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An Online Information System to Support Blended Training of Rural SMEs on E-Government

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Title: An Online Information System to Support Blended Training of Rural SMEs on E-Government
Language: English
Authors: Tzikopoulos, Argiris, Manouselis, Nikos, Kastrantas, Kostas, Costopoulou, Constantina
Source: Program: Electronic Library and Information Systems. 2012 46(1):123-143.
Availability: Emerald. One Mifflin Place Suite 400, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138. Tel: 617-576-5782; e-mail: america@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emeraldinsight.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2012
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Electronic Learning, Information Management, Information Systems, Information Technology, Public Agencies, Internet, Case Studies, Small Businesses, Entrepreneurship, Metadata, Blended Learning, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Germany, Greece, Poland, Slovenia, United Kingdom, United Kingdom (Wales)
DOI: 10.1108/00330331211204593
ISSN: 0033-0337
Abstract: Purpose: Away from central public authorities, regional (also called rural) enterprises do not have direct, physical access to all the services that governmental or public agencies offer. Very often, these services are essential for enterprises, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in such areas, in order to perform their business operations. This paper aims to present an example of how such types of information management and use took place in the case of familiarizing rural SMEs with the use of e-government. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is a case study of how a practical application is designed and developed for the blended training of rural SMEs. First of all, an identification of the main information resources that will be stored, annotated, shared and accessed through the system took place. Then, an outline of the general architecture and user roles involved was developed. System analysis and specification using Unified Modeling Language (UML) then took place. This was accompanied by design and specification of the database, based on appropriate metadata schemas for describing the information resources. The whole process was completed by the design and prototype development of the interface, which was put into public operation and testing with a sample set of real users. Findings: Although there are several information management systems focusing on the education and training of rural stakeholders, their learning resources are not directly relevant to SMEs' needs. The main finding of this paper is that it shows a complete case study of designing, developing and evaluating an information technology application for rural businesses. Originality/value: The value of the approach presented here is the combination of training resources in an information system with a blended training approach, so that it better matches the learning needs of SMEs. Through this web-based environment, rural SMEs are able to find information on the e-government services offered in their region, as well as gaining access to e-learning content on how they can use such services. (Contains 14 figures.)
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 44
Entry Date: 2012
Accession Number: EJ965505
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: An Online Information System to Support Blended Training of Rural SMEs on E-Government
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tzikopoulos%2C+Argiris%22">Tzikopoulos, Argiris</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Manouselis%2C+Nikos%22">Manouselis, Nikos</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kastrantas%2C+Kostas%22">Kastrantas, Kostas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Costopoulou%2C+Constantina%22">Costopoulou, Constantina</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Program%3A+Electronic+Library+and+Information+Systems%22"><i>Program: Electronic Library and Information Systems</i></searchLink>. 2012 46(1):123-143.
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  Data: Emerald. One Mifflin Place Suite 400, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA 02138. Tel: 617-576-5782; e-mail: america@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emeraldinsight.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 21
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Management%22">Information Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Systems%22">Information Systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Technology%22">Information Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Agencies%22">Public Agencies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internet%22">Internet</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Case+Studies%22">Case Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Small+Businesses%22">Small Businesses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Entrepreneurship%22">Entrepreneurship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metadata%22">Metadata</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Blended+Learning%22">Blended Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Germany%22">Germany</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Greece%22">Greece</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Poland%22">Poland</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Slovenia%22">Slovenia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28Wales%29%22">United Kingdom (Wales)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1108/00330331211204593
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0033-0337
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: Away from central public authorities, regional (also called rural) enterprises do not have direct, physical access to all the services that governmental or public agencies offer. Very often, these services are essential for enterprises, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in such areas, in order to perform their business operations. This paper aims to present an example of how such types of information management and use took place in the case of familiarizing rural SMEs with the use of e-government. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is a case study of how a practical application is designed and developed for the blended training of rural SMEs. First of all, an identification of the main information resources that will be stored, annotated, shared and accessed through the system took place. Then, an outline of the general architecture and user roles involved was developed. System analysis and specification using Unified Modeling Language (UML) then took place. This was accompanied by design and specification of the database, based on appropriate metadata schemas for describing the information resources. The whole process was completed by the design and prototype development of the interface, which was put into public operation and testing with a sample set of real users. Findings: Although there are several information management systems focusing on the education and training of rural stakeholders, their learning resources are not directly relevant to SMEs' needs. The main finding of this paper is that it shows a complete case study of designing, developing and evaluating an information technology application for rural businesses. Originality/value: The value of the approach presented here is the combination of training resources in an information system with a blended training approach, so that it better matches the learning needs of SMEs. Through this web-based environment, rural SMEs are able to find information on the e-government services offered in their region, as well as gaining access to e-learning content on how they can use such services. (Contains 14 figures.)
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        Value: 10.1108/00330331211204593
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
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        StartPage: 123
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Systems
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