Pillay, KasandraErasmus, Louwrence DPretorius, JC2022-01-032022-01-032021-09Pillay, K., Erasmus, L.D. & Pretorius, J. 2021. A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12203 .2153-00332153-0025DOI: 10.1109/AFRICON51333.2021.9570883http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12203The growing importance of advanced or value-added services (services over and above basic connectivity services) in national research and education networks (NRENs) is well understood in the research and education community. These services are made available to further distinguish and enhance national research and education networks’ offerings from that of commercial internet service providers. Systems thinking allows a ‘bigger view’ of a situation to be analyzed. This paper presents a model that was developed, refined and validated using design science research methods and a systems thinking approach. The model is a causal diagram developed to enable the visualization of how factors in the NREN services adoption context are interrelated. The model was refined and validated with international NREN experts. As a result of the evaluation stage, a shared mental model and understanding of the NREN’s advanced services delivery ecosystem was developed. The model can be used as a communication and decision-making tool to facilitate services adoption from NRENs to their research and education communities.FulltextenAdvanced servicesCausal diagramDesign science researchICT service adoptionServices managementValue-added servicesConference PresentationPillay, K., Erasmus, L. D., & Pretorius, J. (2021). A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12203Pillay, Kasandra, Louwrence D Erasmus, and JC Pretorius. "A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks." <i>2021 IEEE AFRICON, Arusha, Tanzania, 13-15 September 2021</i> (2021): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12203Pillay K, Erasmus LD, Pretorius J, A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks; 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12203 .TY - Conference Presentation AU - Pillay, Kasandra AU - Erasmus, Louwrence D AU - Pretorius, JC AB - The growing importance of advanced or value-added services (services over and above basic connectivity services) in national research and education networks (NRENs) is well understood in the research and education community. These services are made available to further distinguish and enhance national research and education networks’ offerings from that of commercial internet service providers. Systems thinking allows a ‘bigger view’ of a situation to be analyzed. This paper presents a model that was developed, refined and validated using design science research methods and a systems thinking approach. The model is a causal diagram developed to enable the visualization of how factors in the NREN services adoption context are interrelated. The model was refined and validated with international NREN experts. As a result of the evaluation stage, a shared mental model and understanding of the NREN’s advanced services delivery ecosystem was developed. The model can be used as a communication and decision-making tool to facilitate services adoption from NRENs to their research and education communities. DA - 2021-09 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR J1 - 2021 IEEE AFRICON, Arusha, Tanzania, 13-15 September 2021 KW - Advanced services KW - Causal diagram KW - Design science research KW - ICT service adoption KW - Services management KW - Value-added services LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2021 SM - 2153-0033 SM - 2153-0025 T1 - A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks TI - A systems thinking approach to value-added services adoption in national research and education networks UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/12203 ER -25247