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Projects

Online Credit Transfer: An Analysis of North American Institutional Policies for Credit Transfer for Online Learning Programs

The objective of this project is to identify and map the post-secondary education credit transfer policies for online education across accredited universities worldwide. Using web crawling tools to collect data related to PSE credit transfer policies and practices and text mining (qualitative) content analysis methods to systematically identify key characteristics of the policies that could assist ONCAT in developing relevant policies for Ontario PSE institutions.

This project is funded by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT).

The objective of this study is to find out if the communications about the new OSAP changes are reaching their intended audiences and how these communications are influencing parents and students’ perceptions of PSE affordability and financial aid in Ontario. The study will use text mining (qualitative and quantitative) content analysis and sentiment analysis methods to systematically analyze communications on social media platforms.

This project is funded by The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO).

 (PDF file)  Transformation of Work cover  (opens in new window) 

Transformation of Work explores the role of mobile technologies in the rapidly evolving Canadian workplace. New technologies, including wireless and mobile devices, strong network infrastructure, web-based collaboration tools, Machine-to-Machine (M2M), pervasive and scalable cloud-based IT solutions, as well as analytics and applications can lead to dramatic improvements in productivity, development of new products and services, and more engaged employees and customers.

This project will focus on generating actionable insights into the use of connected technologies in Canadian businesses for Rogers Communications. From these insights best practices will be proposed to help Canadian business maximize the benefits of connected technologies that Rogers can use to improve their services. Specifically this work we will focus on four questions:

  1. How is mobile technology transforming business?;
  2. What are the challenges, barriers to adopting mobile technology and how can businesses maximize the benefits;
  3. Do businesses see the value and understand the opportunities in connected technology; and
  4. Who/ what is causing the workplace to transform and become more connected?
 (PDF file)  Read the full report  (opens in new window) 

A fundamental lesson from the 1990's is that achieving productivity gains with new ICT's requires specialized focused on organizational innovation and learning. Often firms underestimate the learning curve associated with new technologies and as a consequence suffer substantial losses in productivity and competitiveness. Implementation of new technologies is a strategic issue important to the practice of technology management. Our research in this area is guided by the following general question: (1) How to strategically time implementation of complex new technologies to rapidly achieve maximum productivity? We are developing theories, frameworks, methodologies and decision support tools to assist managers who must deal with complex technology management decisions.

A major challenge for software product development firms is how to develop new products with above-normal value to the users, as well as to the firm. Dynamic Design Capabilities (DDC) are essential not only to the software product industry but to other firms marketing high technology products or services.

Our research focuses on the levels of the organization and product design and encompasses two dimensions:

  1. Developing enabling organizational conditions for excellence in design and innovation; and
  2. Developing theories, frameworks and methodologies for ensuring dynamic design capabilities in organization.

We are currently involved in three distinct projects in collaboration with other universities and industry partners:

  1. Lead User collaboration in design of software products;
  2. Frameworks and methodology development for the Services Oriented Approach;
  3. Measuring the effectiveness of Software Process Improvement programs.

The rapid expansion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure is significantly transforming business enterprises and national economies. The challenge for economies and enterprises in this dynamic global market is how to utilize ICT to maintain agility and competitiveness while continually achieving higher levels of productivity. Presently we are investigating how small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East can effectively utilize new and emerging ICTs to achieve higher productivity and contribute to economic growth. The research on these national economies focuses on:

  1. How to measure the contribution of ICT to national economic growth;
  2. How to structure ICT investment policy to foster innovation and development of SME's that participate in the global information economy.

Research Projects Partners
Software Tools for Information Privacy on Mobile Computing Handsets University of Cape Town
Samsung
Dynamic Capabilities for Globally Distributed Software Development University of Aalborg;
Copenhagen Business School
Implementation of Software Process Innovations University of Aalborg;
Copenhagen Business School
Innovation Uptake in Open Source Software Development  
Indigenous Software Development Practices in South Africa University of Cape Town
The Impact of ICT on the Jamaican Diaspora in Canada University of The West Indies, Jamaica
Research Methods for Critical Realist Inquiry Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
The Impact of ICT on Social and Economic Development in Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Virginia Commonwealth University, USA; University of Cape Town, South Africa;
University of The West Indies, Jamaica;
American University of Yola, Nigeria.
Adopt-IT