Analysis Of Biographical Data Of Respondents

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Rural development includes concepts such as growth, sustainable development, civil development, and human development. Rural development bridges the gap between urban and rural areas and improves the living standards in rural areas the same as the cities. Inaccessibility to public services has made the quality of life lower in rural villages,as compared with urban districts. Therefore, it is crucial to provide villagers with such services. Havingaccess to public services, including health services, educational services, cultural services, economic servicesand etc.Considerably makes villagers less motivated toimmigrate to cities. ICT is a tool which can be utilized to make more public services available for villagers. International experiences of developing countriesconfirm the discussed idea in a way that many different countries such as India, Nepal, and South Asian countries have notably acted uponit.By the help of ICT and as the result of considering the world a global village, the vitality of implementing the potentials and strengths of electronic communications has become quite obvious to developing countries and their governments are trying their best to take the advantage of these capabilities to develop and implement their programs. Consequently, the second summit of Islamic countries, held about information society in Tunisia in 2006, mainly focused on seeking out solutions to provide poor residents of distant and rural lands with information and knowledge. In our country, the determined twenty-year vision for cultural, economic and social development of the system is a knowledge-based one.Consequently, the government is obliged to guaranteethe public access to information. In paradigms of thought and novel approaches to rural development, taking the advantage of knowledge and information and consequently using technologies and equipment to share and exchange them are regarded to be crucial.Therefore, in guidelines of the rural sustainable, united, and society-based development utilizing related strategies and programs to ICT, which are highly practical in information technology and communication, are vitally important and it is really easy to access various functions of development in close association with those of ICT .

Significance of the Study

Among the novel concepts in the field of Information Technology (IT), which have drawn planners’ attention, are establishing new ICT offices, developing their applications in villages, and also participation of rural societies in the process of rapid global changes. IT makes villagers, as full members of information society, involved in the process of sharing information and is able to lead economic, social, and cultural developments in villages through taking the advantage of existing potentials .Nowadays, ITplays a significant role in development of communities.Accordingly, having easy access to communicational nets is among the priorities of developmental programs in different countries, which would result in better life conditions in rural areas and would provide families with comfort. Therefore, to administer social justice, villages shouldtake the priority over cities to have access to education, electronic commerce, and also electronic government. Consequently, it is vital to design a proper plan to develop rural infrastructures as well as national ones.Based on the present definitions, IT is a complex of inter-related components, which embraces infrastructures, communicational and informational technologies, applications, services, human resourcesin addition to responsible organizations, which act on geographical, political, cultural, social, and economic system of a country. In rural ICT, such a complex must focus on rural areas and be engaged in regional, urban, national, and international developments. Therefore, rural ICT is a complicated concept and its development requires the simultaneousinteraction of technology, services and notification (the necessary conditions) in addition to being supported by the organizations, human resources, and designed plans (the sufficient condition).One of the practical ways to exploit ICT potentials is recognizing and analyzing its various aspects, specifically investigating its strengths, weaknesses, and also its discussed opportunities and threats .Accordingly, in order to cover all aspects of a strategic plan in the field of developing rural ICT offices, in the present study, it is tried to study and analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of developing rural offices and ICT centers in rural areas (Sistan and Baluchestan Province).

Netherwin et al. (2004) assert that the theoretical significance and vitality of rural ICT can be summarized in parameters such as accessibility areas (time, place, etc.), cooperation of the virtual team, presence of digital websites, cooperation of various systems with each other, possibility of sharing knowledge, possibility of cooperation of different governmental sections with each other, and also the plausibility of simulating activities and conditions ofacceptance system (progressive learning on using process and accepting new opportunities without demanding preparation of infrastructures).

ICT is an interdisciplinary activity and based on its applications plays a crucial role in micro-interactions or their application resulted from developmental or direct and macroeconomic transactions.

The main parameters considered in this section include human parameters (needs and incentives related to education, advertising, and...), functional parameters (applications and services which can be offered) and technical or technological parameters (related aspects to technology).

Discussing the applications of ICT and rural ICT, it can be referred to doing communicational, transportation, and correspondence activities, optimal distribution of activities and services, preventing inequality caused by centralization of facilities, doing professional activities, doing activities based on principles of comparative advantage, increase ofvalue added, trade and commerce, and social welfare, and providing security through various ways.Other researchers discuss the significance and vitality of rural ICT according to its applications and services and mention factors such as social development, improvement of decision making ability in villagers, development of local markets, reduction of the effects of natural disasters and vegetable pests, conserving the environment, empowerment of poor villagers, increasing the quality of life, decentralization, and offering the possibility of telecommuting jobs as important functions of rural ICT.At the same time, they stress some threats such as decentralization, urbanization, inequality, increase of unemployment in manual labors, increase of competition and competitiveness in local industries, unequal job opportunities, and proving jobs for people with high level technical skills . Nowadays, the necessity of developing efficient informational and communicational technologies truly highlights the significance of requiring infrastructures.

No investigation has discussed the strategy of developing rural ICT offices in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, according to SWOT model. The importance of exploitingrural ICT offices asserts the vitality of improving such offices; therefore, developingthem is among the priorities of national development programsin the province. However, regarding different aspects of the mentionedidea and also considering the influentialfactorswould reveal the complexity and variety of dimensions and areas associated with development of rural ICT in Sistan and Baluchestanand consequently,would identify the need to make attempts to clarify and explain the nature and dimensions of the issue. Accordingly, development of rural ICT offices and taking their advantages relies on obtaining an accurate and deep understanding of external (foreign) and internal (domestic) aspects of the issue. The present study seeks to investigate, recognize and analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats on the process of developing rural ICT offices in Sistan and Baluchestan.

Rural population forms about 50 percent of the province's population, which would beitsbiggest part. In order to provide villagers with electronic services, 261 ICT offices were established all over the densely populated villages of the province. This clarifies the necessity of conducting research to recognize strategic factors, based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of establishing rural ICT offices, to develop rural society and offer the required services.

Research Questions

In this study, the following main questions would be answered:

1 - What is the present status of rural ICT bureaus?

2 - What is the desirable status of rural ICT bureaus?

The researcher alsoseeks to answer the following four sub-questions:

3 - What are the present environmental (external) opportunities of rural ICT bureaus?

4 - What major external threats (external) do ICT offices deal with?

5 - What are the major internal strengths of rural ICT offices?

6 - What are the major internal weaknesses of rural ICT offices?

Literature Review

Through E-Barrio project, Harris investigated participatory development byusing ICT in communities,in Malaysia. He studied educational, cultural, commercial, agricultural aspects, health of information society, and development of human resources in the mentioned project.The derived results suggested that in order to improve collaborative development in communities through ICT, it is essential to focus on people, organizations, content and process rather thanconcentrating on technology, encouraging participation and local support, and focusing on the needs of communities and continuous learning for sustainable development.

Munyua in his study discussed the role of ICT in rural developing. As he believes rural societies require proper and opportune informationabout supply of inputs, new technologies, alarm systems (pests, diseases, droughts, floods, and ...), credits and loans, prices in the market, and also their competitors. The success of Green Revolution in Asia and the Near East shows that rural communities’ access to knowledge, information, technology and services would assist the development and reinforcement of agriculture.

Bertolini (2004) studied the role of ICT in development of villages and regarded knowledge and information as vital factors which accelerate agricultural development via increasing agricultural products, improving marketing and distribution of agricultural products.

O'Farrel, Norrish, and Scott (2000) investigated the transformative role of ICT in rural development. There is a rich literature on the benefits and potential of modern ICT as a tool for improving the daily life of rural people and farmers, either through improving access to proper information for their economic livelihood or through providing easy access to other information sources such as health, transportation, distance education or strengtheningfamily relationships .

Munyua conducted a study about utilizing ICT in rural development and concluded thatICT has a high influence on the capacity and ability to control and supervise natural resources and environmental effects (soil erosion, desertification, deforesting, etc). Geographic information systems (GIS) provide new approachesto regional planning and management of natural resources.

Some studies have also been conducted in Iran to which it would be referred in what follows:

Barkazaiee et al. ,investigated the dependent contexts of rural development on IT in Sistan and Baluchestan, considering the structural, conceptual, and contextual aspects. Their study was a descriptive-survey research and its required data was collected using a questionnaire. According to the derived results of this study, structural, conceptual, and contextual backgrounds of rural development, which rely on application of IT in the studied society, have not been set.

Muhammad et al. study, Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of Rural ICT Development and Service Offices in Iran,indicated thatconsideringthe area of strategic flexibility ofrural ICT in WT area, weaknesses are more than strengths and threats overcome opportunities. It is crucial to mention that due to the short distance between strengths and weaknesses, area of strategic flexibilitycan be assumed for ST region.

Sarani in his study examined factors influencing the development of rural ICT offices’ services in Sistan and Baluchestan. He asserted that necessity of these services, availability of offices for villagers, and offering proper services play a significant role in development of rural ICT. Hamedanlou investigated barriers and challenges of rural ICT offices development in Iran. According to this study,conceptual and functional factors are the greatest barriersto development of rural ICT offices in Iran.After these factors come the following ones which respectively have the highest impact on development of the offices: human resources capacity, accordance and solidarity, infrastructure, investment, economic agencies, and eventually adopted policies. Naghavi in their research, Challenge of ICT in rural areas,noted that government’s lack of a comprehensive and general policy towards developing IT among villagers, as major part of productive forces of the society, lack of a proper telecommunicational background to transfer data in villages, villagers’ unfamiliarity with using IT equipment, small and scattered rural population, villagers’ low income, and not bearing high costs are among the most important challenges of development of ICT in rural areas.

Methodology

Since the present study seeks to analyze the strategy of developing rural ICT offices in Sistan and Baluchestan Province,based on SWOT Model and considering research questions and purposes, it would be regarded as a descriptive-survey research. This study is a practical one, since it tries to analyze the strategy of developing rural ICT offices in Sistan and Baluchestan Province according to SWOT Model.

5.1 Statistical population, Sample Size, and Sampling

All the managers and specialist of Telecommunication Company, Post Company, and Post Bank in addition with contractors of rural ICT offices of Sistan and Baluchestan form the statistical population of this study. These participants were randomly selected; therefore, all individuals had an equal chance of being selected. About 300 individuals could take part in this study; however, according to Morgan Table, this number changed into 169 individuals among who only 150fully answered the prepared questionnaire. As a result, the statistical analysis was performed for 150 participants. Thequestionnaire contained 40 items of 6-point likert scale (very high, high, medium, low, very low, and not at all). The questionnaire was proved to be valid according to its content and its reliability was proved using Cronbach alpha coefficient (0.83). In order to answer the research questions chi-square test and Friedman and Wilcoxon test were used.

Results

6.1 Analysis of biographical data of respondents

As Table 1 illustrates, 93% of participants were male and 7% of them were female.Moreover, 5% of the participants had below diploma degrees, 59% of them had diploma, 27% of them were BA or BS graduates, while 9% of them had MA, MS and higher degrees. As Table 1 shows, 67% of the participants were contractors, 21% were specialists, and 12% were managers.

Table 1: Frequency distribution of participants’

Percentage

Frequency

Demographic parameters

93

140

Gender

Male

7

10

Female

Educational level

5

7

Below Diploma

59

88

Diploma

27

41

Bachelor of Art/Science

9

14

Master of Art/Science and higher levels

Career

67

101

Contractor

21

31

Specialist

12

18

Manager

Analysis of Question Research

First Research Question: What is the present status of rural ICT bureaus in Sistan and Baluchestan?

Based on Table 2, most respondents selected "very low" option for the strengths of the status quo, which indicates that the strengths are not in favorable conditions. Chi-square value of 131.33, provided in Table 8, is significant with degree of freedom of 4 and confidence level of 99% (P<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that strengths of ICT offices are not in appropriate condition in status quo and are needed to be reinforced. In addition, most respondents chose "low" and "very low" options about the weaknesses of the existing situation, which proves that there are a lot of weaknesses in the current situation. Since the chi-square value of 54.64, provided in Table 3, is significant with degree of freedom of 3 and confidence level of 99% (P<0.01), it can be concluded that there exist some weaknesses in ICT offices which need to be overcome through proper planning.

Table 2:The observed and expected frequency of strengths in current situation

High

Medium

Low

Very Low

No

Strengths of the status quo

Observed frequency

2

3

31

79

35

Expected frequency

30

30

30

30

30

Remained

-28

-27

1

49

5

Weaknesses of the status quo

Observed frequency

4

31

64

51

Expected frequency

37.5

37.5

37.5

37.5

Remained

-33.5

-6.5

26.5

13.5

Opportunities of the status quo

Observed frequency

5

39

78

28

Expected frequency

37.5

37.5

37.5

37.5

Remained

-32.5

1.5

40.5

-9.5

Threats of the status quo

Observed frequency

4

37

64

33

12

Expected frequency

30

30

30

30

30

Remained

-26

7

34

3

-18

Chi-square value of 74.37 for opportunities, provided in Table 3, is significant with degree of freedom of 3 and confidence level of 99% (P<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that opportunities are not taken correctly in ICT offices and proper planning is required. Also, based on Table 2, most respondents selected "low" option for opportunities, which indicates that opportunities are not properly taken at the present situation.Chi-square value of 73.80 for threats, provided in Table 3, is significant with degree of freedom of 4 and confidence level of 99% (P<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that threats are not appropriately perceived in ICT offices and are needed to be faced. As Table 2 represents, most respondents selected "low" option for threats, which indicates that threats are not truly perceived in the current situation.Table 3 shows Chi-square test result of SWOT of ICT.

Table 3: Chi-square test result ofstrengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of ICT offices in current situation

Significance level

Degree of freedom

Chi-square value

Standard Deviation

Mean

Status quo

000/0

4

131.33

0.75

2.01

Strengths

000/0

3

54.64

0.80

1.92

Weaknesses

000/0

3

74.37

0.75

2.14

Opportunities

000/0

4

73.80

0.94

1.92

Threats

Second Research Question:What is the desirable status of rural ICT bureaus in Sistan and Baluchestan?

In order to compare the present and the favorable condition, Wilcoxon test was utilized.As Table 4 shows, the status quo has the mean of 102.26 and standard deviation of 17.76, while the favorable condition has the mean of 115.64 and standard deviation of 24.64. This difference (Z= -5.66) is significant with the chance of 99% (P<0.01). As a result, there exists a meaningful difference between the present and the favorable condition and this gap must be bridged to improve the dominant condition. Table4 shows the Wilcoxon Test results.

Table 4:Wilcoxon Test results obtained for the present and the favorable condition

Significance level

Z

Standard Deviation

Mean

0.000

- 5.66

17.76

102.26

Present condition

24.64

115.64

Favorable condition

Third Research Question:What are the present environmental (external) opportunities of rural ICT bureaus in Sistan and Baluchestan?

According to Table 5, obtained result of the Friedman test is 65.02, which is significant with degrees of freedom of 9 and confidence level of 99% (P<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a meaningful difference between means of opportunity indicators. The results illustrated by Table 6 suggest that the gradual increase of the efficiencyculture and receiving services in the context of ICT in the province has the highest mean rank of 6.38 among other opportunity. based on this table, the second priority, with the mean rank of 6.27, goes to the index of available infrastructures associated with rural telecommunication services in most villages (telephone, cell-phone, rural mobile rural, internet, and...). However, the index of employment opportunities in rural areas (Internet sales and advertising), has the lowest mean rank (4.51), which requires consideration.

Table 5 Freidman test results of SWOT

Significance level

Degree of freedom

Chi-square value

Number

Indicators

0.0000

9

65.02

150

Opportunities

0.0000

9

30.99

150

Threats

0.0000

9

147.27

150

Strengths

0.0000

9

60.92

150

Weaknesses

Table 6Ranking opportunity indicators according to Freidman Test

Rank

Mean Rank

Standard Deviation

Mean

Number

Opportunity Indicators

3

6

1.12

2.95

150

Increasing the educational level of majorities of society and rural society

1

6.38

0.93

2.99

150

Gradual improvement of receiving ICT services over the province

7

5.34

1.02

2.65

150

Improving socio-economic development coefficient over villages of the province

2

6.27

1.22

2.92

150

Availability of infrastructures related to telecommunication services in most villages (telephone, cell-phone, internet, and ...)

6

5.41

1.28

2.64

150

Using customer-based system on the process of offering services in rural ICT offices

8

5.22

1.o4

2.63

150

Gradual reduction of socio-cultural resistance to the process of using services of rural ICT offices

5

5.42

1.22

2.60

150

Cutting out the meddlers (related to human, place, time, and ...) shortening supply and demand chain, and consequently reducing prices and costs and increasing efficiency

4

5.61

1.18

2.67

150

Gradual availability of technology and using it by villagers and also bringing justice i.e. providing all people with equal facilities

9

4.85

1.25

2.39

150

Variety in rural market and becoming gradually independent from gradual economy and consequently increasing variety of services offered by rural ICT offices

10

4.51

1.36

2.31

150

Creating job vacancies in villages (selling and advertising through internet)

Fourth Research Question: What are major external threats (external) which ICT offices in Sistan and Baluchestan deal with?

Based on Table 7, among indicators of threats, presence of telecommunication systems of previous generation (phone, cell-phone, rural mobile, data, and Internet), not updating them, and not supporting new services (GPRS, ADSL, IMAX, and...) with the highest mean rank of 6.15. The next priority belongs to Villagers’ unfamiliarity with new technologies with mean rank of 6.27. Local disagreement over using offices and their management has the lowest mean rank of 4.46 among threat indicators. The result of Friedman test (65.02) is meaningful with degree of freedom of 9 and confidence level of 99% (P<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that there exists a significant difference among indicators of threat.

Table 7:Ranking indicators of threats according to Freidman Test

Rank

Mean Rank

Standard Deviation

Mean

Number

Indicators of threats

1

6.15

1.56

2.74

150

Presence of previous generation telecommunication systems (phone, cell-phone, rural mobile, data, and Internet), not updating them, and not supporting new services (GPRS,ADSL, IMAX, and...)

3

5.73

1.28

2.67

150

Being less motivated to use ICT offices because of the small number of services offered by them and also the lack of cooperation between governmental and private organizations

9

5.17

1.53

2.22

150

Misusing facilities of ICT offices

4

5.56

1.42

2.53

150

Local authorities not supporting ICT offices

5

5.53

1.35

2.46

150

Organizations’ resistance to change (being resistant to new definitions of providing services through rural ICT)

10

4.46

1.65

2.16

150

Local disagreement over using offices and their management

7

5.36

1.42

2.40

150

Not paying attention to training efficient personnel who can provide services in ICT offices

2

6.06

1.19

2.73

150

Villagers’ unfamiliarity with new technologies

6

5.41

1.38

2.54

150

Not making attempts to reduce cultural impacts of using ICT offices and its negative beliefs, specifically in rural and traditional societies

8

5.27

1.53

2.39

150

Most rural and urban ICT projects’ financial dependency on governmental organizations

Fifth Research Question: What are the major internal strengths of rural ICT offices in Sistan and Baluchestan?

The results provided in Table 8 suggest that among indicators of strengths, public’s appeal for application of novel technologies in rural environment and ICT officeshas the highest mean rank (7.19), and the second priority goes to possibility of expanding the variety of services offered by rural ICT offices with mean rank of 6.27. However, rural women’s chance to use rural ICT offices the same as men with the lowest mean rank of 4.03, which requires to be strengthened by the help of practical planning. The results of Friedman test (146.27) with 9 degrees of freedom is significant at 99% confidence level (P<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference between indicators of strength.

Table 8: Rating indicators of strengths according to Freidman Test

Rank

Mean Rank

Standard Deviation

Mean

Number

Indicators of Strength

7

5.25

1.21

2.44

150

Villagers familiarity with basic telecommunication services such as Post, Post Bank, and telecommunication, due to using them previously

6

5.29

1.06

2.46

150

Making executive managers of various organizations gradually motivated in offering services via ICT offices

9

4.71

1.25

2.26

150

Providing schools and researchers with educational facilities

2

6.27

1.15

2.96

150

Expanding the variety of services offered by rural ICT offices

4

5.93

1.20

2.81

150

Presence of educated human sources looking for jobs in rural environments (the increasing number of rural educated people)

3

6.05

0.97

2.81

150

Possibility of defining novel services via ICT in rural and local environments

8

4.80

1.40

2.30

150

Applying financial resources and provincial and local facilities to improve rural ICT offices

10

4.03

1.26

2.o1

150

Rural women’s chance to use rural ICT offices the same as men

5

5.48

1.31

2.55

150

Making local and private section in charge of managing rural service offices

1

7.19

1.21

3.30

150

Public’s appeal for application of novel technologies in rural environment and ICT offices

Sixth Research Question: What are the major internal weaknesses of rural ICT offices in Sistan and Baluchestan?

According to Table 9, among weakness indicators, insisting on offering basic services (infrastructure) such as post, telecommunication, and internet and not defining other services of ICT by service offices and governmental organizationshas the highest mean rank (6.52) which requires attention. The second priority of weaknesses goes to not localizing offices scientifically and not paying attention to offices’ rating (first, second, and third level) on the process of offering services (6.09). Contractors and executives’ unawareness of the significance of ICT offices has the lowest mean rank of 4.59, which indicates that attempts have been made to fulfill this purpose. The result (Table 5) of Friedman test (60.92) with nine degrees of freedom is significant at 99% confidence level (P<0.01). Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference between the mean of weakness indicators.

Table 9:Rating weakness indicators according to Freidman Test

Rank

Mean Rank

Standard Deviation

Mean

Number

Weakness Indicators

6

5.55

1.12

2.95

150

Paying little attention to making addressees aware of services provided by offices and emphasizing only on offices existence

1

6.52

0.93

2.99

150

Insisting on offering basic services (infrastructure) such as post, telecommunication, and internet and not defining other services of ICT by service offices and governmental organizations

3

5.85

1.02

2.65

150

Illiteracy or barely literacy of most of villagers, specifically the beneficiaries

9

4.94

1.22

2.92

150

Paying little attention to ethnical , lingual, religious, geographical, and socio-structural differences on the process of awareness

5

5.62

1.28

2.64

150

Lack of a responsible authority who financially supports the hardware and software facilities of ICT offices

2

6.09

1.04

2.63

150

Not localizing offices scientifically and not paying attention to offices’ rating (first, second, and third level) on the process of offering services

8

5.04

1.22

2.60

150

ICT offices managers’ lack of a long-term policy to make villagers aware of and able in rural ICT offices

4

5.66

1.18

2.67

150

Managers and authorities taking activities and services of IT mistakenly insteadof those of rural ICT

7

5.15

1.25

2.39

150

Regarding rural Internet as rural ICT

10

4.59

1.36

2.31

150

Contractors and executives’ unawareness of the significance of ICT offices

Conclusion

The provided answer to the first research question indicates that the current situation (regarding strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) of rural IC offices of Sistan and Baluchestan is not favorable and the condition needs to be improved through proper planning. This is consistent with the obtained results of studies conducted by Barkazaieeet al. , Sarani , Muhammad , Naghavi et al. and Munyua , who warned about the existing gap between the present and the desired situation of rural ICT offices. However, the findings do not accord with those of Noori et al. who reported that ICT offices of Khorasan Razavi are in a suitable condition.

Answering the second research question showed a gap between the present and the desired situation. According to the carried out interviews with ICT specialists and expert, in desired conditions, rural ICT offices should not have any weaknesses and should not be threatened by any threats. Therefore, to achieve the desired conditions, it is vital to adopt proper strategies and plans, compensate for weaknesses, change threats to opportunities, and take advantage of provided opportunities. the discussed result accords with derived results from the studies conducted by Barkazaiee et al. , Sarani , Muhammad , Naghavi and Gorzin , Munyua (2006), since all of them note the existing gap between the present and the desired situation of rural ICT offices. However, this is not consistent with Noori et al. investigation, which reported presence of favorable environmental conditions in Khorasan Razavi Province.

Finding an answer to thethird research question proved that there is a significant difference among indicators of opportunities, among which the gradual increase of the efficiencyculture and receiving services in the context of ICT in the province has the highest mean rank of 6.38 among other opportunity and the second priority, with the mean of 6.27, goes to the index of available infrastructures associated with rural telecommunication services in most villages (telephone, cell-phone, rural mobile rural, internet, and...). However, the index of employment opportunities in rural areas (Internet sales and advertising), has the lowest mean (4.51), which requires consideration. These findings do not accord with those of Muhammad and Yaghobi or any other studies; however, they partially match with results of studies conducted by Hamedanlou , Noori et al. (1385), Naghavi and Gorzin , and Munyua (2006).

Answering the fourth research question showed a significant difference between the mean ofindicators of threats.Among these indicators, presence of previous generation telecommunication systems (phone, cell-phone, rural mobile, data, and Internet), not updating them, and not supporting new services (GPRS, ADSL, IMAX, and...)have the highest mean rank of 6.15 among other indicators. The next priority belongs to Villagers’ unfamiliarity with new technologies with mean rank of 6.27. Local disagreement over using offices and their management has the lowest mean rank of 4.46 among threat indicators. Note that the discussed resultsare not consistent with results of the study conducted by Muhammad and Yaghoubi or any other studies; however, they partially match with derived results of studies prformed by Sarani , Hamedanlou , Noori et al. , cited in Sarani), Naghavi and Gorzin and Munyua (2006).

Responding the fifth question proved the presence of a meaningful difference among the means ofindicators of strengths. Among these indicators, the public’s appeal for application of novel technologies in rural environment and ICT officeshas the highest mean rank of 7.19 among other indicators, while the second priority goes to possibility of expanding the variety of services offered by rural ICT offices with mean rank of 6.27. However, rural women’s chance to use rural ICT offices the same as men with the lowest mean rank of 4.03, which requires to be strengthened by the help of practical planning. the mentioned results are not consistent with results of the study conducted by Muhammad and Yaghoubi or any other studies; however, they partially match with derived results of studies performed by Sarani (2011), Hamedanlou (2010), Noori et al. (2007) and Naghavi and Gorzin (2004).

The provided answer to the sixth research question proved that there is a significant difference between the mean of indicators of weaknesses. Among weakness indicators, insisting on offering basic services (infrastructure) such as post, telecommunication, and internet and not defining other services of ICT by service offices and governmental organizationshas the highest mean rank of 6.52, which requires attention. The second priority of weaknesses goes to not localizing offices scientifically and not paying attention to offices’ rating (first, second, and third level) on the process of offering services (6.09). Contractors and executives’ unawareness of the significance of ICT offices has the lowest mean rank of 4.59, which indicates that attempts have been made to fulfill this purpose. Note that the discussed results are consistent with results of the study conducted by Muhammad and Yaghoubi (2010), Sarani (2011), Hamedanlou (2010), Noori et al. (2007), Naghavi and Gorzin (2004), and Munyua (2006).

In general, it can be claimed that application of information and communication technology (ICT), as one of technological improvements of the present era, cannot miraculously solve the basic problems of villages. However, using ICT equipment, i.e., E-government, E-commerce, E-learning and etcalong side with practical management, making rural people aware and able, and proving technical cultural, social, and economic infrastructures can accelerate rural development and noticeably assist with improving welfare in such areas.

8. Suggestions for Further Studies:

Creating rural ICT office management majors at universities to train efficienthuman forces.

Tendency to use ICT as an innovative capacity in public services.

Improving the quality of services offered by ICT offices throughequipping them with modern technologies in order to make a village a university.

Applying financial resources and provincial and local facilities to develop rural ICT.

Determininga long-term policy on awareness and empowerment of villagers in using rural ICT by rural ICT custodians.

Obligation to provide services through an integrated management system (under the title of window service).

Participation of all main public and private organizations to provide their services through ICT offices.

Creating contexts for the staff of rural ICT offices to learn skills and be innovative.

Holding seminars and training workshops about managing rural ICT offices for managers, professionals, and contractors.