Welcome to this bumper issue of EJISDC with ten papers.

In the first paper, Andoh-Baidoo and Osatuyi use a value network theoretical model to examine the electronic banking services and products provided by banks in Nigeria.

In the second paper, Brown, Letsididi and Nazeer investigate the factors influencing consumer choice of Internet access option in South African homes.

In the third paper, Luo criticises the technologically deterministic approach to e-Government in China, suggesting that since information systems are social systems, e-government encompasses various political, economic, social, organisational and people issues besides technical ones.

In the fourth paper, Bwalya examines two e-Government cases in Zambia, assessing the challenges, opportunities and issues in this context.

In the fifth paper, Latu argues that decision makers, especially in traditional societies ignore expert advice provided by Geographic or Spatial Information Systems. The paper examines the impact of economic development activities on the coastal ecosystems in exemplar developing countries, in the Pacific, and proposes GIS-Visualisation strategies for moving beyond subsistence and economic development aspirations to socially, economically and environmentally sustainable development activities.

In the sixth paper, Toledo, Toledo, Zilber and Szafir-Goldstein analyse the IT management style of the Brazilian telecommunications sector, focusing on the case of Motorola.

In the seventh paper, Kyem and Saku assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of on-line Participatory Geographical IS applications within local communities.

In the eighth paper, Andersson and Grönlund critically review the research on challenges for e-learning with a particular focus on developing countries. The research found 30 specific challenges which were grouped into four categories, viz.: courses, individuals, technology and context. The overall conclusion is that these challenges are equally valid for both developed and developing countries; however in developing countries more papers focus on access to technology and context whereas in developed countries more papers concern individuals.

In the ninth paper, van Reijswoud suggests that ICT projects will only be successful in developing countries when the technology is adapted to local conditions. The author extends the concept of Appropriate Technology to the ICT field and illustrates its application with mini-cases from Africa.

In the final paper, Ismail examines accounting information systems effectiveness and its influence factors in the specific context of SMEs in Malaysia.