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Procurement and Supply of Products and Services Industry Leaders in E-Payment Solutions
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DYNAMICS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION IN DEVELOPMENT COUNTRIES: A NIGERIAN CASE STUDYINTRODUCTIONAn important question facing managers and designers of computer-based information systems (CBISs) is why technically elegant systems are not adequately and gainfully utilized by their intended end-users. Anticipated Information Systems (ISs) benefits in terms of reduction in total-cost-of-ownership (TCO), increased user productivity output and value-added enhancements to products and services do not seem to have been fully realized. This is the phenomenon aptly described as "systems being technical successes, but organizational failures" in IS circles and among IT professionals. While investments in IT are rising, the return on investment (ROI) as well as whitecollar and knowledge worker productivity gains are, as yet disappointing. This situation is truer for developing countries, particularly for those in Africa (9, 26). Literature in Management Information Systems (MIS) has identified broad categories of factors affecting the implementation of computerized information systems. Research in information systems failure has suggested that far too much emphasis has been placed on the technical aspects and that the primary cause of failure is the lack of consideration ascribed to the social and behavioral dimensions of the implementation process itself (12, 19). A further review of the literature (1, 25, 34) suggests, that while certain social and behavioral factors may influence IT acceptance and institutionalization, there is little research to date on the relative importance of similar factors connected with mission-critical information systems, especially in the context of developing countries.BACKGROUNDThe introduction of computing and specifically Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) into the workplace is one of the most significant and dramatic changes in the realm of office work to be witnessed in recent years (23). Nigeria is not an exception in terms of this "wind of change" that is blowing across workplaces throughout the world. For example, a pre-test carried out in Nigeria prior to this study revealed that among organizations sampled, 72% engaged in the utilization of IT in one form or the other, 66% operated in a client-server computing environment, 11% had minicomputers and/or specialized workstations, while 9% still used mainframe computers in a hybrid setup and configuration with other equipment. These figures suggest among other things, that computer connectivity, networks, etc., and their deployment are becoming relatively widespread in Nigeria, and by extension, in most of Africa. However, despite the proliferation of microcomputers and workstations in the office environment, organizational embrace of IT can still be described as an innovation. An innovation is defined as "an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an individual or its unit of adoption" (30). Inasmuch as the implementation and application of IT as presently practiced in Nigeria have been described as haphazard (1), it is worthwhile to study the inherent variables that if properly analyzed and harnessed, may begin to deliver IT's limitless potentials and capabilities.By Ikem, F MPublication: The Journal of Computer Information Systems
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THE CHALLENGES OF E COMMERCE IN AFRICAAlthough a number of e-commerce activities are emerg- ing in most African countries, its growth has been slow for a variety of reasons, including low levels of Internet penetration and limited communication infrastructure. Many Africans are still unaware of the opportunities of- fered by e-commerce.The African private sector consists mostly of small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the informal sector. These businesses are widely seen as a potential engine of growth in the information economy. E-commerce offers huge potential to SMEs, includ- ing potential strategic benefits such as possibilities of creating new industries, developing new content and chances to find or create employment.However, companies and the private sector in Africa have not been active initiators of e-commerce. For ex- ample, a survey in Ghana (part of a Ghana SCAN-ICT study) revealed that about 65 per cent of ICT com- panies do not have a presence on the Internet and 84 per cent reported that they were not involved in e- commerce. In Morocco, according to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Telecommunications, the propor- tion of businesses that use the Internet grew from 20 per cent to 42 per cent in 1999 but only 8 per cent of businesses in all sectors currently use the Internet for placing orders online. A similar study on Mozam- bique shows that e-commerce and e-business do not formally exist in Mozambique. The major obstacles include lack of suitable legal framework and security instruments, inadequate banking systems, poorly de- veloped telecommunications infrastructure, especially beyond urban areas, and high rates of illiteracy. Twenty companies out of 66 surveyed have websites and this low proportion by world standards was considered a barrier for e-commerce and e-business development.Much still needs to be done to encourage e-commerce in Africa. Key steps include the rapid development of human resources, greater attention paid to e-literacy among citizens and activities to build capacity, par- ticularly to provide a skills base among SMEs for e- commerce. Governments should encourage business start-ups and incubation projects that advance this activity, including through public-private partnerships, and to pay particular attention to getting women en- gaged in e-enterprises.A new form of e-commerce, which follows the rapid growth of wireless technologies, is mobile commerce (m-commerce), which is likely to have significant im- pact in Africa. M-commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services using mobile telephones or per- sonal digital assistants (PDAs). It can also be used for the main types of e-commerce B2B, B2C, B2G and C2C. Many African societies predominantly use cash for transactions, because of their mixture of formal and non-formal economies, and this provides the basis for a surge of m-commerce in Africa, especially for SMEs in rural and remote areas. Approximately 0.03 per cent of Africans own bank accounts, compared to 6 per cent of Africans who have a mobile telephone.The Internet is the driving force for the growth of e- commerce. This means that Africas growth potential is limited by the lack of infrastructure (connectivity) and equipment. The number of Internet subscribers grew by more than 150 per cent last year in several sub-Saharan African countries. There are now eight mobile phones for every 100 people in Africa, up from six in 2003. An added advantage is that there is a growing convergence of Internet and mobile communication and handsets have acquired functionalities that only a few years ago could only be found on personal computers.
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Joe-Han Network Marketing Ltd. is a privately owned Nigerian company that was established early in 1985. It is a Marketing and Consultancy concern whose guiding principle is to provide professional service of International standard, while putting the customer at the heart of all its dealings and deploring the state of the art technology to deliver the service. Joe-Han Network Marketing with its wide range of products and services has grown tremendously over the years into one of the major players in banking automation systems. It is not surprise therefore that we have become one of the leading specialists in Payment Processing Solution for Cash, Cheque and e-payment solution. Our Products and Services are not limited to the Banking Industry but also provide turn key projects including integrated document management system and archival solution e.t.c..In our quest to provide optimal products and services to our numerous customers, our marketing and trading services have transcended the Nigerian shores. We recognize the benefits of strategic alliances and therefore have a fruitful and Profitable working relationship with many Local (Nigerian) and European companies.
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