Nearshore Nexus 13- Mexico’s Hemispheric Role in IT LeadershipNearshore Americas
Mexico’s position as a global IT services leader has been driven by the need to serve the multinationals based in the country and fueled by the large supply of technical resources produced by its universities. Learn how the active cooperation between the private sector and the Government has helped create an industry that makes Mexico one of the top IT sourcing destinations in the world.
Full text of the Philippine Digital Strategy 2011-2016, as presented by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) on June 29, 2011
Nearshore Nexus 13- Mexico’s Hemispheric Role in IT LeadershipNearshore Americas
Mexico’s position as a global IT services leader has been driven by the need to serve the multinationals based in the country and fueled by the large supply of technical resources produced by its universities. Learn how the active cooperation between the private sector and the Government has helped create an industry that makes Mexico one of the top IT sourcing destinations in the world.
Full text of the Philippine Digital Strategy 2011-2016, as presented by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) on June 29, 2011
Challenges Facing the Adoption of Information Technology in the Management of...inventionjournals
The economic growth of any country depends, to a certain degree, on the ability of the country’s business community to maximize their growth potential. One of the biggest contributors from the business community of any nation, to the nation’s economic development, is the small and medium sized enterprise (SME) sector. Studies have shown that SMEs and indeed, large and multi-national organizations can improve their productive capacity by using the benefits of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This paper explores how the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the developing economies such as Nigeria can achieve their own growth through the adoption of information communication technology. This study relies on secondary data from various sources to examine the availability, accessibility and affordability to relevant ICT facilities and challenges facing SMEs in the use of information technology. The study recommends that agencies that regulate SMEs should formulate policies that will facilitate the adoption of ICT facilities by SMEs because of its potential in improving firms growth performance; SMEs owners should invest in ICT and its components because they have been proven to significantly influence organizational performance.
Nigeria is an oil producing nation which have been relying heavily on oil revenue for its economic well being. Oil depletes and its price can crash making dependence on oil as a mono means for the country’s future futile. Information and communication technology (ICT) on the other hand has impacted the economic growth of various nations such as India. ICT seems to be a key factor in stimulating the development of a country’s productivity across most sectors of the economy and ensuring global competiveness and a move to a New Economy. This Paper examines if a causal relationship exists between ICT and economic wellbeing (GCI) and if ICT can offer a way forward for Nigeria to move from oil based to service and product based economy. The paper also conducts an empirical analysis to find out if oil producing nations experience better growth against ICT innovative nations using 10 countries. The results of the analysis support the believe that ICT led development and of the existence of a causal link between ICT and economic growth and non-existence of a causal link between oil production alone and economic development.
Why tech-giants move their outsourcing operations to Vietnam- whitepaperTMA Solutions
5 reasons to Vietnam software outsourcing
“Vietnam is making a big push to turn itself into an outsourcing powerhouse. Mathematics instruction has long
been the strong suit of Vietnam’s educational system, and now the country’s government is trying to train
people across the country in computer skills”2 - The New York Times.
Digital Asia – ASEAN in ascendence. Team Finland Future Watch Report, May 2016Didar Kaitasalo
In Asia, three trends are driving digitalisation: mobile commerce, business intelligence and smart infrastructures. These will have a significant short- to midterm impact on companies and customers, and ways of doing business. See how digital transformation is shaping the future business landscape in Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines. Areas covered: Fintech: New lending models, mobile payments, blockchain
An information society is a society where the creation, distribution, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity. The aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally, through using information technology (IT) in a creative and productive way. The knowledge economy is its economic counterpart, whereby wealth is created through the economic exploitation of understanding. People who have the means to partake in this form of society are sometimes called digital citizens. This is one of many dozen labels that have been identified to suggest that humans are entering a new phase of society.
The Impact of Information Technology on Business Transformation in the Operat...IJMIT JOURNAL
The study aims at measuring the effects of information technology on the transformation of businesses in communication companies in Jordan. The study population consisted of companies' directors as well as their deputies, assistants, advisors, in addition to department managers and their assistants. The total number of the study subjects is 3 designated communication companies in Jordan; these are: Zain, Umniah, and Orange. To achieve the aim of the study, the researcher had prepared a questionnaire which comprises of 45 items covering the three factors of the independent variable (Information Technology): infrastructure, developmental environment, and executive support systems and applications, as well as the three factors of the dependent variable (Transformation of Businesses): operations, organization change, and workers' competence. In order to test the hypotheses, the following three criteria were adequately used: The Medians, the Standard Deviations, as well as the Regression Analysis. The study has reached a number of results; the most notable amongst these results is that there is a positive effect that is statistically significant of information technology on the elements of business transformation in Jordanian communication companies and all of their relating elements.
The last decade of the twentieth century and the turn of twenty-first century witnessed significant progress in technology in general and information technology and communication in particular. Such progress still continues until today, accelerating with wide quick strides more than ever. This age has produced many mechanisms for manufacturing knowledge and more advanced technological means that have made the globe as a small village. Communication technology, which is represented by the internet, has played a huge rule in transferring information and technological revolution from the north to the south passing by the east and the west at the same time. All of that have had an impact on all political, economic, educational, teaching, social, media, and advertisement systems in all communities.
The term technology is derived from Greek. It consists of two parts, techno, which means skills or art, and logy, which means science or study. Thus, the word technology means the science of performance, science of implementation, or the technical methods to achieve a practical purpose, the science of industrial operation.
Intellectual Property Rights on ICT Diffusion in Developing Countries ijmpict
This study seeks to determine whether information c
ommunications technologies (ICT) diffusion in
developing countries is affected by intellectual pr
operty right (IPR) regimes. Literature items that
were:
(1) published in the last decade, (2) openly access
ible, and (3) cited at least ten times, were profil
ed to fulfil
the purpose of this study. Negative impacts of IPR
regimes ranked highest among all factors used in t
he
profiled literature of this study. The IPR factors
related to the Power of Innovators were most popula
r
among IPR factors that leaned towards the positive
impacts of IPR regime. However, ICT diffusion facto
rs
were the most popular among profiled studies that t
ilted towards mendable impacts of IPR regimes.
Consequently, this study infers that ICT diffusion
in developing countries is adversely affected by IP
R
regimes. Limitations of this study are rooted in th
e fact that most studies were not freely available
and
access fees were prohibitively unaffordable to rese
archers from developing countries. This study
contributes towards an understanding of IPR regimes
as part of important factors that inhibit ICT diff
usion
in developing countries.
Drawing material & energy flow diagramsMerel Segers
Presentation by Merel Segers of Except Integrated Sustainability on drawing material & energy flow diagrams (Sankey). She gave this lecture for the Hogeschool van Hall Larenstein for the work group slow urbanism and urban gardening. The presentation is in Dutch.
Challenges Facing the Adoption of Information Technology in the Management of...inventionjournals
The economic growth of any country depends, to a certain degree, on the ability of the country’s business community to maximize their growth potential. One of the biggest contributors from the business community of any nation, to the nation’s economic development, is the small and medium sized enterprise (SME) sector. Studies have shown that SMEs and indeed, large and multi-national organizations can improve their productive capacity by using the benefits of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This paper explores how the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the developing economies such as Nigeria can achieve their own growth through the adoption of information communication technology. This study relies on secondary data from various sources to examine the availability, accessibility and affordability to relevant ICT facilities and challenges facing SMEs in the use of information technology. The study recommends that agencies that regulate SMEs should formulate policies that will facilitate the adoption of ICT facilities by SMEs because of its potential in improving firms growth performance; SMEs owners should invest in ICT and its components because they have been proven to significantly influence organizational performance.
Nigeria is an oil producing nation which have been relying heavily on oil revenue for its economic well being. Oil depletes and its price can crash making dependence on oil as a mono means for the country’s future futile. Information and communication technology (ICT) on the other hand has impacted the economic growth of various nations such as India. ICT seems to be a key factor in stimulating the development of a country’s productivity across most sectors of the economy and ensuring global competiveness and a move to a New Economy. This Paper examines if a causal relationship exists between ICT and economic wellbeing (GCI) and if ICT can offer a way forward for Nigeria to move from oil based to service and product based economy. The paper also conducts an empirical analysis to find out if oil producing nations experience better growth against ICT innovative nations using 10 countries. The results of the analysis support the believe that ICT led development and of the existence of a causal link between ICT and economic growth and non-existence of a causal link between oil production alone and economic development.
Why tech-giants move their outsourcing operations to Vietnam- whitepaperTMA Solutions
5 reasons to Vietnam software outsourcing
“Vietnam is making a big push to turn itself into an outsourcing powerhouse. Mathematics instruction has long
been the strong suit of Vietnam’s educational system, and now the country’s government is trying to train
people across the country in computer skills”2 - The New York Times.
Digital Asia – ASEAN in ascendence. Team Finland Future Watch Report, May 2016Didar Kaitasalo
In Asia, three trends are driving digitalisation: mobile commerce, business intelligence and smart infrastructures. These will have a significant short- to midterm impact on companies and customers, and ways of doing business. See how digital transformation is shaping the future business landscape in Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines. Areas covered: Fintech: New lending models, mobile payments, blockchain
An information society is a society where the creation, distribution, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity. The aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally, through using information technology (IT) in a creative and productive way. The knowledge economy is its economic counterpart, whereby wealth is created through the economic exploitation of understanding. People who have the means to partake in this form of society are sometimes called digital citizens. This is one of many dozen labels that have been identified to suggest that humans are entering a new phase of society.
The Impact of Information Technology on Business Transformation in the Operat...IJMIT JOURNAL
The study aims at measuring the effects of information technology on the transformation of businesses in communication companies in Jordan. The study population consisted of companies' directors as well as their deputies, assistants, advisors, in addition to department managers and their assistants. The total number of the study subjects is 3 designated communication companies in Jordan; these are: Zain, Umniah, and Orange. To achieve the aim of the study, the researcher had prepared a questionnaire which comprises of 45 items covering the three factors of the independent variable (Information Technology): infrastructure, developmental environment, and executive support systems and applications, as well as the three factors of the dependent variable (Transformation of Businesses): operations, organization change, and workers' competence. In order to test the hypotheses, the following three criteria were adequately used: The Medians, the Standard Deviations, as well as the Regression Analysis. The study has reached a number of results; the most notable amongst these results is that there is a positive effect that is statistically significant of information technology on the elements of business transformation in Jordanian communication companies and all of their relating elements.
The last decade of the twentieth century and the turn of twenty-first century witnessed significant progress in technology in general and information technology and communication in particular. Such progress still continues until today, accelerating with wide quick strides more than ever. This age has produced many mechanisms for manufacturing knowledge and more advanced technological means that have made the globe as a small village. Communication technology, which is represented by the internet, has played a huge rule in transferring information and technological revolution from the north to the south passing by the east and the west at the same time. All of that have had an impact on all political, economic, educational, teaching, social, media, and advertisement systems in all communities.
The term technology is derived from Greek. It consists of two parts, techno, which means skills or art, and logy, which means science or study. Thus, the word technology means the science of performance, science of implementation, or the technical methods to achieve a practical purpose, the science of industrial operation.
Intellectual Property Rights on ICT Diffusion in Developing Countries ijmpict
This study seeks to determine whether information c
ommunications technologies (ICT) diffusion in
developing countries is affected by intellectual pr
operty right (IPR) regimes. Literature items that
were:
(1) published in the last decade, (2) openly access
ible, and (3) cited at least ten times, were profil
ed to fulfil
the purpose of this study. Negative impacts of IPR
regimes ranked highest among all factors used in t
he
profiled literature of this study. The IPR factors
related to the Power of Innovators were most popula
r
among IPR factors that leaned towards the positive
impacts of IPR regime. However, ICT diffusion facto
rs
were the most popular among profiled studies that t
ilted towards mendable impacts of IPR regimes.
Consequently, this study infers that ICT diffusion
in developing countries is adversely affected by IP
R
regimes. Limitations of this study are rooted in th
e fact that most studies were not freely available
and
access fees were prohibitively unaffordable to rese
archers from developing countries. This study
contributes towards an understanding of IPR regimes
as part of important factors that inhibit ICT diff
usion
in developing countries.
Drawing material & energy flow diagramsMerel Segers
Presentation by Merel Segers of Except Integrated Sustainability on drawing material & energy flow diagrams (Sankey). She gave this lecture for the Hogeschool van Hall Larenstein for the work group slow urbanism and urban gardening. The presentation is in Dutch.
Phễu chống tràn TD-102 ngoài tác dụng ngăn chặn nước tràn ngược từ cống thoát nước vào nhà, còn có tác dụng ngăn chặn mùi hôi từ cống công cộng vào nhà. Phễu chống tràn TD - 102 dễ lắp đặt, dễ dàng vệ sinh và có độ bền cao.
Đây là giải pháp tối ưu cho mùa mưa và vùng có triều cường.
If you are hiring an electrician for residential or commercial electrical work. Check out the things before hiring an electrician like licensed, testimonials, warranty, charges and the provide 24 hour service.
Challenges Facing the Adoption of Information Technology in the Management of...inventionjournals
The economic growth of any country depends, to a certain degree, on the ability of the country’s business community to maximize their growth potential. One of the biggest contributors from the business community of any nation, to the nation’s economic development, is the small and medium sized enterprise (SME) sector. Studies have shown that SMEs and indeed, large and multi-national organizations can improve their productive capacity by using the benefits of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT). This paper explores how the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the developing economies such as Nigeria can achieve their own growth through the adoption of information communication technology. This study relies on secondary data from various sources to examine the availability, accessibility and affordability to relevant ICT facilities and challenges facing SMEs in the use of information technology. The study recommends that agencies that regulate SMEs should formulate policies that will facilitate the adoption of ICT facilities by SMEs because of its potential in improving firms growth performance; SMEs owners should invest in ICT and its components because they have been proven to significantly influence organizational performance.
Information and communications technology in south africa slideshare versionDibussi Tande
A lecture given to the Global Initiatives in Management (GIM) South Africa program at Northwestern University (Kellogg School of Management), Evanston, IL, USA.
As in the real world, the digital economy has also thrown up its share of shifting buzzwords. From ‘e-Commerce’ and ‘dot.com’ at the turn of the century, the last couple of years have thrown up ‘ICT’ as the all encompassing technology and for business the newest buzz is undoubtedly ‘outsourcing’. Rarely has a single trend impacted global business and industry these last few years as much as outsourcing or ‘off-shoring’ as it is referred to in the US. Coming along with the compulsions of globalisation mandated by the WTO agreements it has helped develop new markets, improved bottom lines, expanded the range of goods and services and pulled the planet together into a tighter-knit community. This opportunity of outsourcing from the perspective of developing economies is ICT services export.
LinkedIn, office space toronto, toronto commercial office space, toronto executive office space, toronto office space for rent, commercial real estate toronto, toronto commercial real estate, sublease office space toronto
“Prospects of Bangladesh as a Leading Outsourcing Destination in IT Sector”ijmvsc
IT industry is becoming popular for the workers who want to do perform offshore or freelance job in
business. World’s leading researchers have announced Bangladesh as a leading outsourcing destination.
Bangladesh is prospecting with IT outsourcing in regard of human resources, financial and political
stability, macro and micro level infrastructure and market positioning with a huge competition. Besides
these factors, the scenario has changed a lot within the long history in Bangladesh’s IT industry since
1964. On the other side outsourcing is being the most popular method of doing things in least expensive
way. IT outsourcing has the largest share in regard of job quantity. Technology has changed the world,
and Bangladesh has a larger stake to compete with other market within IT outsourcing industry
Threats to mobile devices are more prevalent and increasing in scope and complexity. Users of mobile devices desire to take full advantage of the features
available on those devices, but many of the features provide convenience and capability but sacrifice security. This best practices guide outlines steps the users can take to better protect personal devices and information.
PHP Frameworks: I want to break free (IPC Berlin 2024)Ralf Eggert
In this presentation, we examine the challenges and limitations of relying too heavily on PHP frameworks in web development. We discuss the history of PHP and its frameworks to understand how this dependence has evolved. The focus will be on providing concrete tips and strategies to reduce reliance on these frameworks, based on real-world examples and practical considerations. The goal is to equip developers with the skills and knowledge to create more flexible and future-proof web applications. We'll explore the importance of maintaining autonomy in a rapidly changing tech landscape and how to make informed decisions in PHP development.
This talk is aimed at encouraging a more independent approach to using PHP frameworks, moving towards a more flexible and future-proof approach to PHP development.
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
Essentials of Automations: The Art of Triggers and Actions in FMESafe Software
In this second installment of our Essentials of Automations webinar series, we’ll explore the landscape of triggers and actions, guiding you through the nuances of authoring and adapting workspaces for seamless automations. Gain an understanding of the full spectrum of triggers and actions available in FME, empowering you to enhance your workspaces for efficient automation.
We’ll kick things off by showcasing the most commonly used event-based triggers, introducing you to various automation workflows like manual triggers, schedules, directory watchers, and more. Plus, see how these elements play out in real scenarios.
Whether you’re tweaking your current setup or building from the ground up, this session will arm you with the tools and insights needed to transform your FME usage into a powerhouse of productivity. Join us to discover effective strategies that simplify complex processes, enhancing your productivity and transforming your data management practices with FME. Let’s turn complexity into clarity and make your workspaces work wonders!
State of ICS and IoT Cyber Threat Landscape Report 2024 previewPrayukth K V
The IoT and OT threat landscape report has been prepared by the Threat Research Team at Sectrio using data from Sectrio, cyber threat intelligence farming facilities spread across over 85 cities around the world. In addition, Sectrio also runs AI-based advanced threat and payload engagement facilities that serve as sinks to attract and engage sophisticated threat actors, and newer malware including new variants and latent threats that are at an earlier stage of development.
The latest edition of the OT/ICS and IoT security Threat Landscape Report 2024 also covers:
State of global ICS asset and network exposure
Sectoral targets and attacks as well as the cost of ransom
Global APT activity, AI usage, actor and tactic profiles, and implications
Rise in volumes of AI-powered cyberattacks
Major cyber events in 2024
Malware and malicious payload trends
Cyberattack types and targets
Vulnerability exploit attempts on CVEs
Attacks on counties – USA
Expansion of bot farms – how, where, and why
In-depth analysis of the cyber threat landscape across North America, South America, Europe, APAC, and the Middle East
Why are attacks on smart factories rising?
Cyber risk predictions
Axis of attacks – Europe
Systemic attacks in the Middle East
Download the full report from here:
https://sectrio.com/resources/ot-threat-landscape-reports/sectrio-releases-ot-ics-and-iot-security-threat-landscape-report-2024/
Observability Concepts EVERY Developer Should Know -- DeveloperWeek Europe.pdfPaige Cruz
Monitoring and observability aren’t traditionally found in software curriculums and many of us cobble this knowledge together from whatever vendor or ecosystem we were first introduced to and whatever is a part of your current company’s observability stack.
While the dev and ops silo continues to crumble….many organizations still relegate monitoring & observability as the purview of ops, infra and SRE teams. This is a mistake - achieving a highly observable system requires collaboration up and down the stack.
I, a former op, would like to extend an invitation to all application developers to join the observability party will share these foundational concepts to build on:
GridMate - End to end testing is a critical piece to ensure quality and avoid...ThomasParaiso2
End to end testing is a critical piece to ensure quality and avoid regressions. In this session, we share our journey building an E2E testing pipeline for GridMate components (LWC and Aura) using Cypress, JSForce, FakerJS…
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
SAP Sapphire 2024 - ASUG301 building better apps with SAP Fiori.pdfPeter Spielvogel
Building better applications for business users with SAP Fiori.
• What is SAP Fiori and why it matters to you
• How a better user experience drives measurable business benefits
• How to get started with SAP Fiori today
• How SAP Fiori elements accelerates application development
• How SAP Build Code includes SAP Fiori tools and other generative artificial intelligence capabilities
• How SAP Fiori paves the way for using AI in SAP apps
In his public lecture, Christian Timmerer provides insights into the fascinating history of video streaming, starting from its humble beginnings before YouTube to the groundbreaking technologies that now dominate platforms like Netflix and ORF ON. Timmerer also presents provocative contributions of his own that have significantly influenced the industry. He concludes by looking at future challenges and invites the audience to join in a discussion.
GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using Deplo...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
Encryption in Microsoft 365 - ExpertsLive Netherlands 2024Albert Hoitingh
In this session I delve into the encryption technology used in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Purview. Including the concepts of Customer Key and Double Key Encryption.
Encryption in Microsoft 365 - ExpertsLive Netherlands 2024
I05815457
1. IOSR Journal of Engineering (IOSRJEN) www.iosrjen.org
ISSN (e): 2250-3021, ISSN (p): 2278-8719
Vol. 05, Issue 08 (August. 2015), ||V1|| PP 54-57
International organization of Scientific Research 54 | P a g e
A Review of Information Systems Outsourcing in Africa
Philbert Nduwimfura1
, Jianguo Zheng2
1
(Glorious Sun School of Business and Management, Donghua University, China, mfura@hotmail.com)
2
(Glorious Sun School of Business and Management, Donghua University, China, zjg@dhu.edu.cn)
Abstract: - Outsourcing is a management practice which largely dominates today’s global economy. It is often
defined as the “transfer of an organization business function to an external vendor”. Currently, an increasing
number of organizations are outsourcing part or their entire IT portfolio. The main reasons firms choose to
outsource is the need to focus on their core business and to reduce costs. This paper analyzes the state of
information systems outsourcing in some African countries, focusing on challenges they are facing along with
strength and advantages that will help them overcome those challenges.
Keywords: - Outsourcing, information systems, Africa, developing countries, ICT.
I. INTRODUCTION
Information Systems Outsourcing (ISO) has been a major strategic management issue for decades. It
has now become a common strategy in the information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) fields.
Outsourcing has been defined as the process of hiring another organization to perform a service or to make a
product for a client firm. At the beginning, in the 1960s, outsourcing was driven by the cost of hardware (facility
and operation management), then in the 1970s, the outsourcing problem shifted to the expenses of software
development (contract programming). In 1980s, the main outsourcing driver was the lack of IS personnel and a
high demand of IS applications (In house). From the 1990s, the main concern was to support vertical integration
(on site facilities management and complete outsourcing) and the rapid changing and complex technology
(partial outsourcing) [1].
Outside Africa, countries such as India and Ireland have been experiencing a constant growth of IT-
related industries. Other countries such as China, the Philippines, Russia, Hungary, Taiwan and Mexico entered
the market, and in some cases adapted business models established by India [2].
We are currently witnessing a fast growth of IS outsourcing market in Africa due to various factors such as an
increased awareness of the benefits of developing the IS outsourcing sector among African firms, the recent
phenomenon of globalization, the commitment of many African governments to develop their ICT sectors, a
strong desire to access the latest technologies due to rapid changes in information technology (cloud computing,
web services, mobile computing,…), and especially the 2008 global economic crisis coupled with the current
slowdown of growth in developed countries which brought the need to look for cheaper markets . Firms
engaging in IS outsourcing are mainly trying to reduce costs and at the same time increase productivity.
African firms are realizing that to survive in today’s ever competitive global economic environment, they need
to be more competitive globally, and one of the best ways to do that is through improving their ICT sector.
Countries that are investing heavily in the ICT sector are witnessing a rapid growth of their economies (South
Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda…).
Developed countries have been outsourcing their IT services to emerging countries for years. Until
recently, the main destinations were India and China, but now new markets are opening, and Africa is doing
everything not to miss this golden opportunity. Countries like Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa are already on
the right track. One US based IT company, eVentive has successfully established offices in Ethiopia, and is
already developing cost effective solutions for many large US firms in the area of software development. The
services often outsourced to developing countries includes non-core IT functions and call center operations. The
current challenge for Africa is to position itself as an attractive outsourcing destination.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
There have been much research on IS/IT outsourcing, and one of the most prominent work in this area
was done by Lacity et al. in 2009 [3]. In this paper, the authors analyzed the IT outsourcing literature of the last
two decades, they found that research studies of ITO practice in the early 1990s focused on the determinants of
IT outsourcing, IT outsourcing strategy, and mitigating IT outsourcing risks; and from mid-1990s to the late
2000s, research interest shifted to best practices and clients-supplier capabilities. They observed that recent
studies are focusing more on offshore outsourcing, business process outsourcing (BPO), and that there is a
resurgence of application service provision (ASP).
2. A Review of Information Systems Outsourcing in Africa
International organization of Scientific Research 55 | P a g e
She-I Chang et al. [4] analyzed the process of IS/IT outsourcing provider selection for SMEs in Taiwan.
Waema, T. M. [5] stated that the most important starting point for information and communication technology
to play a role in socio-economic development is having a national ICT policy.
Yoder et al. [6] presented a model for assessing the technological, political, organizational, economic, legal,
educational, and cultural factors related to outsourcing. This analytical tool can help to examine current
concerns and anticipate future trends related to globalization and information technology.
Dhar, S. [2] identified the main risk factors and best practices in global IT outsourcing, along with the
challenges and benefits of IT outsourcing. The paper states that in the last decade there has been an increase in
offshore outsourcing driven by the e-business revolution and a worldwide demand for IT skills.
III. CURRENT STATE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
OUTSOURCING IN AFRICA
In an article published by The Economist, the author MAMADOU NDIAYE states that “technology
companies have their eye on Africa” and that “IBM is leading the way” [15]. In many African countries, until
recently, IT infrastructure was almost inexistent or insufficient. Many political leaders were yet to grasp the role
of IT in development and the need for up to date and modern IT infrastructure and IT skills.
However, some countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Nigeria have
heavily invested in IT [16]. According to reports from the Ethiopian government, the IT sector contributes
currently to about 11% of total country GDP. Kenya plans to raise IT share of its GDP from 5% to 35%
according to the ministry of Information and Communication [4].
Mobile phone and internet penetration in Africa have grown from less than 10% in 2003 to 60% in
2012. According to [15], “In July 2011, IBM won a ten-year, $1.5 billion contract to provide Bharti Airtel, an
Indian mobile-phone company, with information-technology services in 16 African countries. Since mid-2011 it
has set up shops in Angola, Mauritius and Tanzania, as well as Senegal. In all, it boasts a presence in more than
20 of Africa’s 54 countries. IBM has opened a research lab in Nairobi, one of only 12 in the world”. Other
companies like Google, Microsoft, Orange (a French mobile operator), Baidu (a Chinese search engine giant)
are also marking their presence on the continent. The rush to dominate Africa IT industry resembles in a way at
that of dominating its natural resources industry.
Africa’s connectivity to the rest of the world is growing at a rapid pace thanks to a number of ongoing
undersea fiber-optic cables projects, many of them already completed. This connectivity, combined with the
availability of cheap labor makes Africa one of the most promising future IS outsourcing destinations. With the
current advanced state of information and communication technology, it is very normal and advantageous for
firms to focus on their core competencies and outsource their non-core functions. African countries are making
efforts to explore this new found potential. In June 2013, a conference focusing on the creation of an integrated
East African ICT market was held in Nairobi, and on 3rd September 2013, an East Africa Outsourcing Summit
was held in the same city under the theme of “Bringing the World to East Africa”.
IV. DETERMINANTS AND FACTORS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
OUTSOURCING IN AFRICA
IS outsourcing in Africa can be viewed from two perspectives: the client and provider perspective.
Currently the client perspective is still dominant, but we are witnessing a growing trend of the provider
perspective. The reasons for this unequal distribution are mainly the lack of needed IT skills and adequate IT
infrastructure.
In the context of global economic crisis, the fact that most African countries are experiencing rapid
GDP growth while most developed countries’ economies are stagnant or experiencing negative growth cannot
leave IT investors indifferent. Another factor in favor of outsourcing IT services to Africa is its demographic;
more than half of African population is composed by youth, which ensures the availability of enough labor for
years to come, and it’s worth mentioning that labor in Africa is still among the cheapest in the world.
There is a growing trend of skilled people from the African diaspora returning to their home countries where
they create startup companies, mostly in the IT field. The Ushaidi project is an example of such companies, and
there are many more on the continent [7, 8]. Fiber optic cables are being laid in many African countries,
bringing down the cost of connection while greatly improving the broadband speed. Mobile banking (e.g. M-
Pesa) has brought about needs for several IT services like software development, information security, reliable
connectivity, data analysis, data centers to name a few.
V. CHALLENGES AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INFORMATION SYSTEMS
OUTSOURCING IN AFRICA
The main challenge associated with IS outsourcing to Africa remains the availability of enough,
adequate, and qualified skilled people. This issue is being seriously addressed by educational institutions and
3. A Review of Information Systems Outsourcing in Africa
International organization of Scientific Research 56 | P a g e
governments in many African countries. An example is the current introduction of a PhD program of
Management Information System in Ethiopia. Many African universities are emphasizing more than ever on
introducing IT programs in their curricula to produce highly qualified IT skilled students. It is now evident that
Ethiopia is becoming a role model in this area. According to eVentive CEO Yemiru Chanyalew, there are many
highly qualified IT graduates in Ethiopia, and despite the fact that many of them have two or three degrees, they
are still unemployed. He makes a very interesting remark that hiring these graduates can be up to eight times
cheaper than in the US.
Another challenge is the absence of proper regulation in the area of outsourcing in general, and IS
outsourcing in particular. In the past, most African countries’ government focused on natural resources for their
development, leaving the IT sector lacking adequate, adapted and up to date regulations. African governments
are urged to put in place proper legislation and regulations to encourage foreign companies to outsource to
Africa. Measures such as adopting laws for data protection and information security are an example of such
legislation.
A third challenge is the lack of proper coordination between governments and the private sector. Some
African countries have understood that economic growth and development cannot only come from selling raw
natural resources, and have made a lot of reform and investments in the IT sector (e.g. Rwanda, Ethiopia, and
Kenya). In those countries, the private sector has received support from the government, and that contributed to
a thriving IS outsourcing industry.
A fourth challenge is the management of the outsourcing relationship. Some clients have high requirements for
privacy of their data, and therefore they require that the company they outsource their services to must have an
office or representation in their country so that in case of conflict they may be able to bring them to court.
The last challenge is related to the availability of modern IT infrastructure. A few years ago, these were
inexistent or insufficient, but now most government have made it a priority and the situation has improved
tremendously to the extent that a country like Rwanda is already implementing 4G networks while even most
developed countries still don’t have access to it.
VI. RECOMMENDATIONS
It has been proved that the world cannot ignore Africa when it comes to deciding the future of IS
outsourcing, but the road to success still has many bumps which many African governments are now busy trying
to resolve.
According to [14], there are three crucial factors of success in managing the outsourcing relationship; they
include information sharing, trust and commitment building, and incentive alignment.
In order to be more attractive to clients of IS outsourcing, African countries need to continue improving the
quality of their ICT infrastructure, produce more skilled people, and continue to tap on Africa’s traditional
advantages, namely a multi-languages environment coupled with a very welcoming culture to attract more
clients from developed countries. There is no doubt that Africa will become a big player in tomorrow’s IS/IT
outsourcing industry.
VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This research work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 70971020.
This paper is reprinted from proceedings of the International Conference on E-commerce and Information
Engineering (ECIE 2014) 2014. Lancaster, PA: DEStech Publications, Inc.
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