International Journal of

ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES

EISSN: 2313-3724, Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Frequency: 12
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 Volume 10, Issue 12 (December 2023), Pages: 109-120

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 Original Research Paper

SWOT analysis of telecenter development as a rural community empowerment strategy

 Author(s): 

 Christopher Perumal 1, 2, Novel Lyndon 1, Zaini Sakawi 1, 3, *

 Affiliation(s):

 1Center for Research in Development, Social and Environment (SEEDS), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
 2Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia
 3Institute of Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 Full text

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 * Corresponding Author. 

  Corresponding author's ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1800-0135

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2023.12.013

 Abstract

This research investigates the effects of using information and communication technology (ICT) as a method to empower the community in Pos Balar, a rural area inhabited by the Orang Asli people. The method used for this study is a SWOT analysis, which looks into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of setting up a telecenter in the area. To gather information, the study involved detailed interviews with ten individuals and a group discussion with local leaders. The results indicate that establishing a telecenter can offer new ways of communication, serve as a central point for information, and improve the efficiency of local authorities. This can lead to new possibilities and skill development within the community, and the telecenter could become a symbol of community progress. However, there are several challenges, such as a lack of technical skills in ICT, a gap in digital access and understanding, language barriers, inconsistency in community unity, frequent changes in administration, infrastructure issues, and misuse of technology. The study also points out opportunities, including forming partnerships, enhancing access to education and health services, improving connections to markets, and offering online government services. On the other hand, threats like limitations in road infrastructure, market challenges, concerns about privacy and security, and the impact on traditional ways of earning a living were identified. Overall, this research underlines the significance of rural ICTs, as seen through a SWOT analysis. It shows the value of using new communication technologies to build networks and partnerships across various sectors and stakeholders. The study stresses the necessity of a united, collaborative, and inclusive approach in the local community. This is crucial for ensuring sustainable and fair development in rural areas, aided by advancements in ICT.

 © 2023 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

 Rural development, ICT development evaluation, SWOT analysis, Community empowerment, Telecenter

 Article history

 Received 3 May 2023, Received in revised form 15 November 2023, Accepted 27 November 2023

 Acknowledgment 

This research was conducted without specific funding support from any agency. The study expresses gratitude towards the members of the Pos Balar community who generously devoted their time to partake in both in-depth and group interviews as integral components of this investigation. Special appreciation is extended to the Penghulu (village headman) and other esteemed community leaders, namely Hanan, Kamal, and Nelson, for their invaluable contributions in facilitating the data collection process. I also sincerely thank my respected university, particularly the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, for supporting the publication fees associated with this manuscript and throughout my doctoral journey.

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

 Citation:

 Perumal C, Lyndon N, and Sakawi Z (2023). SWOT analysis of telecenter development as a rural community empowerment strategy. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 10(12): 109-120

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