Digital Control in Value Chains: Challenges of Connectivity for East African Firms

In recent years, Internet connectivity has greatly improved across the African continent. This article examines the consequences that this shift has had for East African firms that are part of global value chains (GVCs). Prior work yielded contradictory expectations: firms might benefit from connectivity through increased efficiencies and improved access to markets, although they might also be further marginalized through increasing control of lead firms. Drawing on extensive qualitative research in Kenya and Rwanda, including 264 interviews, we examine 3 sectors (tea, tourism, and business process outsourcing) exploring overarching, cross-cutting themes. The findings support more pessimistic expectations: small African producers are only thinly digitally integrated in GVCs. Moreover, shifting modes of value chain governance, supported by lead firms and facilitated by digital information platforms and data standards are leading to new challenges for firms looking to digitally integrate. Nevertheless, we also find examples in these sectors of opportunities where small firms are able to cater to emerging niche customers, and local or regional markets. Overall, the study shows that improving connectivity does not inherently benefit African firms in GVCs without support for complementary capacity and competitive advantages

mGovernment Services and Adoption: Current Research and Future Direction

Part 5: Research in ProgressInternational audienceWith the unprecedented growth of mobile technologies, governments of both developed and developing countries have started adopting mobile services in the form of m-government. While the vendors and practitioners are heavily engaged in this transformation, the scholarly world is lagging to keep pace with the progress and to provide clear theoretical guidance for successful adoption. This paper takes a stock of scholarly publications on m-government adoption since the year 2000 and reports findings and future directions based on meta-analysis of secondary data. The articles were classified into research themes, delivery mode, theory and methods. The paper identifies the dearth of scholarly work and calls for more in-depth work to make important contribution in this area

Stochastic modeling of HIV dynamics within an individual and its management

Conference paper presented at “SU International Mathematics Research Meeting" on 23rd – 26th July 2012. Strathmore University - KenyaMathematical models can facilitate the understanding of complex biomedical systems such as in HIV/AIDS. Untangling the dynamics between HIV and CD4+ cellular populations and molecular interactions can be used to investigate the effective points of interventions in the HIV life cycle. With that in mind, we will develop state transition systems dynamics and stochastic model that can be used to examine various alternatives for the control and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and also determine the cost of treating an HIV patient such that the expected lifetime or quality-adjusted lifetime of the patient is maximized. The AIDS epidemic is extremely dynamic; this dynamism orthogonally complicates interventions embraced for the management of the epidemic. This research is mostly motivated by the fact that eradication of the HIV virus is not attainable with the current available drugs and now the focus is not virus eradication but the management and control of the virus progression. We will develop and analyze Non-Homogeneous Semi-Markov Stochastic (NHSMS) Models of HIV biological process and compute internal transition probabilities. Specifically the models will target: the HIV internal dynamics in an infected person, defined by CD4+ levels and Viral load, and the disease control and management strategies put in place. Secondly we will use Non-Homogeneous Semi-Markov Reward (NHSMR) processes to determine the cost of treating an HIV patient, and lastly, we consider the revenue generated by such person (as well as the expert advice by such infected person into various projects) such that the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) can also be conducted.Mathematical models can facilitate the understanding of complex biomedical systems such as in HIV/AIDS. Untangling the dynamics between HIV and CD4+ cellular populations and molecular interactions can be used to investigate the effective points of interventions in the HIV life cycle. With that in mind, we will develop state transition systems dynamics and stochastic model that can be used to examine various alternatives for the control and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and also determine the cost of treating an HIV patient such that the expected lifetime or quality-adjusted lifetime of the patient is maximized. The AIDS epidemic is extremely dynamic; this dynamism orthogonally complicates interventions embraced for the management of the epidemic. This research is mostly motivated by the fact that eradication of the HIV virus is not attainable with the current available drugs and now the focus is not virus eradication but the management and control of the virus progression. We will develop and analyze Non-Homogeneous Semi-Markov Stochastic (NHSMS) Models of HIV biological process and compute internal transition probabilities. Specifically the models will target: the HIV internal dynamics in an infected person, defined by CD4+ levels and Viral load, and the disease control and management strategies put in place. Secondly we will use Non-Homogeneous Semi-Markov Reward (NHSMR) processes to determine the cost of treating an HIV patient, and lastly, we consider the revenue generated by such person (as well as the expert advice by such infected person into various projects) such that the Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) can also be conducted

The Impacts of Broadband Internet on the Value Chain of the Tourism Sector in Kenya

The tourism sector is regarded as the second largest source of foreign exchange revenue in Kenya. Kenya has witnessed revolutionary development of ICTs, especially the recent development in internet with the arrival of the undersea fibre bandwidth in East Africa in 2009/2010. This development has led to many players in the tourism sector in Kenya adopting different ICT platforms to derive positive strategic and operational management and marketing benefits. Specifically, big and medium players have used these platforms to fight off competition and maintain market share, while informal and small players have used the same platforms to make entry into the sector. At the same time, customers are using the ICT platforms to by-pass the middle players and access services directly from the destination holiday providers. The net effect has been increased competition as well asboth positive and negativeimpacts for most of the players. However, there are challenges that prevent the deepening of the more positive impacts. The key ones were found tobethe high cost of developing and maintaining the ICT platforms, relatively unaffordable broadband Internet, lack of adequate human resource skills, lack of affordable online payment platforms and poor quality of broadband connectivity. We provide appropriate policy recommendations to address these challenges

The Impact of Pure Mobile Micro-financing on the Poor: Kenya's Musoni Experience (Executive Summary)

This is the 2-page executive summary for the IMTFI Working Paper: The Impact of Pure Mobile Micro-financing on the Poor: Kenya's Musoni Experience.Musoni (‘M’ for mobile and ‘Usoni’ for future) is a microfinance institution in Kenya that offers all its services exclusively through mobile technology. Most other MFIs have established brick and mortar operations and mobile money (MM) only complements their traditional ways of serving clients. Musoni is the first in the world to achieve this kind of cashless automation and has provided a paradigm shift in the way MFIs operate. This innovative approach eliminates some administrative costs and makes transactions more efficient for both consumers and the MFI. Musoni’s clients are poor workers, some of whom run small businesses. The clients sign up in groups and seek low value loans from the MFI. Musoni believes that customer loyalty increases when the frequency of client group meetings is reduced leaving customers with more time to themselves and for their businesses

The Impact of Pure Mobile Micro-financing on the Poor: Kenya's Musoni Experience

Almost all the micro-finance institutions (MFIs) in Kenya have introduced mobile money to increase the convenience and speed of transactions, and to lower the cost of transferring funds. Since most MFIs had already established their brick-and-mortar operations, mobile money only complements their traditional approaches to serving their clients. Musoni, a relatively new MFI, provides micro-finance purely through mobile technology. This cashless model eliminates some administrative costs and makes transactions efficient for both the customers and the MFI. The uptake has been impressive and the model is believed to help reduce client groups’ meeting frequency, leaving customers more time for business and increasing customer loyalty. The researchers proposed to establish preliminary evidence of the impact of pure mobile money on the consumers of Musoni services. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews while quantitative data was collected via structured questionnaires. From the study, it was observed that mobile money, when bundled with other products, became more valuable to customers and made the other products more appreciated. There was also an element of increased savings as a result of using mobile money. In addition, there was an apparent shift to mobile money for other transactions

The Impacts of Broadband Internet and Related Technologies on the Value Chain of the Tourism Sector in Kenya

This paper provides initial findings from a preliminary analysis of the evidence using Michael Porter’s Five Forces Model as an analytical lens. The paper establishes that broadband internet and related ICTs have brought about varying changes in the bargaining powers of both suppliers and customers, changed the basis of rivalry among existing competitors and reduced barriers to entry for new players. It also provides conflicting findings on the intermediation effects of these technologies. In addition to these impacts, the paper highlights the challenges with adoption of broadband internet and related ICTs in the sector and ends with some conclusions

Mathematical modeling for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) transmission using generating function approach

This study is concerned with the mathematical modeling for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission epidemics. The mathematical models are specified by stochastic differential equations that are solved by use of Generating Functions (GF). Models based on Mother to child transmission (MTCT) (age group 0-5 years), Heterosexual transmission (age group 15 and more years) and combined case (incorporating all groups and the two modes of transmission) were developed and the expectations and variances of Susceptible (S) persons, Infected (I) persons and AIDS cases were found. The S1(t) Susceptible model produces a constant expectation and increasing variance. It was shown that Mother to Child transimission and Heterosexual models are special cases of the Combined model

Managing chronic conditions through hosted medical records in Kenya

Complex medical conditions are rising in developing countries at very alarming rates. E.g. projections from the World Health Organization’s global burden of disease and risk factors report chronic diseases are responsible for up to 50% of disease burden in selected countries. Diseases hitherto associated with the developed countries like diabetes, cancer and Hypertension are in the increase in developing countries. Management of these medical conditions calls for a new way of delivering health care services in these countries. Long term therapeutic management of these diseases requires availability of medical records to a provider when a patient presents him/herself at a medical facility. Advances in technology present opportnities for informing systematic management of these chronic conditions within constraints of resources that these countries face.Complex medical conditions are rising in developing countries at very alarming rates. E.g. projections from the World Health Organization’s global burden of disease and risk factors report chronic diseases are responsible for up to 50% of disease burden in selected countries. Diseases hitherto associated with the developed countries like diabetes, cancer and Hypertension are in the increase in developing countries. Management of these medical conditions calls for a new way of delivering health care services in these countries. Long term therapeutic management of these diseases requires availability of medical records to a provider when a patient presents him/herself at a medical facility. Advances in technology present opportunities for informing systematic management of these chronic conditions within constraints of resources that these countries face