@inproceedings{7ffd507a31264e4685b73ae79e3906f5,
title = "A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks",
abstract = "The growing importance of advanced or value-added services (services over and above basic connectivity services) in national research and education networks (NRENs) is well understood in the research and education community. These services are made available to further distinguish and enhance national research and education networks' offerings from that of commercial internet service providers. Systems thinking allows a 'bigger view' of a situation to be analyzed. This paper presents a model that was developed, refined and validated using design science research methods and a systems thinking approach. The model is a causal diagram developed to enable the visualization of how factors in the NREN services adoption context are interrelated. The model was refined and validated with international NREN experts. As a result of the evaluation stage, a shared mental model and understanding of the NREN's advanced services delivery ecosystem was developed. The model can be used as a communication and decision-making tool to facilitate services adoption from NRENs to their research and education communities.",
keywords = "Advanced services, Causal diagram, Design science research, ICT service adoption, NREN, Services management, Value-added services",
author = "Kasandra Pillay and Louwrence Erasmus and Pretorius, {Jan Harm Christiaan}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 IEEE.; 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021 ; Conference date: 13-09-2021 Through 15-09-2021",
year = "2021",
month = sep,
day = "13",
doi = "10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570883",
language = "English",
series = "IEEE AFRICON Conference",
publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",
booktitle = "Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021",
address = "United States",
}
