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In recent times, extant literature increasingly underscores the importance of indigenous innovations. This chapter provides an empirical illustration that a collaboration between indigenous knowledge systems and mainstream knowledge systems will not only help overcome the shortcomings in both systems, but also result in more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions. The chapter also advocates for public policies that facilitate the development and dissemination of such innovations. Using a case study from the Nigerian context, a framework is provided in this chapter, to illustrate how scientific knowledge can be applied to indigenous innovations to result in the next generation of sustainable, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions.

At December's Online Information meeting in London, one session looked at the topic of networked information resources, with speakers from different countries giving their own perspectives. Now that global networks are a reality, the speakers looked at some of the implications of networked information. Subjects covered were the possibility of a global stock exchange; the utility of environmental information on the Internet; the Internet in India; and Internet user types and habits according to a survey conducted in Denmark.

Comments on general communication forms and then e‐mail in particular, in various applications. Presents the Indian scenario, with service providers from government agencies: ERNET, SIRNET, NICNET, INDONET, VSNL, and from corporate agencies: ICNET, UUNET India, DART, BIIT, RPG Sprint, Datapro. Lists the problems and prospects, considering the views of the infrastructure and the service provider. Concludes that novelty will give way to necessity, that demand will be driven by competition among service providers, and by the prospect of improving the work culture in organizations.

The Third National Meeting of CDROM/Online Users was sponsored by National Information System for Science and Technology (NISSAT), Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), New Delhi; organised by the National Information Centre for Leather & Allied Industries (NICLAI); and held at the Central Leather Research Institute, Madras during 9–10 August 1994. The previous two Meetings were held at New Delhi in 1992 and 1993. The Meeting's objective was to assess the current national and international situation, the utility of CDROM services, and their popularisation within the country, and to provide a forum for exchange of experiences on this new technique. The Meeting focused its attention on databases available, demand for search services, target users, problem areas and possible solutions. The Meeting was attended by 205 participants from 91 institutions all over the country, representing a galaxy of R&D, academic, corporate, entrepreneurial and so forth institutions. Eleven industries engaged in information technology products participated in the Meeting. The Meeting included technical sessions where 39 presentations were made.

The Internet has existed in India for about 18 months. An attempt has been made here to give information about India's Internet service providers and information infrastructure, and to group the Internet information sources originating from India into various categories: viz. art, business, campus wide information systems, companies and organisations, data and software, directories, discussion lists/forums, electronic journals, e‐mail based infoservers, entertainment, investment, medical, multimedia, multipurpose, online information, religion and tourism. The paper also discusses the Internet in the social and commercial context of India and concludes with India's rapid response in providing its resources over the Net to establish its presence, the growth of Web sites, privatisation of access, and PC penetration in the SOHO and home segment.

Developments in information technology have revolutionised the concept of converting large volumes of information into machine‐readable form as databases. This paper reports results of a study to find the number of institutions possessing CDROM facilities, the availability of various CDROM databases, procurement modes, expenditure, usage by number of searches conducted, and so on in India.

CDS/ISIS was used to develop a database of references for publications of the Central Leather Research Institute. This database is to serve not only as a bibliographic tool but also as a component of an information system for management. The problems encountered in the development of the database are described in this paper.

CDROM technology has been available for ten years and has become very popular in the last five. This paper presents an overview of the world scenario of CDROM technology and highlights its future. It then discusses the CDROM industry in India and lists the various Indian CDROM products that are of recent origin. The paper concludes that India could adopt this technology, which has vast potential for publishing Indian databases, and needs to rationalise its CDROM procurement. The introduction of compulsory computer education in Indian schools augurs well for the CDROM market.

This paper seeks to present an international comparative study on cultural differences and quality practices of four countries – Korea, USA, Mexico, and Taiwan. The paper aims to present a model, which depicts the relationships among cultures (i.e. power distance and collectivism), employee empowerment, and quality results (i.e. internal and external quality results).

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a discriminant analysis were employed to test hypotheses following the research model. Using reliable and valid instruments, data from four countries were collected on employee empowerment, and internal and external quality results to test the hypotheses.

The results suggest that collectivistic cultures, not power distance cultures, make a significant difference in employee empowerment, employee empowerment plays an important role in enhancing quality results in the four countries, and successful employee empowerment practices are not uniform across countries.

This paper makes a contribution to revealing the relationships among cultures, employee empowerment, and quality practices at the international level of study and to evoking managerial insights to multinational firms.

Presents the results of a study on quality management infrastructure practices and quality performance in manufacturing companies located in the North and Central regions of Mexico and the US Midwest region. Seven quality management infrastructure practices – top management support, strategic quality planning, quality information availability, employee training, supplier quality, customer focus, and quality citizenship – were assessed and compared. The research covered 372 manufacturing companies in both countries. Our findings show significant differences between the three regions. Companies located in the North region of Mexico exhibit significantly better levels of quality management infrastructure practices than companies located in the US Midwest and Central Mexico regions. Implications for decision‐makers for location, outsourcing, and joint ventures are discussed.