and the branches. For U.S. based organizations, the cultural differences and resource constraints could be informative. As globalization expands, the need to prepare students for assignments in developing countries is one of the goals of this project.

Computer Literacy in the Developing World: The Bridge to Information

Winston Tellis — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:27 PDT

The widespread use of the Internet for knowledge acquisition is commonplace in the developed world. However, in developing countries, where resources are limited, the infrastructure to support networking could be scarce. This pilot project is a design for implementing a program to train teachers to use laptops in their classroom instruction, and for students to have access to the laptops for assignments. Senegal is a peaceful country, but resources to introduce computers in elementary education are not available. This project will address teacher training, and wireless Internet access in one school, and will ensure the sustainability of the project by engaging trained teachers to train future teachers.

An Online Business in Nicaragua: The Challenges That Threaten the Opportunity

Rodrigo Obando et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:25 PDT

E-Commerce has steadily increased in volume in the U.S. Despite the collapse of many “dotcoms” regular businesses realized the potential for cost reduction and invested in online transaction capability. This paper addresses the strengths and weaknesses of some E-commerce models especially as they apply to Nicaragua. The authors suggest that most developing countries would present significant impediments to a successful E-commerce operation. Some solutions are examined critically.

The Challenge of Supportable Open Source Software: Is it Really Open?

Winston Tellis — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:24 PDT

Information sharing has become an important phenomenon in Information Systems, as “Open Source” software continues to spread. College campuses in the United States and Developing Countries find this particularly attractive, since the cost of technology projects effectively has reduced. However, this implies a willingness to share one’s talents openly. Many software engineers are eager to do so, however, they thus lose their competitive edge. This paper examines the forces leading up to the Open Source era, and what one might expect in the future.

Technology and the People of Fondwa: An Incremental Absorption

Winston Tellis — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:23 PDT

The author worked with the residents of a small rural village in Haiti. In addition to the environmental stress of the region, there was an absence of basic infrastructure to support the basic necessities of life. This article reports on the introduction of a solar cooker to the community in a culturally sensitive manner. The community absorbed that change and went further, into computer networking. The literature particularly in the area of technology transfer was used to guide the researcher during interaction with the local people.

Can WiFi Enable E-Learning in Developing Nations?

Winston Tellis et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:21 PDT

This study presents a low-cost Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) model network that can be used to introduce economical IP-enabled communications infrastructure and uses the Equivalent Theory proposed by Simonson [20] to analyze underlying factors that may impact the successful implementation of E-Learning in developing nations. Managerial implications are summarized in a conceptual model which can be used by practitioners to assess the effectiveness E-Learning activities in developing nations.

Socialist Democracy and Software Development: The Case of Software Development in India

Winston Tellis et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:20 PDT

This study examines the situation that produced a high-tech industry (software development) despite the generally deprived conditions in the country. The authors examine the legacy of colonialism, the ensuing democracy with a socialist bent, and how the global software industry emerged. Clearly the education system and the prevailing infrastructure in a small southern region of the country were contributory factors. There are some warning signs of dangers ahead.

Transition from a Microfinance Institution to Regulated Bank: Technology Infrastructure Planning in a Developing Country

Winston Tellis et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:19 PDT

In this paper, the authors describe the process of converting from a microfinance organization to a regulated bank in Haiti. The literature was helpful as far as some of the procedures were concerned, and the organization was able to use the recommendations. However the researchers found some major omissions in those recommendations as far as infrastructure was concerned. In some developing countries, it is impossible to install PCs because there is no electricity. Similarly network connections and access to the Internet without telephone service would be impossible. A comparison is made between the recommendations and the realities of the environment in Haiti. Future implementations could benefit from the findings of the authors.

Knowledge Work and IT Outsourcing: Is Some Work Returning to the United States?

Arthur C. McAdams et al. — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:57:18 PDT

This paper explores the relationship between Knowledge Work and IT outsourcing which gained visibility during the 2004 US Presidential election campaign. The outsourcing phenomenon is maturing and companies have learned what is appropriate to outsource and for what reasons. That is causing some tasks to return to the US. Understanding Knowledge Work will help companies make decisions regarding effective outsourcing.