Challenges of harnessing virtual information resources in Kenya: the case of the African Virtual University

The study attempts to identify the major problems of harnessing virtual information resources in a developing country like Kenya. The African Virtual University has been dealt with as a case study. A number of problems are identified which need to be solved so that the African Virtual University may achieve its objectives. The nature and characteristics of a virtual organization are discussed, as is the appropriateness and/or inappropriateness of a virtual university in a developing country such as Kenya. A brief history and background of the African Virtual University is given and the participating countries are identified in the study. The study methods used are highlighted.

[1]  Raymond Grenier,et al.  Going Virtual: Moving Your Organization Into the 21st Century , 1995 .

[2]  Murray E. Jennex Using an intranet to manage knowledge for a virtual project team , 2000 .

[3]  Raghu Garud,et al.  Communication Patterns as Determinants of Organizational Identification in a Virtual Organization , 1999, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[4]  Ezra Ondari-Okemwa,et al.  Training needs of practising professional librarians in the Kenyan public university libraries: a critical analysis , 2000 .

[5]  David Upton,et al.  The real virtual factory , 1999 .

[6]  Robert Schware,et al.  Informatics in Africa: Lessons from World Bank experience , 1992 .

[7]  S. Raghuram,et al.  Communication Patterns As Determinants of Organizational Identification in a Virtual Organization , 1999 .

[8]  G. G. Stokes "J." , 1890, The New Yale Book of Quotations.

[9]  T. Burrow The human equation. , 1941 .

[10]  R. Wigand,et al.  Electronic Markets and Virtual Value Chains on the Information Superhighway , 1995 .

[11]  N. Staggers INTERNET-BASED ORGANIZATIONAL MEMORY AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT , 2002 .

[12]  David G. Schwartz,et al.  Internet-Based Organizational Memory and Knowledge Management , 1999 .

[13]  Janice M. Burn,et al.  Managing knowledge in an ERP enabled virtual organization , 2000 .

[14]  Joan Magretta,et al.  The Power of Virtual Integration: An Interview with Dell Computer''s Michael Dell , 1998 .

[15]  Estelle Brodman,et al.  Managing the Flow of Technology: Technology Transfer and the Dissemination of Technological Information Within the R&D Organization (Book Review) , 1978 .

[16]  Jörgen Hansson,et al.  Virtual organizations and beyond - discover imaginary systems , 2001, Wiley series in practical strategy.

[17]  Judy McKay,et al.  The challenges of interorganizational management: an emerging issue in the virtual organization , 2000 .