A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks

Kasandra Pillay; Louwrence Erasmus; Jan Harm Christiaan Pretorius

doi:10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570883

A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks

Kasandra Pillay
, Louwrence Erasmus
, Jan Harm Christiaan Pretorius

Postgraduate School of Engineering Management

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781665419840
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570883
Publication status	Published - 13 Sept 2021
Event	2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021 - Virtual, Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of Duration: 13 Sept 2021 → 15 Sept 2021

Publication series

Name	IEEE AFRICON Conference
Volume	2021-September
ISSN (Print)	2153-0025
ISSN (Electronic)	2153-0033

Conference

Conference	2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021
Country/Territory	Tanzania, United Republic of
City	Virtual, Arusha
Period	13/09/21 → 15/09/21

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Keywords

Advanced services
Causal diagram
Design science research
ICT service adoption
NREN
Services management
Value-added services

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Computer Science Applications
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570883

Cite this

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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\}",

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publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

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Pillay, K, Erasmus, L & Pretorius, JHC 2021, A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks. in Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021. IEEE AFRICON Conference, vol. 2021-September, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021, Virtual, Arusha, Tanzania, United Republic of, 13/09/21. https://doi.org/10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570883

A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks. / Pillay, Kasandra; Erasmus, Louwrence; Pretorius, Jan Harm Christiaan.
Proceedings of 2021 IEEE AFRICON, AFRICON 2021. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2021. (IEEE AFRICON Conference; Vol. 2021-September).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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PY - 2021/9/13

Y1 - 2021/9/13

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Advanced services

KW - Causal diagram

KW - Design science research

KW - ICT service adoption

KW - NREN

KW - Services management

KW - Value-added services

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AN - SCOPUS:85118465493

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ER -

A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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