Sherif Kamel | American University in Cairo (original) (raw)

Papers by Sherif Kamel

Business and Education in the Middle East

Interestingly enough, an important publica tion of the National Council for the Social Studies, A... more Interestingly enough, an important publica tion of the National Council for the Social Studies, Approaches to an Understanding of World Affairs (edited by Howard R. Anderson, 1954), does not consider the Middle (or Near) East as such; it limits itself only to "The Islamic World" (chapter XIII, pp. 245-271). Yet, this is only an artificial classification, since, in recent decades, the Middle East has become one of the crucial areas of the world power struggle; fur thermore, Islam, the Mohammedan faith, is not the only common characteristic of the area. Pal estine, in the heart of this area, cannot be ex cluded from any considerations of comparative education in the region.1 We must remember that the Middle East stretches from Turkey to the Persian Gulf, and from the Caspian Sea to the Sudan. The area embraces Turkey, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan; Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, and the states of the Persian Gulf. The Arab world here comprises eight independent states. Geo politically, the area is the crossroads of East and West, the cradle of modern civilizations, and the birthplace of three world religions. Its strategic importance is attested to, among other things, by the number of American military bases. Or by the fact that Saudi Arabia, the world's only re maining absolute monarchy, is the owner of the largest oil reserves of any nation, and a key link in the strategically important Middle East. In fact, none of the states in the region should be underestimated in their geopolitical importance to the United States and the free world. It is a region inseparable from the Mediterra nean, the sea which, for centuries, had been a vital thoroughfare of ideas and goods between Asia and Europe. Historically, as a highway, the Mediterranean and the Middle East have had to face persistent historic attempts to control all or parts of the area; the value of the Mediterranean as a sea and air route depends on the control of the Straits of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal. This

IGI Global eBooks, May 24, 2011

Advances in public policy and administration (APPA) book series, 2019

<jats:p>Information and communication technology for development has been evolving for almo... more <jats:p>Information and communication technology for development has been evolving for almost four decades, realizing business and socioeconomic development and growth and capitalizing on channels for information acquisition and knowledge dissemination allowing the creation of an emerging global knowledge-based society with innovative means of communication that can help increase competitiveness for individuals, organizations, and societies. ICT tools and applications could be used as an effective platform to minimize the digital divide and promote social inclusion. The transformation process enabled through ICT is affecting different aspects of the economy and is forcing governments to rethink the way they handle their socioeconomic challenges as they move forward in their development paths. This chapter addresses some of the initiatives in Africa to minimize the intra- and inter-digital divide and join actively the global knowledge society by capitalizing on emerging technologies but more importantly by focusing on human capital as the most invaluable element in the technology ecosystem. </jats:p>

Advances in data mining and database management book series, 2019

In today's ever-changing global environment, the higher education industry is facing many div... more In today's ever-changing global environment, the higher education industry is facing many diversified and evolving challenges and its landscape is becoming more competitive, dynamic, and complex. To proactively operate in such a changing and complicated environment, innovation, creativity, information, and knowledge represent key competitive edges that need to be introduced, cultivated, and managed effectively. The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading institution of higher education in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region that recognized early on the power of knowledge and the need for a paradigm shift in management that capitalizes on innovative information and communication technologies. Accordingly, the university embarked on an ambitious journey as the first higher education institution in Egypt to build a state-of-the-art business intelligence (BI) platform that would support proactive, informed decision-making as a distinctive and sustainable competitive advantage.

Journal of Cases on Information Technology, 2008

International Journal of Information Management, Feb 1, 2004

The information and communication technologies have had remarkable impacts worldwide on the emerg... more The information and communication technologies have had remarkable impacts worldwide on the emergence of a number of trends and applications affecting business, the industry and the economy. One of the vastly growing waves in today’s changing environment is electronic commerce. It is directly affecting the way people communicate, interact and do business. Electronic commerce currently represents 2% of the global business transactions but promises to dominate the business environment in the 21st century. The successful presence of electronic commerce through the Internet has helped create low cost and more efficient channels for product and service sales through a more dynamic and interactive venue of opportunities where the world becomes the market place. This chapter reflects on the ways business will be developed and formulated in the 21st century. As the world is converging into a global village where supply and demand interacts across nations and continents, electronic commerce represents an opportunity for many countries around the world. Egypt, one of the rapidly growing economies among the developing world has thoroughly invested in transforming its society to deal with the information-based global market economy of the coming century. Respectively, one of the associated technologies in business development and trading has been electronic commerce. With the introduction of the Internet since 1993 in Egypt, today there are around 250,000 Internet subscribers served by 50 Internet service providers and representing the starting point for a potential electronic commerce community. As the Internet grows in magnitude and capacity, electronic commerce will flourish and will have direct implications on the socioeconomic and business development process in Egypt. This chapter demonstrates Egypt’s vision with regard to electronic commerce and its possible utilization in its developmental and planning processes. Moreover, the chapter will demonstrate the roles of the government, the public and the private sector facing the challenges and opportunities enabled by electronic commerce, and how Egypt places the new enabled information and communication technologies as tools that can help in the nation’s development process.

Benchmarking: An International Journal, May 1, 2002

The information and communication technology evolution is affecting many nations around the world... more The information and communication technology evolution is affecting many nations around the world and forcing changes to business and socio‐economic development plans, and reflecting major implications on the realization of the concept of globalization. Egypt, as a developing country with an economy in transition, started to invest in building its communication and information technology infrastructure since 1985 as a vital tool for development. This paper describes the emergence of e‐commerce in Egypt with a focus on the challenges faced that relate to a number of social, technological, financial and legal issues, and the road map formulated in collaboration between the government and the private sector to diffuse e‐commerce in Egypt.

Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations, Oct 1, 2004

This paper aims to analyze the business potential of offering cloud computing services to small a... more This paper aims to analyze the business potential of offering cloud computing services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt. It addresses the challenges that need to be tackled to maximize the utilization of cloud computing services and the role and prospects to be played by SMEs in transforming the economy in Egypt. SMEs are invaluable to fuel economic development and growth as well as creating employment opportunities in emerging economies especially in markets like Egypt with a massive youth opportunity represented by the current population demographics and projected growth ratios. The combination of youth, technology and the emergence of an entrepreneurial culture could represent the successful and much needed ingredients for an ideal platform to support socioeconomic development moving forward. Several previous studies indicate a clear correlation between the proper adoption, diffusion and adaptation of information and communication technology (ICT) and the development and growth of revenues and jobs among startups due to the prospects of emerging technologies that can categorically empower SMEs. In the world of cloud computing, ICT can help SMEs leverage an already existing and growing interconnected global community of consumers, businesses, industries and markets of unprecedented and still growing size. This study highlights some of the facts and developments in the space of SMEs and the emerging role ICT is playing in the entrepreneurial ecosystem with a focus on cloud computing deployment and the associated challenges, opportunities and underlying potential in the context of an emerging economy, Egypt.

eGovernment is one of the most important ICT projects in providing opportunities for citizens to ... more eGovernment is one of the most important ICT projects in providing opportunities for citizens to engage with their communities and engage with government. Many nations have introduced eGovernment projects, which have been implemented with mixed success. This paper reports on a study concerning the impact of citizens ’ trust on using eGovernment services in developing nations. In this context, trust in the technology and eGovernment are identified as essential factors to citizen uptake. The findings of the research show that Internet security and credibility of eGovernment services are significant factors that contribute to citizens ’ trust towards eGovernment projects, and in consequence their use of them.

Social media represents the emerging driving force in political transformation and change. Its di... more Social media represents the emerging driving force in political transformation and change. Its different cutting-edge platform has become invaluable for the mobilization, organization and implementation of social movements around the world. However, there is no one size that fits all. Egypt’s case represents an uprising that was the result of passionate people and not of any specific social media platform. It was definitely not the social media revolution; it was the people uprising that capitalized on social media to realize a dream of a nation in providing “bread1, freedom and social justice”. There is no doubt that social media boosted the people’s desire for a better future, democracy, socioeconomic and political development that was for many decades put on hold by consecutive regimes. This article highlights the clash of generations between older state power and younger citizens and the role social media played in the political transformation in the build-up to Egypt’s uprising...

Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 2019

PurposeBusiness schools are becoming invaluable platforms linking academia, business and industry... more PurposeBusiness schools are becoming invaluable platforms linking academia, business and industry. The constantly changing nature of markets requires a continuous and iterative dialog between business schools and other constituents including the government, the private sector and the civil society to guarantee that business and management education is catering for local and global market needs. The purpose of this paper is to address the growing role of business schools in transforming the society, building on the experience of the school of business of the American University in Cairo, and its impact in preparing the business leaders and entrepreneurs who can make a difference in society through rigorous and adaptive business and management education while addressing the elements of governance, accreditation, internationalization, and relevance, creativity and innovation in research.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, desk research is coupled with sharing of the development o...

Business and Education in the Middle East, 2014

Sherif Kamel looks at the challenges and opportunities in the MENA region and argues that investi... more Sherif Kamel looks at the challenges and opportunities in the MENA region and argues that investing in human capital is fundamental to socioeconomic development and growth.

Business and Education in the Middle East

IGI Global eBooks, May 24, 2011

Advances in public policy and administration (APPA) book series, 2019

Advances in data mining and database management book series, 2019

Journal of Cases on Information Technology, 2008

International Journal of Information Management, Feb 1, 2004

Benchmarking: An International Journal, May 1, 2002

Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations, Oct 1, 2004

Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 2019

Business and Education in the Middle East, 2014

In today's economic, business and social spaces, communities and societies around the world const... more In today's economic, business and social spaces, communities and societies around the world constantly face a set of challenges related to growing unemployment, economic development, changing market dynamics and tough business conditions amongst others. However, these societies and spaces are also regularly presented with a variety and spectrum of opportunities, given the continuous development of new markets, the growing role of cutting-edge technology platforms, especially with the growing penetration and impact of the fourth industrial revolution, the evolution of the digital economy and the global widespread of entrepreneurial initiatives and activities around the world in both the developed world and in emerging economies.

Technology Management in the Knowledge Era

Proceedings of the 8th BIT Conference on Business Information Management-Adaptive Futures

This paper describes an experience from Egypt for building its nation-wide information technology... more This paper describes an experience from Egypt for building its nation-wide information technology human infrastructure. The process started in 1987 with a modest training department affiliated to the key government organisation in the country responsible for introducing information technology into governmental institutions namely the Cabinet of Egypt Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC). Initially, the model of operations was basically formulated on an ad hoc basis. However, across the years, such model has been adapted leading to an information technology institute that is currently offering a societal service through training and professional development. Since 1991, the institute has been playing a major role in transforming and formulating a new generation skilled and knowledgeable in cutting-edge information technologies. This paper compiles the ideas and efforts that were introduced and put into perspective for the formulation of a new generation of Egyptians that are information technology literate and capable of keeping pace with various developments taking place globally. The essence of going through the experience was to help Egypt bridge the gap between developing and developed countries and pave the way for a strong information technology infrastructure build-up that could boost the socio-economic development process into the 21st century.

Proceedings of the ISOneWorld Conference on Engaging Executive IS Practice

The trends of globalization, the digital economy, the information evolution and the development o... more The trends of globalization, the digital economy, the information evolution and the development of knowledge-based societies enticed so many nations to invest in its information infrastructure with its diverse building blocks. Egypt, as a developing nation has been going through a number of socioeconomic transformations which were facilitated and hindered at one point or another by the development, deployment and institutionalization of information and communication technology. The introduction of computing to Egypt started in the 1960s and ever since that date it witnessed massive developments especially since the mid 1980s. In 1999, a new vehicle was introduced at the highest policy formulation level to reflect the interest of the government in deploying advanced information and communication technology for development and growth and that is the ministry of communications and information technology. This paper describes the current status of information technology diffusion in Egypt and its impact on the nation’s socioeconomic development and growth.

Proceedings of the 12th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS) on Leveraging ICT for Resilient Organizations and Sustainable Growth in the Asia Pacific Region

Proceedings of the 11th International Business Information Management Association (IBIMA) Conference on Innovation and Knowledge Management inTwin Track Economies: Challenges and Opportunities, 2009

Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) is setting the pace for a changing, compe... more Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) is setting the pace for a changing, competitive and dynamic global marketplace and representing an enabling platform for business and socioeconomic development in the 21st century. In that respect, developing nations are urged to keep pace regularly with the developments taking place in the developed world through the design and implementation of plans for universal access in terms of ICT literacy and its effective utilization for developmental purposes. It is important to note that building the ICT infrastructure will not realize quantum leaps in the development process unless it is coupled with concrete projects and activities that engage the community at large with its different stakeholders irrespective of their locations whether urban or remote, gender or background. This paper describes the evolution of the ICT sector in Egypt over the last decade as an integral element of the nation’s overall development process within the context of a an emerging economy and the various growing potentials ICT offers for its socioeconomic development.

Proceedings of the Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology Conference (PICMET) on Technology Management in the Age of Fundamental Change

Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) is setting the pace for a changing, compe... more Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) is setting the pace for a changing, competitive and dynamic global marketplace, representing an invaluable vehicle for socioeconomic development and introducing new forms and structures of organizations that are no longer affected by geographical or time barriers. Egypt, as a developing nation, with an emerging economy, has realized the potentials of ICT since the 1960s and has increasingly invested in building its infostructure and infrastructure during 1980s but it was in the 1990s that ICT was put on the national agenda as an enabler for development and a gateway to the knowledge society. The government in collaboration with different stakeholders has implemented a number of projects to diffuse ICT for development with implications that varied across different sectors and communities. The chapter intends to describe the evolution of the ICT sector to draw on the experiences of the role of ICT in development in the context of an emerging economy. Finally, the chapter addresses the challenges and opportunities made available by using ICT for development and the related socioeconomic implications on the society.

Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Management of Technology (IAMOT) on Productivity Enhancement for Social Advance: The Role of Management of Technology, 2005

Technology and innovation management education has been around for over three decades. It is cont... more Technology and innovation management education has been around for over three decades. It is continuously regarded as a critical and vital area for professional and executive development in different countries that can effectively help in economic development and growth. The growing development and importance of technology and innovation management is derived and boosted by the knowledge-driven industry development that is increasingly being diffused globally. Adapting to change and the retransformation of organizations to cope with the continuous innovation represents one of the key challenges facing different organizations that can only be met with current and value-added human resources capacity development programs. Such programs should embed models such as effective management learning techniques including the technology-management approach that combines general management theories with technology management practices to link business and technology communities together and to cater for the growing needs of the industry and the society at large. This paper represents the initial findings for a research-in-progress for the development of a comprehensive post-graduate management education program that addresses the needs in the area of management of technology in the context of a developing nation; Egypt. The program is intended to reflect a partnership between the government and the private sector in a win-win formula that addresses the needs of the industry as well as contribute in the socioeconomic development of the society in terms of productivity, employment and competitive position amongst other elements.

Proceedings of the 15th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) on the Gate to the Future of IS

Decision support systems (DSS) emerged in the 1970s and have gradually in different dimensions an... more Decision support systems (DSS) emerged in the 1970s and have gradually in different dimensions and through various channels based on emerging information technology affected the decision making process at the individual, organizational and societal levels. Competition, convergence, globalization, business and socioeconomic pressures as well as market needs have all contributed to the deployment of cutting-edge mechanisms for rational and effective decision-making processes for government, private and public sector organizations alike. This paper describes the experience of the government of Egypt in spreading the awareness of information technology and its use in managing socioeconomic development since the mid 1980s through building multiple DSS platforms for governmental decision-making with a variety of lessons learnt in the design and delivery of DSS under complex conditions common to developing nations. The experience offers insights into a variety of problems for IS designers, implementers, users, practitioners and researchers. The paper focuses on the use of DSS for development through the experience of a government think tank, Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), while demonstrating the implementation and institutionalization of decision support platform at the local administration level for delegation, empowerment and development planning.

Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on eLearning Applications, 2007

Information and communication technology (ICT) have had a huge impact on various types of learnin... more Information and communication technology (ICT) have had a huge impact on various types of learning in the past two decades including; distance learning, open learning, online learning and the available hybrid models, not to mention even the traditional ways of delivering knowledge. These technologies foster the growth of electronic learning (eLearning) in many universities and institutions around the world. This paper focuses on applied eLearning in higher education in Egypt taking two case studies including the case of Alexandria Institute of Technology (AIT) and the case of the Information Technology Institute (ITI) including their experience and a demonstration of the lessons learnt for future implementation in similar environments

Proceedings of the 9th International Business Information Management Conference (IBIMA) on Information Management in Modern Organizations

Electronic government (eGovernment) has become one of the most evolving and important application... more Electronic government (eGovernment) has become one of the most evolving and important applications of information and communication technology (ICT) in recent years due to its positive impact on citizens, government and the society alike. However, due to lack of appropriate eReadiness levels in many developing nations, eGovernment failure rates are still relatively high with a lot that needs to be done that relates to awareness, restructuring and ICT completion and deployment. This paper demonstrates the findings of a study investigating the impact of eReadiness within the society on the success of different universities and colleges admission services in Egypt as a model example of eGovernment design and delivery in developing nations. The study findings indicate the importance of eReadiness as an invaluable element for eGovernment successful introduction, diffusion and implementation in the developing nations context.

Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Resources Management (Conf-IRM) on Information Resources Management in the Digital Economy

Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) is setting the pace for a changing, compe... more Emerging information and communication technology (ICT) is setting the pace for a changing, competitive and dynamic global community. The transformation process seems rapid, concrete and smooth in developed nations with less promises and achievements in the developing world. These emerging technologies represent the platform for business and socioeconomic development in the 21st century. Therefore, it is becoming a real-time challenge for developing nations to keep pace with the developments taking place worldwide but also to have equal access to its own community in terms of technology literacy and usage for socioeconomic development purposes. Building the infrastructure will not realize quantum leaps in the development process unless it is coupled with concrete projects and activities that engage the community at large with its different segments and groups irrespective of their locations whether urban or remote, gender or background. This paper describes the experience of community development centers in Egypt and its role in diffusing ICT for societal development and digital inclusion based on a review of a number of community development centers models that were implemented since the mid 1980s

Proceedings of the Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET) on Technology Management for the Global Future

UTi Worldwide Inc is an international, non-asset based supply chain management company. It provid... more UTi Worldwide Inc is an international, non-asset based supply chain management company. It provides air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage and other logistics-related services. It serves a large and diverse base of global and local companies, including customers operating in industries such as pharmaceuticals, apparel and chemical. UTi uses its global network, information systems, relationship with transportation providers and expertise in outsourced logistics services to optimize the operation of its customers’ global supply chains. This paper demonstrates how UTi Egypt uses information technology across its different managerial levels in terms of decision making process, overcoming problems, and operating its businesses. The research1 is both quantitative as well as qualitative in nature. The analysis of the findings were based on three elements; generally accepted information technology theories such as the technology acceptance mode), compiled research regarding IS implementation methods and system evaluation techniques. This research reflects the first phase of a wider-scale research that should cover more companies in an attempt to develop a profile for IT implementations within the context of the environment in Egypt and identify some lessons learnt for similar implementations in other developing nations.

Proceedings of the 2nd International Business Information Management Association Conference (IBIMA) on Information Technology and Organizations in the 21st Century, 2004

Mobile operators in Egypt are facing a number of challenges due to the decline of the average rev... more Mobile operators in Egypt are facing a number of challenges due to the decline of the average revenue per user combined with local currency devaluation yielding to a difficult business position. Additionally, with the speculations that were spreading over the last few years related to the launch of the third mobile operator in addition to the already existing two operators MobiNil since 1997 and Vodafone Egypt since 1998, the challenges are mounting. Many researches and studies have been developed to assess the impact of the new competition with various results reached. If introduced, the new competition will add more pressures on existing operators to differentiate their services and introduce innovative solutions to maintain their competitive edge which is something perceived as needed in the market in Egypt. Therefore, newly diffused technologies with diversified revenue channels are becoming a must, and even if they are not implemented in the near future, it is believed that it will be introduced in the years to come. This paper documents the findings of a research work investigating the possibility of using third generation services as a tool for generating additional revenues and respectively profits to mobile operators irrespective of their number. To support the findings a system dynamics approach has been conducted to capture the dynamics of the current industry to help explain its profitability.

Proceedings of the Conference of Information Science, Technology and Management (CISTM) on Improving Business Performance through Knowledge Management

Information and communication technology are setting the pace for a new way of life in the new mi... more Information and communication technology are setting the pace for a new way of life in the new millennium. The transformation seems concrete and smooth in developed nations. Even the capitals and the metropolitan areas of the developing world are slowly catching up with the technology and moving into the new world order, but the case for the rural areas, the suburbs and the major count of the population is dramatically different. This paper describes the introduction and development of the Internet in Egypt with its laws regulating the telecommunications industry where the future looks promising for a rapid growth in the field with expectations of strong impacts on the economy. The paper demonstrates how the Internet can make a difference for a country’s agenda that focuses on growth and development. The focus is on awareness to the various uses of the Internet by reaching out to the remote areas and the local communities with an objective to evaluate how the Internet can be a vehicle for socioeconomic development with implications on the society at large. The paper covers one of the governments sponsored and supported projects for the development of the Internet community especially in remote areas through the experience developed by the “Technology Access Community Centers-TACC”.

Proceedings of the eLearning Applications in Egypt Conference

Learning is the most indispensable activity in the current knowledge-based economy. One of the em... more Learning is the most indispensable activity in the current knowledge-based economy. One of the emerging learning mediums is electronic training “eTraining”, which is a growing trend and is expected to become crucial in meeting newly introduced challenges and in catering for changing and diversified market needs. The global connectivity of the Internet and the availability of innovative information and communication technology are factors that have contributed in catalyzing the new Internet-based learning paradigm offering great opportunities for organizations to educate and train their management and staff. However, Internet-based training poses several considerable challenges for various organizations especially those operating in developing countries
Within the context of transferring and using information and communication technology into developing countries, this paper demonstrates the outcome of a research aiming at investigating the effectiveness and applicability of Internet-based training in providing training for organizations in Egypt. The focus of the research was mainly soliciting the opinions of three different groups of stakeholders; human resources or training managers responsible for setting training policies; instructors responsible for facilitating courses and preparing material; and trainees undertaking the training.

Managing Information Technology in a Global Economy

Challenges of Information Technology Management in the 21st Century

Proceedings of the 7th AUC Research Conference on Research and Education in Egypt: a Millennial Assessment

Virtual organizations are increasingly gaining ground worldwide in different sectors. The role of... more Virtual organizations are increasingly gaining ground worldwide in different sectors. The role of information and communication technology in that respect has been the driving force together with qualified human interfaces that are capable of transforming organizations into information-based organizations dealing at distance irrespective to time and distance barriers. The literature available in this domain only addresses the theoretical foundations behind the emergence of virtual teams and organizations. As for the implementations, it is not well reported. This paper addresses a case for a virtual organization in the field of education where the target is to educate students on various management and information technology techniques while being in Egypt through a number of partnerships and strategic alliances. The important outcome of the case has been the identification of the massive opportunities available worldwide to expand in that direction and make use of the global wealth of knowledge through an exchange mechanism across nations and societies using a multiplicity of forms for virtual organizations.

AUC Business Review, 2014

Change and transformation are elements of today’s fast, competitive and global marketplace. Movi... more Change and transformation are elements of today’s fast, competitive and global marketplace. Moving forward, the rate of change is not going to slow down anytime soon. In fact, it is increasingly gaining momentum and will surely speed up in the years to come. The question that poses itself is who is capable to be part and, in many ways, lead that change at the organization, industry and society level. Change is a journey and could never be addressed as a destination since it is a continuous iterative process that needs buy-in from a diverse community of stakeholders that, if on board, can help create an effective sustainable and well-grounded platform for the entire ecosystem involved.

The continuous developments and innovations in the areas of information and communication technol... more The continuous developments and innovations in the areas of information and communication technologies have had remarkable contributions in today’s growing global environment with implications on individual and societal aspects of life. Recently, one of the key societal developments has been the domain of knowledge. Therefore, a growing number of countries focusing their capacities towards investing in developing their human resources capabilities as a major building block in their future developmental plans. Respectively, a growing interest was directed towards the role of emerging information and communication technology tools and techniques in learning and their contribution in building societies across the globe capitalising on the enabling and growing knowledge dissemination and Internetworking technologies. The focus of this paper is on distance learning and the possibility of bringing the world of research and learning together in an interactive, global and accessible environment that helps disseminate knowledge between students, researchers, instructors and institutions. The paper reflects ideas enabled by the current information technology innovations and driven by the needs of Egypt to leapfrog into the 21st century. The paper provides new grounds for research for the creation of an interactive learning environment with respect to knowledge acquisition and dissemination that can contribute to the global community in making the learning process accessible by anyone, anytime and anywhere.

The transfer of knowledge globally has always been the cornerstone of development across differen... more The transfer of knowledge globally has always been the cornerstone of development across different eras. In today’s global environment, countries are focusing their efforts in investing in people’s professional and educational development as a strategic investment in their present and their future as individuals, organisations and nations. This will lead to the formulation of communities and societies that can keep pace with the continuous innovations and developments taking place globally. This paper reflects a research project investigating the use of IT as a tool to leverage education and learning processes to present to the global community means for innovative societal learning and education in the 21st century. The paper introduces the basic elements of the research that is currently underway. The research targets the development of a new learning model for the 21st century that is free from limitations of space and time. The outcome of the research and the learning model is expected to appear in future publications.

Innovations: Technology Governance Globalization, Dec 3, 2011

It is with great pleasure to see the publication of the Middle East Special Edition of Innovation... more It is with great pleasure to see the publication of the Middle East Special Edition of Innovation (MIT Press Journal). It is important to note that this special edition will be distributed in the Second Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship to be held in Istanbul, Turkey during the period 3-6 December 2011 but more importantly will be disseminated for use in schools of business around the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and beyond. The special edition includes a number of business cases that focus on for-profit entrepreneurship in the MENA region. They emphasize how innovation and creativity can lead to significant growth of business and industry and hence creating opportunities for society. I am delighted to see the publishing of this special edition, which sees the production of cases that address the development taking place in emerging economies like Egypt and Jordan and one of the leading global economies Turkey at a time where the MENA region is in a historic transformational period following the uprising and recent development in a number of regional nations including Egypt.

AUC Business Review, 2013

Investing in human capital should always be the priority for individuals, organizations and socie... more Investing in human capital should always be the priority for individuals, organizations and societies to be able to constantly move forward. It is people who make a difference; they have been and will always be the differentiating factor in a world increasingly driven by fierce and timely competition. Business schools around the world regularly look for niches to better serve their local community and search for opportunities to place themselves on the global educational space. AUC School of Business is driven by the notion that entrepreneurial education is invaluable for Egypt’s development and growth. Therefore, the school formulated a strategy that focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership while addressing the issues of ethics, responsibility and citizenship. The platform for implementing the strategy is the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (EIP) that was launched in 2010 with a vision to help educate Egypt’s potential leaders and entrepreneurs as well as create a robust and competitive private sector

AUC Business Review, 2013

We live in a world that is consistently evolving and changing in different ways. Many would thin... more We live in a world that is consistently evolving and changing in different ways. Many would think that over the last few decades emerging information and communication technology had the most influential role in such evolution. However, it is important to realize that what we are witnessing is more than just the proliferation of information technology tools and application, we are actually living in a world of rapid innovation that goes way beyond the limits of information technology. It is an era of innovation in the way we think, work, learn, take initiatives, react to situations, start our business, and manage our daily life, among other domains. Today, the focus is on where the next big idea will come from whether it is a game-changing innovation or a transformational idea that can create value associated with positive business and socioeconomic outcomes.

Global Focus, 2011

Managing after the Arab Spring: investing in human capital is fundamental to socioeconomic develo... more Managing after the Arab Spring: investing in human capital is fundamental to socioeconomic development and growth in the MENA region. In the wake of economic challenges induced by recent political instability, MENA management education programs face unprecedented challenges and opportunities to influence the next generation of revolutionary business leaders and entrepreneurs.

During the 1960s computing was introduced to Egypt. Its use and applications was limited to the g... more During the 1960s computing was introduced to Egypt. Its use and applications was limited to the government and the public sector. During the 1980s the introduction and diffusion of computing was widespread following the global personal computer evolution. Personal computers effectively affected organizational development and growth due to the continuous developments in the information technology industry and caused by hardware penetration, software innovations, and the build-up of the telecommunications infrastructure. This paper assesses the software industry in Egypt as a major building block of the information technology industry and a possible active contributor to business and socioeconomic development at large.

Industry and Higher Education, 2003

Learning is the most indispensable activity in the current knowledge-based economy where firms, i... more Learning is the most indispensable activity in the current knowledge-based economy where firms, in order to compete and survive, must be constantly alert, capable of adapting to fast change, constantly learn, evolve, and transform themselves rapidly. In that respect, the use of innovative information and communication technology is perceived to play a key role in the development of new learning platforms and mechanisms. One of the emerging solutions is electronic training “eTraining”, which is a growing trend and is expected to become crucial in meeting newly introduced challenges and in catering for changing and diversified market needs. The global connectivity of the Internet and the availability of innovative information and communication technology are factors that have contributed in catalyzing the new Internet-based learning paradigm offering great opportunities for organizations to educate and train their management and staff. However, Internet-based training poses several considerable challenges for various organizations especially those operating in developing countries. Within the context of transferring and using information and communication technology into developing countries, this paper demonstrates the outcome of a research aiming at investigating the effectiveness and applicability of Internet-based training in providing training for organizations in Egypt. The focus of the research was mainly soliciting the opinions of three different groups of stakeholders; human resources or training managers responsible for setting training policies; instructors responsible for facilitating courses and preparing material; and trainees undertaking the training.

Moroccan Journal of Control, Computer Science and Signal Processing, 2004

Today's economic challenges--revenue decline, staff cuts and other corporate downsizing--have cre... more Today's economic challenges--revenue decline, staff cuts and other corporate downsizing--have created serious internal challenges for training departments. Often the victims of corporate cutbacks, training managers are left with fewer resources to respond to companies’ training needs and management concerns about performance and budgets. Yet, lacks of resources, training managers now find themselves having to justify costs and investments to executive management. In particular, executives are often asking about a project's applicability and effectiveness. And etraining, a strategic HR investment, is increasingly called into question. Nonetheless, etraining, which is a growing trend, is expected to become crucial in meeting the challenges of today’s fast changing world economy. However, e training poses several considerable challenges for various organizations especially those operating in developing countries. Within this context, this paper demonstrates the outcome of a research aiming at investigating the effectiveness and applicability of etraining in organizations in Egypt. The focus of the research was mainly soliciting the opinions of three different groups of stakeholders; human resources or training managers responsible for setting training policies; instructors responsible for facilitating courses and preparing material; and trainees undertaking the training.

The information and communication technology evolution is aggressively affecting the business wo... more The information and communication technology evolution
is aggressively affecting the business world in the twenty first
century. The magnitude of change in business development from a global perspective, unconstrained by time or distance barriers, has reached both developed and developing nations. E-commerce currently represents 2 per cent of the global business transactions but promises to dominate the business environment during the course of the twenty-first century. The successful presence of
e-commerce through the Internet has helped create low cost and high efficiency for product and service sales through a more dynamic and interactive venue of opportunities where the world becomes the marketplace.

IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Jan 1, 2003

Drawing on the theoretical work of Hill et al. and Straub et al., this study examines culture-spe... more Drawing on the theoretical work of Hill et al. and Straub et al., this study examines culture-specific inducements and impediments to using the Internet in the Arab world. Research questions were 1) to what extent does the process of technology culturation affect the acceptance of the Internet 2) to what extent do social norms (SNs) affect the acceptance of the Internet? Of the two research methods employed, the first was a quantitative field study of knowledge workers. The instrument measured the extent to which respondents and their organizations are influenced by advanced technology cultures. Using partial least squares (PLS), the first of two models tested links between SNs; technological culturation and Internet usage for each respondent. The second model investigated links between technological culturation and Internet utilization for the respondent’s organization. Findings show strong support for both models, explaining, respectively, 47% and 37% of the variance. The second method was a qualitative analysis of respondents’ free-format comments. These findings reinforce the quantitative findings, on the one hand, and reveal additional cultural barriers that still need to be studied, on the other. Findings identify how culture can both inhibit and encourage technological innovation and how Arab cultures can move their economies more quickly into the digital age.

The information and communication technology evolution is affecting many nations around the world... more The information and communication technology evolution is affecting many nations around the world and forcing changes to business and socio-economic development plans, and reflecting major implications on the realization of the concept of globalization. Egypt, as a developing country with an economy in transition, started to invest in building its communication and information technology infrastructure since 1985 as a vital tool for development. This paper describes the emergence of e-commerce in Egypt with a focus on the challenges faced that relate to a number of social, technological, financial and legal issues, and the road map formulated in collaboration between the government and the private sector to diffuse e-commerce in Egypt.

The advances in information and communication technology are affecting many aspects of the econom... more The advances in information and communication technology are affecting many aspects of the economy in developed as well
as developing nations. The Internet and the World Wide Web innovations are increasingly promising to provide various tools
to boost business and socio-economic developmental processes for developing nations. The objective of this paper is to
demonstrate the potentials of an emerging technology (mobility) through a proposed service that capitalizes on information
and communication technology innovations and attempts to contribute to the development of the transportation sector by
proposing a solution to one of Cairo’s Chronic and increasing problem (traffic). The paper presents the findings of a research
that was conducted to test the acceptance and feasibility of deploying mobile services beyond telephony among the community.

The use of information and communication technology has become an integral component and a vital ... more The use of information and communication technology has become an integral component and a vital tool in teaching accounting. Over the last few decades, the blend of using state-of-the art technologies has improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the learning process. Respectively, some predict that physical campuses will decay and crumble in the near future with the continuous growth of borderless societies and the diffusion of extended enterprises leading to a hybrid model for knowledge delivery that extends beyond distance and time barriers. The main emphasis of this case is to study the deployment of technology in teaching accounting in Egypt, using the case of Becker Professional Review in providing trainees with the required training that enables them to pass exams and get professional certification using emerging information technology tools and techniques. The case demonstrates how information technology adaptation can provide a platform for knowledge dissemination and demonstrates
a model that can be replicated in similar environments.

Information technology (IT) is increasingly becoming an invaluable and powerful tool driving deve... more Information technology (IT) is increasingly becoming an invaluable and powerful tool driving development, supporting growth, promoting innovation, and enhancing competitiveness.
Emerging information technology offers opportunities for developing nations to leapfrog earlier stages of development. It is also important to note that with an increasingly global environment less limited by time or distance, nations around the world need to get connected and join the global networked community. Otherwise, they may fall further behind and the gap they have with the developed world could get wider. Additionally, there is growing evidence that information technology is becoming an increasingly powerful tool when used as part of an overall development strategy coupled with partnerships between governments, business, and civil society (World Bank, 2003). Information and communication technology coupled with knowledge management hold much potential for propelling the development process (Okpaku, 2003). The vital role information and communication technology is playing is felt across many industries and sectors, affecting both economic development and growth at large in many societies. The resulting implications have had a major role in transforming such sectors and have affected the economic-development process in developing nations. The banking sector is an example in which information-technology infrastructures have had implications on the economic development of many nations in the developing world. It is important to note that the banking industry was one of the very first to utilize information technology back in the 1960s, and has thus a record of influencing the development process through the technology.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has introduced many changes over the last decades... more Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has introduced
many changes over the last decades causing a socio-economic evolution based on information acquisition and knowledge dissemination. It helped create an emerging global information-based society with innovative means of communication that can help in increasing competitiveness for individuals, organisations and societies. ICT has helped generate new forms and structures
of business, social and economic entities that are no longer bound by geographic or time constraints, but instead depend mainly on being connected all the time. This article addresses the efforts taking place in Africa to minimise the digital gap and actively join the global information society. Many African nations have invested heavily in building their ICT infrastructure to help improve the readiness of their communities and this article provides an overview of some of the projects implemented to build the African
information society while demonstrating some the lessons learned and experiences acquired.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is continuously setting the pace for a changing, c... more Information and communication technology (ICT) is continuously setting the pace for a changing, competitive and dynamic global marketplace and representing an enabling platform for business and socioeconomic
development. The impact of ICT adoption, diffusion and adoption can go well beyond being a state-of the-art infrastructure; it can have concrete impact on development. ICT strategy development from start to finish, from design to implementation should cater to the different needs of the community whether it is societal, economic, business and political with an aim to realize universal access to optimize the impact in terms of scalability and sustainability. Building the ICT infrastructure and infostructure will not realize quantum leaps in the development process unless it is coupled with concrete projects and initiatives that engage the society at large with its multiple stakeholders from public, private, government and civil society organizations irrespective of their locations whether urban or remote, gender or background. This chapter describes the evolution of the ICT sector in Egypt with an emphasis on national ICT strategy development across its different design and implementation phases as an integral element of Egypt’s overall development process within the context of an emerging economy.

For several centuries the Middle East was socially, economically, and technologically advanced. O... more For several centuries the Middle East was socially, economically, and technologically advanced. One of the reasons for this was its people’s appreciation of and openness to knowledge creation and dissemination. This trend lasted from the 8th to the 13th centuries (Aubert and Reiffers 2003). Knowledge became the most important and determining factor for economic growth. The impact and contribution of this wealth of knowledge were felt and appreciated across different sectors and disciplines and acknowledged beyond the region and around the world. However, things changed drastically in the 18th and 19th centuries following the Industrial Revolution. In the 21st century, with oil exploration and an economic boom in some parts of the region, investment and attention was redirected to building state of the art infrastructure in various sectors, including education and health, as Middle Eastern countries prepared to engage with and integrate in the knowledge society. To date, investments allocated to sectors such as education, information infrastructure, research and development, and innovation have been insufficient in most Middle Eastern countries (Aubert and Reiffers 2003), when compared to other regions, including emerging economies. However, increasing attention is being paid to these sectors compared to past decades and more concrete achievements have been realized in recent years. Education in the Middle East has consistently faced a variety of challenges. According to the World Bank, the quality of education in the region is falling behind other regions and needs urgent intervention and reform in order to address issues associated with unemployment (Gavlak 2008). Although the knowledge ecosystem, including awareness, education, training, and lifelong learning, represents a cornerstone for development and growth in the Middle East, there is still a lot that needs to be done before the education sector becomes a catalyst for economic production and development and a driver for societal growth (Holmes 2008). Moreover, higher education plays an invaluable role within society because it creates additional opportunities for development and provides knowledge transfer for students and other stakeholders, and promotes change, creativity, innovation, and progress (Wilkens 2011). Over the last few decades successive governments in the region sought to expand enrollment to formal education and improve the quality and efficiency of education service delivery (Welmond 2006). Education and lifelong learning should be considered as the invaluable foundation upon which most economic and social strategies are based, and policies and directions are built. Therefore, education should be made a top priority if the national objective is to realize effective and sustainable economic development and growth in the long term. Building a knowledgeable society remains an integral platform for creating jobs, improving standards of living, and becoming more competitive as a nation. The impact is usually realized following years of strategic planning in which synergies are established among key stakeholders in the economy. Moreover, modern education and lifelong learning policies are increasingly being defined in terms of economic development, growth and timely global competition (Shirazi 2010). The key challenges facing the Middle East could be summarized in three main points: an increase in educational disparity within countries; a constant decrease in the quality of education, despite an ongoing increase in per capita education expenditure; and the mismatch and growing divide between market needs, in terms of capacity and skills, and what the educational system has to offer in terms of output (UNDP 2002). Moreover, there are factors that impact higher education such as, but not limited to, regional and international geopolitical challenges, student mobility and the impact of emerging technologies, in addition to socioeconomic development and growth.

Business schools play an important role in shaping societies. They produce leaders, managers, mov... more Business schools play an important role in shaping societies. They produce leaders, managers, movers and shakers who make the difference in different businesses and industries and in various societies around the world given their increasing mobility globally. Some see business schools as purely academic institutions and should be focused on knowledge dissemination; others feel that they are more like corporations and deans should act as CEOs addressing the developments taking place in global markets. Approaches might differ and styles might vary. However, there is no question that there is no one size that fits all when it comes to business school management. The conditions on and off the campus where the business school is located directly affect the realization of its mission. This chapter demonstrates my experience as dean of the school of business of the American University in Cairo during the period 2009-2014 where three of the five years witnessed multiple socioeconomic and political developments in Egypt following the uprising of January 2011. However, the experience shows that a committed team and a proper approach coupled with a clear strategy, regardless of the deterrents on the ground, could still help yield the set objectives (Lorange, 2010). The chapter includes a set of lessons learnt in leading business schools in a time of transformational change. Introduction In January 2011, Egypt experienced a massive national uprising, with the main protests occurring in the downtown area of the capital (Cairo) in Tahrir Square, just steps away from the American University in Cairo's (AUC) historic campus; where the university was located from 1919 to 2008. Many AUC faculty, staff, students, and alumni were heavily involved in the protests, especially in the early days of the uprising and the university had to contend with a government shutdown of the Internet and cell phone networks, the closure of banks and ATMs, nationwide curfews, a breakdown in security and public safety, voluntary (and in some cases mandatory) evacuations of international faculty and students. Despite these circumstances, AUC was able to manage the crisis in ways that brought commendation from its community of parents, especially from its 500+ international students at the time as well as other stakeholders in Egypt by grounding its actions in its mission and core values, and by keeping the safety and well-being of its community at the center of its decision-making. These developments required leadership in taking timely decisions during an extended period of time where crisis management was the mode of operation (Lorange, 2008).

Business Information Teechnology Management: Closing the International Divide, 1998

This paper compiles the ideas and efforts that were introduced and put into perspective for the f... more This paper compiles the ideas and efforts that were introduced and put into perspective for the formulation of an African information infrastructure that could help bridge the gap between developing and developed countries and pave the way for a strong information infrastructure build-up that could boost the development process in the 21st century. The initiative attempts to blend and merge countries in Africa in the Global Information Society in order to assist in the sustainable formulation of an information society and accelerate national socioeconomic development and growth. The paper demonstrates the experiences that were formulated in the past and the challenges and opportunities that were faced along the process of formulating the conceptual framework. The paper demonstrates how the information infrastructure is perceived to support important issues such as; improving the balance in economic and social progress between nations, leveraging growth of the global economy, boosting the capacity to solve common societal problems, enhancing the progress of democratic values and sharing as well as augmenting cultural creativity, traditions, and identities. Building on previous experiences, the paper shows that the initiative and the related aspects to the Global Information Society has been a global cooperative approach that needs to be build on a set of common norms, respect of diversity and habits of collaboration and combined efforts while bringing our world closer together.
The paper also provides a comprehensive overview of the efforts that were formulated in the past to develop a dialogue between the developed and developing nations. Such efforts were introduced by many international organizations and institutions emphasizing the need for all countries in the world to be integrated in the Global Information Society. However, such targeted objective was not to be put into perspective unless many issues were handled such as; strategies, financing and international coordination in confronting the global information and communication challenges. The focus would be enabling the African continent to position itself in the world's rapidly expanding global economic system and accelerate the pursuit of Africa's development goals which could be realized through the formulation and development of a national information and communication infrastructure plan in every African country.
The paper, as an example draws some case studies from a number of developing countries that have taken the initiative to develop gradually their information and communication infrastructure. This would also include a comprehensive coverage of the experience in building Egypt’s information infrastructure to work as a model for other African nations while accommodating for the varying needs of African countries.

The Digital Divide in Developing Countries: Towards an Information Society in Africa, 2001

The innovative information and communication technology evolution is affecting many societies aro... more The innovative information and communication technology evolution is affecting many societies around the world. Moreover, the new millennium promises to introduce more waves of change with implications on academia, the industry and the business community. Innovative technologies are perceived to have growing implications on business and socioeconomic development in the 21st century with value-added contributions to globalization via advanced information and communication platforms linking markets, societies and cultures unconstrained with time or distance barriers and reaching out to both developed and developing nations. Therefore, Egypt, as a developing country with an economy in transition, has been massively investing in building its information and communication technology infrastructure.
This article reflects on the information society in Egypt as a vehicle that can help boost business and socioeconomic development in the next millennium. The article demonstrates the phases Egypt implemented on its route to transform itself into an information-based society. Focus is on a government initiative that started in 1994 targeting the development of the national information infrastructure to put the nation on the front-end of information and communication technology. Finally, the article recommends an action agenda for future research related to the development of an information society in developing countries capitalizing on the findings and the lessons learnt from the Egyptian experience.

IT Outsourcing: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, 2010

Cases of Electronic Commerce Technologie and Applications, 2006

Perspectives on Distance Education - Emerging Trends in the Development of School Networking Initiatives, 2001

Pitfalls and Triumphs in Information Technology Management, 2001

Business Information Systems Concepts Methodologies Tools and Applications, 2010

Cases on Progressions and Challenges in ICT Utilization for Citizen-Centric Governance, 2013

Regional Development: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, 2012

Cases on Public Information Management and E-Government Adoption, 2012

Access to Knowledge in Egypt New Research on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development, 2010

Since ancient history, Egypt has witnessed massive information flows through different means. Thi... more Since ancient history, Egypt has witnessed massive information flows through different means. This included inscription on Rosetta stones and papyrus papers and the establishment of the library of Alexandrina, the world’s first and most famous library and the gateway for knowledge creation and accessibility (Kamel 1998a). During the middle ages, Arabic manuscripts became one of the most common means for information and knowledge dissemination. In the modern age, paper printing and publishing started in Egypt during the 19th century witnessing the publishing of the first journal in Egypt in 1826. A few years later in 1830, Egypt witnessed the establishment of the first national archive system (Kamel 1998b). However, in the twentieth century prior to 1985, a number of characteristics identified the status of information in Egypt. The country was rich in data but poor in information; known for accumulated bureaucracy through red tape; computers were viewed as ends and not means and there were islands of innovation with no bridges (Kamel 1999 and 1998b). From a government perspective, the focus was more on technical issues and not decision outcomes; there was poor multisector coordination and no synergy between information and socioeconomic development strategies. Given this reality, even as information and communications technology (ICT) was increasingly becoming a necessity for socioeconomic development (Press 1999), the government of Egypt recognized the need to take proactive measures and build the required information infrastructure. The strategy deployed followed a two-tier approach, inviting society with its different stakeholders to contribute in shaping the infostructure, which in turn would effectively contribute to the socioeconomic development (World Bank 2006). Between 1985 and 2007, the government announced nine major policy initiatives to promote the development of Egypt’s information society (Kamel 2007). Since the early 1990s, Egypt has been undergoing a liberalization program of its public sector. The government has announced that it would invest in its human capital, encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) and emphasize innovative ICT as a platform for business and socioeconomic development. (Kamel 2005a) The government in collaboration with the private sector through a variety of public-private sector partnerships has announced the restructuring of sectors such as education and health as well as working on closing the digital divides and promoting social inclusion. This chapter examines the introduction and diffusion of ICT on Egyptian society and the role it played in providing awareness and access to knowledge to different clusters in the community. The chapter addresses four main research questions. These include: Whether and How did ICT become a vehicle for development and a platform to access knowledge? How did ICT for development policy and strategy formulation and infrastructure deployment evolve? What were the challenges and the lessons learnt from efforts aimed at using ICT for socioeconomic development? and What are the implications of diffusing ICT on access to knowledge in the Egyptian society?

E-Strategies for Technological Diffusion and Adoption: National ICT Approaches for Socioeconomic Development, 2010

Information Technology Management in Modern Organizations, 1997

This chapter describes and analyses the experience of the Egyptian government in spreading the aw... more This chapter describes and analyses the experience of the Egyptian government in spreading the awareness of information technology and its use in managing socioeconomic development through building multiple information handling and decision support systems in messy, turbulent and changing environments. The successes over the past ten years in developing, implementing and sustaining state of-the-art decision support systems for central governmental decision making holds many lessons for the implementation of sophisticated systems under conditions of extreme difficulty. The experience offers insight into a variety of problems for designers, implementors, users and researchers of information and decision support systems. The chapter focuses on two main themes; the use of information in development planning and the use of decision support systems theory and applications in public administration. These themes reflect the government attempts to optimize the use of information technology to boost socioeconomic development which witnessed the initiation, development and implementation of a supply-push strategy to improve Egypt's managerial, technological and administrative development. The chapter demonstrates how the nature of decision making at the Cabinet and the information needs related to such a strategic level necessitated the establishment of an information vehicle to respond to the decision-making requirements. Finally, the chapter provides some case analysis showing the implementation and institutionalization of large information and decision support systems in Egypt, their use in unconventional settings and their implications on the decision making process in public administration.

Electronic Government: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications

The information and communication technology infrastructure and the development of electronic com... more The information and communication technology infrastructure and the development of electronic commerce are both playing an increasingly active role changing and growing the global economy in a digital way. The implications are wide and diversified including the facilitation of trade transactions and acceleration of movement of capital through innovative rules irrespective of time and distance differences. Electronic commerce could be beneficial to business and socioeconomic development in the north (developed world) as well as in the south (developing nations) but the impacts could vary in density and in effectiveness due to one critical challenge and that is the growing digital divide emerging between developed and developing nations as well as within developing nations which could deepen income and wealth inequalities. Therefore, the government role in developing nations in preventing the widening of the digital divide is becoming increasingly vital with implications that vary and affect business, culture and the society at large. During the past two decades, electronic commerce had diversified impacts on organizations of all types and sizes. Such impacts differed from one country to another and from one environment to another pending on the local conditions and the adaptation of the society. The implications related to the management style and leadership of organizations, its vision, mission and strategies, policies, governance, the organizational learning, ethics and culture among other elements. This chapter demonstrates the role of the government of Egypt in introducing, diffusing and institutionalizing electronic commerce which represents a challenge and an opportunity for development and hence needing an institutionalized role to regulate it. This chapter introduces electronic commerce in Egypt with a focus on the prevailing status and the institutional role of the government to regulate electronic commerce and develop the electronic trading industry.

Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology

During the 1960’s computing was introduced to Egypt. Its use and applications was limited to the ... more During the 1960’s computing was introduced to Egypt. Its use and applications was limited to the government and the public sector. During the 1980’s the introduction and diffusion of computing was widespread following the global personal computer evolution. Personal computers effectively affected organizational development and growth due to the continuous developments in the information technology industry and caused by increasing hardware penetration, software innovations, and the build-up of the telecommunications and information infrastructures. This chapter assesses the recent developments in the software industry in Egypt, especially post to the establishment of the ministry of communications and information technology late in the 1990’s as a major building block of the information technology industry and a possible active contributor to economic development at large through a strong, quality and much needed export-oriented software industry that could have concrete implications on the economy.

Annals of Cases on Information Technology , Jan 1, 2003

Annals of Cases on Information Technology Applications and Management in Organization, 2001

The case focuses on the use of crisis management support systems in Egypt in leveraging the decis... more The case focuses on the use of crisis management support systems in Egypt in leveraging the decision making process in the government and the public sector for socioeconomic development. It describes the experience of the Egyptian public sector in socioeconomic decision-making and the related emergence of an information-based support organization for the government “Information and Decision Support Center”. The case reflects on the type of decision-making and the crisis management mode of operation at the top policy level and the needs and requirements in terms of resources and infrastructure to support the decision making process. The case addresses the basics and concepts of crisis management support systems in the context of a developing country, Egypt, stemming from the experience of the Information and Decision Support Center from 1985 to date, the growing implications of the information and communication technology evolution and the lessons learnt in responding to crisis management situations in supporting decision and strategic issues at the government and the public sector. The essence of the case is to address the use of advanced information systems in responding to socioeconomic development needs. The case demonstrates the use of management and decision support systems in a crisis mode that has had a number of successes over the last decade that implied concrete results within the developmental process that Egypt, a developing country, is realizing.

Cases on Global IT Applications and Management: Successes and Pitfalls, 2002

Learning, education and training using traditional class methods and/or emerging online technique... more Learning, education and training using traditional class methods and/or emerging online techniques are all leading to improved ways to investing in people, leveraging their capacities and reaching out to remote masses while cutting down on cost, time and efforts. Thus, the role of virtual organizations and virtual teams is rapidly spreading worldwide in the related aspects to learning and human resources development. This has led to the establishment of a large number of regional and global learning consortiums and networks aiming to provide quality knowledge and information dissemination vehicles to an ever-growing community of seekers that is online, active and eager to
increasingly learn more. However, most of the publications address the theoretical foundations of virtual organizations; as for the actual practices, they are not extensively reported in the literature. This case addresses the experience of Egypt’s Regional IT Institute in the field of education and training. Today, the learning process is becoming a vital factor in business and socioeconomic growth where the role of information and communication technology is having a growing and an innovative impact. The Regional IT Institute was established in 1992 targeting the formulation of partnerships and strategic alliances to jointly deliver degree (academic) and non-degree (executive) programs for the local community capitalizing on the enabled processes and techniques of virtual organizations. The case provides many lessons to be replicated that demonstrate the opportunity to expand in exchanging the wealth of knowledge across societies using a hybrid of forms for virtual organizations and virtual teams.