A Review Paper: Critical Factors Affecting the Development of ICT Projects in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia has been stuck at middle-income level since the 1990s. Hence, the government has been aggressively undertaking productivity improvement by enhancing its technological and knowledge capabilities in order to transform the community into a knowledge-based society. However, more than 40% of its population still lives in rural areas and lack basic infrastructure (such as fixed telephone lines or Internet connection). This has led to a wider information gap between the rural and urban communities. The setting up of telecentres is seen as a means by which to bridge this gap, as it will provide public access to ICT services and facilities, particularly in remote areas where such services and facilities are lacking. Malaysia has systematically planned a framework to narrow down the gap; it attempts to offer the best ICT infrastructure to its people, thereby allowing them to adopt ICT as a tool to improve their social-economic status. Although investments and efforts have been in place, however, some of these projects have yet to prove successful, and many projects are still in a developmental stage. In addition, there are few empirical studies on the critical issues surrounding the formation of ICT projects in Malaysia, and we are in dire need of research to fill this gap. This paper provides a discussion of the relevant documents, and a literature analysis, regarding the catalysts and barriers towards the development of ICT projects.

Conceptual Model of Technological Change on Telecentre Effectiveness

“…Another factor that can influence innovation is the infrastructural sustainability. Within the context of this study, infrastructure sustainability refers to technological sustainability, as technology is part of infrastructure (Meng et al, 2013;Cheuk et al, 2012;Bashir et al, 2011;Zahurin et al, 2010). The current state of technology, capability and high deployment rate of technology are found to affect innovation Ali & Bailur, 2007).…”

“…2;2016 individuals' utilization and satisfaction of telecentre effectiveness (Doshi & Gollakota, 2011;Abdulwahab & Zulkhairi, 2010). These factors revolve around the issue related to user satisfaction Gurstein, 2007), improvement of socio-economic (Garside, 2009;Rothenberg-Aalami & Pal, 2005), sustainability (Avgerou, 2010;Proenza, 2001), impact (Avgerou, 2010;Roman, 2003), best practice (Avgerou, 2010;Roman, 2003), telecentre governance (Zahurin et al, 2009;Hudson, 2001), technological infrastructure (Meng et al, 2013;Cheuk et al, 2012;Bashir et al, 2011;Zahurin et al, 2010), and technology deployment (Lashgarara et al, 2012;Bailey & Ngwenyama, 2009). In addition to these challenges and issues on telecentres effectiveness, issues related to technological change are yet to be explored.…”

“…Global growth in ICTs industry has created an awareness of the ability of ICTs to transform lives and alleviate poverty. Hence, the use of ICT in enhancing socio-economic development of the targeted community has been used as a dimension in determining telecentre effective usage (Bar et al, 2013;Meng et al, 2013;Doshi & Gollakota, 2011;Reddi, 2011;Toyama, 2011;Bailey & Ngwenyama, 2009). …”

“…Several frameworks have been developed to assess the effectiveness of telecentres using various factors such as technology infrastructure, services, technology adoption, and information accessibility (Meng et al, 2013;Naik et al, 2012;Bailey & Ngwenyama, 2009). In addition, the deployment of new technologies has vital impact on www.ccsenet.org/cis Computer and Information Science Vol.…”

“…At the same time, the selection of appropriate technologies for the rural communities should emphasize on the cost effectiveness for rural connectivity and information processing solutions (Ab-Hamid, 2011;Reddi, 2011;Crabtree, 2006). Technological change has an impact on telecentre in terms of infrastructure, costs, IT services, and information accessibility (Meng et al, 2013;Garrido et al, 2012;Gomez, 2011;Jimoyiannis, 2010). A study conducted by Qureshi and Trumbly-Lamsam (2008) showed that technological change provides easy and affordable access to ICT resources and thus, have assisted individual in acquiring useful information.…”