Purpose -Using the extended task-technology fit (TTF) model, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of intranet usage on middle managers' performance in the port industry. Design/methodology/approach -The study was conducted on 357 middle managers from various organisations in the Malaysian port industry. Findings -The structural equation modelling results indicate that TTF and usage significantly explains the variance on managers' performance. TTF is a predictor of perceived usefulness and usage but it does not predict user resistance. Perceived usefulness is a predictor of usage but it does not predict user resistance. User resistance does not predict managers' performance.Research limitations/implications -The study focuses only on the port industry in Malaysia and concentrates only on the management perspective of intranet usage. Practical implications -The results provide insights on how the Malaysian port industry and other organisations of a similar structure could improve on their intranet adoption. Originality/value -This study is perhaps one of the first to address the intranet adoption in the port industry using a comprehensive, extended TTF model (perceived usefulness, usage, user resistance) to investigate their influences on individual job performance.

Humans are increasingly being challenged with numerous forms of man-made and natural emergency situations. Emergencies cannot be prevented, but they can be better managed. The successful management of emergency situations requires proper planning, guided response, and well-coordinated efforts across the emergency management life cycle. Literature suggests that emergency management efforts benefit from well-integrated knowledge-based emergency management information systems (EMIS). This study presents a systematic review of papers pertaining to the application of knowledge-driven systems in support of emergency management that have been published in the last two decades. Our review presents two major findings. First, only limited work has been done in three EMIS-knowledge management system (KMS) subdomains: (i) definition, (ii) use, and (iii) methods. Second, only limited research has been done in embedding roles in KM systems. We highlight role alignment to the 12 fundamental roles, as called for by Turoff et al. (2004), in the context of creating dynamic systems in aid of emergency management efforts. We believe that these two findings warrant the attention of the research community.

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Theoretical and empirical research on the economic benefits of ICT is represented in academic and policy-related publications worldwide. Most of these studies assess the impact of ICT in countries as a cohort and most conclude that ICT is indeed a key driver for economic growth. Nevertheless, we are of the opinion that there is room for more research on this issue, especially pertaining to developing countries such as Malaysia, in light of the extensive ICT-based investments undertaken by the country in recent years. Consequently, we examined the effect of ICT investment carried out by both the private and public sector on Malaysia's economic growth over the period 1992 -2006 using the ARDL econometrics approach. The empirical results suggest that ICT has had a significant impact on Malaysia's economic growth during this period of time, suggesting good payoffs from the investment. Specifically, ICT investments made by the private sector seem to have contributed significantly to the country's growth compared to investments made by the government. This implies that the private sector has adapted well to the various ICT-based policies implemented in the country over the years. This also shows that Malaysia's economy is being driven by the private sector, especially by the manufacturing and wholesale industries. We are however of the opinion that in order to sustain economic growth leveraged against ICT, more concerted efforts need to be made in order to escalate ICT diffusion in the country. Such initiatives will ensure that the value potential of ICT investments in the economy is maximized, due to greater ICT-enabled community that will translate to escalated economic growth.

Further to the binary notion of accessibility and lack of accessibility to digital technology, this study examines Internet usage as the outcome of choice made by an individual to use the Internet. In identifying the determinants of choice, this study integrates the social cognitive theory notion of the human agency with the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) framework. The results of path modeling analysis of the data collected from 270 respondents in Malaysia showed that digital skill was the most significant predictor of Internet usage. Opportunity and extrinsic motivation were also significant predictors, whereas intrinsic motivation had no significant effect on Internet usage. Besides, the findings revealed that the traditional sociodemographic determinants of the digital divide are still prevalent in Malaysia.