Roman Brandtweiner

How to become a sophisticated user: a two-dimensional approach to e-literacy

The internet media require the development of new user skills not required by the traditional media. Current European initiatives focus on providing access to a PC with internet and ensuring basic usage skills to address the digital divide, while media competence is of less importance. Although access rates in European countries are quite high, this study finds persistent rates of non-users, because access and basic skills alone do not guarantee usage. The article presents a representative survey carried out in Austria in 2007 (N = 529) which illustrates the full spectrum of internet usage and its determinants, employing a typology developed by the authors. In addition to the continuing influence of sociodemographics on usage behaviour, location of access is shown to be an important influence on skills development. Furthermore, deficits in digital literacy can often be compensated by social support, given either in the form of emotional support during learning, or in the form of technical support. The authors conclude that to become a sophisticated user, however, requires guidance beyond merely attending computer classes or the assistance of relatives, colleagues, or friends, but is also a societal issue, if the goal of universal participation and integration is to be achieved.

A Conceptual Research Framework for Analyzing the Evolution of Electronic Markets

Main goal of the research framework presented in this paper is to support future business decisions on electronic markets. Until now, little is known about the success factors of electronic markets in general and Web-based Mass Information Systems (WMIS) in particular. The ongoing research on virtual business models is a good theoretical basis for conceptual modeling, but the specific aspects of private customers and their WMIS usage patterns are not covered adequately.

An institutional approach to modeling the structure and functionality of brokered electronic markets

In the evolution of mankind, markets have developed as independent and highly functional institutions. This paper identifies the major structures, processes, and players of real markets on an abstract scale, and transforms these elements into virtual objects for the purpose of designing a conceptual model of an electronic market. The particular form of market it concentrates on, the Oriental bazaar, is the traditional and dominant market type in Oriental cities. The main characteristic of an Oriental bazaar is the negotiation system that determines the prices of individual products and services.

Approach to solving the e-waste problem – case study Ghana

The market for electrical devices still continues to increase all over the world and as a consequence the quantity of waste in the category of electronics rises. A huge proportion of the electronic waste is exported from the industrial countries to developing countries, in order to save costs, and also because of too few recycling plants in industrial countries. The significant environmental and social problem in this context is that the electronic devices are mostly recycled in informal plants. Thereby the burden for the people as well as the environment increases because e-waste includes a lot of toxic substances. The negative impacts are already obvious in countries of importation. This paper will illustrate this on the basis of the case study in Ghana in Africa. The problem is evident, and research, business as well as governments aim to counter this development. The paper will investigate the current approaches employed for solving the e-waste problem with respect to legal options and also regarding voluntary agreements and the provision of information about the actual situation to the consumers.

The Leverage Of Corporate Environmental Protection Concepts On Employee Motivation

Corporate environmental protection is nowadays no longer just a marketing tool or an annoying necessity for a good reputation, but for many companies an integrated element of the corporate culture and of doing business. In a case study of a company in Austria, this paper investigates a feasible additional advantage for corporate environmental protection in terms of a positive leverage on employee motivation. After giving an overview of the most important theoretical approaches and tools regarding corporate responsibility, incentives, and employee motivation, the influence of the environmental protection concept of Kommunalkredit Austria AG on the job motivation of its employees is analysed on the basis of a questionnaire covering all corporate responsibility related topics. The results show a spill-over effect of a company’s increased social responsibility on the behaviour and performance of the employees.

The impact of virtual communities on e-loyalty: a conceptual framework

Regarding the success of virtual communities, several factors and prerequisites are essential. At the same time, companies are looking for factors influencing e-loyalty. In this paper, a framework (VC2E-Loy) is presented, which compares the attitudes arising in virtual communities with prerequisites of e-loyalty. First, the fundamentals of both – e-loyalty and virtual communities – are discussed. Then, attitudes and factors derived from literature are presented. The framework is created based on the factors extracted from literature. Finally, the framework is described and information on validation, open questions and further research is given.

ACM: a new index to measure the digital divide

In developed countries, access to the internet has become, at least hypothetically, possible for everybody. Although access is a precondition for usage, it does not automatically lead to usage. More sophisticated measures are needed to explain the persistent number of non-users. In our paper a new index measure is developed. Based on a representative survey in Austria (N = 529), we reconstruct the DDIX of Selhofer and Husing (2002). Our critique of this index is then used to develop a new index. We argue that, in addition to access, skills and motivation are important components for new internet users.

Implementation of the EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings in Austria

According to the Kyoto Protocol the European Union has to reduce its energy efficiency in the building sector holds a great potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and, therefore, is an important part of a group of policies and measures necessary to comply with the Kyoto protocol, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU laid down minimum energy performance requirements for buildings in the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings. The study at hand aims at developing recommendations for the implementation of the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings in Austria. The objective of an Austrian resolution has to have an institutional framework. On the one hand, buildings with the lowest emission reduction costs should be thermal-energetic remediated to reach the Kyoto targets in the building sector in the most economically efficient way and, on the other hand, new buildings should meet minimum energy performance requirements considering long-term energetic, ecologic and economic efficiency.

GREENER HOUSEHOLDS? THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SMART METERS IN REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION LEVELS IN THE DACH REGION

With public opinion shifting to a believe in climate change in the early 2000s the interest in energy efficiency has been increasing. EU Directives set the goal of deploying smart meters if cost efficient for providing more detailed energy consumption. The main goal is to better inform consumers and to give individual households the power to change possibly energy wasting behaviours. This paper evaluates through a literature review the effectiveness of intelligent electricity metering systems with a focus on the DACH region, the provision of different types of feedback and its persistence. It can be concluded that energy feedback enabled by smart meters can lead to savings in the range of 0% to 4.5% in this region. If feedback is provided continuously savings persist. However, several aspects have to be considered to ensure effectiveness of smart meter deployment.

The Potentiality of Green IT for Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility

The society and economy is not able to imagine life without information and communication technologies (ICT). This also has effects on energy consumption and emissions. However, ICT also helps different technologies to increase energy and resource efficiency. This paper presents the variety of possibilities for the implementation of Green information technology (IT), as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each measure. Furthermore, the most important key figures for evaluating the impacts of ICT are discussed. It is shown that ICT has a high potential to force and implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR relevant information can be disseminated around the world by ICT in a very effective way, and in so doing make companies take responsibility for their business. Although ICT is a driver for growth and development, developed countries still benefit most.