The study explores factors that contributed to policy adoption of an HRIS in Trinidad and Tobago using the TOE TRIAD Model. It is significant as it contributes to the body of knowledge on innovation... Show More

The study explores factors that contributed to policy adoption of an HRIS in Trinidad and Tobago using the TOE TRIAD Model. It is significant as it contributes to the body of knowledge on innovation adoption in e-government and strategic human resource management approaches. The study is based in the Caribbean and provides insights into initiatives that developing countries are implementing within e-government in public organizations. Major findings indicated that there was a complex interaction of technological, organizational and environmental (TOE) factors which interacted. The confluence of factors produced impacts that were variable, dynamic and unpredictable. This approach in the TT public service brought about significant changes in processes and functions within human resource management. Future trends may continue and this study serves to guide policy makers in evaluating and monitoring how adoption policies are framed and future implications that may be learned as a result of this formative HRIS initiative.

In most developed countries, linking citizens with e-government through Information Communication Technology (ICT) is an important social role for public libraries. Public libraries partner with... Show More

In most developed countries, linking citizens with e-government through Information Communication Technology (ICT) is an important social role for public libraries. Public libraries partner with government agencies; acting as intermediaries to bridge government with citizens in a way which adds value. In developing countries, public libraries have not attained that intermediary level. Instead, the role of public libraries is constrained to performing a tangential role to e-government. This includes its focus on the provision of access to information. As Caribbean governments progress further with e-government implementation, public libraries may need to expand their role beyond information provision to help citizens in their adoption of e-government, as well as enhance their service provision to them. This highlights some of the digital divide issues that developing countries experience versus information rich countries (i.e., developed nations) such as the United States of America. Thus, the digital divide is not only about access to ICTs; it also now includes citizens' capacity to use ICTs. This paper examines the capacity and role of the public libraries in Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica in enhancing e-government efforts.

This paper argues that although there are benefits to be derived from the use of website technologies, despite their public pronouncements, actors from governments and the private sector have been... Show More

This paper argues that although there are benefits to be derived from the use of website technologies, despite their public pronouncements, actors from governments and the private sector have been equally guilty of not recognizing their importance. Some development actors seemingly see their global presence on the World Wide Web as simply having a page on Facebook. Perhaps because websites are intangible assets their importance as strategic tools is undervalued and their design treated with lacklustre interest by government agencies and sections of the private sector. This article presents in part an overview using two in-depth case studies of how the public and private sectors in the Commonwealth Caribbean have used, or failed to use websites by illustrating inter alia their sub-optimally designed features. A major finding is that both sectors have gotten no further than the billboard or partial service-delivery status of e-government, e-commerce, and e-democracy, and have made little progress at portal development, online services, interactive websites, or using the technologies to transform commercial activity. A second finding is that these same features deny access to services for the most vulnerable sections of their populations to their detriment. An inquiry into website configuration for national development has both practical and scholarly implications. A practical implication of this study is for researchers, governments, development agencies, investors and citizens to use these standardized website evaluation indicators to pin-point and correct weaknesses if this development strategy is to be effectively applied. With respect to scholarly implications, it will provide much needed insight for theory development — since at this time there is virtually no theory underpinning the phenomenon.

As Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) embraces the digital age, one field in which the country must advance is Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). This paper seeks to identify how T&T's Occupational Safety... Show More

As Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) embraces the digital age, one field in which the country must advance is Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). This paper seeks to identify how T&T's Occupational Safety and Health Agency (TTOSHA) addresses e-government (e-gov) through its website, how its approach compares to those used by leading OSH bodies in two first-world countries, the USA (US) and the UK, and how the T&T approach may be improved. The OSH e-gov practices of the US OSHA, UK HSE, and TTOSHA websites are presented. Through a content analysis and comparison exercise, e-gov shortcomings of the TTOSHA site are noted and recommendations for improvement are proposed. The paper's potential benefits include improved accessibility and utility of the TTOSHA site through improved matching of site content to international practice, broader ranges of resource topics and media types, improved responsiveness and connectivity with stakeholders, and better focus on OSH performance through the dissemination of searchable OSH statistics and performance reports.

In a mass crisis event, Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) cannot meet the demand of thousands of individuals trying to alert or request emergency services. However, new technology, driven by the... Show More

In a mass crisis event, Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) cannot meet the demand of thousands of individuals trying to alert or request emergency services. However, new technology, driven by the right policy and tested for strengths and weaknesses in a data rich, semi-predictable environment, can help to address current PSAP limitations. In this paper the authors present a system that aims to provide real-time data to emergency managers during a crisis event in such an environment – a college town during a football game or similarly attended event. The system is designed to accept, sort, triage and deliver hundreds of direct text messages from populations engaged in a crisis to emergency management staff who can respond. They posit that when a municipal or county-level EOC is cross-housed with a University EOC, multiple opportunities for development and funding occur. Universities can provide the technical expertise, funding, staffing, development and testing for systems that serve the EOC. Most importantly, Universities also provide disaster-like events that can be used as proxies for unpredictable mass crises during which more valid and reliable testing can occur. The authors present preliminary findings from a text-to-emergency service currently in use by Penn State University Athletics.