Anthony Olden
Anthony Olden (PhD, University of Illinois) is an associate professor in the Graduate School at the University of West London, where he works with doctoral students and supervisors across the institution. He spent eight years at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, initially as a librarian and then as a lecturer.
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and legal factors that play a critical role in the adoption or rejection of ICT in this sector. This paper provides insights into the impact a monopolized telecommunications service can have on the adoption of ICT.
adoption of information and communications technology (ICT) by small hotels in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, and to indicate how some of these difficulties were overcome.
Design/methodology/approach – The background and theoretical framework of the research
project is described, and the research difficulties analysed in the context of the literature and of
experience elsewhere in Africa. Issues such as informed consent are considered from different cultural
perspectives.
Findings – The conclusion is that an understanding of the political, economic and cultural context is
essential to the carrying-out of a successful research project in Ethiopia, and that these same factors
are likely to have a major influence on the diffusion of ICT within the country.
Practical implications – An Ethiopian case study is of particular interest because unlike Tanzania,
Kenya and much of the rest of Africa, the country’s telecommunications industry remains in
government hands, a broadband connection is very expensive, and the percentage of Ethiopians using
the internet is very small – no more than 0.75 percent of the population in 2010 according to the figures
of the International Telecommunication Union.
Originality/value – Little has been written about small hotels and other small and micro businesses
in Addis Ababa, and little or nothing about the setbacks that can occur when researching them. This
paper fills some of the gaps in the literature.
Keywords Research process, Information and communication technology,
Small and micro-size business enterprises, Hotels, Ethiopia, Small to medium-sized enterprises,
Hospitality services
Paper type Research paper
purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyse Somali web sites in an attempt to demonstrate how
they reflect the troubled history and politics of the homeland and continue to interest, involve, bring
together and divide Somalis world-wide.
Design/methodology/approach – Web sites were divided into categories, and a study of the
community/political category was conducted. Visits were made to the Horn of Africa and elsewhere,
and face-to-face interviews conducted. E-mail contact was maintained with a number of Somali
webmasters.
Findings – Community/political web sites was the most numerous category, with the majority being
named after a geographical area associated with a group of clan lineages or sub-lineages. They contain
news, opinion pieces and other features in Somali and on some web sites in Somali and English. While
web sites usually declare that the opinions in articles are those of the authors alone, they are unlikely
to publicise views with which they are not in agreement.
Originality/value – The paper illustrates how web sites enable members of one diaspora
community to keep in touch with a political situation at home that is exceptional, and to involve
themselves in its controversies, should they wish to do so. It also shows how the web site has brought a
new dimension to traditional methods of feuding.
Keywords Worldwide Web, History, Politics, Deportation, Somalia
Paper type Research paper
an account of its establishment and early years based on accessible documentary sources in Tanzania and the United Kingdom, on printed sources, and on interviews with 1960s staff members in the two countries. Topics include the background of educational and library underdevelopment during the colonial era; the African Socialist philosophy of Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere; TLS readers and what
they wanted to read in English or Kiswahili; the link with adult education and with literacy education in particular; the attempts to reach as many as possible with books and service in spite of resource constraints; the urban/rural debate; staffing and staff development; the contribution of E. M. Broome, TLS founding director; and the issue of overseas aid and cultural imperialism.
of Somalis fleeing their country in the late 1980s and
early 1990s. Some made their way to the United Kingdom.
This paper gives an overview of the experiences of these
people from an oral culture in a Western information environment.
Twenty-five Somalis were interviewed in London.
The rationale for their selection is discussed. The research
found that Somalis communicate by telephone extensively.
Adults who can receive it via satellite dish listen to the BBC
Somali Service – broadcast to the Horn of Africa – in London.
Young Somalis face problems due to their prior lack of
schooling in the rural parts of Somalia and in the refugee
camps, and because English is their third or fourth language.
Word of mouth is the main way of finding out about
study opportunities and jobs. Community associations help
single parents with little English. Somali language publications
are few. Use of the Internet is common among Somali
professionals and university students. Research conducted
over a number of years would be of value in assessing adaptation
to a new information environment. Research on the
information needs and interests of children born to Somali
parents in the UK would also be of value.
and legal factors that play a critical role in the adoption or rejection of ICT in this sector. This paper provides insights into the impact a monopolized telecommunications service can have on the adoption of ICT.
adoption of information and communications technology (ICT) by small hotels in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, and to indicate how some of these difficulties were overcome.
Design/methodology/approach – The background and theoretical framework of the research
project is described, and the research difficulties analysed in the context of the literature and of
experience elsewhere in Africa. Issues such as informed consent are considered from different cultural
perspectives.
Findings – The conclusion is that an understanding of the political, economic and cultural context is
essential to the carrying-out of a successful research project in Ethiopia, and that these same factors
are likely to have a major influence on the diffusion of ICT within the country.
Practical implications – An Ethiopian case study is of particular interest because unlike Tanzania,
Kenya and much of the rest of Africa, the country’s telecommunications industry remains in
government hands, a broadband connection is very expensive, and the percentage of Ethiopians using
the internet is very small – no more than 0.75 percent of the population in 2010 according to the figures
of the International Telecommunication Union.
Originality/value – Little has been written about small hotels and other small and micro businesses
in Addis Ababa, and little or nothing about the setbacks that can occur when researching them. This
paper fills some of the gaps in the literature.
Keywords Research process, Information and communication technology,
Small and micro-size business enterprises, Hotels, Ethiopia, Small to medium-sized enterprises,
Hospitality services
Paper type Research paper
purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyse Somali web sites in an attempt to demonstrate how
they reflect the troubled history and politics of the homeland and continue to interest, involve, bring
together and divide Somalis world-wide.
Design/methodology/approach – Web sites were divided into categories, and a study of the
community/political category was conducted. Visits were made to the Horn of Africa and elsewhere,
and face-to-face interviews conducted. E-mail contact was maintained with a number of Somali
webmasters.
Findings – Community/political web sites was the most numerous category, with the majority being
named after a geographical area associated with a group of clan lineages or sub-lineages. They contain
news, opinion pieces and other features in Somali and on some web sites in Somali and English. While
web sites usually declare that the opinions in articles are those of the authors alone, they are unlikely
to publicise views with which they are not in agreement.
Originality/value – The paper illustrates how web sites enable members of one diaspora
community to keep in touch with a political situation at home that is exceptional, and to involve
themselves in its controversies, should they wish to do so. It also shows how the web site has brought a
new dimension to traditional methods of feuding.
Keywords Worldwide Web, History, Politics, Deportation, Somalia
Paper type Research paper
an account of its establishment and early years based on accessible documentary sources in Tanzania and the United Kingdom, on printed sources, and on interviews with 1960s staff members in the two countries. Topics include the background of educational and library underdevelopment during the colonial era; the African Socialist philosophy of Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere; TLS readers and what
they wanted to read in English or Kiswahili; the link with adult education and with literacy education in particular; the attempts to reach as many as possible with books and service in spite of resource constraints; the urban/rural debate; staffing and staff development; the contribution of E. M. Broome, TLS founding director; and the issue of overseas aid and cultural imperialism.
of Somalis fleeing their country in the late 1980s and
early 1990s. Some made their way to the United Kingdom.
This paper gives an overview of the experiences of these
people from an oral culture in a Western information environment.
Twenty-five Somalis were interviewed in London.
The rationale for their selection is discussed. The research
found that Somalis communicate by telephone extensively.
Adults who can receive it via satellite dish listen to the BBC
Somali Service – broadcast to the Horn of Africa – in London.
Young Somalis face problems due to their prior lack of
schooling in the rural parts of Somalia and in the refugee
camps, and because English is their third or fourth language.
Word of mouth is the main way of finding out about
study opportunities and jobs. Community associations help
single parents with little English. Somali language publications
are few. Use of the Internet is common among Somali
professionals and university students. Research conducted
over a number of years would be of value in assessing adaptation
to a new information environment. Research on the
information needs and interests of children born to Somali
parents in the UK would also be of value.