The Success of the Use of Information Technology in the Communitys Economy - Essay Example

Strategic Business IT Usage Project in Zambia Q1. Give an outline of the setting, topic area presenting problem and a rationale for strategic business I.T usage in its resolution. The Zambian community has been one among the poorest in the world since the 1970s. Because of the declining prices of copper, oil shock among other causes, Zambia was left behind the race through progress. Various strategic structures have been made by its government yet they were found ineffective. The widespread use of information technology was deemed beneficial to attain development and progress. As such, the Non-Government Organizations' Coordinating Committee (NGOCC) led the use of IT in achieving their goal of alleviating poverty (Choongo, n.d.). Positive results have already been observed due to the organization's initiative in the utilization of information technology in the country. Farmers have been able to maximize their produce through the different information that they obtain from telecentres ("Southern Africa," n.d.). The internet encourages global marketing and promotion, however remained explored by the community thus farmers are but confined to the selling of their goods locally. They were not equipped with sufficient information on maximizing the use of the internet to optimize returns eventually leading to a sustainable production. Consequently, if they will be provided with their own access to the internet in order to market their goods globally, the chances for them to attain sustainability and earn more is possible. Q2. Briefly discuss probl em causes and hence suggest a possible outcome that when used by appropriate situation actors may solve or partially resolve the problem. Zambian community may be considered an amateur in the field of information technology. They have not yet been equipped with adequate information regarding the maximization of IT in business strategies. Conversely, there may have been a number of the Zambian community who are aware of such yet they do not have the necessary knowledge and skills, as well as equipments that are significant in this advancement. This need must be addressed appropriately in order to optimize the positive results that the Zambian community has been experiencing lately through the use of information technology. One important aspect in sustaining a business is to develop a wide range of market for which it will be able to move freely and competitively. With the help of the world wide web through the internet, farmers and businessmen in Zambia will be able to obtain various information on increasing their profits and productivity. Extensive IT training and use is deemed appropriate in this situation in order to deal with this need. The training that will be provided for in the group will include the use of the different internet sites in which farmers and businessmen can promote and market their produce and products. They will be provided with sufficient knowledge and skills in which they will use successfully in order to attain sustainability and larger profit. Q3. What is your intended general research approach style and method For this research, it is necessary to find out how much does the Zambian community know about information technology. The extent in which the Zambian community utilize the different aspects of IT must be identified in order to locate in which aspects of the field are they not well familiar with, as much as the areas in which they do not know of. The project requires that there should be an intensive research done on the number of entrepreneurs, as well as small scale farmers, who utilizes the World Wide Web as a marketing medium for the promotion of their products. Ones the group is identified, they will also be asked regarding the areas in the use of information technology that they are well aware of. A set of questionnaires that will address to these needs will be distributed among various them that are identified to be the ones significantly affected by the development of IT. The respondents of this study will be chosen using the simple random sampling based from the identified group of sample (according to the gathered number of entrepreneurs using the internet for selling and marketing their produce) that are needed in the research. A list of registered farmers and businessmen shall be obtained from the various organizations and departments utilizing IT in order to generate the sample population. The project will also identify the various cultural practices that may significantly play in the success of the use of IT in the community's economy. Through this data, the project will be able to adjust its strategies, especially in delivering the software/program that best suits the community. Q4. What is your single project aim and its associated project objectives The role of information technology in a community's development has always been regarded to give positive results. In a country that lives in poverty, it is deemed necessary to initiate the use of IT towards its aspired development and economic progress. It is therefore significant as well to explore the various possibilities in which the field may offer in order to produce optimum results. This project thus aims at developing a group of Zambian businessmen who are able to maximize the use of the IT (internet) through online marketing in order to increase profitability and sustainability. Along with this main objective, the following are this project's specific objectives: To be able to identify the knowledge and skills that the Zambian community know about the use of information technology (this includes their proficiency in the use of computers, computer programs, and internet navigation) To be able to enumerate the different aspects of the use of IT in which the Zambian community is not aware of or familiar with. To be able to define the needs of the Zambian community, particularly in the business sector. To be able to design methods that will address these problems and needs identified in the research. Q5. What resources (other than trivial ones) will you need to complete this project idea The resources that will be used for this project includes various literature that will help in understanding the current situation of the Zambian community concerning the different manners that which it helps to improve the community's productivity and profitability. Since one of the project's specific aims is to find out in which strategic area did the community lack in obtaining economic progress, it is necessary to conduct a thorough research on the role information technology has played on the economy of the community. In addition, a focused group discussion may seem appropriate in gathering the data in order to address the need to find out the needs of the farmers and businessmen based from the test questionnaires that will be distributed among them in advance. The results from the test questionnaire will guide the research questions that will be employed during the FGD so as to generate an in-depth analysis of the existing problem that the community faces. The internet will be one among the various resources that will be used in this project in order to realize its objective. Since there is a very limited number of entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom that may take part in the project, it is necessary to obtain more participants who are in Zambia as well. The internet will be used in order to send electronic mails to them for the research. One of the most significant resources that the project will be needing in order to succeed are the competent trainers in the various fields identified to be needed in the research. This may include computer technicians and computer analysts, as well as educators that will teach them the most basic trainings that they need in order to make their products available in the global market through the help of the internet. In fact, it will be more helpful if there will be a software or a program that is available for them to use further after the training. The software/program will then be used and maintained continuously by the participants. Q6. How will you evaluate your project outcome (before it is used) and research practice Constant follow-ups among the respondents will be requested from them in order to evaluate the outcome of the project. However, there is yet a need to keep hold of the record of their profitability before the project is initiated. Through this record, it will be possible to identify and find out whether a positive or a negative outcome results from the project. Along with this, the participants of the project will be provided with other tasks that will make them more knowledgeable and efficient when it comes to the use of computers, particularly the World Wide Web or the Internet, on their business or livelihood. It will be necessary as well to require them to report to the project team leader about any problems that they encounter during the duration of the research. Through this, they will be provided with appropriate measures in attending to these problems as much as they will get acquainted with the various problems that may arise involving the said project. The evaluation of the project will be facilitated on a monthly basis with which there will be two major evaluations every six months. The final though will be conceived on the second evaluation where all the data will be gathered and analyzed. References _________. 2004. Zambia Lags behind in ICT (Information Communication Technology). IPR Strategic Business Information Database. _________. 2004. Zambia to formulate policy on information communication technology. Xinhua News Agency. __________. 2004. Zambia to formulate policy on information communication technology. Xinhua News Agency. __________. 2007. South Africa, Zambia sign science, technology cooperation agreement. Xinhua News Agency. Choongo, W., n.d. The Role of Information and Information Technology in Poverty Alleviation in Zambia: How NGOCC Can Benefit from Internet. Retrieved from http://www.unsystem.org/ngls/documents/publications.en/voices.africa/number9/ a11choongo.htm on July 22, 2008. Hobbs, G. 2004. ZAMBIA: Agriculture now the focus. African Business. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5327/is_200402/ai_n21344964 on July 22, 2008. Nshimbi, I. COMESA's Role in Information Technology and Telecoms. Retrieved from http://www.itu.int/africainternet2000/Documents/doc50_e.htm on July 22, 2008. Probability Sampling. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.ca/english/edu/power/ch13/probability/probability.htm#srs on July 22, 2008 Southern Africa Postal Administrators invest in ICTs. Retrieved from http://www.codezed.org/2008/06/29/southern-africa-postal-administrators-invest-in-icts/ on July 22, 2008. Southern Africa Telecentre Network underway. Retrieved from http://www.codezed.org/2008/06/29/southern-africa-telecentre-network-underway/ on July 22, 2008. Read More