Closing the Digital Divide: The Role of Community Based Non-Profit Organizations

An analytics approach to exploring the link between ICT development and affordability

“…In recent years, issues concerning the digital divide have received significant attention in academic research (e.g., NTIA, 1995NTIA, , 1998NTIA, , 1999DiMaggio, Hargittai, Neuman, & Robinson, 2001;Sciadas, 2002;Sciadas, 2005;Dewan & Riggins, 2005;Cuervo & Menéndez, 2006;Deichmann et al, 2006;van Dijk, 2006;Fryer & Grander, 2008;Ayanso, Cho, & Lertwachara, 2010;Ayanso, Cho, & Lertwachara, 2014). The concept of the digital divide was originally used to describe the gap in Internet access between rural and urban areas of the United States, and particularly considered the lack of access to online resources for the following groups: minorities, the elderly, and people with lower incomes, lower levels of education, and people with disabilities (Hoffman & Novak, 1998;Norris, 2001;Sciadas, 2002).…”

Mapping the global digital divide

“…Likewise, Sarrocco (2002), advocates broadening access in developed countries from the urban areas (where it is currently) to the rural areas. Fryer and Granger (2008) stress that all populations, regardless of location, benefit from closing the gap in the global digital divide. Purcell and Toland (2004) indicate that a major challenge of the new millennium is to make certain that all world citizens benefit from open access to ICTs.…”

“…However access alone, although necessary, is not sufficient. Fryer and Granger (2008) contend that to adequate address the global digital divide, the emphasis has to change from access alone to using digital technology for empowerment. Access to ICTs provides rural populations with access to information that enhances their ability to access and provide education, conduct commerce and to interact with the world at large.…”

The Diffusion of Social Media in Nonprofit Organizations

“…Large nonprofits could thus commandeer the resources better than the small, community-based nonprofits. Some scholars have even argued that there is a digital divide within the nonprofit sector between large nonprofits and smaller nonprofits (Fryer and Granger, 2008;McNutt and Menon, 2008).…”

“…Rogers (2003) indicates that organizations adopt innovations based on how compatible the technology is with the needs of the organization and how the technology fulfills organizational goals and mission (Fryer and Granger, 2008;Guthrie, Preston and Sbarbaro, 2004). Innovations can be best assimilated when the innovation is aligned with top management goals and fits the mission of the organization (Young, 2012).…”